SANTA CLARA, CA - JUNE 03: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers throws the ball during a team OTA practice at SAP Performance Facility on June 3, 2026 in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesDespite the injuries with which they had to deal at quarterback and at the offensive skill positions in 2025, the 49ers still had one of the most efficient offenses in football.Indeed, the Niners finished sixth in EPA per play and third in success rate on offense rate last season, though they did so while struggling in one key area that has flown under the radar.Despite their strong performance in the metrics that are key measures of offensive efficiency, the 49ers did not have an explosive offensive in 2025.To the contrary, the 49ers ranked 21st in explosive play rate last season. Per Sumer Sports, the 49ers had 80 explosive plays defined as a pass play of 20 yards or a rush of at least 12 yards from a total of 1,055 total plays, giving them an explosive play rate of just 7.58%.San Francisco focused heavily on offense this offseason and, as the 49ers opened training camp on Saturday, GM John Lynch made it clear that they are concentrating heavily on significantly improving the number of explosives.Asked about the issue at a press conference, Lynch said: Weve always been an explosive team and probably fell off there a little. And so, in your personnel you go attack that. [WR] Mike Evans has been a tremendously explosive player. But I think the bigger approach has been collectively because explosives come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. They come in the run game and we fell off there. The explosives werent there as much and so thats all 11 on the field. Thats your entire team and thats what you emphasize. I think we spend a lot of time emphasizing that. We did address our personnel. I love what we were able to get accomplished this offseason. And now weve got to go to work and youve got to earn everything in this league. Explosives are no different. And they are an important part of football, limiting them on defense and going out there and being an incredibly explosive team on offense and on special teams. We always focus on that, but there has been a heightened focus on that.A huge part of the 49ers boosting their number of explosives will be the health of quarterback Brock Purdy. If Purdy can stay on the field for a full 17-game regular season, then the 49ers should have much more joy in creating explosives than they did in a 2025 campaign that saw Mac Jones fill in for eight games.Having Mike Evans, a ball-dominant X whose Hall of Fame career has seen him establish a track record of making big plays downfield, should considerably aid the 49ers in terms of producing more pass game explosives. A healthy Ricky Pearsall would also help in a substantial way, considering his rapport with Purdy and the flashes he has displayed as a big-play weapon at all three levels, while the 49ers will be hoping free agent signing Christian Kirk and top draft pick DeZhaun Stribling can have an impact with their ability to stretch the field and operate inside and out.The situation in improving as an explosive run team is perhaps less straightforward. The 49ers only had 29 explosive runs last season, with their rate of 6.03% ranking 26th in the league, way behind the rate of 11.05% set by the Baltimore Ravens, who led the league.Much will depend on the level of explosion Christian McCaffrey has in his legs after a 2025 season in which he averaged 3.9 yards per carry, his worst performance in that area since 2020, and had only three rushes of 20 yards or more. Kaelon Black or Jordan James emerging as a reliable backup to take some of the strain off McCaffrey would aid his cause, but history says the chances of either consistently eating into his career are slim.There will also be an onus on the offensive line after McCaffrey averaged just 2.3 yards before contact last season, below the league average of 2.5. That number reflected a need for the 49ers to do a better job of opening running lanes for the future Hall of Famer and, as such, the makeup of an O-Line that still has question-marks on the interior figures to have a significant bearing on San Franciscos success in becoming a more explosive football team in 2026. San Francisco has made several moves with a view to becoming more explosive this season. However, fittingly for the 49ers, it is likely to be health and a longtime problem area that determine whether they pay off.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Joc Pederson homered twice to drive in four runs and Ezequiel Duran and Jake Burger also went deep for the Texas Rangers in a 7-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday. They took three of four in the series to stretch their AL West lead to 2 1/2 games.All four homers came in the first three innings off George Kirby (8-9). The right-hander had been 9-1 with a 1.33 ERA in his previous 13 career starts against the Rangers.Texas righty Kumar Rocker (4-8) struck out seven while allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings. He had thrown one-hit ball over six scoreless innings six days earlier in a win against the Chicago White Sox.The Rangers (54-52), the only AL West team with a winning record, had a half-game lead over the Mariners before winning the first two games of the series. Seattle (52-55) won 6-4 Sunday, when Texas lost for the first time this season when leading after six innings.Pederson got Texas started with his fifth leadoff homer, and the 32nd of his career. The opposite-field liner to left-center extended his hitting streak to eight games.After Randy Arozarena's tying homer in the second, Pederson hit a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning. Pederson's 19th homer, his 13th hit in a span of 29 at-bats, landed in the first row of seats just beyond the wall in right.Duran led off the third with a second-deck shot to left for his 12th homer. Three batters later, Burger had a two-run homer, his 19th time going deep, for a 7-2 lead.It was the third time in Kirby's 132 starts over five seasons that he allowed four homers in a game. He struck out three without a walk in four innings.Up nextThe Mariners and Rangers both open road series against league leaders on Tuesday night. Texas is at American League-best Tampa Bay, and Seattle heads to Los Angeles to play the National League-leading Dodgers.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Although the list will grow to at least six in the coming days, the Green Bay Packers placed five players -- including three projected starters -- on the physically unable to perform list on Monday, just two days before the start of training camp. Previously injured players were among the group of players reporting to training camp in Green Bay on Monday. The list of players going on the PUP list on Monday, per the transaction wire: G Aaron BanksCB Kamal HaddenDL Javon HargraveTE Tucker Kraft TE Luke MusgraveHadden (ankle) and Kraft (torn ACL) are both recovering from significant injuries that ended their 2025 seasons. Kraft is expecting to return at some point in training camp and be 100 percent come Week 1. Hargrave is a 33-year-old veteran attempting to keep his career alive in Green Bay, Musgrave has faded from the spotlight after two disappointing seasons and Banks is coming off an injury-plagued first season with the Packers.Per Rob Demovsky of ESPN, edge rusher Micah Parsons will eventually join the five on the PUP list, possibly as soon as Tuesday. He is also recovering from ACL surgery.Of note, right tackle Zach Tom (offseason knee surgery) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (significant lower body injury suffered last November) are not starting training camp on the PUP list.Players can come off the PUP list and begin practicing at any time during training camp. The Packers also placed running back Chris Brooks on the non-football injury list.All six players will count against the active 90-man roster while on the PUP. This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers place 5 players, including TE Tucker Kraft, on PUP list to start training camp

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more aboutSports Betting on FOX Sports. New users can use Polymarket's promo code FOX to unlock a $20 trading bonus for any MLB action today. From divisional series to teams looking to snap losing streaks, today's MLB slate has it all as the trade deadline inches closer. The Miami Marlins and Cleveland Guardians have the longest current losing streak in the MLB. The Marlins have dropped 12 straight, a franchise-record, and the Guardians have lost five straight. The Marlins can end their streak at home against a divisional rival when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies. The Cleveland bats have gone cold in their losing streak, being held scoreless twice. They face a Reds team that has won four of their last five. Can the Guardians offense come alive against a surging Reds team? Get a $20 trading bonus with promo code FOX when you sign up on Polymarket. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Polymarket promo codepage. How to Claim the Polymarket Promo with Code FOX Marlins vs. Phillies Guardians vs. Reds More markets are available on Polymarket. MLB Games on Today

The New York Giants are signing rookie tight end Tyler Moore.The #Giants hosted 18 players for a workout. One of them was former Iowa State TE Tyler Moore, who is signing with the team. Moore is an undrafted free agent who had a tryout with the #Panthers in the spring. pic.twitter.com/ualqSKsT67 Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 27, 2026The full list of players to work out for #Giants, including LB Kenneth Murray and QB Jake Haener. OT Jake CurhanDT Marlon DavidsonTE Zach DavidsonDT Daniel EkualeDT Folo FatukasiOT Luke Felix-FualaloDB Tony GrimesQB Jake HaenerWR Malik HeathRB Kylin JamesLB Chandler Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) July 27, 2026Moore played a critical role throughout his time at Iowa State last season. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, Moore can quickly prove to make an impact on the Giants offense during training camp considering his elite size and athleticism.The talented tight end held a workout with the team on Monday before agreeing to terms. Moore was unable to make the Carolina Panthers roster after an underwhelming tryout in the spring, but the tight end appears to have bounced back and will now look to shine in his role on the Giants offense moving forward.Moore recorded 245 yards and two touchdowns across five total seasons at Iowa State. The big man was widely regarded as one of the top blocking tight ends in the Big 12 last season, and Moore should quickly emerge with a similar role in New York moving forward.This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants signing TE Tyler Moore after 18-player workout

Throughout his career, Micah Parsons has been a game wrecker and one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He's set a new standard for defensive players. But ahead of his sixth season, which will be delayed as he continues to recover from a devastating torn ACL, the Green Bay Packers star defensive end has a changing mindset.Parsons says he's "not chasing the player I used to be.""I'm chasing the standard I owe myself, my family and everyone who believes in me," Parsons wrote on Instagram on July 27. "The offseason demanded patience, discipline, faith and the strength to keep going when no one was watching. My family's love gave me purpose when the hurt tried to take it away."It's bigger than me now. My little ones are watching, and every step I take is to leave them a legacy they'll be proud of."View this post on Instagram

All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons wasn't among the five players placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list by the Green Bay Packers on Monday, but his absence also wasn't the result of a miraculous recovery from ACL reconstruction surgery. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Parsons is expected to go on the PUP list on Tuesday, and his absence from the list on Monday was the result of "procedural and timing reasons."It's possible Parsons was not required to report to training camp on Monday with the rest of the injured player group and will instead arrive on Tuesday with the rest of the veterans. The Packers start training camp with a practice on Wednesday morning. Parsons tore his ACL on Dec. 14 in Denver. He had surgery to repair the ACL and clean up his meniscus in late December, and it's expected he will spend the entirety of training camp on the PUP list and miss at least the first four games of the regular season. Per Parsons, the Packers adhere to a strict nine-month rule with injuries such as his, meaning he likely won't practice until late September. Parsons posted this message on Instagram on Monday, signaling the start of his sixth NFL season: View this post on Instagram

From failed experiment to familiar voice: Adi Htter already restoring Eintracht Frankfurts identityEintracht Frankfurts decision to replace Albert Riera with Adi Htter represents far more than a conventional summer coaching change. It constitutes an almost perfect reversal of the experiment attempted only six months ago, one that ended with supporters of the Bundesliga club protesting Rieras appointment with banners and atmosphere boycotts.As examined in a January Get German Football News editorial, Riera arrived in Frankfurt without prior experience of German football and possessing little knowledge of the German language. Eintracht entrusted a talented but combustible young coach with learning the league, the club, the locker room, the media environment and the language simultaneously.The point was never that every Bundesliga coach must speak fluent German. Communication nevertheless still matters in the Bundesliga. Frankfurts emotional supporters expect a trainer capable of articulating a recognizable identity. Players require clear instructions. German journalists demand answers that survive interpretation rather than becoming lost in translation.Mario Gtze and Jonathan Burkardt came to embody Rieras problemsRieras initial work appeared promising. Following a 3-0 win over Borussia Mnchengladbach in February, Mario Gtze praised the Spaniards progress and claimed that Frankfurt had learned a great deal within a short period.That early optimism did not last.Gtze gradually disappeared from Rieras plans before being omitted from the matchday squad against Mainz. When German journalists asked about the decision, Riera responded with a confrontational press-conference monologue in which he challenged reporters to name another player he should have dropped instead.Jonathan Burkardts situation followed a similarly uncomfortable trajectory.Burkardt remained Frankfurts leading Bundesliga scorer despite missing 12 league fixtures through injury. In his long-awaited Bundesliga comeback against Bayern Munich, the German international came off the bench, scored his ninth league goal of the campaign and demonstrated why Frankfurts attack still depended heavily upon him.Riera nevertheless publicly challenged Burkardts commitment during the closing stages of the season. The striker responded professionally, returned to the starting XI and recorded an assist against Hamburg, but the episode prompted another extraordinary Riera press-conference controversy.By then, the original concerns about linguistic and cultural barriers were impossible to ignore. Riera was no longer merely struggling to produce results. Two important German players had become central figures in unnecessary public disputes between their coach and the surrounding media.Adi Htters departure and returnHtter could hardly provide a greater contrast. The Austrian speaks the language, knows the Bundesliga and understands Eintrachts internal structures. More importantly, he already knows precisely what kind of football excites Frankfurt supporters.His return nevertheless required reconciliation.In March 2021, amid speculation linking him with Borussia Mnchengladbach, Htter publicly insisted that he would remain in Frankfurt. Less than two weeks later, Gladbach confirmed that he would take charge following the conclusion of the campaign.The timing generated considerable resentment. Frankfurt were pursuing Champions League qualification and eventually finished fifth after surrendering their position inside the top four. Htters decision to join a direct Bundesliga rival consequently overshadowed three otherwise successful years that included a Europa League semi-final and some of the most exhilarating football in the clubs recent history.Htter lasted just one season with BMG.Htter subsequently acknowledged that he handled his departure poorly. He expressed regret ahead of his first return to Frankfurt in 2022 and conceded that the situation should have been resolved differently. Upon rejoining Eintracht in 2026, he again apologized.Five years later, the response to his return suggests that the relationship has been repaired. Approximately 2,000 supporters attended his first training session back in charge.Frankfurt have not forgotten what happened.They have seemingly chosen to forgive it.Burkardt already flourishing under HtterPre-season victories obviously offer no guarantee of competitive success. Frankfurts first two performances under Htter still provide early evidence that the reunion can restore some of the energy missing under Riera.Eintracht opened their preparations with a 7-1 victory over FC Gieen. Burkardt scored twice during the first half, including a spectacular Rabona finish. He then found the net again as Frankfurt defeated Turkish Cup winners Trabzonspor 3-0.Three goals in two friendlies do not erase Burkardts difficult previous campaign. They nevertheless offer a striking response from a player whose commitment Riera publicly questioned only a few months ago.The difference is not merely that Burkardt is scoring. Htter has immediately placed the striker at the centre of a recognizable attacking concept. Frankfurt are pressing aggressively after losing possession, playing forward with greater urgency and attempting to reproduce the intensity associated with Htters first tenure.Gtzes words make the contrast even sharper.The veteran initially supported Riera and publicly praised his early coaching work. By the end of the campaign, however, Gtze had become a subject Riera appeared increasingly reluctant to discuss. Under Htter, Gtze is again speaking enthusiastically about a clearly communicated footballing philosophy.Yes, I have a very positive impression [of him], Gtze told members of the assembled media at a Friday press event. Hes precisely the man needed here for Frankfurt, for us as a team, and for the fans. The way were [going to play football] is really good and were excited about it.Much is coming together, Gtze continued. We have a clear coaching philosophy. We want to play with energy and enthusiasm again. That wasnt working the last few months.Frankfurt seek a return to familiar virtuesNone of us were satisfied with last season and, at the end, the type of football we were playing, SGE attacker Ansgar Knauff remarked on Friday. The fans didnt want to watch it anymore. We didnt get the sort of atmosphere that we were used to at home games. Thats why its about getting back to basics; the basic virtues of intensity and spirit.[Last year], we naturally expected much more, Knauff answered when asked if escaping the end of last season amounted to the team pulling themselves out of a vortex. A confluence of things led to it. It wasnt one single thing. It didnt work. The plug was pulled. Now its a new beginning for us both as a team and individuals.[Adi Htter] has a big impact on the [team] atmosphere, Swedish midfielder Love Arrhov said at a separate media session after the Trabzonspor match. He brings some new energy into the team.Htters own assessment of the Trabzonspor performance emphasized precisely the qualities Gtze, Knauff and Arrhov identified.I really liked it, Htter said. In the beginning, when we lost the ball, we remained active and attentively sought to win balls back. I liked what I saw in the opening 10, 15 minutes. Tactically there were some issues, but I dont want to dwell on them. We can take a lot out of this game.I think we should head into the season prepared to play variably, Htter continued. I think we should have [a variable] back three/back four. [On the front two attacking axes] a 1-2/2-1. Thats what Id like to introduce as I can tell that this team needs to remain flexible.Riera arrived needing to discover what Eintracht Frankfurt meant.Htter has returned already knowing.GGFN|Peter Weis

The Giants worked out 18 players on Monday, including veteran linebacker Kenneth Murray.They are expected to sign former Iowa State tight end Tyler Moore, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports. Moore is an undrafted free agent who tried out with the Panthers in the spring.Offensive tackle Jake Curhan, defensive tackle Marlon Davidson, tight end Zach Davidson, defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale, defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, offensive tackle Luke Felix-Fualalo, defensive back Tony Grimes, quarterback Jake Haener, wide receiver Malik Heath, running back Kylin James, linebacker Chandler Martin, wide receiver Eric McAlister, defensive back Ahmaad Moses, offensive tackle Derek Simmons, tight end Scotty Washington and defensive back Sam Webb also worked out for the Giants. Murray, 27, spent last season in Dallas after the Cowboys traded with the Titans for him. He started 16 games and finished second on the team in tackles with 81 behind rookie fifth-round pick Shemar James, who had 91. Murray also added four tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a sack and a fumble recovery.He has remained a free agent since March.

The Chicago Cubs are done with Jameson Taillon.The Cubs announced on Monday that theyre designating Taillon for assignment and replacing him on the roster with right-handed minor-league pitcher Andrew Wantz. By being DFAd, Taillon will likely hit and almost certainly clear waivers, setting him on a probable path to free agency. Taillons due whats left on the final season of a four-year, $68 million contract, and no team is likely to take on that remaining salary via trade or waivers given his performance in Chicago this season. Meltdown against Pirates was final strawTaillon, the No. 2 pick in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, is in the midst of his worst MLB season at 34 years old. Through 15 starts, Taillon has a 5.92 ERA and 1.355 WHIP with 68 strikeouts and 27 walks in 76 innings pitched. His ERA is the worst of his career and hes allowed 25 home runs, tied for the most by a pitcher in the National League. He allowed three home runs and seven earned runs in an 8-7 loss to the Pirates on Sunday. The game was the third this season in which hes allowed three-plus home runs. Jameson Taillon's time with the Cubs is done.Jessie Alcheh via Getty ImagesA 10-year veteran, Taillon would have the option to reject an assignment to the minor leagues in favor of free agency if he clears waivers.The Cubs, meanwhile, are in a long-shot race in the NL Central and in the thick of the NL wild-card race. Chicago entered Monday at 59-46, seven games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and at the top of the NL wild-card standings. Wantz joins the 40-man roster from Triple-A Iowa and projects to provide bullpen depth in Chicago. In four-plus MLB seasons since 2021, Wantz has a 4.20 ERA and 1.175 WHIP in 120 innings pitched. He pitched all but 1 2/3 of those innings with the Los Angeles Angels.Wantz allowed five earned runs in 1 2/3 innings in a single appearance this season with the Tampa Bay Rays, who designated him assignment following that outing in a 14-3 loss to the Angels on May 30.