FORT WORTH, Texas TCU coach Sonny Dykes felt the Horned Frogs got off to a clean start in their opening practice, exactly a month before an early season opener in Ireland.Even with a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback, Dykes said there were no turnovers, no false starts or offside calls and only one bad snap with the third team toward the end of practice. All that work done by the team during spring drills and summer workouts seemed to carry over into the start of fall camp.You did spend a lot of early practices back in the day trying to knock the dust off and get the guys to kind of get where they were in the spring, Dykes said. And now its almost like they get where they are in the spring and the improvement that takes place in (the summer), and then you start pretty quickly and you just kind of pick up where you left off. And I thought there was a lot of that today.The Frogs play a Week 0 game against North Carolina on Aug. 29, when the Aer Lingus College Football Classic is the first game to kick off that day. Those teams played last year in Chapel Hill for the Tar Heels debut with coach Bill Belichick in a 48-14 loss on Labor Day to wrap up Week 1.TCU has a new OC and new QB leading the offenseTransfer quarterback Jaden Craig started 24 games at Harvard the past three seasons, and last year set single-season school passing records with 208 completions, 2,869 yards and 25 touchdowns.Craig is the expected successor for Josh Hoover, who left TCU after 9,627 yards and 71 TDs passing the past three seasons. Hoover went to replace Heisman Trophy winner and NFL No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza for reigning national champion Indiana.Just for what I saw today, decision-making is faster. The ball is getting out on time more than it used to. I think theres a pretty noticeable difference really even from the spring to what I saw, Dykes said. I think hes ahead of schedule quite frankly. I feel good about where he is.Gordon Sammis took over as TCUs offensive coordinator after three seasons in the same position at UConn. Kendal Briles left TCU to be South Carolinas OC.Being able to come in and learn with everybody I think helped a lot because we had some of those conversations about where guys are supposed to be, how theyre supposed to run certain routes and stuff like that, Craig said.Dykes and the Frogs arent satisfied with being goodTCU has had consecutive nine-win seasons, but is now three full seasons removed from the Big 12 championship game, the four-team College Football Playoff and national championship game in Dykes debut as their coach in 2022.You get a taste for that and you want to go back and do it again, Dykes said.The Frogs finished last season with a three-game winning streak, but that came after a 44-13 loss at BYU in mid-November.Dykes believes changes in the program have made the Frogs tougher, more disciplined and hopefully more physical.Those are the three kind of pillars that we talk about all the time that weve got to do if we want to be great. And the way I view it, I think weve been pretty good, he said. Being great really is about reaching your potential as a team, and I dont think weve done that in the last three years. And I think we probably exceeded our potential in Year 1.

The Detroit Tigers have made one of their most anticipated roster moves of the season, promoting elite outfield prospect Max Clark to the major leagues just days before the MLB trade deadline.While much of the attention surrounding Detroit has centered on the future of ace Tarik Skubal and whether hell be moved before the deadline, the organization has shifted the spotlight by bringing one of baseballs brightest young talents to the big leagues. The timing may seem connected to the trade deadline, but Clarks recent performance suggests he earned the promotion with his play.MORE: One player every MLB team will trade at the 2026 trade deadlineOne of Baseballs Elite Prospects ArrivesFeb 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers outfielder Max Clark (84) catches a fly ball against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning in a Spring Training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn ImagesClark has been one of the most highly regarded prospects in baseball since the Tigers selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.Now ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the sport, the young outfielder has continued to impress throughout the 2026 season. Across 413 plate appearances, Clark has slashed .276/.368/.434 while adding 10 home runs and 21 stolen bases, showcasing the well-rounded skill set that has made him one of Detroits most valuable young players.His ability to contribute both offensively and on the basepaths gives the Tigers another dynamic weapon as they look toward the future.A Red-Hot Stretch Sealed the PromotionAlthough the call-up comes shortly before the trade deadline, Clarks recent surge at the plate appears to be the biggest reason behind Detroits decision.Over his last 32 games, dating back to the middle of June, Clark has caught fire offensively. During that stretch, he produced a .328/.427/.523 slash line while posting an impressive 155 wRC+.Perhaps even more encouraging has been his advanced plate discipline. Clark recorded a 13.3% walk rate, matching his 13.3% strikeout rate, an excellent sign for a young hitter preparing to face major league pitching.He also displayed increased power, launching six of his 10 home runs during that six-week span.Detroits Future?Clarks arrival gives Tigers fans another reason for optimism during one of the busiest weeks of the baseball calendar.While trade rumors involving established stars continue to dominate headlines, Detroit has added a player who could become a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come. His combination of athleticism, patience, power, and speed has long made him one of the organizations most exciting prospects.Now, the Tigers will get their first opportunity to see whether that success translates to the major leagues. If Clark carries his recent momentum into Detroit, his promotion could end up being one of the organizations most important moves of the seasonregardless of what happens before the trade deadline. Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead

Nadiem Amiri declines firm commitment to Mainz 05: I dont want to disappoint the fans.Mainz 05 and German national team midfielder Nadiem Amiri has declined to guarantee that he will remain with the club beyond the summer transfer window, insisting that he does not wish to make a promise he may later be unable to keep. The 29-year-old addressed his future during Mainzs training camp in Hopfgarten, Austria, amid continued speculation surrounding a potential move to RB Leipzig.Asked whether he would play for Mainz during the 2026/27 campaign, Amiri directly dismissed the links in a rather glib and formulaic fashion. As quoted by Kicker, however, Amiri effectively admitted that he would be moving on once the right opportunity arises.Nadiem Amiri on his future with MainzRight now, Mainz 05 is the only thing on my mind and everything else is unimportant, Amiri said. Things can always change. Thats why I didnt commit to Mainz at the end of last season either. I dont want to disappoint the fans. Im not the type to say, Im staying here and then be gone three weeks later.Recent reports suggested that Amiri remained keen on joining RB Leipzig and had reached a basic agreement with the Saxon club. Kicker now reports that Leipzig have not submitted an offer, while Amiri himself sought to play down the speculation entirely.Theyre not even an issue, the former Leverkusen midfielder said. Someone had an idea, but neither Mainz, Leipzig, nor I have said anything about it. Why should we even address it now?Amiris comments therefore amount neither to a transfer request nor a firm commitment. The midfielder continues to identify strongly with Mainz, but remains unwilling to exclude the possibility of accepting an attractive sporting opportunity before the window closes.GGFN|Peter Weis

With the 2026-27 season being the 24th in the illustrious career of Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James, there is a chance that this could be the final season for the NBA legend. Of course, James had seriously considered retirement after his eighth season with the Los Angeles Lakers, but is now looking to help the Sixers move forward.James has, obviously, had a legendary career. He is a 22-time All-Star, 4-time MVP, 4-time finals MVP and champion, and has a number of other incredible awards, moments, and feats. Therefore, if this is truly it, he wants to document it. Maybe even turn it into a "Last Dance" type of documentary a la Michael Jordan's last season with the Chicago Bulls.Per The Athletic, James and his team are close to getting it done with ESPN.LeBron James and ESPN are closing in on an agreement for a behind-the-scenes documentary series that will be similar to Michael Jordans The Last Dance, according to industry sources.One of the sources described the talks as being at the one-yard line. pic.twitter.com/pSEaQN03aZ The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 30, 2026James and the Sixers will look to have a deep playoff run for the first time in a long time in the franchise's history. The Sixers have not been past Round 2 since 2001 and have not won a title since 1983. With James on the floor, Philadelphia will have an excellent chance at doing so in order to get it done this upcoming season.This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' LeBron James, ESPN closing in on 'Last Dance" type documentary

Jake Paul has once again found himself in the center of a combat sports spectacle and this time theres no telling where things go from here. Paul and his longtime business partner, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) co-founder Nakisa Bidarian, announced Thursday that MVP and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) have begun a merger to create what is being termed a new global combat sports powerhouse a joint company that combines MVP and PFLs existing rosters and infrastructures to create what may legitimately be the most significant MMA challenger brand to the UFCs market dominance in more than a decade.Heres everything you need to know about Thursdays big news.Whats happening?Early Thursday morning, Pauls promotional company (MVP) and one of MMAs top promotions (PFL) announced a shocking merger of the two brands, both of which hold a sizable market share in the combat sports landscape.The ramifications of this move, while still too early to tell, could be seismic for MMA.Whos going to run this company?The new joint company is set to be led by the trio of Paul, Bidarian and current PFL CEO John Martin, with Martin becoming MVP MMA's new CEO and board member. Bidarian is expected to continue spearheading MVP's live-event business and boxing business, the latter of which currently carries broadcast deals with ESPN in the U.S. and Sky Sports in the UK.Nakisa Bidarian (left) and Jake Paul (right) founded MVP in 2021.Sarah Stier via Getty ImagesHow is this all going to work? Does the PFL still exist?Yes and no. The new merged company will operate under the MVP name, with a full brand migration expected to be completed by the beginning of 2027. The company will remain privately owned and immediately carries a roster of nearly 400 athletes between MMA and boxing, drawing from both the current PFL and MVP rosters. Notable MMA fighters under contract with PFL include champions Cris Cyborg, Usman Nurmagomedov, Johnny Eblen, Thad Jean and Vadim Nemkov, along with popular contenders Dakota Ditcheva, Paul Hughes and AJ McKee. MVP currently boasts the most decorated collection of women's talent in boxing, promoting champions and pound-for-pound stalwarts Amanda Serrano, Alycia Baumgardner, Mikaela Mayer and Ellie Scotney, among many others.While the brand migration begins to take shape over the coming months, PFL and MVP will continue running their separate event schedules as planned, including Fridays PFL event in New York, which will remain a PFL-branded event.Whats the money behind this?The merged company will be financially backed by existing PFL shareholders 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management. A joint press release between MVP and PFL declared that both 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management have committed new capital to ensure the combined company launches with the strongest balance sheet in its history. In the same press release, the merged MVP-PFL pledged "to invest aggressively in both boxing and MMA." Bidarian told the Wall Street Journal that the combined company intends to attract fighters "with aggressive compensation offers" and "plans to encourage its athletes to participate in events across both boxing and MMA."Im new to MMA what even is the PFL?Born from the ashes of a different fight promotion (World Series of Fighting) in 2017, PFL became the de facto No. 2 in the U.S. MMA marketplace after acquiring another longtime UFC competitor, Bellator MMA, in late 2023.The PFL was initially conceived around a season structure that focused on running several $1 million tournaments per season, with each weight-class winner ultimately earning a $1 million grand prize. PFL pivoted away from that structure following the arrival of CEO John Martin in 2025, however, focusing instead of promoting a more UFC-like approach to the business driven by straightforward matchmaking and the crowning of champions in PFLs seven mens divisions and two womens.PFL currently holds a domestic broadcast rights deal with ESPN that is set to expire at the end of 2026.Is this a legitimate threat to the UFC?Time will tell. Paul and Bidarian have proven to be impressive disruptors to the combat sports space, hosting several blockbuster mainstream combat events since their rise began in 2021, and drawing marquee broadcast partners like Netflix to the table.After largely focusing on boxing for the first four years of MVPs existence, the duo made a shocking entry into MMA this past May by luring UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey out of retirement for a comeback fight against fellow womens MMA pioneer Gina Carano. The card, which doubled as Netflix's first-ever MMA event, featured several notable ex-UFC stars Nate Diaz, Francis Ngannou, Mike Perry and became a record-breaking success, shattering the previous U.S. viewership benchmark for an MMA event.In the aftermath, Paul and Bidarian pledged that success would only mark the beginning of their efforts to create a worthy challenger to the UFC's market stranglehold.Is Jake Paul going to fight in MMA?That appears to be in the cards. The 29-year-old firebrand told the Wall Street Journal that he intends to compete in an MMA under the merged brand, in addition to his future boxing endeavors with MVP.Paul has continued to recover since suffering a broken jaw in his December bout against former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, but has teased a potential return to training in recent months. Paul previously partnered with PFL in 2023 in anticipation of an MMA debut that never came, serving additionally as a brand ambassador for the promotion during that time.Jake Paul is officially all-in on the MMA business.Dominik Bindl via Getty ImagesWhat does this mean for MMA/UFC fighters?It can only be a good thing. The existence of viable alternatives to the UFC in the MMA marketplace has long helped drive up fighter salaries and opportunities for athletes to generate bidding wars in free agency.The UFC remains the industry leader by a wide margin, but the promotion has come under fire for decades for its restrictive contracts and an athlete revenue share that pales in comparison to many of the biggest sports leagues in the world. The UFC typically pays its fighters just 16-20% of the revenue earned by the company, compared to the 50-80% split seen in sports such as the NBA, NFL, MLB and major boxing.UFC continues to face multiple antitrust lawsuits for its tactics. In 2025, the promotion was forced to pay out a $375 million settlement to more than 1,000 former UFC fighters, and that may only be the beginning of the companys antitrust troubles. Despite that, the payout barely made a dent in the UFCs bottom line; in the first quarter of 2026 alone, UFCs parent company, TKO which also owns WWE reported revenue of $1.59 billion, with UFC bringing in $401.2 million of that within the first three months of the year.In past eras, the existence of strong MMA challenger brands such as Pride Fighting Championships and Strikeforce has helped fighters wield what little leverage they have to help raise wages within the sport. The UFC ultimately acquired and consumed both Pride and Strikeforce, and in doing so struck a significant blow that to leverage, however it now appears a viable new opponent is cresting over the horizon for the MMA leader.

In our final hitter skill and luck factor article, were covering five hitters who were drafted within the top 150-200 picks and have been struggling relative to expectations. Most of these hitters have strong track records of fantasy baseball production, so its unusual to find them struggling so far this season. For others, it seems like 2026 might be an outlier season for various reasons. Can these hitters bounce back for the rest of the season? What do the underlying metrics suggest in the skill and luck factors? Gunnar Henderson, SS, Orioles (99% Rostered)In late May, I expected Henderson to turn it around based on his track record. Among the first-round hitters, Aaron Judge, Ronald Acua Jr., Jos Ramrez, Henderson and Kyle Tucker have been the worst values. Injuries can explain Judge and Acua, but Tucker and Henderson haven't missed much time. Henderson used to have a patient approach, with a career chase rate at 26.3%. However, Henderson has been chasing more often (31.76%) this season, with similar swing and zone swing rates.Here's a look at Gunnar Henderson's rolling average chase rates.Corbin Young via FanGraphsHe seems to be swinging more at pitches in the shadow zone, which is the edge of the strike zone. Thats evident in Hendersons shadow zone swing rate at 58.7% compared to a career norm of 51.5%. With Henderson chasing more, it seems to be directly impacting his lower batting average (.219), BABIP (.253) and on-base skills (.290). For context, Hendersons batting average, BABIP and OBP have been around 40 points below his career average.Here's a look at Gunnar Henderson's rolling averages for pull and flyball rate.Corbin Young via FanGraphsHe continues to pull the ball way more this season (45.2%), up over five points from his career average. Thankfully, Henderson is pulling the ball into the air (24.3%) more frequently, compared to a career pulled air rate of 16.8%. Previously, weve seen more all-fields power from Henderson, but only one of his 18 home runs wasnt toward his pull side.Its slightly concerning to see Hendersons barrel rate per plate appearance dip to 4.8%, which would be a career low, compared to peak seasons at 7.4% (2023 and 2024). That aligns with Hendersons 21.9% barrel rate per plate appearance and 96.1 mph average exit velocity on pulled flyballs and line drives this season. Both metrics are down from 2025 and previous seasons, as seen below.Here's a look at the O's shortstop's exit velocity data on pulled flyballs and line drives.Corbin YoungFrom a home run output standpoint, its working for Henderson to pull those balls into the air for barrels and homers. He is on pace for 28 home runs, with the potential for 30. After stealing 30 bases last season, his stolen base opportunity rate is down to 12% from 21% (2025). He hasnt been converting his chances into steals well this season, with a 66% conversion rate, compared to 84-85% in the previous two seasons.Even if Henderson reaches 25-30 home runs and 15-20 stolen bases, the significantly lower batting average will tank his fantasy value. It could present a buy-low window in most leagues or an expected discount in 2027. Im still holding out hope that Henderson will turn it around from a batting average standpoint.Jakob Marsee, OF, Marlins (49% Rostered)After five home runs, 14 stolen bases and a .292 batting average across 234 plate appearances last season, some were projecting that over a full season. Unfortunately, Marsee surpassed his previous season total of plate appearances with similar home runs (5) and stolen bases (19) with a brutal .197 batting average. Marsees walk rate increased to 13.1% this season, supported by a lower zone swing rate (57.3%). For context, Marsees zone swing rate dipped by over five percentage points compared to last season.Here's a look at Jakob Marsee's rolling averages for swing rate and walk rate.Corbing Young via FanGraphsThough that has helped Marsees OBP, his BABIP deflated by over 100 points, causing the batting average to plummet. If a hitter has a batting average below .200, they better be crushing in multiple categories. Thats especially true considering Marsee is a 1-2 category specialist. He continues to run often, with a 28% stolen base opportunity rate this season, which is down from 35% last year. Unfortunately, Marsee has been struggling to convert his chances into steals (63%), which was an issue last season (70%).Thankfully, Marsee is a strong defender, with a 92nd-percentile Outs Above Average, who is fast (61st-percentile Sprint Speed). Power hasnt been his calling card, but Marsee is pulling the ball into the air (21.2%) more often, up from 14.8% last season. Thats further evident in Marsees 2.1% barrel rate per plate appearance.Theres a chance Marsees BABIP will regress, but this is the challenge with a 1-2 category player without the track record in the majors. Fantasy managers are better off streaming batting average and steals if theyve been hoping for some from Marsee.Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL seasonVinnie Pasquantino, 1B, Royals (60% Rostered)Before Pasquantino landed on the injured list in mid-June with a hamate bone injury, he was struggling. He had six home runs, three steals and a .224 batting average across 291 plate appearances. That came with a 5.2% barrel rate per plate appearance, 70.2 mph bat speed and an 85.8% contact rate through mid-June.Since Pasquantino returned from the injured list, the batting average has been better (.282 BA) with zero home runs and one steal, supported by a .367 BABIP. Its a small sample since July 11, so theres a chance its fluky. With the walls moving in their home park, I expected the Royals hitters to show more power this season. Unfortunately, the opposite has been true.Pasquantino has a career-low 4.8% barrel rate per plate appearance, most of which came from before his injury. He continues to pull the ball into the air (22.8%) often, so his approach hasnt changed. Pasquantinos Exit Velocity 50 (EV50) has only dipped by 1 mph to 99.3 mph this season, so he continues to hit the ball hard. It seems like Pasquantinos bat speed and average exit velocity on pulled line drives and flyballs might be the issue. Pasquantinos 71.1 mph bat speed pulled balls into the air dropped from 74.4 mph (2025), coinciding with a 2 mph decline in average exit velocity.Here's a look at Vinnie Pasquantino's exit velocity metrics on pulled line drives and flyballs.Corbin YoungThat might indicate he is battling through an injury or maybe 2025 was the outlier with a 30+ home run season, though he has shown above-average barrel rates throughout his career. Keep tabs on Pasquantinos exit velocity and bat speed on pulled batted balls because that could suggest the power is coming around, especially during the summer months.In shallower formats, I probably wouldnt buy low because youre banking on power that might not be there.Ezequiel Tovar, SS, Rockies (34% Rostered)After a peak season in 2024, we assumed Tovars hip and strained oblique that caused him to miss two months were the culprit for a down 2025 season. After Tovar rocked higher BABIPs, it plummeted to .244, causing his batting average to decline to .198. For context, Tovars BABIP is 70 points lower than his career average, with the batting average around 50 points below the career norm. Theres a chance his BABIP regresses, especially if his 17.6% line drive rate rises back toward his career average (22.4%).Here's a look at Ezequiel Tovar's rolling averages for BABIP and wOBA.Corbin Young via FanGraphsTovar has been struggling so often that the Rockies moved him from the middle of the lineup in the first month to the bottom third for the most part. A major concern for Tovar throughout his career was the aggressive approach with a 44.7% chase rate and a whopping 16.1% swinging-strike rate. For context, Tovars chase rate was 15 points higher with a swinging-strike rate thats five points above the league norm. Though he is only 24 years old, his aggressive approach can hit a cliff as he ages.Tovars 4.3% barrel rate per plate appearance is down over one point from his career norm. He has shown above-average barrel rates in the past (career 5.7%), though he might need volume to compile his way to 15-20 home runs. Tovar has been converting 83% of his stolen base chances this season while running at the same rate (9%). Throughout his career, Tovar had a 65% stolen base conversion rate, so his 2026 success might be unexpected.The projections expect Tovar to hit 15 home runs and eight stolen bases with a .250 to .260 batting average. It would take plenty of luck for Tovars BABIP and batting average to bounce back in his favor. He might be droppable in most shallower formats, which weve seen based on the roster percentage.Teoscar Hernndez, OF, Dodgers (78% Rostered)Hernndez had a Grade 1 hamstring strain in late May, causing him to miss one month. After hitting 25+ home runs in five consecutive seasons, Hernndez might not reach 20 this season due to the injury and his power being down. Hernndez has a 5.5% barrel rate per plate appearance, down over three points from his career average. Furthermore, Hernndezs EV50 fell from 101.8 mph (No. 81) in 2025 to 100.3 mph this season.Interestingly, Hernndez has been more passive this season, swinging 46.1% of the time, down over four points from his career average. He might benefit from being more aggressive, especially since his power and exit velocity numbers have typically been high. With a hitter like Hernndezs extensive track record, were banking on the exit velocity and barrel rates to bounce back for the rest of the season.Here's Teoscar Hernandez's barrels per plate appearance percentage by season.Corbin YoungHernndez used to hit offspeed pitches well, but that hasnt been the case this season. He has a .300 wOBA (.302 xwOBA), an 85.5 mph exit velocity and 4.3% barrel rate per plate appearance against offspeed pitches this season. Maybe last season shouldve been a sign because Hernndez had a .322 wOBA (.266 xwOBA), an 86.7 mph exit velocity and 7.2% barrel rate against offspeed pitches. For context, Hernndez rocked a wOBA higher than .400 against offspeed pitches in 2023 and 2024.This is a case where most fantasy managers have been trusting Hernndezs track record and leaving him in the lineup. However, Hernndez has been struggling compared to his pre-season value. My gut says hold, but fantasy managers can cut and stream in shallower formats.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Ahman Green, a four-time Pro Bowl running back and the Green Bay Packers career rushing leader, said he learned last year that he has early onset Parkinsons disease.The 49-year-old Green discussed his diagnosis this week on Tyler Dunnes Go Long podcast.I know unfortunately theres a day we eventually, where our clock stops ticking, Green said. The way I look at it, my clock is going to stop ticking when I want it to stop ticking.Green said its similar to the approach he took while running the ball during a 12-year NFL career in which he rushed for 9,205 yards and 60 touchdowns. His last season was 2009.Green said his symptoms began when his feet started twitching in his sleep.I knew something was going on long before that, he said.Parkinsons is a neurologic disease that robs people of control over their movements. It typically starts with tremors and is characterized by slow movement, a shuffling gait, stiff limbs, balance problems and slurred speech.Green said he sometimes sleepwalks and has no recollection of it afterward. He called his short-term memory trash, but said his long-term memory is better.He expressed optimism about his long-term outlook while pointing out he exercises regularly and has a super clean diet.Green rushed for at least 1,163 yards each season from 2000-04 while playing for the Packers. He earned four straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2001-04.He rushed for 8,322 yards as a Packers player, the highest total in the franchises storied history. He set a Packers single-season record by rushing for 1,883 yards in 2003.Greens NFL career began with the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him out of Nebraska in the third round of the 1998 draft. He spent two seasons with Seattle before getting traded to Green Bay in April 2000.He played for the Packers from 2000-06, spent 2007-08 with the Houston Texans and returned to Green Bay for one last season.Greens announcement comes two years after former Packers teammate Brett Favre disclosed that he has Parkinsons disease. Green said he spoke with Favre a couple of weeks ago to catch up but added that he planned to call the Hall of Fame quarterback to let him know he has a brother right behind him.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) South Africa defender Olwethu Makhanya joined Rangers on Thursday from Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union as part of a major squad overhaul to catch city rival Celtic.Rangers said it signed the 22-year-old center back on a four-year deal without stating the transfer fee.Makhanya went to the World Cup with South Africa though stayed on the bench for all four games. South Africa lost to co-host Canada in the round of 32.Rangers placed third in the Scottish Premiership last season and has revitalized its squad for new coach Derek McInnes. He led Heart of Midlothian to the brink of the title in May until a last-day loss at Celtic, which has won the league in 14 of the past 15 seasons. Rangers starts the new league season on Friday at Dundee United, then in the Europa League third qualifying round at Jagiellonia Bialystok in Poland next Thursday.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The San Francisco 49ers are currently practicing without George Kittle, their starting tight end, as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles that he suffered in the team's wild card win over the Philadelphia Eagles.With that, the 49ers are looking for more depth at the position, and according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows, they're planning to sign Josiah Deguara.More to come...More 49ers: Controversial 49ers draft pick gets early opportunity to shineThis article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers to sign former Packers third-round pick for more TE depth