New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh lauded star edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux following the teams second training camp practice of 2026.In speaking with reporters, Harbaugh raved about the ways Thibodeaux has impressed him with his ability to generate passes defensed in practice this summer after Thursdays session concluded.I like to see a lot of that, Harbaugh said of the hands he has seen from Thibodeaux in practice. Thats what you want to see. I mean, hes a pretty athletic guy. Hes aware. He does have good hands. The ability to rush the passer and also the awareness to bat balls down is massive.Thibodeaux is best known for recording 11.5 sacks in the 2023 season, but he has also put up solid numbers in passes defensed, particularly early in his career. The 25-year-old recorded five passes defensed as a rookie in 2022 and four in 2023.Following a down year in 2025 with New York, Thibodeaux will again be a heavily utilized member of the Giants edge rusher rotation under Harbaugh. That role will require him to disrupt opposing quarterbacks in the passing lanes next season.This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: John Harbaugh raves about Kayvon Thibodeaux's ability to bat down passes

The 2025 season was a magical one for the Chicago Bears. In Ben Johnson's first season as head coach, Chicago won 11 games and captured its first NFC North title since 2018. The Bears also developed a flair for the dramatic, rallying to win seven games after trailing in the final two minutes (six in the regular season and one in the playoffs), the most by any NFL team since the 1970 merger. Quarterback Caleb Williams was at the center of it all, throwing for a franchise-record 3,942 passing yards while establishing himself as the face of the franchise. Now, after a breakthrough season filled with many unforgettable moments, the biggest question entering 2026 is: Can the Bears build off it? Let's check out their Over/Under win total odds for the 2026 season. 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 about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Chicago Bears Over 9.5: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)Under 9.5: -120 (bet $10 to win $18.33 total) What to know: In the Wild Card last season, Chicago pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in NFL postseason history, rallying from 18 points down to beat the Packers. In the Divisional Round, Caleb Williams provided more late-game heroics to force overtime, but the Bears ultimately fell to the Rams in heartbreaking fashion. Now, on to 2026. The Bears are projected to have fewer wins than they did a season ago. A big reason for that is that Chicago holds the toughest strength of schedule in the NFL for the 2026 season based on opponents' combined 2025 records. Chicago had a few key losses this offseason as well. The Bears lost DJ Moore and Drew Dalman on the offensive side of the ball and Tremaine Edmunds, Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard on the defensive side. However, they did go out and get Coby Bryant and Devin Bush. Odds: This upcoming season, Chicago is the +305 third choice to win the NFC North, the +1250 seventh choice to win the NFC and the +2400 15th choice to win the Super Bowl.

SEATTLE (AP) Less than six months removed from his first NFL title, Sam Darnold briefly chuckled to himself. Darnold was asked Thursday if he feels the narratives about him have gone by the wayside. For years, the discourse on Darnold centered around him being a bust, considering his pedigree as a former No. 3 overall pick, and a transient quarterback who hopped from team to team. Darnolds first year under center for the Seahawks, after all, marked his fifth team in eight seasons.Despite the scrutiny, Darnold said his confidence in himself has never wavered.I dont allow myself to really pay attention to anything like that, Darnold said five days into training camp. If I do catch wind of it, I have my process on how to handle that. Like I said, its just about handling my process and doing it my way, so that when I get out there, its not about what Ive done or what Im going to do, its about what Im doing right now. I think if I just continue to have that mindset as we go on, well be just fine.What Darnold is more interested in is getting up to speed with the Seahawks new offensive scheme. First-year offensive coordinator Brian Fleury and Darnold have some familiarity with one another, though. Fleury spent the last four years as the 49ers tight ends coach, and Darnold was San Franciscos backup for the 2023 season.Darnold has enjoyed getting to reconnect with the stoic Fleury, who has been tasked with replacing current Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak. Whether its a good play or bad play, his mentality never changes out there on the field, which I already knew about, being in San Francisco with him, Darnold said. But, he was always very even keel. Now, getting to spend a lot more time with him as the offensive coordinator, its fun to be able to watch him work every single day and see his mentality out there.Darnold would also like to keep working on his report with wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, who signed a $51 million, three-year contract in March. Shaheed, who had 59 catches for 687 yards and two touchdowns last season for Seattle and New Orleans, spent a good chunk of the offseason training with Darnold. The two Southern California natives teamed up at Saddleback College in Orange County, which Darnold imagines will only help Shaheed further get up to speed with the Seahawks ahead of his first full season in Seattle.Hes a friendly receiver to throw to, Darnold said. ... Im looking forward to him continuing to get more reps and build that chemistry so that we can see him more often getting catches and doing his thing at the receiver position.Fans will have plenty of chances to get sneak peaks of Darnolds and Shaheeds progress on the HBO show Hard Knocks. As the quarterback of the reigning Super Bowl champions, Darnold understands he very well may be one of the focal points of the show.Its an impending experience Darnold is prepared for ahead of his ninth NFL season. After a second straight Pro Bowl season, Darnold has proven he belongs among the NFLs elite quarterbacks after a much-criticized beginning to his professional career.While Darnold isnt one to reflect on how far hes come, coach Mike Macdonald is more than willing to shower praise on his even-keeled quarterback as the Seahawks seek to defend their Super Bowl title. The thing I appreciate about Sam and you cant speak for everybody but just every rep is a rep, Macdonald said. If its in the quarterback room and theyre going over the script, he treats that rep the same as he does here, if its practiced online or were in a game. Its all the same. Thats the mental approach that we want all of our guys to take.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 23 : Dante Pettis #11 of the New Orleans Saints warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Caesars Superdome on November 23, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Buffalo Bills wasted no time in trying to fill the roster spot vacated by veteran wide receiver Jalen Virgil. With the team already losing wide receiver Tyrell Shavers to the Active/PUP list, waiving Virgil with a non-football injury (NFI) designation paved the way for the team to host several receiver prospects on Thursday, July 30.Among those tryouts was wide receiver Dante Pettis, who ultimately signed a deal with Buffalo after Thursdays session at St. John Fisher University. Pettis, who turns 31 at the end of October, is a seven-year NFL veteran who until now spent his time exclusively in NFC. The 6 1, 200-pound Pettis originally entered the NFL as a second-round (44th overall) pick of the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 NFL Draft. He made a meaningful impact as a rookie, catching 27 passes (45 attempts) for 467 yards and five touchdowns (per Pro Football Reference). Pettis was waived during his third season with the Niners, ultimately landing with the New York Giants, where he remained through the 2021 NFL season. Pettis signed on with the Chicago Bears for the 2022 season, seeing his most significant involvement and production since that promising rookie campaign, catching 19 passes (41 targets) for 245 yards and three touchdowns; adding two rushers for 37 yards with the Bears.Pettis also brings a bit to the table as a passer, having attempted and completed one pass for 16 yards each with the Niners (2019) and Giants (2021). Pettis didnt play during the 2023 NFL season, returning the following year and signing with the New Orleans Saints. In 16 total game appearances between the 2024 and 2025 NFL seasons, Pettis caught 21 passes (39 targets) for 247 yards and one touchdown with the Saints. In total, Pettis has played for four NFL teams, catching 92 passes (171 targets) for 1,231 yards and 13 touchdowns.

It's fitting that two of the brightest starts at the final Rocket Classic have been two of the most dedicated golfers in the tournament's eight-year history.Indiana native Peter Malnati led the field after the first round of the 2026 Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club, shooting a 9-under par on Thursday, July 30. Malnati's 61 overall tied a course record set by Jake Knapp in the 2025 Rocket Classic as Malnati had multiple opportunities not only to grab the course record for himself, but register a historic round of 59."Even in the beginning before I knew it was going to be a special day, I didn't feel the same level of like anxiety of, like, if I hit a bad shot, it means I suck," he said. "I just felt no, I'm going to enjoy the good ones. If I hit a bad one, I'm going to figure out why and how can I improve."Not far behind him was fan favorite Rickie Fowler, who finished the first round tied for second at 7-under, two strokes back. Malnati and Fowler are two of the six golfers to have played in all eight editions of the Rocket Classic.World No. 3 Cameron Young, the highest-ranked player at the tournament, finished at 1-under after the first round while World No. 5 Russell Henley finished at 3-under.Malnati and Fowler dominate morning actionA few dozen fans watched Malnati tie the course record on No. 18. Malnati missed a birdie putt that would have put him 10-under par and set a course record, but even with the growing crowd surrounding him, it seemed like only a small percentage were actively engaged and understood the history he was pursuing.About 15 minutes later, a few hundred fans were laser-focused on Fowlers birdie attempt on the front nine, with Fowler missing a chance to get within one stroke of Malnati for the lead. But even if Fowler were at par for his first round, the crowd would have been glued to his performance, anyway, as the 2023 Rocket Classic winner was one of the main attractions at the 2026 event.Fowler put up a first-round performance worthy of his following, finishing tied for second with Ryan Gerard after one round on Thursday. The six-time PGA Tour champion had birdies on the 13th, 15th and 16th holes and an eagle on the 14th to sprint to 5 under par through his first seven holes.Rickie Fowler opens the week with a 7-under 63 The 2023 @RocketClassic champ is dialed. pic.twitter.com/cNTj1MoDaN PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 30, 2026Fowlers excellent first round marked a bittersweet moment, however, as the 37-year-old lamented the end of the classic after his round.It's definitely been a bummer to kind of come into this knowing it was the last one, he said. It's been fun for me to have a partnership with Rocket and see this event make its way here because that was always a dream of theirs to have an event back in Detroit, and to see it continue to grow over the years, felt like it just kept getting bigger and better.Fowler has already found success here in Detroit and elsewhere on the Tour, but the same can't be said of Malnati, who has finished in a top 30 in only two of the 17 tournaments he has played in 2026. The tournament leader reflected on his recent struggles after his round:I always think I'm close to playing well, but you do start to have those questions and doubts when I've thought I was close all year and I haven't had any kinds of breakthroughs, he said. It's nice to see it for one round. I'd like to be able to keep it going for a whole tournament and then string some of them together.How about a 28 on the first nine of the week?! It took Peter Malnati just 11 puts to make the turn at 7-under. PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/uLxzjPXlHB PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 30, 2026Low scores abounded on the new-look course, with Keegan Bradley and Michael Kim both registering at 5-under in the first round and world No. 15 Xander Schauffele (in the same group as Fowler) shooting a 4-under 66. Bradley birdied four holes on the back nine and partly credited the courses new greens for his success.They're brand new greens, they roll great, they're great greens, he said. It was soft, it certainly was softer than I expected, but I don't know, maybe that's how they have to be when they're brand new like this.But no one was more complimentary of the new course (and more disappointed in the fate of the tournament) than Malnati, who said that he was determined to get the Rocket Classic back on the Tour schedule.Not that I have any say in that anymore, but I'm not giving up hope. I want to come back, he said.Michael Brennan birdies 8 in a rowMichael Brennan cruised through the afternoon of action, recording eight-straight birdies from Nos. 5-12 as he finished 5 under par. If it wasnt for consecutive bogeys on Nos. 3 and 4, he might have challenged Malnati for the lead though finishing the first day in the top 10 isnt bad for a few hours' work.The bright-faced Brennan, who has one PGA Tour win in his short career, bogeyed No. 17 and missed a short birdie attempt on 18 that would have brought him within three strokes of the lead. But he still found time to savor his accomplishment immediately after while signing a ball for a fan."That was a fun round, the most I've ever done in a round," he said. "I've never made eight in a row before, and I did it here."Michael Brennan is on a heater of all heaters. 8. STRAIGHT. BIRDIES. pic.twitter.com/OaMZasGdDS SleeperGolf (@SleeperGolf) July 30, 2026Brennan was one birdie away from tying the PGA Tour record of nine, a record shared by Mark Calvavecchia in 2009 and Kevin Chappell in 2019. Defending champion Aldrich Potgieger finished near the bottom at 6-over while Detroit native and Wayne State alum Joe Hooks finished the first round with the same score. Ann Arbor native and Michigan assistant golf coach Patrick Wilkes-Krier had an impressive showing in his first PGA Tour event since 2016, at one point at even par through seven holes, but social media star Brad Dalke didnt have as easy a time, finishing near the bottom while playing on a sponsor's exemption.Needto catch up on the news during your lunch break?Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletterto get daily summaries of Detroit sports!You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Rocket Classic vets Rickie Fowler, Peter Malnati dominate Round 1

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: Nigel Williams-Goss #5 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts on the court in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesBack-to-back opportunities for The Slipper Still Fits to talk with some legendary point guards who have come through the Gonzaga Bulldogs program. Nigel Williams-Goss was the leader of the 2016-17 group that made its first school appearance in the national championship game. Williams-Goss, currently playing with Zalgiris Kaunas in Kaunas, Lithuania, discussed the similarities found between college basketball and the EuroLeague, the reasoning behind transferring away from the Washington Huskies, giving back to the Inland Northwest community, and much more. He will be hosting two youth basketball camps on August 2nd at the Spokane Club in Spokane, Washington, and August 3rd through 5th at the Hub Sports Center in Liberty Lake, Washington. Arden Cravalhois a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area Follow him on X @a_cravalho

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - APRIL 18: Robert Valentin of Switzerland reacts after a victory against Julien Leblanc of Canada in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Canada Life Centre on April 18, 2026 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Robzilla is extra motivated.Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Robert Valentin returns to action this weekend against hometown fighter Dusko Todorovic on the UFC Belgrade main card, which goes down Sat., Aug. 1, 2026, inside Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.And for the first time in a while, Valentin sounds like himself again.It has been a brutal two years for the Swiss fighter, who entered UFC with plenty of eyeballs on him after a strong run on season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Unfortunately, his official Octagon career got off to a nightmare start.Valentin was stopped by eventual TUF winner Ryan Loder in the finale (watch highlights). He then was one half of one of the most boring fights you will ever watch when Torrez Finney wrestled him for 15 minutes. After that, Valentin got crushed by super prospect Ateba Gautier in one minute at UFC 319 (watch highlights).So, within one year of being in UFC, Valentin was 0-3 and on the verge of getting released.That kind of pressure can mess with a fighter.I came off of TUF with a lot of hype, so people were saying a lot of good things about me, and the thing was, I was really believing any of it, Valentin told UFC.com. And because of that, I kind of lost the joy of training and doing all of the things I needed to do. Whenever I entered the gym, I felt pressure, like people watching me. Then I lost the finale and then two more and I felt the pressure getting more and more, which made me lose the joy of it all.Eventually, Valentin had to stop caring so much about the noise.But then, I finally said, Fk all of you guys. I dont give a fk what you think, Valentin continued. I was a kid dreaming of this. Dreaming about being in the UFC, dreaming of fighting in front of millions of people, and thats what Im going to do. Win or lose, Im going to have the best fight possible.That change in mindset, combined with finally getting with a more structured team, helped Valentin claim his first UFC win and keep his career alive.More importantly, it helped him enjoy the sport again.I found my love for the sport again, Valentin said. But the UFC is like every other job if you fking love it then you will be successful in it. However, if you pressure yourself to perform, there is a blockade. I think I finally got rid of this. I had to weather the storm, and now Im just here enjoying everything.Now, Valentin enters UFC Belgrade with something he has never had before inside the Octagon:Momentum.Finally coming into a UFC fight off a win, Robzilla is ready to put on the kind of performance people expected from him when he first entered the promotion.Its always the same when Robzilla fights, Valentin said. It is violent, all gas no brakes, looking for a finish. I say it every time, tune in and dont miss it.At 0-3, Valentin looked like he might be on his way out.Now, he is fighting with joy again.To checkout the latest and greatest UFC Belgrade: Medic vs. Rodriguez news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

Fermn Lpez has revealed he endured "the worst summer" of his life after an injury ruled him out of Spain's World Cup-winning campaign. The Barcelona midfielder admitted he required professional help to cope with the heartbreak while being at his physical peak. Heartbreak During The World Cup Fermn has revealed the immense psychological toll of missing Spain's recent World Cup triumph. A poorly timed injury completely derailed his summer, forcing him to watch his compatriots achieve international glory from the sidelines. The 23-year-old playmaker was operating at the peak of his powers before the physical setback abruptly ruled him out of the tournament. Navigating this devastating blow required a massive support system, with the youngster relying heavily on his family, friends, and partner to pull through. Tuning Out The World Cup The emotional impact of his forced exclusion was so severe that Fermn initially refused to tune into the tournament. Speaking to Catalunya Radio's Tot Costa from Barcelona's pre-season camp in England, he confessed that watching Spain play was simply too painful. "It's been the worst summer of my life. I was at my peak, everything was going well, and then the injury happened," Fermn admitted. "You learn from these situations, but it's true that I've had a really tough summer. I've gotten through it thanks to my family, my partner, and my friends. I needed help. I already had it before, but my coach has helped me a lot to get through it. "I didn't watch the first few matches of the Spanish national team in the World Cup. I couldn't. I wanted to be there at the World Cup. Let me make it clear that it made me very happy to see my teammates win the World Cup. Towards the end of the World Cup, I felt a bit better and decided to go see the final live in New York." Road To Recovery Under Flick After enduring months of grueling rehabilitation, Fermn is finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The midfielder is currently working closely with Hansi Flicks squad in the United Kingdom as he focuses on regaining his match sharpness ahead of the new campaign. He remains incredibly optimistic about his current physical status and is already eyeing a return to action at the Joan Gamper Trophy. The young star insists that his painful summer experience has only provided him with more motivation to succeed. "I'm feeling better every day. I have no discomfort, which is important," he explained. "If everything goes well, I could play a few minutes in the Gamper Trophy match. The intention is to come back from this injury with even more motivation. I think I'm very ready. I've already shown how I can help Bara, and I have to continue doing the same next season." He added about his ambitions for the new season, saying: "The dream of winning the Champions League is shared by the whole team. We've closed the last two years. This season could be a good one. We've been playing together for three years and have experienced a lot. I feel we're ready to win the Champions League. Winning a third consecutive league title is difficult. It will be a tough year. But if we're focused on our game and united, we can win a third league title." Focus On The New Season With his fitness returning and his mindset reset, Fermn is now firmly focused on achieving greatness with Barcelona. The Catalan giants are targeting domestic dominance and European success as they head into the new season under Flick's guidance.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is out of the lineup on Thursday, July 30th vs. the Seattle Mariners, as he manages his two injuries. As a result of his two-way work (mainly his pitching), Ohtani is dealing with left knee discomfort and biceps soreness, both injuries that have appeared more than once over the last month or so. Manager Dave Roberts addressed the decision to sit Ohtani against the Mariners, citing treatment as a reason for the rest.The soreness of the knee. Yesterday went in there for treatment, it was best to give him a day, Roberts said. Jul 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after a pitch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesRoberts was appreciative of Ohtanis honesty about his knee, especially since it is up to how the star feels.I appreciate the communication. I cant read minds; for him to communicate that allows us to make the decision, Roberts said. If needed, Ohtani is available to pinch hit on Thursday, per Roberts, and the skipper is confident that the designated hitter will be back on Friday. What is the status of Ohtanis injuries?The Japanese star has admitted that his pitching was the main reason behind his pitching and hitting ailments.However, that has not stopped Ohtani from trying to pitch. He did a bullpen session last week in Philadelphia, but he kicked the can down the road on his follow-up after experiencing some additional discomfort. The Dodgers and Ohtani are focusing and prioritizing his hitting because of their pitching depth and their need for his bat more than his arm at this point in the season. Dave Roberts has mentioned that Ohtani has been feeling better since his pitching break, especially after getting an injection in his left knee and time to recover. The Dodgers will be giving Ohtani every chance to play when possible, as long as there is minimal risk of aggravation. Will Shohei Ohtani pitch in the postseason?If the Dodgers could, they would likely rest Ohtani until the playoffs and then roll him out as a pitcher in the rotation.However, things are more complicated than that. For a fully optimized version of Ohtani, he will likely need a notable buildup, alongside regular starts before the postseason, to get his timing and rhythm in sync. Jul 28, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn ImagesSimply icing him out until October is not feasible if they want the ace-level pitcher that Ohtani is at his apex. Barring a big change in how things go, Ohtani will be pitching in the playoffs and will return at the latest in September if his progress continues, possibly even mid-August at the earliest.

BEREA, OHIO - JULY 29: Head coach Todd Monken of the Cleveland Browns watches a drill during Cleveland Browns Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 29, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Cleveland Browns made it through Day 2 of training camp on Thursday under the watchful eye of visiting Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.That led to far too many breathless questions from the media to head coach Todd Monken about what Sanders the elder thought about various things related to the Browns.Fortunately, that did not distract from the important work at hand for Monken, which includes:Figuring out who the starting quarterback will be from the equally poor choices of Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders. (Best get comfy, Browns fans, because Monken is in no hurry.)Determining which pieces of the rebuilt offensive line fit best, with plenty of combinations on the field in the early part of camp.Keeping an eye on new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg, who is adding some much-needed freshness to the defensive scheme, according to safety Grant Delpit.This is all to be expected with a new head coach, a team filled with several first- and second-year players at key positions, and coming off a two-year run that produced just eight wins.The offensive line will work itself out, and while there may be a few growing pains in the opening weeks of the season, Rutenbergs defense should be fine. (Or at least no worse than the one that allowed Carson Wentz to drive 80 yards for a game-winning touchdown pass last season.)It is still the Browns, of course, so everything begins and ends with the ongoing issue at quarterback, which explains in large part why Cleveland checks in at No. 27 in Josh Kendalls latest rankings at The Athletic:In exchange for a $230 million guaranteed contract, the Browns have gotten 19 games, and nine wins out of Watson. Hes back for the final year of his deal after missing 10 games in 2024 and all of 2025 due to a twice-torn Achilles. He and Shedeur Sanders will compete for the starting job under new coach Todd Monken. Oh, and Myles Garrett is gone, after being traded to the Rams.Yes, Garrett is now with the Rams, but it is not as if Verse is the second coming of Nate Orchard, so the dropoff at the position may not be quite so impactful.Unfortunately, there is not much to be done this year about the quarterback play, other than hope that Monken can figure out a way to get something approaching average play out of the Watson/Sanders combo.The good news is that ranking is just one writers opinion, and being so low means there is nowhere to go but up!