Clowney is back with the Texans after closing last season with a career-best three-sack game

The Minnesota Vikings are now in training camp, and that means that the quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. The early signs heading into camp indicated that this could already be Murray's job to lose, but is it? What we have seen in training camp has been a mixed bag for both men, but on Friday, there was an interesting development.Inside his training camo notes, ESPN's Kevin Seifert shared his latest notes as it relates to the position battle. In them, he discussed the day that Kyler Murray had, which was among his best.Seifert recapped practice, writing, "Murray was on the field for 16 of the first-team offense's 22 snaps in 11-on-11 team drills. McCarthy took the other six. Murray hit receiverJustin Jeffersonon a deep dig route over the middle and he threw another perfectly placed pass on his next series that receiverMyles Pricedropped. All three of Murray's passes to Jefferson were complete, and Price's drop was Murray's only incompletion among seven passes in team drills.".@k1 @JJettas2 pic.twitter.com/H9T3ao6Lan Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 2, 2026Seifert also discussed the play of J.J. McCarthy, which was not near the level of Murray's, based on all accounts from the day. "McCarthy did not find similar success while working mostly with the second team against the first-team defense. He threw one pass on the run that rookie linebackerJake Goldaytipped, and was intercepted by linebackerBlake Cashman. McCarthy's best throw of the day came during a stint with the first team, but tight endT.J. Hockensonwas unable to come up with the ball in traffic in the end zone."Social media was buzzing with takeaways from practice, including the Vikings sharing one throw. It is worth remembering that we are still very early in training camp, and a lot is left to go in this battle. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings QB Battle Update: Kyler Murray has a big day on Saturday

Tottenhammake an approach for Victor Osimhen, Atletico Madrid consider a move for Manchester Citywinger Jack Grealish, and Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has positive talks with Spurs.Tottenham have made an initial approach worth up to 55m for Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, 27, but the Turkish champions are looking for closer to 65m for the Nigerian. (Caught Offside)Newcastle and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 28, is set to have a medical at Arsenal in a deal that will be worth nearly 80m. (Athletic - subscription required)Atletico Madrid are considering a move for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, with Everton and Aston Villa also exploring a bid for the 30-year-old Englishman. (Sun)Tottenham have held positive talks with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, but the Reds have no intention of selling the 26-year-old Dutchman. (Teamtalk)Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, 24, has completed a medical and is set to join Newcastle after the Czech Republic international's release clause of 25.7m was met. (Mail - subscription required)Hull City are close to an agreement to sign Nice striker Mohamed-Ali Cho, 22, with a transfer fee of about 17m set to secure the French forward. (L'Equipe)Chelsea have submitted an improved offer for left-back Pep Chavarria, 28, after Rayo Vallecano responded to the Blues' opening bid of 12.8m by asking for 21.4m for the Spaniard. (Teamtalk)Hull City are close to signing Australia defender Lucas Herrington, 18, from MLS side Colorado Rapids for 17m. (Sun)Real Madrid duo Gonzalo Garcia, 22, and Cesar Palacios, 21, have been having medicals with Fulham after an agreement over permanent moves for the Spanish striker and midfielder were agreed. (Sky Sports)Hull City are set to beat Rangers and Cardiff City to sign Norwegian midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl, 20, from Tromso.(Mail - subscription required)Get the latest on your Premier League teamAll your football quizzes in one placeListen to the latest Football Daily podcast

Two-way superstar and former No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter had an up-and-down rookie season in the NFL that ended with a knee injury after only seven games.Early in the Jaguars' training camp, Hunter is making a strong impression, demonstrating his potential as a two-way player. In Sunday's practice, Hunter got a ball thrown by Trevor Lawrence over the head of a defender before flipping around and jumping a crossing route for a nifty interception.The key for Hunter remains staying healthy so he can play both sides of the ball. He spent the offseason rehabbing, but also bulking up, adding ten pounds of muscle, allowing him to handle the NFL's physicality better.He currently slots in as the Jaguars' top outside cornerback, but on offense the depth chart is crowded. Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. all need targets, as does Hunter. As of now, he seems to be competing with Thomas Jr. for the No. 3 wide receiver spot. Once preseason games start, it will be fascinating to see how often Hunter is on the field.Doing damage on both sides of the ball @Dream_Finders | #DUUUVALpic.twitter.com/kKxbDaGF0w Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 2, 2026In 2025, the former Colorado star caught 28 passes for 298 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Hunter racked up 15 total tackles and three passes defended.Hunter and the Jacksonville Jaguars open up preseason play in New Orleans against the Saints on Saturday, Aug. 15.Follow Charlie StrellaonX,ThreadsandInstagram.Contact/Follow us@BuffaloesWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookfor ongoing coverage ofColoradonews, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Travis Hunter flashes two-way potential at Jaguars training camp

Las Vegas Raiders star Fernando Mendoza is expected to be a franchise quarterback in the league. However, whether or not he plays above his peers in the 2026 NFL Draft class next season remains to be seen.NFL.coms Gennaro Filice named Mendoza to his All-Rookie Team for next season, as the quarterback that will outperform the other rookies at the position. The Raiders are telling anyone who will listen that they intend to slow-play Mendozas NFL integration, suggesting veteran signeeKirk Cousinscould hold the starting reins far longer than most anticipate. Color me skeptical --overwhelminglyso. Carson Palmer is the last No. 1 overall pick to get a redshirt season, spending the entire 2003 campaign on the sideline. In the intervening years, 16 quarterbacks went first overall and all of them saw the field in Year 1. I expect Mendoza to play a lot in 2026, which isnt something you can say about any other rookie QB, even ifCarson Beckhas a chance to eventually get snaps in Arizona. This is the most obvious pick of this exercise.Mendoza has the potential to put up big numbers in 2026. The only thing that could get in the way of Mendoza outperforming his peers is a great season from Cousins. The other top rookie quarterbacks include Ty Simpson (Los Angeles Rams), Carson Beck (Arizona Cardinals), and Cade Klubnick (New York Jets).Simpson will play behind AP MVP Matt Stafford in Los Angeles next season and is unlikely to get a start on the year. Beck will be behind Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew in Arizona. Clubnick is behind Geno Smith in the Jets depth chart. All three will likely only see the field in the event of injuries to starters.This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Will Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza outshine other rookie QBs in 2026?

Im happy the Kroenke family will lead negotiations for Vinicius Jr OpinionArsenal are waiting for Vinicius Jr. to give us the green light to make Real Madrid an offer by rejecting their latest contract proposal.If the Gunners do pounce, Im relieved to hear reports that Josh Kroenke wants to take ownership of any deal and lead negotiations.Thats not meant as any disrespect to Andrea Berta. I maintain the Italian remains one of the best appointments our owners have made since they first joined the club.Yet we know all about our director of footballs recruitment strategy.The 54-year-old likes to take his time, collecting as much detail as possible on individuals before going away to review all of the information hes compiled.Thats why transfer sagas involving the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and now Bruno Guimaraes seem to drag on for weeks.Media in England and Spain stress that, while both parties want to find a compromise, Florentino Perezs improved offer to the 26-year-old will be his final one, with little room for negotiation.The moment those talks break down, indecisiveness is not an option.Arsenal must be decisive if the opportunity arisesWe cant spend the rest of August trying to haggle over the asking price because that gives time for counteroffers or even a bidding war.Most importantly, part of the attackers standoff with his employers is his desire to feel valued.A key selling point of moving to North London is that he can become the face of the brand. That sales pitch is diluted if we are not aggressive in our actions.The English champions will be breaking their own records in terms of transfer fee and wages, so this transaction would have needed approval from those at the very top of the club anyway.It would also change the pay structure at the Emirates, and thats something any owner is naturally going to approach with caution.(Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)Why Josh Kroenke taking charge makes senseBecause of the numbers involved, you can understand why Josh feels these talks should be between those with the most authority.Its not as though the Kroenke family are strangers to negotiating multi-million-pound business deals, so they wont be intimidated by speaking directly with the president of Real Madrid.Father and son know this is a huge opportunity for KSE. Not just in football, but across their entire sporting portfolio, a deal of this magnitude could generate enormous commercial value.Not to mention it would establish a working relationship with Roc Nation Sports, who represent the player and are one of the biggest agencies in world sport.Forget whether its on the pitch or off it this is an opportunity that doesnt come around very often.For a while now, it has been clear that Stan Kroenke has entrusted Arsenal to Josh as his own project.If the 46-year-old pulls this off, it could prove to be a turning point in Arsenals history.Dan SmithDo you agree, Gooners? Should Josh Kroenke take personal control of negotiations if Arsenal decide to move for Vinicius Jr, or should Andrea Berta remain the man leading the clubs biggest transfer deals? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow.You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, dont hesitate to get in touch with us through this linkMore Stories / Latest NewsIm happy the Kroenke family will lead negotiations for Vinicius Jr Opinion 2 August 2026, 21:45Arsenal consider two very different Saliba solutions as CB search heats up Report 2 August 2026, 20:15Bruno Guimares expected to become Arsenal player shortly Romano 2 August 2026, 18:50

Veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney is heading back to where his NFL career began, and one of the league's best pass rushes got even stronger. Jadeveon Clowney has agreed to a deal to return to the Houston Texans, NFL Network reported Sunday. The terms of the deal are unknown, but it reunites the 33-year-old veteran with the franchise that selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Across his 12 NFL seasons, Clowney has accumulated 66.5 career sacks, 16 forced fumbles, and 450 total tackles. The former South Carolina standout spent his first five seasons in Houston, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2016 to 2018. Since departing Houston following the 2018 season, Clowney has logged stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and most recently the Dallas Cowboys. Clowney had 8.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 13 games for the Cowboys last season. Clowney is expected to rotate alongside star pass-rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, giving Houston a pass rush capable of forcing pressure on quarterbacks across the league. Anderson and Hunter combined for 27 sacks in 2025. The Texans are hoping to take the next step after finishing second in the AFC South and winning a wild card game before losing to the eventual runners-up, the New England Patriots, last season. For Clowney, the agreement brings the former top pick back to Houston to lead one of the best defensive units in the league with ambitions to return to the postseason after falling in the divisional round last year.

With NFL training camp beginning to get underway, former Washington Huskies star wide receiver Rome Odunze looks like one of the best value picks in all of fantasy football ahead of the 2026 season.Across his first two years in the NFL, the No. 9 overall pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2024 draft has played in 20 games and put together 98 catches for 1,395 yards and 9 touchdowns. However, those numbers don't come close to telling the full story of what kind of ceiling he has.Over the first four games of the 2025 season, he displayed great chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams, hauling in 20 catches for 296 yards and 5 touchdowns. Then, as the season wore on, he was hampered by a stress fracture in his foot that forced him to miss five games, something that he'll have to adjust to moving forward, but he doesn't expect to limit him.Footage from Rome Odunze Instagram of him runningObviously cannot tell how fast and how it would look/feel planting with the new normal foot, but hope hes all good pic.twitter.com/lsz8OBJl0U Zain Dhanani (@DhananiZain) July 4, 2026Its not from a standpoint that Im like always in pain, but the way my foot broke, theres calluses in there that creates a different type of foot structure with those bones...different things that kind of shifts things around, Odunze told Jay Cohen of the Associated Press. "Somy new normalwas kind of what I am going into. And I dont think thats anything thats going to prohibit me or keep me from making plays.With fantasy football drafts on the horizon, those comments have led some analysts to turn away from Odunze and toward his teammates, wide receiver Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland, but especially after Chicago traded receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills, the 2023 Consensus All-American could be one of the best values on the board.According to FantasyPros, he's currently ranked as the consensus No. 60 overall player (No. 28 wide receiver) on draft boards. For someone who averaged 8.75 targets per game in the first month of 2025 when fully healthy and 7.5 targets per contest last season, that's great value for a player who could potentially be the top receiver in coach Ben Johnson's offense.This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington star WR is a valuable fantasy football pick in 2026

Credit: ESPNMonica McNutt has been facing criticism on the internet after she appeared on SportsCenter from a nail salon. But she has some high-profile defenders, including Mike Golic Jr., who made an appearance to promote his new ESPN show from the banks of a river in Mississippi.Golic Jr. and his father, Mike Golic Sr., are teaming up to return to ESPN Radio for the new show The Golics, which will air weekday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET, and will debut Monday, August 3.ESPN used SportsCenter on Saturday morningto promote the new show, with both Golics appearing as part of the promotion. Mike Golic Sr. spoke from a home, while Golic Jr. appeared from the banks of a river in Mississippi.Golic Jr. then took it a step further, promoting the appearance on X while also defending Monica McNutt after she appeared on SportsCenter from a nail salon on Friday.I saw my friend @McNuttMonica holding it down in the nail salon so I had to dial in from the river in Mississippi!, Golic Jr. posted.I saw my friend @McNuttMonica holding it down in the nail salon so I had to dial in from the river in Mississippi! https://t.co/sE89CpjxBv Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) August 1, 2026Many users called out McNutt for being unprofessional for appearing from a nail salon. Others argued ESPN has lowered its standards for remote on-air appearances. The criticism came from many of the same people who were upset that, a few days earlier, McNutt said Caitlin Clark has room for a little bit more accountability and self-awareness.Golics appearance aired on Saturday. As of Sunday afternoon, it had not generated the same kind of viral criticism directed at McNutts nail salon appearance.Of course, there is no requirement for social media criticism to be in good faith. However, this sort of thing does highlight how silly and targeted these viral social media posts can be. If anyone needs any more reminding, social media, especially X, is not reflective of real life.The post Mike Golic Jr. joins Monica McNutts defense after his own unconventional SportsCenter appearance appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Usman Nurmagomedov is officially the biggest free agent in combat sports after he demolished Archie Colgan this past Friday to finish his current contract with the PFL.With an undefeated record, a dominant style on the feet and on the ground and coming from one of the top teams in MMA history, Nurmagomedov is entering the prime of his career with the chance to truly decide his future with his next contract. The powers-that-be at PFL-MVP including CEO John Martin and Jake Paul have made it clear they want to keep Nurmagomedov but theres little doubt that the allure of going to the UFC is definitely an enticing option.While he didnt offer much on the subject, UFC CEO Dana White reacted to Nurmagomedovs free agency and if the UFC was interested in potentially pursuing him now that hes available.Sure, White said with a big smile on his face during the UFC Belgrade post-fight press conference.White added another smile-face emoji when his initial reaction started making the rounds on social media. What that exactly means is left up for interpretation but its impossible to believe the UFC wont make a serious push to sign Nurmagomedov to the roster, especially considered the promotions ties to his family in the past.View this post on InstagramCurrently, Nurmagomedovs longtime teammate and training partner Islam Makhachev is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC while his younger brother Umar Nurmagomedov is a top ranked bantamweight.Add to that, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov serves his cousins head coach and he already declared Usman as the best lightweight in the world outside of the UFC.On Instagram, Khabib made a post praising his cousin Usman and the skills he continues to display in all of his fights. As far as the future goes, Khabib added negotiations will be held next month and he expects to have an answer very soon as far as Usmans fighting future.View this post on InstagramDoes that mean hes destined to sign with the UFC?That remains to be seen but Usman Nurmagomedov is definitely setting the stage as the biggest free agent to hit the market since two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison was available. She obviously signed with the UFC and now serves as bantamweight champion.