It may not have felt like it, but the Minnesota Vikings' run game in 2025 was actually pretty good. Minnesota finished 12th in yards per carry, but as they usually had to play from behind, they only finished 23rd in rushing yards. Improved quarterback play should play a factor into this, but could one Vikings rookie be the key to elevating this group?Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote about the Vikings' training camp so far, and shouted out rookie fullback Max Bredeson for the work he has done so far. Here is what he had to say:Assistant head coach Frank Smith spent some time after Saturdays practice reviewing techniques with fullback Max Bredeson.This is a positive sign that the assistant coaches are spending more time with Bredeson. This could signal that Kevin O'Connell wants to use Bredeson early and often to replace C.J. Ham in that starting fullback role. Ham did a great job during his time in Minnesota, and it appears that the coaching staff has high hopes for Bredeson to fill his shoes.This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Fullback could be the key to boosting the Vikings' run game

Aug 3, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Derek Hill (49) celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectNationals manager Blake Butera was ejected in the top of the seventh inning because he thought Garrett Stubbs tripped into Nasim Nuez during a run down that began to change the tides into the Phillies favor. While Butera was not witnessing the game from the dugout, he and the entire Nationals organization experienced a flashback and will have nightmares tonight because of their bullpen. After cruising through six innings, the Nationals staff let Andrew Alvarez return for the seventh inning against the bottom half of the Phillies order with a three-run lead. After a flyout to Alec Bohm, Bryan De La Cruz was hit by a backfoot slider in an 0-2 count that gifted him first base. Bryson Stott then worked a walk and it was time for the 2026 Washington Nationals bullpen. First up is left-hander Tom Cosgrove against the bottom of the Phillies order. Against Edmundo Sosa, Cosgrove could not find the strike zone and walked Sosa on five pitches to bring up Derek Hill. Against a left handed pitcher for the Nationals in a big leverage spot? Flashbacks! DEREK HILL GRAND SLAM pic.twitter.com/6ab3PA0Y3Q Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 4, 2026After a shutdown inning from Orion Kerkering that featured an excellent running catch by Hill to save a leadoff double, the Nationals bullpen roulette must go on!Clayton Beeter was summoned from the bullpen to try and keep the Phillies lead to only one-run. Unfortunately, it is the 2026 Washington Nationals bullpen and this is a Phillies game recap so you know what is about to happen. After a five pitch walk to Kyle Schwarber, the next right fielder of the Philadelphia Phillies crushed a dead-center fastball right over Jacob Youngs head to give the Phillies a three run lead. The game was not trending this way for most of the night. In the aftermath of one of the weirdest trade deadlines a Phillies fan might ever witness, they experienced a normal version of the Phillies during their post all-star break rut for at least half a dozen innings.Aaron Nola took the ball against a Nationals team that is now missing a few pieces after making a few trades at the deadline. One of their new corner infielders, Abimelec Ortiz, crushed a hanging curveball for his first career home run to draw first blood. In the second inning, it was even more quick trouble for Nola, Keibert Ruiz began the inning with a single and then Daylen Lile almost immediately took a high fastball over the right field seats to give them a 3-0 lead. Nola was able to work through six innings without any damage, striking out five in the process against a pesky Nationals lineup. Kyle Backhus started the seventh inning with the Phillies down three runs and it began to feel like one of those nights. Nasim Nuez laid down a solid bunt and Backhus threw a fastball to Bryce Harper that went right past his glove and down foul territory in right field, De La Cruz struggled handing the ball so Nuez made it to third base standing. On a two-two count, Brady House his a dribbler right to Backhus but Nuez went on contact, forcing a controversial run down that squandered a thread. But the inning wasnt over yet, after a Jacob Young walk, it was first and second with one out. Backhus then worked through the next two hitters, getting James Wood to hit a ground ball to first base and Andrs Chaparro to strikeout. With two more scoreless innings from the bullpen, the Phillies begin their homestand with a win before Luis Arraez joins the club with several position changes to make it all work. It was a bizarre day but good for Derek Hill.

Ever since he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Jaylen Brown has received some criticism from just about everywhere. The 5-time All-Star averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 47.7% from the floor and 34.7% from deep and led the Boston Celtics to a 56-26 record in what many was expecting a "gap year" amid the Jayson Tatum injury, but there are some who wonder if he can repeat it.On his latest stream on Monday evening, Brown sported his Sixers jersey and had a message for those who are doubting him:Im more inspired to win than anything. I feel like Ive been a little bit disrespected in this process from people that I thought valued me and everything I brought to the team and the city. I found out quickly that may or may not be the case. So, I want to win more than anything. So, I'm looking forward that journey, that approach, the leadership, that sacrifice, and whatever it's gonna take.Jaylen Brown said he wants to win more than ever next season:Im more inspired to winIve been a little bit disrespected in this process from people that I thought valued meI want to win more than anything.Via @FCHWPO on Twitch pic.twitter.com/2M0LH9lAO3 Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) August 4, 2026Brown will be joined by LeBron James as the two of them will look to help Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe push Philadelphia over the edge. Brown won a title with the Celtics in 2024, winning finals MVP in the process, and James, obviously, has the four titles and four finals MVPs on his resume. They will look to help the Sixers get over the hump in the coming season and get past Round 2 for the first time since 2001.This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Jaylen Brown sports Sixers jersey on latest stream, shares a message

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 30: Kendall Lamm #70 of the Miami Dolphins looks on from the sideline during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium on October 30, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Baltimore Ravens signed veteran offensive tackle Kendall Lamm following a workout on Monday, per the NFLs daily transaction report, filling the roster spot vacated by Hakeem Adenijis sudden retirement over the weekend.Lamm, 34, is entering his 12th NFL season. He spent the last four in Miami with 46 total appearances, including 15 starts in 2023 and 2024. Last year, he appeared in 13 games, but played just seven snaps on offense and 52 on special teams. Most of Lamms pro experience came with the Texans between 2015 and 2018. He first signed in Houston as an undrafted free agent and made the 53-man roster as a rookie as the teams swing tackle. He continued in that role for the subsequent two seasons before earning the right tackle job in 2018, his lone year as a full-time starter.After leaving Houston during the 2019 offseason, Lamm signed a two-year deal with the Browns, where he again served as the swing tackle, and spent the 2021 season in the same role in Tennessee. He has generally earned solid pass-blocking grades in his career from Pro Football Focus with a 5.9% pressure rate and a 96.5 pass blocking efficiency. (For context, Ronnie Stanley owns a 5.5% pressure rate and a 97.0 PBE, while Roger Rosengarten sits at 6.3% and 96.5 in each category.) The Ravens badly needed depth at offensive tackle following Hakeem Adenijis sudden retirement over the weekend. The 28-year-old just signed in Baltimore last week and participated in Saturdays training camp practice at the University of Marylands SECU Stadium. Head coach Jesse Minter characterized Adenijis abrupt departure as a personal situation and said that the team would quickly fill his spot on the roster, indicating Lamms signing was already in the works.In addition to Lamm, the Ravens also worked out Jake Curhan and Nicholas Petit-Frere. Curhan, 28, started one game for the Panthers last season and two for the Bears in 2024; before that, he spent three years in Seattle, primarily playing right tackle. Petit-Frere was a Titans third-round pick out of Ohio State in 2022. He started 16 games at right tackle as a rookie but only appeared in three games the following year due to injury and a six-game gambling suspension. In 2024, he started 10 games with a 92.7 PBE that ranked 83rd out of 84 tackles with at least 300 snaps. He did not play last year.The Ravens have 2025 fifth-round pick Carson Vinson installed as their backup left tackle as he develops into a potential successor for Stanley. Offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford indicated on Monday that the team is hoping that 2024 third-rounder Emery Jones can provide depth at right guard and tackle this year, the latter being his college position at LSU. Lamm offers dedicated depth at right tackle as well as nearly 1,000 career snaps on the blind side, giving him a shot at earning a 53-man roster spot this summer.

Jalen Pitre has been wearing the Guardian Capsince suffering his first concussion with the Houston Texans. Everyone knows what it looks like, mainly because every hit is so impactful that it's hard to miss. Now, he's partnering with the brand for the 2026 season. Pitre was named by an official partner with Guardian Sports,an Atlanta-based sports safety equipment company known for protecting players with the soft-shell coverover the helmet. According to the press release, Pitre will work as an advocate for "player protection and proactive safety measures in football while encouraging long-term health on and off the field." Protection is the most important thing,Pitre said in a statement released by the company. Be proactive. Dont wait until after you get a concussion. I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to protect myself. This is about continuing to push the game forward. Think about your safety now because thats what youll have when you leave the game.Asked Texans DB Jalen Pitre if he could pull of a Guardian Cap endorsement last December. Ill be damned, he did it. https://t.co/ExK3lF4WHTpic.twitter.com/PWBFA7zFsX Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) August 3, 2026Last season, Pitre missed several games due to the concussion protocol. The 2022 second-round pick and All-Big 12 selection out of Baylor is known for his hard-hitting demeanor, but with it comes the risk of putting his head at risk for severe injuries. A new chapter starts now.Guardian Caps is proud to welcome Jalen Pitre as our first ever Guardian Cap Signature Athlete. A relentless competitor who embodies the mindset behind everything we stand for.This is just the beginning. #GuardianCap#JalenPitre#BetterProtectedpic.twitter.com/yfPLSmCxuu Guardian Caps (@Guardian_Caps) August 3, 2026Throughout practices, Texans players have been wearing the Guardian Caps as a precaution for drills. Some player, like Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins, do not plan to wear the helmet during the regular season despite a history with concussions. "Im not going to wear it, Collins said on Saturday. I feel like for a wideout, you have to be able to track the ball. You have to be able to turn your head and see where the balls going. If you cant find the ball in the air, then everybodys going to talk badly about you. I feel like its good and all, but at the end of the day, you have to work on your neck strengthening."Per the release from Guardian Sports, Pitre plans to donate Guardian Caps to youth football players in the city. "Jalens commitment to athlete safety reflects the values at the core of our mission, Guardian Sports CEO and co-founder Erin Hanson said. Young athletes look up to the players they see on Sundays, and Jalen is helping lead the next generation toward a safer future for football."This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans DB Jalen Pitre makes history as first partner with Guardian Sports

Senior League Softball World Series schedule 2026: Scores, times, channels to watch every game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Delaware plays host to the nation's best 13-to-16-year-old softball players this week.The 2026 Senior League Softball World Series brings 10 teams to the Lower Sussex Little League Complex for tournament play beginning Monday, Aug. 3, and running through the championship game on Sunday, Aug. 9.Delaware D3 hosts a Pool A that also features teams from the Philippines, Pennsylvania, Brazil and Texas, while Pool B is stacked with squads from Canada, Michigan, Czechia, South Carolina and Hawaii. The 10-team field plays round-robin within its pool before crossing over into a single-elimination bracket.Here's everything you need to know about watching the 2026 Senior League Softball World Series.Where to watch Senior League Softball World SeriesTV channel:N/ALive stream:ESPN appThe 2026 Senior League Softball World Series won't air on broadcast TV. Every game will instead stream live on theESPN app.Senior League Softball World Series scheduleThe 2026 Senior League Softball World Series begins on Monday, Aug. 3, and concludes on Sunday, Aug. 9. All games will take place at the Lower Sussex Little League Complex in Lower Sussex, Delaware. Times below are listed in Eastern time.Monday, Aug. 3GamePoolMatchupTime (ET)WatchGame 1ADelaware D3 9, East 5Game 2BCanada 10, Southeast 0Game 3BCentral vs. West8:30 p.m.ESPN appGame 4ALatin America vs. Southwest8:30 p.m.ESPN appTuesday, Aug. 4GamePoolMatchupTime (ET)WatchGame 5BWest vs. Canada2 p.m.ESPN appGame 6BSoutheast vs. Central2 p.m.ESPN appGame 7ALatin America vs. Asia-Pacific5 p.m.ESPN appGame 8BSoutheast vs. Europe-Africa5 p.m.ESPN appGame 9AEast vs. Asia-Pacific8 p.m.ESPN appGame 10ASouthwest vs. Delaware D38 p.m.ESPN appWednesday, Aug. 5GamePoolMatchupTime (ET)WatchGame 11BEurope-Africa vs. West5 p.m.ESPN appGame 12BCanada vs. Central5 p.m.ESPN appGame 13ADelaware D3 vs. Latin America8 p.m.ESPN appGame 14AAsia-Pacific vs. Southwest8 p.m.ESPN appThursday, Aug. 6GamePoolMatchupTime (ET)WatchGame 15BWest vs. Southeast2 p.m.ESPN appGame 16AAsia-Pacific vs. Delaware D32 p.m.ESPN appGame 17ASouthwest vs. East5 p.m.ESPN appGame 18BCentral vs. Europe-Africa5 p.m.ESPN appGame 19AEast vs. Latin America8 p.m.ESPN appGame 20BEurope-Africa vs. Canada8 p.m.ESPN appFriday, Aug. 7GameMatchupTime (ET)WatchGame 21No. 2 Pool A vs. No. 3 Pool B11 a.m.ESPN appGame 22No. 2 Pool B vs. No. 3 Pool A2 p.m.ESPN appGame 23No. 1 Pool B vs. No. 4 Pool A5 p.m.ESPN appGame 24No. 1 Pool A vs. No. 4 Pool B8 p.m.ESPN appSaturday, Aug. 8 SemifinalsGameMatchupTime (ET)WatchGame 25Winner of Game 21 vs. Winner of Game 235 p.m.ESPN appGame 26Winner of Game 22 vs. Winner of Game 248 p.m.ESPN appSunday, Aug. 9 ChampionshipGameMatchupTime (ET)WatchGame 27Winner of Game 25 vs. Winner of Game 263 p.m.ESPN appSenior League Softball World Series teamsThere are 10 teams split into two pools competing in the 2026 Senior League Softball World Series.Pool ARegionTeamLocationAsia-PacificBulacan LLMalolos, PhilippinesDelaware D3Georgetown LLGeorgetown, DelawareEastConneaut Lake Area LLConneaut Lake, PennsylvaniaLatin AmericaCantareira LLSo Paolo, BrazilSouthwestNorthwest LLSan Antonio, TexasPool BRegionTeamLocationCanadaOn Field LLS LLRepentigny, QuebecCentralMichigan District 4Grand Blanc, MichiganEurope-AfricaCzech Republic District 01 LLPrague, CzechiaSoutheastIrmo LLIrmo, South CarolinaWestHonolulu LLHonolulu, Hawaii

Angel Reese turns heads with Barbie Game Day look before Dreams blowout loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Angel Reese brought Barbie Game Day to Atlanta on Monday night, turning the tunnel into her personal runway before the Dream faced the Las Vegas Aces. The Atlanta star arrived in an all-pink outfit complete with a matching headband, handbag and high heels. Athlete Vanity shared photos of Reeses pregame look on X with a fitting three-word caption.Angel Reese , the account wrote. Its Barbie Game Day in ATL.Reeses outfit quickly attracted attention on social media, but the Dream were unable to match that pregame excitement once the action began. Las Vegas rolled to a 109-87 victory at State Farm Arena, handing Atlanta a humbling 22-point home loss.Angel Reese delivers another dominant double-doubleDespite the disappointing team result, Reese still gave the Dream a productive performance. The former LSU star finished with 23 points, 16 rebounds and two assists, recording another massive double-double in her first season with Atlanta. She remained active around the basket and continued to show why she is considered one of the WNBAs most relentless rebounders.Angel Reese Its Barbie Game Day in ATL https://t.co/yYujvLUs9kpic.twitter.com/W226GTLuhE Athlete Vanity (@AthleteVanity) August 3, 2026Reeses individual numbers, however, could not prevent the Aces from taking control. Las Vegas overwhelmed Atlanta with an efficient offensive performance and consistently found quality scoring opportunities. The Dream never discovered a reliable answer as the defending champions pulled away and silenced the home crowd.The loss was especially frustrating because Reese did exactly what Atlanta needed from its star forward. She scored at a high level, controlled the glass and gave the Dream additional possessions, but Atlanta could not generate enough stops to make her production matter.MORE:Caitlin Clark and the Fever stay put in latest WNBA power ranking despite Lynx lossBarbie brings style and production to AtlantaReese has long embraced the Bayou Barbie nickname that followed her from LSU to the WNBA. Her move to Atlanta has provided a new stage for both her personality and her fashion, and Mondays pink ensemble was another example of how she has turned every game day into an event. She also continues to back up the attention with production.A 23-point, 16-rebound performance would be the defining story on most nights. Against Las Vegas, it became one of the few positives Atlanta could take from an otherwise forgettable result.Reese won the pregame fashion battle and delivered once she stepped onto the court. Unfortunately for the Dream, the Aces dominated nearly everything else.Atlanta will need to regroup quickly after being outclassed at home, but Reeses performance offered at least one reason for encouragement. Barbie Game Day ended with a blowout loss, yet the Dream star still found a way to fill the box score and command the spotlight.More WNBA news:Why Mercury's Kelsey Plum blockbuster is just crazy enough to workCheryl Reeve reveals details of pregame conversation with Sophie CunninghamAngel Reese reveals what she still misses about Chicago after trade to Dream

A view of Bisbee towards the mountains, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, November 1964. (Harvey Meston/Archive Photos/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesTodays LineupsPADRESDIAMONDBACKSFernando Tatis RFCorbin Carroll RFJake Cronenworth 2BGeraldo Perdomo SSManny Machado DHMax Kepler LFTy France 1BKetel Marte 2BJackson Merrill CFNolan Arenado 3BLuis Rengifo LFAdrian Del Castillo DHLuis Campusano CTim Tawa 1BXander Bogaerts SSJames McCann CSung-Mun Song 3BRyan Waldschmidt CFMichael King RHPBrandon Pfaadt RHPAfter a brief break, its time for the next Most Important Series of the Season. We welcome the Padres to Chase Field for the first time this season though its not the first home series against them. That conundrum is explained by the fact that the home series in April took place in Mexico City. It was an offense-minded event, the teams combining to score 29 runs across the two games, each winning once, and was an interesting cultural exercise. But it kinda sucks that it counted as a home series for Arizona, when this set of four is the only time we actually get to host San Diego this year. With head-t0-head now the first tiebreaker, that could end up mattering.Certainly, everything still to play for between the two teams, with the season score currently tied, at 3-3, with seven games left to play. The Diamondbacks have a slight edge after splitting the four games in Petco last month. If everybody hold serve the rest of the way, then theyd win 7-6. But Ive a feeling it might not be that easy. While the D-backs are currently tied with the Phillies for the second/third wild-card spots, the Padres are lurking, just one game back. So, anything less than a split would see Arizona drop behind San Diego, and depending on what Philadelphia do (theyre hosting Washington), potentially out of a playoff spot entirely. It might end up being a pitchers duel tonight. Both starters went in the July series, and got wins in their respective starts. Brandon Pfaadt gave the D-backs five scoreless innings, combining with two relievers on an eight-hit shutout, as they took the opener, 8-0. But two days later, Michael King was almost as good, allowing one run over six innings, as the Padres cruised to a 10-4 victory. Well see who prevails tonight, as we come down from the breathless excitement of the trade deadline [sorry, theres no sarcasm font available when youre writing a Gameday Thread]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Derek Hill hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning and Bryce Harper added a two-run shot to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to their third straight win, 6-3 over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.Hill's slam off reliever Tom Cosgrove (0-1) sent the crowd into a frenzy and provided the Phillies their second major spark of the day. Hill who added a running, tumbling catch in right-center in the eighth hit his ninth homer of the season hours after the Phillies swung a deal for three-time batting champion Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants.Hill also bailed out fading veteran starter Aaron Nola, who has not won since May 26 and is coming off an 0-4 record with a 4.34 ERA in July.Nola surrendered Abimelec Ortizs first career home run in the first inning and Daylen Lile's 14th homer of the season in the second, a two-run shot that made it 3-0 Nationals. Nola struck out six over six innings and actually lowered his ERA from 5.61 to 5.55 this season.Nola again did little to back up team president Dave Dombrowskis public faith that the right-hander can contribute in a playoff series much less the stretch run.Dombrowski said before the game that he talked to other teams about adding starting pitching ahead of the close of Mondays trade deadline. He failed to land a starter though he added some bullpen depth, notably for Mets left-hander Brooks Raley because of his belief in Nola and struggling rookie Andrew Painter.Dombrowskis spin on Nola was, If you looked at the analytics, hes ranked like 75th in MLB of all starting pitchers. So, I mean, when you do that, you go by 30 and divide it.Surely, that math doesnt add up for Phillies fans who wanted the team to go hard after a solid starter that could slide into the No. 4 or No. 5 spot in the rotation and be counted on to win a playoff game.Kyle Backhus (2-1) pitched a scoreless seventh for the win and Jhoan Duran worked a scoreless ninth for his 25th save.Up nextThe Phillies send Jess Luzardo (9-5, 3.57 ERA) to the mound against Washington RHP Zack Littell (7-8, 4.94).___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Jared McCain reveals the gap between the average NBA player and the normal person originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Seen as one of the most relatable players in the NBA, Jared McCain is quite a good athlete. He might have fun on his TikTok account, but he works hard to become the best version of himself. With both the Philadelphia 76ers and now the Oklahoma City Thunder, McCain has had experience playing alongside some big stars.During his 76ers days, he had Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid. Now that he is on OKC, he is playing alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. McCain has no problems admitting some players are better than him, but he acknowledges his own ability as well.Jared McCain speaks about the different levels NBA players are on compared to regular peopleThroughout the NBA's nearly 80-year history, there have only been around 5,000 players. That is a smaller number than most people realize, and that is because of the level required even to reach the league. Some talented players have not even reached that level, but they stood out in other leagues around the world.Standing out in the NBA can be quite challenging because of how different the systems are from team to team. It is up to the player to showcase their skill set and how they fit by playing well in practice and convincing the coaching staff they belong.MORE:Jared McCain has earned a key role within Mark Daigneault's systemMcCain has done that ever since he stepped foot in the NBA. He made sure to stand out as an offensive player, especially as a shooter. McCain also works hard in other areas of the game, which makes him reliable and not just a one-trick pony."The difference at the pro level, there are special cases like Shai and Luka-true superstars; where there is a bigger gap. But a lot of NBA players are actually closer to a LeBron than the average person is to the worst player in the league. The small margins, and that's what I try to win to further myself," McCain said about the level an NBA player is required to play at.Before even reaching the league, players are judged across multiple facets. This includes their physical traits because if a player is not tall and lengthy enough, they will struggle. McCain knows that struggle, but he still stood out with his skill set, attitude, and natural talent.There are plenty of good role players like McCain, stars like SGA, but there are also some players who struggle to get a 10-day contract. Despite their status as the players who can't get a regular deal, they are still some of the most talented players in the world, who is closer to LeBron James than most people in the world are.More NBA news:Chet Holmgren gets honest about the Thunder losing players in the 2026 offseasonSam Presti's reasoning behind Lu Dort's surprise trade was purely based on moneyHow Chet Holmgren took a subtle shot at rival Victor Wembanyama after Spain's win over France at the World CupAllen Iverson reacts to Jaylen Brown and LeBron James joining the 76ersBam Adebayo's thoughts on LeBron James choosing the 76ers over the Heat