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Player News
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Kirk Cousins ATL QBFalcons' Kirk Cousins: Joined by first-round rookie QB
11m agoCousins (Achilles), who signed a four-year deal with Atlanta in March, is slated to be joined in the team's QB corps by Michael Penix, who was taken with the No. 8 overall pick in Thursday's NFL draft, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Despite the franchise's surprising decision to select Penix, Cousins, who is rebounding from an Achilles tear that he sustained Oct. 29, remains locked in as the Falcons' No. 1 QB for the foreseeable future. Regarding that topic, GM Terry Fontenot noted Thursday, "Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. We're very excited about Kirk, very excited about this team. (With) Michael Penix we're talking about the future. The draft is you look at the future and you look at big picture." In terms of his injury recovery, Cousins relayed last month that he's progressing well and is "optimistic that (he) can be full speed at practice before (the Falcons) break for the summer." In any case, barring any setbacks, Cousins -- who turns 36 in August -- is entrenched atop Atlanta's depth chart, with Penix providing the team with both an insurance policy for the veteran signal-caller, as well as a potential successor down the road.
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Jonathan Mingo CAR WRPanthers' Jonathan Mingo: Bumps down the depth chart
2h agoWith the Panthers' selection of Xavier Legette with the No. 32 overall pick Thursday night, Mingo is pushed down the wide receiver depth chart, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Carolina has made it a point to upgrade its wideout room this offseason, first trading for Diontae Johnson before then trading up into the final pick of the first round for Legette. Adding those two to veteran slot man Adam Thielen pushes both Mingo and Terrace Marshall down in the pecking order for targets. Mingo -- who is bouncing back from a late-season foot issue -- started 14 of 15 games he appeared in as a rookie, but he posted an uninspiring 43-418-0 receiving line on 85 targets. He was one of the least productive starting receivers in the league in 2023.
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Jaycee Horn CAR CBPanthers' Jaycee Horn: Fifth-year option to be picked up
3h agoThe Panthers have elected to pick up Horn's fifth-year contract option, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Horn, who the Panthers took eighth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, is thus slated to remain under contract with the team through the 2025 campaign. Injuries have hampered the starting cornerback over his first three years as a pro, but when available, the 24-year old has made his mark in Carolina's secondary by racking up 85 tackles and four picks over the course of 22 regular-season outings.
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Deebo Samuel SF WR49ers' Deebo Samuel: Drawing interest from Pats, Bills
3h agoThe Patriots and Bills have interest in trading for Samuel, Michael Giardi of Boston Sports Journal reports.
There's been a lot of trade chatter around Samuel's teammate, Brandon Aiyuk, but Giardi reports Samuel is "more likely to be traded" and has a couple interested suitors in Buffalo and New England. Both offenses are in dire need of wideout help, and the Bills (33rd overall) and Patriots (34th) hold picks atop the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night. Samuel has two years left on his contract but has been more prone to injuries throughout his career, missing six regular-season games and parts of several others across the last two seasons. Aiyuk, meanwhile, is coming off a career year and a second consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. The Niners used their first-round pick Thursday night on Florida WR Ricky Pearsall, further fueling trade chatter on the team's veteran wideouts.
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Jacoby Brissett NE QBPatriots' Jacoby Brissett: Set to compete with Maye
5h agoBrissett is in line to compete with newcomer Drake Maye for the Patriots' starting QB job ahead of the upcoming NFL season, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.
Given that New England selected Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it's only a matter of time before the North Carolina product is installed as the team's starter. That said, it's possible that the rookie begins the season as Brissett's understudy, with coach Jerod Mayo noting Thursday of the Patriots' signal-caller situation that "at the end of the day, our philosophy is the best players will play. We will compete and the best player will start." Brissett rejoined the franchise that drafted him in 2016 on a reported one-year, $8 million deal, providing New England with an experienced option who can either helm the offense until Maye is deemed ready to do so, or alternatively serve as quality backup and mentor to Maye, who doesn't turn 22 until Aug. 30. Meanwhile, 2022 fourth-rounder Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke are also on hand to provide the Patriots with QB depth ahead of training camp.
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Marcus Mariota WAS QBCommanders' Marcus Mariota: Likely headed for backup role again
8h agoMariota will be joined by fellow Heisman winner and No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels in Washington's QB room.
The incoming rookie was a four-year college starter (five if you count a COVID-shortened season) and is already 23 years old, making him a strong bet to quickly take over as QB1 in Washington. Mariota presumably knew the Commanders were likely to use the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback when he signed with them in March, but the team at least traded Sam Howell to Seattle, leaving the 30-year-old unchallenged for a backup role. It remains to be seen how the Commanders divide reps between Daniels and Mariota this spring and into summer.
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Jackson Merrill SD CFPadres' Jackson Merrill: Not starting Friday
4m agoMerrill (groin) is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Merrill was taken out of the lineup ahead of Thursday's loss to the Rockies, and he was expected to be back Friday, per Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. With Merrill out of the lineup, Jose Azocar will start in center field, Jurickson Profar will be in left field and Manny Machado will make his return from his paternity leave to start at third base.
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Cade Cavalli WAS SPNationals' Cade Cavalli: Set to face live hitters
7m agoCavalli (elbow) is scheduled to face live batters Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander has recently been ramping things up in his bullpen sessions and is now ready to face live hitters for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2023. Cavalli will likely require at least a couple live sessions before progressing to a rehab assignment, which should include a handful of starts in the minors.
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Isaiah Campbell BOS RPRed Sox's Isaiah Campbell: Throwing from 90 feet
10m agoCampbell (shoulder) has been playing catch from 90 feet out, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Campbell has been on the injured list since April 12 with a right shoulder impingement, and his throwing program has progressed slower than expected -- though manager Alex Cora said the right-hander is feeling better. He remains without a clear return timeline, but one may emerge once he progresses to mound work and faces live hitters.
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Matt Carpenter STL DHCardinals' Matt Carpenter: Resumes swinging
17m agoCarpenter (oblique) took swings on the field before Friday's game against the Mets, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Carpenter had been shut down from activity after receiving a PRP injection in his right oblique Monday. He will swing again before Saturday's game, at which point the Cardinals will decide whether or not to send the 38-year-old veteran out on a rehab assignment.
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Cody Bradford TEX SPRangers' Cody Bradford: Managing rib stress fracture
21m agoBradford (back) was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his rib Friday and is expected to be sidelined for about a month, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The left-hander wasn't progressing as expected in his recovery after landing on the shelf April 14 with lower-back soreness, and a rib stress fracture is the apparent culprit. Bradford will now be sidelined through at least late May, and a more specific timeline should come into focus as he ramps up his rehab work.
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Brandon Drury LAA 2BAngels' Brandon Drury: Back in starting lineup Friday
22m agoDrury (hamstring) is starting as the designated hitter and batting fifth in Friday's game against the Twins, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
After returning to action for all three games against the Reds last weekend, Drury missed the past three contests against the Orioles due to a lingering left hamstring injury. The three-game absence, along with the Angels' off day Thursday, seems to have done the trick for Drury, as he'll start at DH for the series opener Friday versus Minnesota. The 31-year-old is slashing .194/.270/.269 with two doubles, six runs, one home run and four RBI over 74 plate appearances to begin the season.
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Terry Rozier MIA SGHeat's Terry Rozier: Remains out for Game 3
2m agoRozier (neck) won't play in Saturday's Game 3 against the Celtics.
Rozier's absence streak will extend to nine games Saturday due to neck spasms. With Delon Wright (personal) questionable, Patty Mills could receive his first minutes of the series against Boston. Rozier's next chance to suit up is Game 4 on Monday.
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Delon Wright MIA SGHeat's Delon Wright: Iffy for Game 3
3m agoWright is questionable for Saturday's Game 3 against the Celtics due to personal reasons.
Wright starred off the bench during the Game 1 loss and posted 17 points, three assists and two steals in 26 minutes. However, he finished the Game 2 win with just five points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. Either way, his potential loss could be costly to a backcourt already playing with Terry Rozier (neck) and Josh Richardson (shoulder). Jimmy Butler also remains out.
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Larry Nance Jr. NO PFPelicans' Larry Nance: Good to go Saturday
15m agoNance (ankle) isn't on the injury report for Saturday's Game 3 against the Thunder.
Nance was held to just 14 minutes of action in Game 2 due to an apparent right ankle injury. However, Nance should be available to continue serving as one of New Orlean's primary frontcourt options off the bench in Game 3.
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Luke Kornet BOS CCeltics' Luke Kornet: Likely available Saturday
30m agoKornet (calf) is probable for Saturday's Game 3 in Miami.
After starting the final two regular-season games while the usual starters rested, Kornet was sidelined for the first two postseason games while rehabbing a calf injury. Even if he gets the green light, Kornet isn't guaranteed a significant role, especially if Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis remain healthy.
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Craig Porter Jr. CLE PGCavaliers' Craig Porter: Another absence coming
1h agoPorter (ankle) won't play in Saturday's Game 4 against the Magic.
Porter will miss his fourth straight contest to start the playoffs Saturday due to a left ankle sprain. His next chance to suit up is Game 5 on Tuesday against Orlando.
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Khris Middleton MIL SFBucks' Khris Middleton: Good to go Friday
1h agoMiddleton (ankle) will play in Friday's Game 3 against the Pacers, Pat Boylan of Bally Sports Indiana reports.
Middleton has been upgraded from questionable to available Friday despite suffering a right ankle sprain in Game 2. There is no indication that the 32-year-old forward will be on a minutes restriction. Middleton is averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 35.5 minutes across the first two games of the series against Indiana.
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Ryan Suzuki CAR CHurricanes' Ryan Suzuki: Up from AHL
2h agoSuzuki was recalled from AHL Springfield on Friday.
Suzuki has 14 goals and 30 points in 51 outings with Springfield in 2023-24. Although he'll be with the Hurricanes, the 22-year-old is not expected to play for Carolina during the postseason.
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Nicolas Hague LV DGolden Knights' Nicolas Hague: Unavailable for Saturday
3h agoHague (lower body) will miss Game 3 against Dallas on Saturday, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Hague had two goals, 12 points, 43 PIM, 154 hits and 111 blocks in 73 appearances in 2023-24. He also missed Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Stars due to the injury. Alec Martinez is likely to remain in the lineup due to Hague's continued absence.
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Cam Talbot LA GKings' Cam Talbot: Set to start Friday
3h agoTalbot is expected to start at home against Edmonton in Game 3 on Friday, per Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period.
Talbot has struggled against the Oilers, allowing 10 goals on 75 shots (.867 save percentage) over two playoff contests. Edmonton ranked fourth offensively with 3.56 goals per game in the regular season, so the squad is likely to continue to give the veteran goaltender trouble, especially because Talbot's been floundering for a while now. He has a 2.92 GAA and an .897 save percentage over his past 17 outings dating back to March 7.
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Igor Shesterkin NYR GRangers' Igor Shesterkin: Slated to face Capitals
3h agoShesterkin is slated to start on the road against Washington in Game 3 on Friday, according to Seth Orlemann of USA Today.
Shesterkin won the first two contests of the series while stopping 42 of 46 shots (.913 save percentage). The Capitals ranked 28th offensively with just 2.63 goals per game in the regular season, so it's not surprising that they haven't given Shesterkin much trouble in the first round. That said, the series moving to Washington might help the Capitals, who were 22-12-7 at home compared to 18-19-4 on the road during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Ilya Lyubushkin TOR DMaple Leafs' Ilya Lyubushkin: Misses practice Friday
4h agoPer Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun, Lyubushkin (personal) missed practice Friday, but is an option to play Saturday, according to coach Sheldon Keefe.
Lyubushkin left the team for the birth of his third child after Wednesday's loss to Boston. The 30-year-old rearguard is expected to return ahead of Game 4 versus Boston on Saturday. Lyubushkin had four assists, 64 hits and 30 blocked shots in 19 games with the Maple Leafs after he was dealt from Anaheim on Feb. 29. Look for Timothy Liljegren to remain in the lineup, should Lyubushkin be unavailable Saturday.
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Connor Hellebuyck WPG GJets' Connor Hellebuyck: Between pipes Friday
4h agoHellebuyck will defend the road crease in Colorado on Friday, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Hellebuyck has struggled in the opening two games of the series, despite going 1-1, as he has allowed 10 goals on 77 shots. Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Colorado snapped Hellebuyck's six-game winning streak. He was 37-19-4 with a 2.39 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 60 regular-season appearances. The Avalanche have had no problem finding the back of the net thus far, and will hope to continue the trend as the series shifts to Colorado for Games 3 and 4.
