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The Eagles traded Kenny Pickett to the Browns, clearing the way for Tanner McKee to become Jalen Hurts‘ backup, but the defending champs are adding another option in the sixth round.
Syracuse’s Kyle McCord is heading to Philly as the seventh quarterback off the board in 2025. The Ohio State transfer posted an ACC-record 4,779 passing yards and set a Syracuse record with 34 TD passes during his one season in central New York. While the Eagles acquired Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the Pickett trade, the struggling UCLA alum now has competition for a roster spot.
Originally from a New Jersey city just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, McCord returns home after stops at Columbus and Syracuse. The main reason McCord failed to warrant the draft stock of the other passers with lesser numbers in this year’s class was a lack of athleticism. With a slow release, lack of improvisational ability, and statuesque qualities in the pocket, McCord could struggle with the increased pass rushing pressure from NFL defenses.
Though, he works best when throwing to programmed routes, his pre-snap analyses and diagnoses are top-notch. In terms of throwing talent, McCord doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he anticipates his throws well and puts the ball just where his receivers need them. He’s been lauded for his prep work off the field, which bodes well for a role as a backup quarterback to start his career.
Back home in Philly, McCord will compete with McKee and Thompson-Robinson for a backup role on the roster. Thompson-Robinson’s mobility fits better in the Eagles’ scheme as a potential replacement for Hurts, but McKee has his experience with the team over the last two years as his advantage. McCord will likely have to come in and try to show more worth than one of these two backups if he wants to make the roster as a rookie.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
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Oklahoma Lands Highly Touted Softball Prospect from Class of 2027
The Sooners landed a major softball prospect on Thursday. Class of 2027 infielder Riley Hilliard announced her commitment to Oklahoma on Instagram. In her announcement post, Hilliard expressed her gratitude to both God and the Oklahoma staff for recruiting her. "God has given me this incredible opportunity and without him, I would’ve never been able to find my way," Hilliard said in her Instagram post. "Thank you Coach (Patty) Gasso, Coach JT (Gasso), Coach (Jennifer) Rocha and Coach (Falepolima) Steele for allowing me to live out my dream of being a Sooner. Let's go, Sooner Nation!" Hilliard, from La Mirada, CA, is the No. 11 overall player and No. 2 catcher in the 2027 class, per Softball America. Hilliard is the second player from the Class of 2027 to commit to OU, following the pledge of catcher Juliana “Goose” Hutchens. Hutchens is from Wagoner, OK, and is ranked as the No. 2 player in the 2027 class by Softball America. As a sophomore last year, Hutchens logged 23 home runs and 45 RBIs with a .656 batting average. Oklahoma’s four-year national championship streak ended in 2025, as the Sooners fell to Texas Tech in the Women’s College World Series semifinals. Texas defeated Texas Tech in three games in the WCWS championship series.
NFL knee-jerk reactions: Super Bowl locks, QB chaos and shocking starts across the league
Two weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the takes are getting hotter than a mid-September turf field. Across the league, early results are fueling bold declarations from Yardbarker NFL writers — from crowning Super Bowl champs in Buffalo and Green Bay to demanding QB changes in Cleveland and Minnesota. NFC East DALLAS COWBOYS (1-1) | Believe it or not: The Cowboys are good | The Cowboys are not as shaky as some suspected. Through two games, QB Dak Prescott has an average QB rating of 88.8, but the Cowboys have played competitively. The Prescott-to-CeeDee Lamb connection (16 catches for 222 yards) is heating up, and the offense should be good enough to keep Dallas in the playoff mix. NEW YORK GIANTS (0-2) | Russell Wilson is the undisputed QB No. 1 | After a career-worst performance in Week 1, Wilson responded with a career-best performance by throwing for 450 yards (264 yards coming on deep passes) and throwing for three touchdowns in a Week 2 loss to Dallas. Wilson tied for the fourth-highest passing yards in a game in team history. Jaxson Dart, who? PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-0) | Who needs a passing attack? | The reigning Super Bowl champs haven’t looked flashy, but they’ve controlled both games with a combined time of possession of 67 minutes, 26 seconds. Jalen Hurts hasn’t thrown for a touchdown, but he has rushed for three. The Eagles’ relentless ground game is working, and it’s why they’ll contend for the Lombardi Trophy again in February. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-1) | Not an NFC Championship Game contender | The reality for the Commanders is they're midway through a rebuild and working with a thin roster. The team was outmatched by the Packers in a 27-18 loss in Week 2. In that game, Jayden Daniels got sacked four times and Austin Ekeler was lost for the season to an Achilles injury, removing a key threat in Washington's running game. The Commanders made a surprise deep playoff run last season, but don't expect a repeat. — Conor Killmurray NFC West ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-0) | Inability to close out games will doom Cardinals | The Cardinals have struggled to close both games. They needed a fourth-down stop in the red zone to prevent the New Orleans Saints from rallying from a 10-point second-half deficit in Week 1 and nearly blew a 27-9 lead to the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Aside from a 52-yard run from running back Trey Benson in Week 1, the Cardinals haven't consistently got anything going on the ground (average 3.6 yards per carry). LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-0) | Signing of Davante Adams was massive | One of the more intriguing signings of the offseason was the Rams adding Adams after the release of former star wideout Cooper Kupp. After a relatively quiet opener (four catches for 51 yards) against the Houston Texans, Adams bounced back with six receptions for 106 yards and a TD in a Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans, giving QB Matthew Stafford a strong 1-2 punch with Puka Nacua. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-0) | The 49ers have fixed special teams issues | Despite bringing in a new special teams coordinator in 14-year NFL veteran Brant Boyer, special teams issues appeared to be a problem once again for the 49ers. Jake Moody, who has since been released, missed a 27-yard field goal and had a 36-yard attempt blocked in Week 1. One week later, Eddy Pineiro hit from 44 and 46 yards in a 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints, and all is well. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-1) | Dominant defense carry team | After making two interceptions against 49ers QB Brock Purdy in a Week 1 loss, the Seahawks followed that up by sacking Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers three times and forcing two more interceptions. The Seahawks lead the NFL with a 49.4% pressure rate (h/t NextGen Stats), making them a difficult unit to match up with. — Colby Colwell NFC North CHICAGO BEARS (0-2) | Not even Ben Johnson can fix this mess | Johnson picked the Bears after turning down enticing head-coaching opportunities over the past few years, and it’s possible he’s already regretting that decision. QB Caleb Williams hasn’t improved from his rookie season, the defense is a disaster and GM Ryan Poles’ draft picks aren’t panning out. It’s going to be another long, frustrating season in Chicago. DETROIT LIONS (1-1) | The interior offensive line will hold the Lions back | The Lions used to be able to rip off five yards per carry behind their elite offensive line, but this group isn’t the same without center Frank Ragnow, who retired. Jahmyr Gibbs had a 42-yard run in Week 2, but he has averaged only 3.5 yards per carry outside of that, and David Montgomery has averaged only 3.7. Detroit gave up 12 pressures, four sacks and nine tackles for loss in a Week 1 loss against the Packers. GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-0) | The Packers should be favored to win the Super Bowl | The Packers (+700 at FanDuel) are the third choice to win the Super Bowl, behind the Baltimore Ravens (+500) and the Buffalo Bills (+600), but they should be the favorites after blowing out the Lions and Commanders. Green Bay ranks fourth in offensive EPA per play (0.160), first in yards allowed per play (3.7) and fifth in pressures (19), and DE Micah Parsons isn’t even playing a full workload yet. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-1) | J.J. McCarthy is not the answer | It’s far too early to label McCarthy a bust, but the results have been discouraging through his first two NFL starts. The 22-year-old ranks last among qualified QBs in EPA per play (-0.354) and 30th in success rate (41.7 percent). McCarthy had one great quarter against the struggling Bears, but his other seven quarters were dismal. — Jack Dougherty NFC South ATLANTA FALCONS (1-1) | GM Terry Fontenot gets last laugh | For the past two years, many have mocked Fontenot’s NFL Draft approach. In 2024, he used the No. 8 overall pick on QB Michael Penix Jr., two months after signing Kirk Cousins to a massive free-agent contract. Then he traded a 2026 first-rounder to select a second edge-rusher in the first-round of April’s draft. But Fontenot is the one laughing following Penix’s promising career start and the defense coming off a six-sack performance against the Vikings, its most sacks in a road game since 2019 (h/t Stathead). CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2) | Team blew it on run defense | The Panthers are likely ruing what could have been during free agency, when for a brief moment it appeared they had signed Super Bowl LIX-champion defensive tackle Milton Williams, who eventually landed with the New England Patriots after a last-second change of heart. Through two games, Carolina is allowing 5.2 yards per carry, the same as last season, while the Patriots rank first in stuff rate (35.9 percent)— rushing plays that result in no gain or a loss. (h/t NFL Pro). NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-2) | Head coach Kellen Moore has Saints headed in right direction | New Orleans lacks the talent necessary to compete with potential playoff teams, but that’s not Moore's fault. The Saints have lost their first two games by a combined 12 points and had an opportunity to win each late in the fourth quarter, showing impressive fight for a team with the odds stacked against it. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0) | Baker Mayfield is in the conversation for the NFL’s most clutch QB | Two games, two last-minute winning touchdown drives orchestrated by Mayfield. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick has already added two memorable chapters to his career of late-game heroics, including his 25-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka in Week 1 and his 15-yard scramble on 4th-and-10 against the Vikings to extend the game, proving there are few QBs better with the game on the line. — Eric Smithling AFC East BUFFALO BILLS (2-0) | This is Buffalo’s year | Buffalo fans should plan on attending Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California to watch last year’s AFC East champions cap an undefeated season with their first Lombardi Trophy. With a league-high 900 yards of offense and 71 points in two wins, the mighty Bills and reigning MVP Josh Allen, who needed just 14 completions to beat the New York Jets in Week 2, have no match. MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-2) | Trade Tyreek Hill now | With a players-only meeting already in the books, the dysfunctional Dolphins are going nowhere fast. Hill had six catches for 109 yards against the New England Patriots in Week 2 and could net the team a second-round pick in a trade. With no guaranteed money beyond 2025 and a $51M cap hit for 2026, the 31-year-old receiver should already have his bags packed. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-1) | Who’s Tom Brady? | Second-year QB Drake Maye completed 65.2 percent of passes in a 20-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 but connected on 82.6 percent throws of in a 33-27 win against the Dolphins in Week 2. Book him a ticket to Canton. NEW YORK JETS (0-2)| The Jets should have kept Aaron Rodgers | Rodgers looked great against his old team in Week 1 (four TD passes, no interceptions), less so against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 (one TD pass, two interceptions). But no QB looked worse than New York's Justin Fields, who completed three passes for 27 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter of a Week 2 loss to the Bills because of a concussion. Meanwhile, Rodgers’ five touchdown passes are tied with Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield and Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert for second most in the NFL. — Bruce Ewing AFC West DENVER BRONCOS (1-1) | The big free-agent signees look like flops | This offseason, the Broncos signed TE Evan Engram and LB Dre Greenlaw, but neither has bolstered the roster. The TE has just four receptions for 33 yards, and the LB hasn’t played because of a quadriceps issue. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-2) | The Chief would stink without QB Patrick Mahomes | Mahomes — who ranks fourth in the league QBR (81.4) through two games — is one of the few reasons the Chiefs are still considered a Super Bowl contender. Kansas City ranks 24th in the NFL in points (19 PPG) and is tied for 19th in points allowed (23.5). LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-1) | RB Ashton Jeanty is no longer an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate| Jeanty (pick No. 6) has 30 carries for 81 yards (2.7 yards per carry) and one TD in two games. After a Week 2 loss to the Chargers, new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said they're bringing the former Boise State star along slowly. Unless he starts rolling soon, the 2024 Heisman finalist has no prayer in the OROY race. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (2-0) | QB Justin Herbert is an MVP contender | Through two starts, he has completed a career-high 72.1 percent of his passes for 560 yards and five TDs and logged an outstanding 81.6 QBR. — Clark Dalton AFC North BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-1) | Lamar Jackson is a master of efficiency | If you’re not respecting Jackson’s ability to pass, you’re not paying attention. Since the start of the 2024 season, Jackson has the NFL’s best touchdown/interception ratio (47 TD passes to only four interceptions). CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-0) | The Bengals have wasted Joe Burrow | The Bengals received a gift from the football gods when they landed Burrow with the 2020 No. 1 overall pick. But they have squandered that gift, making the playoffs twice with him and playing him behind a consistently poor offensive line. He has already missed 15 games in his career and is going to add many more to that total after suffering a toe injury in Week 2. CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-2) | It’s time to start one of the young QBs | Joe Flacco, 40, is just a waste of time for Cleveland. It’s clear the Browns are a disaster and Flacco (three picks, two TD passes) should be a backup. Whether it is Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders, the Browns must give one of their rookie QBs meaningful snaps...and that means starting one of them. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-1) | The defense stinks | Before the season, HC Mike Tomlin and the Steelers talked a big game about what their defense would be capable of, with Tomlin using the word “historic” to describe its upside. But the defense has been anything but historic. Instead, it is getting pushed around again in the running game (allowing 149.5 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry). — Adam Gretz AFC South HOUSTON TEXANS (0-2) | The offense is broken | Joe Mixon was the focal point of the offense in 2024 with 1,325 total yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns, but the running back has a foot injury and no timetable for a return. The Texans have struggled to run with Nick Chubb as their lead back, which has put more pressure on QB C.J. Stroud. Houston’s 14 points per game through the first two weeks ranks last in the NFL. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-0) | Daniel Jones is a playoff QB | The Colts are the most surprising team in the NFL, and Jones is a worthy starter after a dismal end to his career with the New York Giants. He has accounted for five total touchdowns and ranks second in the NFL with 588 passing yards. Jones looks like he has renewed confidence playing under HC Shane Steichen. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1) | Trevor Lawrence will never live up to his contract | Lawrence signed a five-year, $275M contract extension before last season and then struggled through an injury-riddled year. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft continues to have an issue with turnovers (three interceptions in two games). Lawrence has plenty of weapons around him and a QB whisperer of a coach in Liam Coen, so he has no excuse to look average. TENNESSEE TITANS (0-2) | HC Brian Callahan won’t survive the season | NFL teams have not been patient with struggling head coaches in recent years, and Callahan might be the next to receive a pink slip sooner than expected. The Titans went 3-14 in Callahan’s first season last year and are winless in 2025. Callahan is navigating a tough set of circumstances with a rookie starting QB in Cam Ward, who has completed just 50.8 percent of his passes through his first two games, but that might not matter. — Steve DelVecchio
Kyle Shanahan has surprising Brock Purdy update — 49ers are confident in QB situation regardless
Brock Purdy missed the San Francisco 49ers' Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints with a toe and left shoulder injury he suffered in Week 1. At the time, there was a chance that the injury could keep the quarterback out multiple weeks, but now head coach Kyle Shanahan has provided what seems to be a positive update for this weekend's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Kyle Shanahan provides key update on Brock Purdy "He wasn't limited last week," Shanahan said. "He does have a chance [to play]," Shanahan said on Wednesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. According to Wagoner's reporting, of the two injuries, the toe issue seems to be more significant, and it was considered the main reason Purdy didn't play in Week 2. It's similar to turf toe. He was in the 49ers' locker room after that game, though, and he told reporters that his status for the Week 3 game was, "we'll see." Connect those dots and it sounds like, at the very least, Purdy feels hopeful about his chances. If he's not fully back and able to go, he could also at least suit up and act as a backup for Mac Jones. San Francisco 49ers confident in Brock Purdy's backup If Purdy is out for the second straight week, Jones proved against the Saints that he can lead this team to a victory. The former first-round pick of the New England Patriots completed 26 of 39 passes against New Orleans for 279 yards and three touchdowns. On Monday, running back Christian McCaffrey was among the players in the locker room who expressed confidence in Jones. "In this league, whether or not you're a starter or a backup, you got to be ready to go at any point," McCaffrey said, per Wagoner. "In the NFL, you just never know. It's such a talented league and so many great players on the field. And Mac obviously is somebody who's proven himself already, but to have him as our backup is huge." Out of Alabama, Jones was selected with pick No. 15 in the 2021 NFL Draft as the "heir apparent" to Tom Brady in the final years of the Bill Belichick era in New England. He flashed talent but was never able to be consistent. He also had incredibly big shoes to fill, so a case could be made that he was doomed to fail from the very start of his NFL career. Jones started 42 games for the Patriots over three seasons, and he threw for 8,918 yards and 46 touchdowns compared to 36 interceptions. He's on a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the 49ers after spending the 2024 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Mike Matheson and David Savard in talks with the Canadiens
Mike Matheson has entered the final year of his contract and, with an annual salary of $4.875 million, will be free as a bird on July 1 if he hasn’t signed a new deal by then. But if we’re to believe David Pagnotta(The Fourth Period), it might not come to that, because according to the informer, discussions are currently underway between the defenseman and the Canadiens to extend his contract. We know that Matheson wants to play here, and we also know that the Canadiens like him a lot. Jeff Gorton praised him this summer, saying he was important to the club at the moment… and even if there are other defensemen growing within the organization, making room for a veteran like him isn’t a crazy idea. Especially when you recognize the fact that the Canadiens’ defense is very young. Matheson is valuable to the Canadiens. His role will diminish (possibly even more so after the arrival of Noah Dobson), but we’re still talking about a player who helps the team in his own way. Last season, he was particularly useful on the power play, and he’s likely to have a similar role this year too. If he can produce offensively, on top of all that… [content-ads] Matheson is said to be in talks with the Habs… but the same can be said of David Savard. No, it wouldn’t be in the context of a return to the ice. But the former Canadiens defenseman, who retired at the end of last season, admitted to Kevin Dubé(Journal de Québec): there may be a position waiting for him with the Canadiens at some point. We’ve had a lot of conversations, and nothing’s closed yet. – David Savard The Journal de Québec article was published on the TVA Sports site (and Habs and NHL also wrote on the subject): It’s not the first time we’ve heard about this, but it’s interesting nonetheless. Because it shows one thing: there really seems to be an interest on the part of the defenseman and the organization to find something for him. Savard was on the ice with the Quebec Remparts on Tuesday, and it’s worth remembering that he’ s associated with 44 seconds, a consulting firm that helps junior and professional defensemen. Clearly, he’s still interested in staying in the hockey world. And so much the better, if the Canadiens are able to find a role for him within the organization [spacer title=’Overtime’] – It’s true that we’re talking about a beautiful amphitheatre. – The – He knows what he has to do. – Happy reading,
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