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A fan attending the Wednesday game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates fell out of the right field stands during the seventh inning and landed on the PNC Park warning track 21 feet below.
The game was delayed for 10 minutes while paramedics and the teams' trainers strapped the fan to a backboard and carted him off the field.
Multiple Cubs on the field spent the delay taking a knee and offering prayers for the unidentified fan, who grabbed the railing in front of him with two hands, flipped out of the bleachers and hit the ground with his upper body while a seventh-inning double by Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen was in play.
The Pirates provided a statement shortly after the home team completed a 4-3 win over the Cubs.
"Tonight, during the seventh inning of the game at PNC Park, an adult male fell from the right field bleachers onto the field of play.
"Pittsburgh EMS, as well as the Pirates and Cubs athletic training teams and other PNC Park personnel, reacted and responded immediately and administered care. He was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
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Yankees slugger Aaron Judge lands at No. 1 on prestigious list
The MLB regular season is roughly 75 percent complete. Plenty has changed since the start of the season, but one constant is New York Yankees superstar outfielder Aaron Judge. On Tuesday, ESPN updated its top-50 player rankings. Judge, who was fourth on the World Wide Leader's initial 2025 rankings of baseball's best players in early April, claimed the top spot. Los Angeles Dodgers DH/starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts rounded out the top four on the April list. Just over four months later, Judge edged Ohtani for No. 1. ESPN shared the article with the fully updated rankings on X (formerly Twitter). Judge is raking again this season, posting 37 HRs and 87 RBI with an impressive .336 BA through 109 games. It's fair to wonder where the spiraling New York Yankees (63-56 through Monday) would be without his production. Ohtani, meanwhile, hasn't done anything to drop down in the rankings; it's just hard to argue with the numbers Judge is putting up. The 31-year-old Dodgers star has 42 HRs and 78 RBI and a .284 batting average in 117 games. Plus, he has a 2.37 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 19 innings. Among the biggest risers on ESPN's list are Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (86th in April to fourth) and Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (unranked to seventh). For Betts and Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez, 2025 hasn't been as kind. Both fell from the top 10 to outside the top 50 altogether. The most important games of the season are still to come, and that's where Judge and Ohtani could add a few more bullet points to their already impressive resumes.
Jets QB Justin Fields had 'alarming' practice against Giants
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields found out he has a long way to go following his performance at Tuesday's joint practice with the New York Giants. Per Connor Hughes of SNY TV, Fields started hot at the practice before struggling during the move-the-ball period. "Very interesting practice for #Jets QB Justin Fields," Hughes posted on X. "He finished 7 of 12 with a TD. 5 of 5 to start practice. Then 0 for 4. Finished 2 of 3 with the really impressive TD to Jeremy Ruckert in red zone (starter 18 yard line). "The offensive performance was a bit alarming in move-the-ball period of practice. Fields Co. had three attempts to get down field. They didn’t gain a first down. Only gained yards twice (two short Breece Hall runs). Three sacks. That needs to be fixed. #Giants defense toyed with NYJ during that period." Some Jets fans online thought Hughes was using hyperbole to characterize the practice, but he doubled down on his judgment of the offense. Fields looked strong on his first and only drive in the Jets' 30-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. He went 3-of-4 passing for 42 yards and rushed two times for 14 yards and a touchdown. However, the Giants defense at the joint practice is a much better unit than the short-handed one the Packers trotted out for the first preseason game. Fields' issues seen with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, with holding the ball too long and not being able to pass consistently downfield, were a factor against the Giants. Following Saturday's game, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Fields was getting better but had a lot to improve on. Tuesday's practice was a humbling reminder that Fields needs to become a consistent passer if the Jets are going to move the ball on good defenses in the regular season.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Makes Direct Statement About Mason Rudolph's Spot On QB Depth Chart
5 Commanders plummeting down the depth chart as final cuts loom large
Adam Peters and Dan Quinn will have a good indication of where the Washington Commanders' roster stands right now. And with final cuts on the not-too-distant horizon, time is running out for anyone aiming to contribute in 2025. There are new standards in Washington under the current regime. These were not met during their preseason capitulation against the New England Patriots, but it's worth remembering that 30 players didn't suit up for the clash. That's more than half the roster that will likely go through to Week 1. Quinn made his feelings known to the players, and the fact that Peters made eight transactions in the defeat's immediate aftermath laid down the gauntlet in no uncertain terms. Washington's decision-makers will be watching events unfold closely over the next fortnight before the dreaded cut-down day arrives. And even those who make the initial 53-man squad might not be safe if Peters sees some waiver wire pickups who could be of use. It's a fascinating time for fans, and an extremely uncertain one for players aiming to stick around. With this in mind, here are five Commanders roster hopefuls plummeting down the depth chart as final cuts loom large. Commanders plummeting down the depth chart as final cuts loom large K.J. Osborn - Commanders WR There was some intrigue when the Washington Commanders scooped K.J. Osborn off the waiver wire late last season after Noah Brown was placed on season-ending injured reserve. The veteran wide receiver's big move to the New England Patriots didn't go according to plan, but his previous production on the Minnesota Vikings left reasons for encouragement. Osborn was used sparingly, brought in as an emergency option and nothing more. The Commanders kept him around this offseason, but that didn't come with any guarantees regarding his roster status. There were concerns raised about the standard of receivers lower down the depth chart. The dynamic completely changes without Terry McLaurin, so the last week should serve as a wake-up call to Osborn and others. The former fifth-round pick out of Miami brought in two receptions from five targets for 14 receiving yards against the Patriots. Osborn dropped a couple of makeable balls, which was disappointing. And with very few spots available, things like this are going to make a big difference. All hope is not lost with Osborn. He'll probably get some extended involvement on Monday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals, but if he's still gaining prominent reps in Washington's warmup finale versus the Baltimore Ravens, that'll tell fans all they need to know about his outlook. Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB Things are becoming clearer in the Washington Commanders' running back room. Although there is still time to turn things around for some, it seems like Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt will lead the charge in 2025. That might be all the Commanders need. But if they decide to bring through four onto the 53-man roster, that opens the door slightly for players falling rapidly out of favor. Chris Rodriguez Jr. is among them. The former sixth-round selection displayed flashes of promise when carries came his way last season. While there wasn't much trust in the player once the business end of the campaign arrived, Adam Peters thought he was worthy of another one-year deal to see if some untapped potential remained. Rodriguez has been solid if not spectacular this summer. The Kentucky product gained 22 rushing yards from six carries against the New England Patriots. Not exactly terrible, but the likes of veteran Jeremy McNichols and Demetric Felton arguably showed a lot more when called upon. That's concerning for Rodriguez as he looks to overcome adversity once again. But even if he doesn't quite make it, the Commanders could easily stash him on the practice squad to continue his development. Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE It was no surprise to see Colson Yankoff buried down the unofficial depth chart. The Commanders listed him as the fourth tight end behind Pro Bowl renaissance man Zach Ertz, blocking specialist John Bates, and 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott. That raises the stakes considerably in pursuit of booking his place on the team once again. That might be something or nothing. However, it was a subtle sign that Yankoff's roster spot might not be as clear-cut as some thought heading into preparations for the new campaign. Yankoff emerged from nowhere last summer to fight his way onto the 53-man squad. The UCLA product was used sparingly on game days, but being around the locker room during such a memorable campaign was no doubt a phenomenal experience. Still, the need to kick on to cement his status quickly became his primary goal this offseason. There have been some decent flashes from Yankoff over practices. He brought in one reception from two targets for nine receiving yards versus the Patriots, but there's no doubt that the second-year pro was outshone by Lawrence Cager. Cager is a physically dominant figure who is seizing every opportunity. Yankoff must match fire with fire in the coming weeks to bolster his chances. Chris Moore - Commanders WR Competition for places in the Washington Commanders' wide receiver room remains fierce. Terry McLaurin's ongoing contract standoff is a distraction the team could do without, but others are getting the chance to impress as the second-team All-Pro digs in. The early signs were encouraging this summer. However, joint practice and a preseason game against the New England Patriots exposed some potential flaws further down the depth chart that raised urgency to get something worked out with McLaurin. Adam Peters opted not to bring in another receiver this week. That's a vote of confidence in those currently around, but the general manager will be watching their progress closer than ever. And one could argue that nobody lost more ground over the last few days than Chris Moore. The veteran emerged as a standout to start the summer, forcing his way into the team's plans. Moore was tipped by some to be a lively candidate to make the squad, but dropping two passes versus the Patriots brought his momentum screeching to an abrupt halt. Moore making the squad was always a long shot. A massive effort is needed to bounce back after this setback, but any additional failings over the next fortnight are not going to look favorably on the player. Tyre Phillips - Commanders OT The Commanders are dealing with some issues on their offensive line right now. Nobody is pressing the panic button just yet, but it's something fans will be monitoring closely before attention turns to Week 1 against the New York Giants next month. Stud right guard Sam Cosmi is working his way back from a torn ACL. Dan Quinn didn't completely rule him out from immediate inclusion, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the former second-round pick start on the physically unable to perform list. Brandon Coleman, who's transitioning to the left guard spot this season, has been missing over the last week after leaving practice. The Commanders are erring on the side of caution, but it's important he gets back quickly. There aren't any problems on the edge. Laremy Tunsil is as advertised, and Josh Conerly Jr. has come on significantly in recent days. That's not the case with Tyre Phillips, the free-agent signing who was looking to carve out a backup role for himself in 2025. Phillips underperformed in Washington's preseason opener against the Patriots. The Commanders have already shown a willingness to remove those who aren't part of the team's plans, so the experienced veteran is already fighting a losing battle in his quest to make the team. More Commanders news and analysis
Browns may not be prepared for one thing with Shedeur Sanders
During a recent edition of the "Orange and Brown Talk Podcast," Cleveland Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggested that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski may not be prepared for the "potential fan backlash" that could arise regarding the team's handling of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Stefanski seemed to say plenty about the subject when it was learned on Monday that Sanders remains fourth on the club's unofficial depth chart even though he enjoyed a solid NFL debut in the club's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. Also on Monday, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer made it known that Stefanski won't be in a rush to play Sanders or fellow first-year pro Dillon Gabriel ahead of schedule. "Stefanski and the other offensive coaches have a plan for the rookie QBs, and they’re not about to be swayed by public opinion and the Sanders-mania that’s sweeping the nation," Cabot wrote. "Yes, it was a great debut against the Panthers with two beautiful touchdown passes to first-year receiver Kaden Davis. But Stefanski always keeps things simple for his rookie quarterbacks in preseason games, and most have looked excellent in their outings under him. Therefore, he wasn’t ready Monday to start handing over those precious starting reps to Sanders when he’s unlikely to start Week 1 and doesn’t necessarily need that valuable time with the ones — yet." Neither Gabriel nor presumed backup Kenny Pickett played against the Panthers after they were slowed by hamstring injuries during training camp. Meanwhile, Sanders completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 30-10 victory over Carolina. Gabriel returned to the practice field on Monday, but Pickett reportedly could be sidelined "for a couple more weeks." It's unclear if either signal-caller will play in Cleveland's preseason matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles this coming Saturday. "They have had a process with Shedeur all the way through," Cabot added during the latest episode of the podcast. "And even when they were taking heat nationally from all kinds of pundits and experts saying that they were setting Shedeur up to fail, they stuck to their guns. And even after his really, really nice debut, they really haven’t changed the process." As recently as Tuesday morning, Zac Jackson of The Athletic mentioned that veteran Joe Flacco is still "the clear leader" to be Cleveland's Week 1 starter over Sanders, Gabriel and Pickett. As of Tuesday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook had Flacco as a -310 betting favorite to get the nod for the Browns' regular-season opener versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Previous whispers indicated Stefanski will want to name his Week 1 QB1 before Cleveland wraps the preseason up with a home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23. It certainly sounds like Stefanski won't lose any sleep over disappointing members of a passionate fan base who want to see what Sanders can do against live defenses in meaningful contests.
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