The Colts added second-round DE JT Tuimoloau after a strong College Football Playoff performance where he went for 6.5 sacks in four games en route to a national title. Indianapolis area scout Mike Lacy believes his lack of regular-season production came down to opponents’ game plans, and he was impressed with how Tuimoloau fought through the added attention.
“They kind of see what we see,” Lacy said, via ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “They see a big guy who’s a real threat off the edge … He knows he’s getting extra attention. He’s used to it. You just kind of see a guy strain a little bit harder, fight a little bit harder. You have to get a little bit more creative, be a little bit more savvy to beat that extra attention that you’re getting, and I think he did that.”
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence was asked by reporters about his first impression of second-overall pick Travis Hunter.
“Got a lot of juice, like he can run all day,” Lawrence said. “A lot of energy. I love it. Good energy. Always dapping guys up, just bringing juice every day. Like I said, high motor. Can just go. It’s like a kid just runs around all day. He doesn’t get tired, it seems like. So you can’t have enough of that. And then, as far as just talent, I mean, it kind of speaks for itself. Ball skills, runs after the catch, he’s very explosive. Just didn’t realize how explosive he was in and out of cuts. He’s impressive to watch.”
Titans RB Tony Pollard is set to enter his second year in Tennessee next season, finishing with 1,079 rushing yards and five touchdowns last season. Brian Callahan points out that Pollard battled through injuries in the second half of the season and thinks a “healthier division of labor” will help the running back.
“He was battling the second half of the year quite a bit,” Callahan said, via Jim Wyatt of the team’s site. “But I think in a perfect world, it’s a healthier division of labor. I think he ended up carrying the ball a lot. He was our most productive running back. And then Tyjae (Spears) had some injuries early, too. So, he ended up playing a lot early, and then Tyjae sort of came on as the year went on further. So, I really like both of those players a lot. I think we can do a better job of managing that load so they both play a little more evenly and allow us to maybe have a spot for a third back between Julius (Chestnut) and Kalel (Mullings), some heavier style back and runner. So hopefully that division of labor gets a little more evenly distributed, so he doesn’t have to take the brunt of it. And we can get 17 games out of all those guys at their best.”
Pollard is staying active this offseason to be ready for the rigors of a full season.
“Just being more aggressive with my body, keeping my body in shape, not having as long of a downtime in between the season and when I get back going for the offseason,” Pollard said. “Just knowing, being older, being a little bit more of a vet in this league, you have to keep your body in shape so when it is time to get going, you’ll be ready.”
Pollard also thinks having more running backs involved will help keep him fresh.
“Whatever way we can contribute to the success of the team,” Pollard said. “Getting more guys involved, keeping guys fresh, whatever it is that is going to keep us winning games and keep guys fresh throughout the season, it’s ideal.”
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It will be even harder for the Dallas Cowboys to rebound from a 7-10 season if they don't stop fighting each other. Last week, there were multiple incidents at training camp in Oxnard, California. On Wednesday, more scuffles broke out, and rookie offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius was ejected after punching a teammate (via ESPN's Todd Archer). Cowboys rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer subsequently stopped practice and made players and members of the coaching staff sprint sideline to sideline. He also sent a clear message to his team. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb reiterated it in a news conference. "Do we want to be champions? Because throughout the year of us being here, talent was never the problem for us," Lamb said. "It was always discipline. How do we, like, get ahead but not behind? How do we not shoot ourselves in the foot? Honestly, when that momentum is going our way, we need to continue to keep the foot on the pedal and make the right play and always think about the team." It's good for the Cowboys that Schottenheimer emphasized discipline after practice, but the coach may have inadvertently contributed to the issue. At the start of camp, he indicated he wanted the Cowboys to be more aggressive. "We want to have a very physical training camp," the coach told the media. "That's really important to us both offensively and defensively. How we want to play, be a physical team both offensively and defensively." It appears his team misinterpreted the message. This raises concerns about Schottenheimer's ability to maintain control, especially in a locker room featuring volatile personalities, such as new wide receiver George Pickens. Lamb seems to be listening to Schottenheimer, but the coach must connect with other players. If he doesn't, trouble could be brewing in Dallas.
The New York Yankees haven't gotten superstars as Thursday's Trade Deadline approaches, but they did add depth that could change the course of their season. They acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario over the past week, the former of whom has already made his presence felt. McMahon recorded hits in his first three games with the team before going 0-for-4 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. However, the 30-year-old went 2-for-4 with an RBI against them on Wednesday, including a walkoff single to center in the 11th inning. McMahon opened up about his experience with the team so far postgame, via SNY. "It just feels good to come through for the team," he said. "Everyone matters in this chase, so just happy to come through." "It's a lot of fun being here and being in this clubhouse," he continued. "It's a very dangerous team. I've seen it from afar, playing against them..." New York was down 1-0 from the third inning until the eighth, when Trent Grisham hit a solo homer to right. Giancarlo Stanton followed up with an RBI single, giving the team a 2-1 lead. Closer Devin Williams then blew the save in the ninth inning after allowing two runs, but Anthony Volpe tied the contest in the bottom frame with a solo homer to left. After that, Tampa Bay's Jonathan Aranda hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th before Cody Bellinger hit an RBI triple to center in the bottom frame. New York reliever Tim Hill then threw a scoreless inning in the 11th, and McMahon followed up with his walkoff single. The Yankees have now won three of their last four games.
The Chicago Cubs have made their second move of this trade deadline. First reported by Jon Heyman, the Cubs have traded for RHP Andrew Kittredge from the Baltimore Orioles. As of right now, it is unclear who the Cubs will be shipping off. Bob Nightengale reported that the deal “will be announced in the morning.” It is hard to believe they had to give up too much, even with the expensive pitching market. Report: Orioles Trade Reliever Andrew Kittredge to Cubs As they were expected to, the Cubs are going after pitching, Kittredge being a relief pitcher. Once again, he is a guy who was not on many people’s radars going into today. The 35-year-old could be a great addition to the bullpen in the playoffs as a one-year rental. What Can Kittredge Provide? This year, Kittredge has limited innings as he has only pitched 31 1/3 due to an early knee injury. But in those innings, he holds a 3.45 ERA. He also has 32 strikeouts and a good-looking 1.121 WHIP. And although he doesn’t qualify for many statistics, he has delivered amazing chase numbers, strikeout numbers in general, walk rate, and xERA. Kittredge this year also has a 3.56 FIP, which is solidly above average. Throughout his career, he has been an extremely underrated pitcher, finishing with a sub-3.15 ERA in six of his eight seasons before this year. He is a guy who isn’t going to overpower any hitters but is still able to get strikeouts and avoid barrels. Both of the first two pitchers traded for by the Cubs have very good strikeout numbers, which may be a sign of what the Cubs are going after. Similar to the Michael Soroka trade, Kittredge isn’t the top-end guy that most fans probably want. But he is a proven veteran who can give the Cubs’ bullpen a solid boost down the stretch.
The Michigan Wolverines made one of the most surprising moves of the 2024-25 college football recruiting cycle as head coach Sherrone Moore added quarterback Chase Herbstreit, the son of former Ohio State player Kirk Herbstreit, to his 2025 recruiting class. Herbstreit became part of a loaded QB class that included freshman sensation Bryce Underwood along with two transfers, Mikey Keene from Fresno State and Jake Garcia from East Carolina. On Wednesday, news broke of an update regarding Chase Herbstreit that signaled the start of his Wolverines career in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines announced player numbers, heights and weights as training camp began in Ann Arbor. "Michigan freshman QB Chase Herbstreit will wear No. 15 to begin his career," reporter Clayton Sayfie wrote on X along with a fire emoji. Herbstreit will compete to be in the mix for playing time with a stable full of quarterbacks that includes an intriguing mix of youth and veterans at the position. Underwood is the expected starter, but Keene and Garcia are coming off of starting seasons at other universities and could push for the starting job in the coming weeks. Herbstreit is 6-foot-2, 185 pounds and hails from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was listed as a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com prior to his commitment to the Wolverines and projects as a solid runner and passer who could become an integral part of the Wolverines' quarterback room this year and beyond.