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The Washington Commanders and the rest of the NFL have to deal with the unfortunate reality of injuries.
The Commanders were lucky last year when it came to injuries as one of the healthiest teams in the league, but this offseason saw them acquire Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil, two key players who have been plagued by injuries in the past.
CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin believes that is the biggest red flag for Washington en route to a Super Bowl title.
Commanders could fall victim to injury
"The Commanders are one of the NFL's most popular contenders thanks to Jayden Daniels' magical 2024 debut," Benjamin wrote.
"And general manager Adam Peters understandably wasted no time upgrading Daniels' supporting cast by swinging trades for Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil this offseason. The only issue is both Samuel and Tunsil, who will play vital roles in aiding and protecting Daniels, have missed extensive time due to injury in the last few years. Veteran defensive addition Javon Kinlaw falls in the same boat. Conditioning could be key in D.C."
Injuries could be the biggest enemy for the Commanders this season. If they stay healthy, they might be back in the Super Bowl conversation. If not, a trip to the playoffs might be in jeopardy.
The same could be said to any team, but for a squad that was lucky to be as healthy as it was a year ago, there has to be an assumption that the statistic will regress to the mean.
The Commanders report to training camp with rookies coming in on July 18 and veterans on July 22.
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Steelers Might Be The Legitimate Reason Terry McLaurin Wants Out Of Washington
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a shocking move early in the 2025 offseason. In a bold and unexpected trade, the team acquired star wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, instantly changing the outlook of their offense. Shortly after the deal, the Steelers committed long-term, signing Metcalf to a five-year contract worth $150 million, with four new years and $132 million in fresh money. At $33 million per year, the Steelers made it clear they believe Metcalf is a rare talent worth every dollar. While the Steelers were focused on boosting their offense, their move has caused problems elsewhere in the NFL. The Washington Commanders now find themselves in a difficult position with their own star wide receiver, Terry McLaurin. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that McLaurin "wants considerably more than" the $33 million per year that Metcalf received in Pittsburgh. That revelation has sparked questions about whether the Commanders are prepared to meet McLaurin’s growing demands. The Steelers may not have intended to impact other teams' contract negotiations, but their deal with Metcalf is now being used as a measuring stick. McLaurin, who has consistently been one of the most reliable wideouts in the league, is looking to cash in at a level that reflects his value. Pittsburgh’s decision to pay top dollar has inadvertently put pressure on Washington, who must now decide whether to match or exceed those terms to keep their top receiver happy. The Commanders find themselves in a difficult position as the NFL continues to see critical positions like wide receiver experience rapid increases in market value. As star players across the league sign massive deals, it becomes increasingly challenging for teams to build balanced rosters while also keeping their top talent and maintaining consistency from one season to the next. Washington is now facing that exact challenge with McLaurin. It makes perfect sense that Metcalf’s massive extension with the Steelers is being used as a comparison. This is a common pattern in the NFL. One player gets paid, and others in the same position group see it as their opportunity to cash in. McLaurin, after watching Metcalf land a $33 million per year deal, likely sees this as the perfect moment to get the contract he believes he deserves. It is not about being greedy. Players understand the business side of the league and know their value can shift quickly. When the opportunity comes, they have to take advantage of it. Steelers' Omar Khan Has A Chance To Do Something Crazy At Wide Receiver The bigger question is whether McLaurin could become available if things continue to stall in Washington. While the Steelers might seem like a potential landing spot, they are already investing heavily in Metcalf. Paying McLaurin even more than Metcalf would be incredibly difficult under the current financial structure. However, if General Manager Omar Khan were somehow able to make it work, it would completely reshape how the rest of the league views Pittsburgh entering the 2025 season. For now, both sides appear to be stuck, and that uncertainty could eventually lead to McLaurin’s name surfacing in trade talks, even if his price is far too high for Pittsburgh to realistically consider. While it’s highly unlikely the Steelers would make another major move at wide receiver, Khan has shown a willingness to get creative with the salary cap, so nothing can ever be completely ruled out. With the right cap maneuvering, there’s always a slim chance something unexpected could happen. Though the idea of the Steelers making McLaurin higher paid than Metcalf certainly sounds very unlikely at this point.
Russell Westbrook Signing On Hold As Kings Aim To Finalize Key Trades
Recent league rumblings suggested that the Sacramento Kings will be signing Russell Westbrook to bolster their backcourt depth. While signing the nine-time All-Star would certainly be in their interest, the Kings appear to have other priorities in mind. Sacramento has been particularly active in trade talks this offseason. From being involved in negotiations for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga to supposedly facilitating a trade for DeMar DeRozan, the Kings will be making some changes. Westbrook's arrival is imminent, as his agent, Jeff Schwarz, has been in constant communication with the Kings' front office. However, the organization is reportedly aiming to complete trades involving Malik Monk and Devin Carter before moving forward with Westbrook, per ABC10's Matt George. The trade market for Monk and Carter hasn’t been promising. Carter has been mentioned as the central figure in Sacramento's trade package for Kuminga. The Warriors haven't viewed this favorably, as they have shown an interest in Keon Ellis instead. Meanwhile, the Kings' decision to trade Monk is an intriguing one, especially in light of the season he had. Primarily acting as a bench player, the guard put up 17.2 points and 5.6 assists per night, while shooting 43.9% from the field and 32.5% from beyond the arc. At only 26 years old, Monk has proven himself a valuable contributor with his athleticism and shot-making ability. This move seems driven by roster imbalance and cap constraints. With a crowded backcourt and limited cap space, the Kings have been forced to make tough choices. Facilitating a trade for the guard has proven to be a challenge. Even though trade efforts for Monk began earlier this month, Sacramento hasn’t made much progress. While this could complicate matters under normal circumstances, it likely won’t derail Westbrook’s eventual signing. Apart from a few teams, the 36-year-old hadn't garnered much interest for his talents. When considering that the market for Westbrook was held up by Ben Simmons' pending decision to sign with a team, it is evident that Sacramento took a more proactive approach. This could have positive results in light of the season the veteran guard had. Coming off a solid season with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook showcased that he could be perceived as a reliable floor general even at this stage in his career. For the 2024-25 season, he put up an average of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, while shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range. He also showed that he could shine in a more prominent role, drawing on the task of being a starter in Jamal Murray's absence. That stretch led to a modest boost in production, reinforcing his value on a playoff-caliber team. Sacramento hasn’t made its direction for the upcoming season entirely clear. But given the current roster construction, a top-10 finish in the West seems unlikely.
WNBA Icon Rebecca Lobo Makes Demand Involving Indiana Fever Star
All eyes were on College Park Center for Monday night’s primetime matchup between the Dallas Wings and the New York Liberty. The stars came out to support the Wings in their home matchup against the defending champs. This included Paige Bueckers’ rumored girlfriend, Azzi Fudd, who had a special message for the Dallas rookie during the game. Rebecca Lobo's Intriguing WNBA Proposal WNBA legend Rebecca Lobo was also watching the matchup intently. What caught the attention of the Hall of Fame center was the incredible performance of Wings star Arike Ogunbowale. Ogunbowale made history on Monday after a first-half performance that was literally for the books. The four-time All-Star joined Caitlin Clark as the only two players in the last 20 years to record at least 10 points and 10 assists in a single half. Ogunbowale had 15 and 10 at the break, leading Dallas to a 63-36 lead over the Liberty. Ogunbowale’s eye-catching performance drew an immediate reaction from Lobo during the game. According to the 51-year-old, she would like to see Ogunbowale go toe-to-toe against Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell. “Give us a 1-on-1 game between Arike Ogunbowale and Kelsey Mitchell during next year’s All Star Weekend,” Lobo posted on X. Ogunbowale finished the game with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, a rebound, 14 assists, one steal and two triples in 32 minutes of action. The Liberty mounted an impressive comeback attempt, but the Wings held on for a 92-82 victory. Kelsey Mitchell Has Been Tearing It Up for the Fever Much like Ogunbowale did on Monday night, Mitchell also led the charge for the Fever in their last game. The three-time All-Star went off in Sunday’s 93-78 victory against their biggest rivals, the Chicago Sky, at United Center. Mitchell dropped 35 points on the Sky on 12-of-19 from the field, along with two rebounds, six assists, three steals and seven triples. With Caitlin Clark missing time due to a lingering groin injury, Mitchell has stepped it up for the Fever, firmly establishing herself as one of the top guards in the WNBA today. Lobo clearly sees Mitchell as one of the best one-on-one players in the league, and she’s now demanding a showdown against Ogunbowale. To be clear, there is currently no one-on-one competition in the WNBA All-Star weekend. This could be something the league considers for next year’s festivities, though, and a Mitchell-Ogunbowale clash would not be a bad idea at all.
LA Lakers have inside track to sign 2x All-Star in new buyout deal, it would complete their roster
The Los Angeles Lakers could make yet another addition to their roster this offseason. After a poor postseason run, the Los Angeles Lakers have been active this summer in hopes of bolstering their roster. In fact, general manager Rob Pelinka has already made some key additions to the roster, including Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart. Signing an elite center was arguably the most important task for Pelinka this offseason, and he fulfilled it with the arrival of Ayton. However, one could argue that the Lakers still need a quality backup center. Luka Doncic could recruit Nikola Vucevic to the Los Angeles Lakers While the Lakers re-signed Jaxson Hayes, a player of Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic’s caliber would undoubtedly be a major upgrade. Moreover, with Vucevic being on the Lakers’ radar for years, it means that the organization rates him highly. Previously, the Bulls didn’t indulge in a trade with the Purple and Gold around Vucevic. It has led to Vucevic’s trade value diminishing so much that he is expected to complete a contract buyout with the Bulls. The Laker Nation would love to sign the 34-year-old, and Luka Doncic can help in this quest. How? Well, Doncic and Vucevic share the same agent in Bill Duffy. This means that if Vucevic completes a buyout, the Lakers could have the upper hand in negotiations. The 2x NBA All-Star has given the last five and a half seasons of his career to the Bulls, but it’s obvious that their time together is about to end sooner rather than later. Adding fuel to the fire were former Orlando Magic star Evan Fournier’s comments. Fournier ridiculed the Bulls while taking a shot at Vucevic after the latter called out his move overseas. Luka Doncic has already proven he can recruit stars Ahead of his first full season with the Lakers, Doncic is doing everything in his power to bring back the glory days for the Lakers. He has already undergone a massive transformation to silence his critics. Additionally, Doncic has been actively involved in recruiting players for the Lakers. Smart admitted Doncic was a huge reason behind his decision to sign with the Lakers. Ayton also acknowledged Luka’s role in his decision to join the Purple and Gold. Let’s not forget Ayton also has the same agent as the Slovenian superstar. So, Doncic has already given the inside track for one star; there’s no reason to doubt he would do the same in Vucevic’s case.
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