On Facebook
On Flipboard
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson 'not happy' with his passing
On the same day that the Baltimore Ravens surprisingly listed quarterback and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson as questionable for Sunday's game against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson lamented that only the New York Jets (179.5) are averaging fewer passing yards per game than Baltimore (180.8) one month into the campaign.
"No, I'm not happy because I would like to connect with my guys on those passes," Jackson told reporters on Wednesday, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "I feel like there are a lot of yards and touchdowns we've been leaving on the field when we don't connect. That's probably why our passing isn't where it's supposed to be. But I feel it's early in the season."
As Hensley and Aaron Kasinitz of Penn Live noted, Robert Griffin III took first-team reps while Jackson sat out Wednesday's practice sessions.
Baltimore opened the season with a dominant 38-6 win over the Cleveland Browns and also notched double-digit victories over the 0-4 Houston Texans and 1-3 Washington Football Team. Against the Kansas City Chiefs (now 4-0) on Sept. 28, however, Jackson completed 15-of-28 attempts for a paltry 97 passing yards and a single score in the 34-20 defeat. He added 83 rushing yards that Monday night.
In total, Jackson tallied seven passing touchdowns with one interception while completing 68.4% of his throws over the season's first four games. The 23-year-old signal-caller has connected on only five of 16 passes that have soared at least 20 years in the air. Jackson is 26th in the NFL in that category.
More must-reads:
- Watch: Lamar Jackson burns Washington with 50-yard TD run
- Lamar Jackson says John Harbaugh warned him after premature celebration
- The 'NFL MVP Award winners' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Jerry Jones claims Jets turned down absurd trade offer involving Micah Parsons, Quinnen Williams
Frank Ragnow update fits troubling 2025 Lions pattern
The Detroit Lions can't catch a break. On Saturday, the Lions announced that center Frank Ragnow, who earlier this week came out of retirement to rejoin the team for the stretch run, failed a physical and won't be returning this season after all. Per Detroit's social media account, Ragnow's medical check-up revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain, eliminating the possibility of the four-time Pro Bowler playing this season. Ragnow, 29, left the game with seemingly plenty left in the tank, and his injury setback is another brutal blow for a Lions team that is starting to look cursed. Frank Ragnow's hamstring injury halts comeback before it even begins Detroit has been dealing with several injuries up front along the offensive line, and Ragnow's potential return would have provided stability to a unit that that's become the team's weak link. In Thursday's 31-24 home loss to the Green Bay Packers (8-3-1), Lions quarterback Jared Goff was pressured on 36.7 percent of his drop-backs and sacked three times, via Pro Football Focus. Graham Glasgow, who replaced Ragnow at center this offseason, missed the game with a knee injury. The Lions are also without left guard Christian Mahogany (leg), further depleting the team's depth. Without Ragnow, Detroit must get more creative in figuring out a way to mask its weakness up front if it's to reach the playoffs in a third consecutive season for just the second time in the Super Bowl era. At 7-5, the Lions are a game behind the San Francisco 49ers (8-4) for the NFC's final wild-card spot. On Thursday, they host the Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) in a potential elimination game for the loser. Ragnow's return would have provided a huge boost at the perfect time, fortifying Detroit in the interior of the line of scrimmage. It was the perfect solution to a growing problem. But as has often been the case this season, when it comes to the Lions, it's never that easy.
Arch Manning has defining performance of college career in win over Texas A&M
In the biggest game of his college football career so far, Texas quarterback Arch Manning grew into the superstar he was touted to be with the nation watching. No. 16 Texas (9-3) earned a huge rivalry win over No. 3 Texas A M (11-1) in Austin on Friday in large part thanks to the second-half play of Manning. Manning was only 8-of-21 for 51 yards in the first half, and the Longhorns trailed the Aggies 10-3 at the break. Texas had an opportunity to kick a field goal and cut the A M lead to four at the break, but an intentional grounding penalty incurred by Manning took that opportunity away. Arch Manning lights up the scoreboard in second half But with the help of a Texas defense that rattled TAMU QB Marcel Reed in the second half, Manning and the 'Horns scored 24 second-half points in a winning effort. Texas' first drive of the second half netted three points, but a strike from Manning to Ryan Wingo on the next UT possession gave the Longhorns the lead and gave Manning some confidence. After another defensive stop, Manning led a six-play, 83-yard TD drive to put the Longhorns up by 10. After Texas A M responded, Manning did as well, running away from the Aggie defense on a 35-yard scoring sprint that ultimately served as the deciding blow. In the end, it was Reed — the more experienced and consistent of the two quarterbacks — that made the back-breaking mistake, throwing an interception deep in Texas territory on a drive that looked poised to end with points. The victory was a team effort for Texas, which will await Saturday's slate of games and beg for several playoff contenders to lose to have a shot at the 12-team playoff field. But it was Manning who would be the face of it. Manning went 14-of-29 for 179 yards and a touchdown through the air and added 53 yards and a score on the ground. The win serves as the biggest moment of Manning's young UT career. Going into Saturday, Manning's sophomore season was marred by inconsistent play. A career day against Arkansas was contrasted by middling performances against Ohio State and Georgia. Standout efforts in wins over Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma were overshadowed by no-shows against UTEP, Kentucky and Florida. But Manning rose to his greatest challenge on Saturday, delivering a win in a rivalry game that nobody in the state of Texas — whether they wear burnt orange or maroon — will soon forget.
Connor McDavid made an egregious mistake with Oilers
Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid struggled to find the words to describe the team’s 8-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night. The decision dropped the Oilers’ record to 10-10-5 for the season, and McDavid looked defeated during his postgame interview. The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Oilers. Why did Connor McDavid stay? The Oilers are grappling with the same issues that have plagued them since McDavid joined the NHL in the fall of 2015. Edmonton’s secondary offensive support for McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is minimal, and their goaltending remains a significant concern. Considering the Oilers have faced these problems for so long, it makes one wonder why a generational talent like McDavid chose to sign on for two more years of this, especially given the bargain he struck when he signed for just $12.5M a season. McDavid’s choice to sign with Edmonton before even considering free agency might become one of the biggest “what-ifs” in NHL history. However, McDavid opted for stability in a familiar market, with a team that has been competitive for most of his NHL career. Ultimately, McDavid decided to stay loyal to the Oilers, but the two-year term seemed like a warning shot to Edmonton. So far, that warning appears to have fallen on deaf ears. The timing of McDavid’s extension was quite unusual. The superstar had a clear route to unrestricted free agency, which could have been one of the most incredible stories in NHL history if it had come to pass. McDavid had the chance to be the highest-profile player in NHL history to reach free agency since Wayne Gretzky in 1996. He held leverage against the Oilers and could have waited out the season, sparking a bidding war for his services. This would have boosted his star power and changed what a superstar’s career could look like. Instead, McDavid chose familiarity, even though the timing of his decision wasn’t convenient. Connor McDavid's decision to re-sign could be costly McDavid’s signing has delayed his free agency by 24 months, and some people dismiss this decision by arguing that McDavid will still get paid and reach free agency after the salary cap has significantly increased. While both points have some truth, the counterargument is compelling. Instead of becoming a free agent at 29, McDavid will do so at 31. It might seem minor, but many NHLers see their skills decline after 30. Another factor is that when McDavid finally signs, the new CBA rules on contract length will apply, meaning the maximum deal with his current team will be seven years, and he’ll only be able to land six years on the open market. Although this one-year reduction isn’t a significant issue, it will likely cause McDavid to leave money on the table on his next deal. In terms of missed opportunities, McDavid would have been the first generational player in NHL free agency to test the market in the prime of his career. While it would have made great theater for the NHL, it would also have been an opportunity for McDavid to shift the league’s balance of power toward whichever team he joined, while helping reset the salary structure for superstar NHLers. McDavid is clearly not a $12.5M player, but like many top NHLers before him, he took a "hometown discount" to stay with his current team. For some NHLers, taking that discount has worked out well (Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Nathan MacKinnon). Far more often, the savings from a reduced salary cap are wasted. Even Crosby, who traded tens of millions of dollars to play on consistently competitive teams, saw many of those seasons marred by costly mistakes on depth players with inflated cap hits (Jack Johnson, Erik Gudbranson, Nick Bjugstad). Crosby essentially subsidized poor roster decisions with his lower cap hits, and he would no doubt do so again, given the Stanley Cup championships Pittsburgh has won during his career. McDavid’s decision to re-sign essentially upholds the NHL’s long-standing tradition of superstars taking less money to stay with their team, and no doubt he did so while feeling loyalty to the Oilers fans who have endured the same heartbreaks he has. The reality is, McDavid has gone through a decade without winning the Cup, despite multiple front-office makeovers, coaching changes, cap mismanagement and an inability to surround him with real depth. And while the depth has improved over the last few years, the “we’re almost there” mentality won’t put a Stanley Cup ring on McDavid’s finger. All of this to say, McDavid probably owed it to himself to explore free agency at least to see if a team with a more precise winning blueprint could emerge, giving him a better chance at a title. July 1, 2026, would have offered a window into that, but McDavid chose not to look, and it could come back to haunt him if he never wins a championship. McDavid had all the leverage, which makes his decision baffling, because exploring free agency didn’t require him to leave Edmonton. He could have casually explored his options, had discussions with teams, listened to their pitches and then re-signed with Edmonton—something that might have pushed the Oilers to step up their game and get creative with their roster. But the Oilers didn’t need to worry about losing McDavid, and it seems this has led to some apathy across the organization, as they don’t seem to be a group hungry to win. Generational players across all leagues have frequently tested free agency. NBA superstar LeBron James famously took his talents from Cleveland to Miami nearly 15 years ago, and MLB superstar pitcher Paul Skenes will likely follow suit one day. It’s common, and not all players do it because they’re leaving; they do it for a variety of reasons. They can because the process gives them power, and it’s one of the few times they get to fully control their own destiny. McDavid could have taken a different route, but he didn’t. While he’s given the team a short leash to build a winner around him, he could have kept that leash even tighter, which might have pushed the Oilers to solve their roster issues more quickly. It could also have generated a story that might have become a sensation across all platforms — a broader narrative focusing on a star-driven tale on a smaller scale than MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani’s. The buzz would have been enormous and arguably the biggest NHL story since the Oilers traded Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings. Moving on could have been a great branding opportunity for McDavid to become even more mainstream, but he chose the safe, comfortable route in Edmonton. It’s a loyalty decision, and it’s completely understandable given that the Oilers have been close to a title in the last two years and he has built a bond with his teammates. For his legacy, though, he might need to chase greatness in a different city in the next two-and-a-half years.
Nikola Jokic receiving the highest praise amid unbelievable start to season
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has long been considered one of the best players in the NBA, if not the best. He stuffs the stat sheet every night with ease, has won three MVPs and brought the first ever championship to his franchise, and yet, what he’s doing through 18 games to start the 2025-26 season might be the most impressive of them all. The Joker has somehow found another level to his game, appearing even more aggressive in finding his own offense while still consistently facilitating open looks for his teammates. Jokic is the type of player who is one of one, and the fact that he continues to find new ways to dominate is scary for the rest of the league. Everyone can agree that very few players, if any, in today’s NBA possess a better offensive skill set than that of Jokic, and earlier this week, former head coach Stan Van Gundy took it one step further, saying Jokic might flat out be the best player in the history of the game. Days later, the praise for Jokic continued around the basketball world, and this time, it came from one of his peers who is viewed in that same conversation for the greatest of all time, LeBron James. "There has not been a more dominant, complete player that I've played against," James said of Jokic. The 30-year-old has been putting up video game numbers so far this season, averaging 29.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game while shooting an ultra-efficient 62.8% from the field and 44.0% from beyond the arc. His 10 triple-doubles through 18 games put him on a full-season pace for a whopping 46, which would surpass Russell Westbrook (42 in 2016-17) for the single-season triple-double record. MVP No. 4 would be historic for Nikola Jokic At this point in his career, Jokic's sole focus is on winning another championship with the Nuggets (13-5). That being said, what he’s doing in the regular season is not normal, and if he keeps it up, he’ll be adding to his trophy case. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and others won’t make it easy, but Jokic's all-around offensive dominance should have him as the front-runner for his fourth league MVP award. Doing so would put him in quite the company in a tie with LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain and behind only Bill Russell, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most MVP awards in NBA history. And let’s remember, he’s still right in the prime of his career and could very well add to the list. The only thing standing in his way would be voter fatigue or any early retirement to race horses in his hometown. If he does continue to play longer than we expect, more and more of the basketball world is going to be in agreement with Van Gundy and James that Jokic is one of the best to ever do it. All of that aside, it’s crazy to think how far Jokic has come since being glossed over for a Taco Bell commercial as a second-round pick (41st overall) back in 2014. The Nuggets are certainly thankful that there wasn’t too much hype around the face of their franchise when he was a prospect, because they’re still reaping the rewards of the selection over 10 years later.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
