The Baltimore Ravens have the 27th-ranked passing offense in the NFL, and for that reason, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes Baltimore could be one-and-done when the playoffs roll around.
On a recent episode of “First Take,” Smith and former Pro Bowl receiver Keyshawn Johnson debated the Ravens’ chances in the postseason if they continued to struggle passing the ball like they have through the first 10 games.
"If you are Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, you're going to have to show that you can throw that damn football in order for real success to come your way," Smith said. "If they weren't running the football effectively but they were throwing it considerably better, I would feel far, far, far more confident about what I'm seeing from the Ravens.
"The fact that that still hasn't been the case and your offense is still predicated — of course the greatness of Lamar Jackson is what it is — but I'm saying predicated on his running ability concerns me."
While the Ravens (7-3) have the No. 2 rushing offense in the NFL (162.8 yards per game), they rank 21st in average yards per receptions (10.7), 28th receiving yards per game (197.7) and 29th in receptions (184).
Jackson is ninth in touchdown passes (18), but he also ranks 14th in passer rating (91.7), 22nd in passing yards (1,977), 24th in completion percentage (63.4) and he’s tied for the ninth-most interceptions (7).
Of Baltimore’s seven remaining games, just one is against a top-10 pass defense — Week 13 against the Denver Broncos.
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Training camp and preseason are all about staying healthy for the start of the season. For the Green Bay Packers, Tuesday’s practice on August 12, 2025, served as a reminder of how fickle luck can be. Tight end Luke Musgrave and wide receiver Romeo Doubs both sent shockwaves through training camp when they went down with injuries during practice. Thankfully, the latest updates have fans breathing a collective sigh of relief as both players appear to have avoided serious setbacks. With both Musgrave and Doubs set to play pivotal roles in the Packers’ offense this season, their health becomes a top priority as the team inches closer to the regular season. Here’s everything you need to know about their injury scares, subsequent updates, and what it all means for Green Bay’s 2025 outlook. Green Bay Packers Injury Scares Luke Musgrave’s Ankle Jolt Luke Musgrave, the Packers’ promising tight end drafted in 2023, sent tension rippling through the camp after hurting his ankle during an otherwise celebratory moment. Shortly after making a touchdown grab, Musgrave appeared to tweak his ankle and was visibly uncomfortable. With each cautious step, anxiety loomed heavy over the coaching staff, the fans, and the young tight end hoping to lock in his position as one of Jordan Love’s go-to weapons. Romeo Doubs’ Back Collision Minutes later, another scare followed—this time involving Romeo Doubs, one of the key cogs in Green Bay’s wide receiver corps. Doubs collided with safety Evan Williams on an incomplete deep ball, the impact leaving him slow to rise and clutching his lower back. He was taken to the Hutson Center for further evaluation, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the practice field. Positive Updates Highlight Potential Return Despite Tuesday’s ominous moments, Wednesday brought welcome news for Green Bay. Both Musgrave and Doubs appear to have avoided long-term injuries, with reporters noting that neither player is dealing with anything serious enough to threaten their availability for the season opener. “Seems both Romeo Doubs and Luke Musgrave are OK after injury scares yesterday,” noted Packers insider Zach Kruse. This promising update means that both players could return to action soon, ensuring the Packers’ offense remains intact as the team continues preparation for Week 1. What Their Health Means for the Packers’ Offense The Packers’ offense operates with one goal in mind this season—establishing rhythm and continuity under quarterback Jordan Love, who is entering his inaugural campaign as the definitive starter. Doubs and Musgrave are central to that plan, and their health will play a critical role in Green Bay’s potential success. Luke Musgrave’s Role at Tight End Musgrave, with his 6-foot-6 frame and elite athleticism, is expected to be a dynamic option in the red zone and over the middle of the field. His ability to stretch defenses with his straight-line speed gives Jordan Love a pivotal mismatch to exploit. With Packers coach Matt LaFleur known for creative schemes involving tight ends, Musgrave is poised to surpass his rookie-year contributions and become one of the team’s top offensive weapons. An extended absence would leave Green Bay thin at tight end, forcing them to lean too heavily on backups like Tucker Kraft. Musgrave dodging serious injury is a huge sigh of relief for the coaching staff looking to build around their versatile second-year player. Romeo Doubs’ Importance to the Receiver Room Romeo Doubs enters the 2025 season with a chance to take another step forward as a reliable and potentially explosive wide receiver. With Christian Watson and Jayden Reed entering their third and fourth year, respectively, Doubs slots as a complementary target with the ability to move the chains and create chunk plays. The injury scare highlighted just how fragile the team’s depth at wide receiver can be. Any significant time missed by Doubs would leave the Packers scrambling between lesser-proven options like Dontayvion Wicks and rookie pass-catchers to fill the void. Thankfully, Green Bay won’t need to shuffle the depth chart just yet—a massive win for maintaining offensive stability down the stretch of camp. The Packers’ Injury Landscape Musgrave and Doubs’ recoveries come as part of a broader injury narrative for the Packers this preseason. With quarterback Jordan Love nursing a thumb injury and other depth players sidelined, the team has been walking a fine line between preparation and preservation. Coach Matt LaFleur has stressed a cautious approach to managing workloads in camp, aiming to ensure all 53 regular-season contributors are healthy and ready when the games matter most. With Musgrave and Doubs added to the list of “narrow escapes,” it’s clear the Packers have dodged a significant bullet in maintaining the offensive cohesion their new-look roster needs to gel. Final Thoughts The injury updates on Luke Musgrave and Romeo Doubs may not seem headline-worthy given they avoided serious setbacks, but their importance to Green Bay’s offense cannot be overstated. Both players represent key building blocks in an evolving attack centered on unlocking the full potential of Jordan Love. For now, Packers fans and coaches alike can breathe easy knowing their $12-million offensive duo is still on track for a healthy and impactful 2025 campaign. But as camp rolls on and preseason games begin, the emphasis for Green Bay will remain clear—avoid losses on the injury report at all costs.
The New York Yankees have had manager Aaron Boone at the helm of the club since 2018. The Pinstripes made their first World Series appearance since 2009 last year with Boone, but should they have ditched him this offseason for a different name? One big-name MLB analyst seems to think so. On a recent episode of the New York Post's podcast, "The Show", MLB insider Chris Russo ripped the Yankees for choosing to keep Boone as manager instead of pursing two-time World Series winning manager Terry Francona, who came out of retirement this season to manage the Cincinnati Reds. "These are the New York Yankees. ... I know they didn't want to hire (Bruce) Bochy because then they have to listen to front office and all that nonsense. Francona gets a job again. You are telling me Boone is a better manager than Terry Francona? Are you freaking crazy?" Russo said. "How did Francona end up with the Reds? Did the Yankees put a call in to Francona?" As it stands now, Francona's Reds are a bit behind the Yankees, with a 63-58 record just barely keeping them out of the National League wild card standings. Francona would have been an interesting get for the Yankees, as he managed the 2004 Boston Red Sox team that managed to unseat New York in the AL Championship game and go on to win Boston's first World Series since 1918. Russo went on to support Boone as a manager, but insist that the Yankees' World Series drought with Boone at the helm has gone on too long. "Listen, everybody loves Boone," he said. "He's not a bad manager, but he has been there a long time (without a) World Series win. In my opinion, there are seven managers in the sport better than Boone. And yet, here he is." This season, Boone has faced a barrage of criticism for his managerial choices, particularly pertaining to short stop Anthony Volpe and closer Devin Williams. Despite fans' insistence and both players' frequently poor performance, Boone has stood by both Volpe (who leads the league in fielding errors) and Williams (who can't seem to stop blowing saves). It's entirely possible that a Yankees lineup assembled by a different manager would have a better record. For better or for worse, though, Boone is steering the ship for now, regardless of what Yankees fans and insiders have to say about it. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! Yankees Outfielders Open Up About Free Agency Potential Phillies Sign Former Yankees Pitcher Yankees See Big Changes in Latest Prospect Rankings Yankees Earn Disheartening Playoff Tier Mets Send Former Yankees Starter to Bullpen
The Minnesota Vikings are getting ready to kick the tires on the J.J. McCarthy era, and he already got back on the field in the preseason opener. Justin Jefferson, however, wasn't out there. The superstar wide receiver was always a long shot to suit up in the preseason. He sustained a mild hamstring injury, and the team was going to be extremely cautious with him. However, it seems like he's not making a lot of progress. According to a report by Vikings insider Ben Goessling, not only will Jefferson miss the game vs. the New England Patriots, but he will be re-evaluated next week. Justin Jefferson is still dealing with a hamstring injury "Kevin O’Connell said Justin Jefferson won’t practice against the Patriots, but he’s continued to take part in walk-throughs. He’ll be re-evaluated next week," Goessling reported. "C.J. Ham and Andrew Van Ginkel won’t practice this week, and Harrison Smith is dealing with an illness." Of course, this is a massive blow to Kevin O'Connell's offense, which is already missing Jordan Addison due to a suspension. Soft tissue injuries tend to linger and are tricky, and it's not the first time Jefferson has had to deal with this type of injury. Just a couple of days ago, Jefferson shut down all concerns about this ailment, but he already missed a big chunk of the 2023 season with a similar issue: “It’s coming along. Just every single day, just working on it. Working on the strength. Working on the mobility. I’m feeling pretty good right now. Just inching my way every single day." Jefferson dominated again last season with 103 receptions for 1,533 receiving yards and a career-best-tying ten touchdowns, and he'll be instrumental in making McCarthy's life easier in his first full year in the league.
It is no secret that NASCAR's current road-course package has not been very good. Aside from the mile-and-a-half tracks that were once the least competitive and exciting in the series, those races are the rare bright spot for the Next Gen Car since its inception in 2022. Shane van Gisbergen drove away to an 11.1-second win over Christopher Bell in Sunday's race at Watkins Glen and set multiple records in the process. While the racing was not particularly exciting, that was not what left former crew chief and current analyst Steve Letarte frustrated the most following the weekend. A recurring issue in each race over the weekend was drivers utilizing the runoff areas around the track and not staying on the traditional racing surface, which ultimately led to some crashes in Saturday's Xfinity race. "So, I hate track limits that have to be officiated," Letarte said on "Inside the Race." "Because I like tracks that you should just stay on the track. I didn't think it mattered. Now, I am team get-them-back-on-the-race-track-at-Watkins-Glen. I don't love the Watkins Glen that I see. ... I think Turn 1 is not as great of a corner with no exit respect or responsibility. You just blow the exit. I think the carousel is a much easier corner, being able to just go driver's left. "I also think Turn 6 is going — let me add, that I think the (Connor) Zilisch, SVG wreck between the last two corners (in the Xfinity Series race) happened because they left the track, and the Austin Hill wreck with Michael McDowell happened off the race track. Now, both could have been avoided, we can talk about who's at fault. What I'm saying is, I've never driven a lap at Watkins Glen. I can analyze what happens between the white lines." This comes one year after rumble strips were placed in Turn 1 to keep drivers from using the runoff area, and that clearly has not worked. As the field has got closer together, using up all the track has become a common way for drivers to establish momentum, especially as they prepare for the right-hander going into The Esses at Watkins Glen. The bottom line is NASCAR's road-racing product needs to get better and Letarte wants to see race cars "stay on the race track because I think it will be a better race." Van Gisbergen's historic dominance certainly does not help, but the overall road course product is not great. Whether NASCAR makes some changes to the runoff areas and enforces track limits remains to be seen, but that still may not be the biggest issue if the racing does not improve.
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