On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
HBO and Naughty Dog filled several more The Last of Us Season 2 cast spots, including Nora, Mel, Owen, and several other Washington Liberation Front members. Danny Ramirez (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) will play Manny; Tati Gabrielle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) plays Nora; Spencer Lord (Riverdale) plays Abby’s former lover Owen; and Ariela Barer (Runaways) will play Mel (thanks, Variety).
These four join Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, another Washington Liberation Front member who’s a friend to most of them in the story, and Isabela Merced as Ellie’s love interest Dina. Bella Ramsey returns as Ellie, and Pedro Pascal will reprise his role as Joel.
HBO’s official descriptions call Mel “a young doctor whose commitment to saving lives is challenged by the realities of war and tribalism,” a reference to the situation in Seattle, where two factions clash in a seemingly endless cycle of violence and retribution. Manny, meanwhile, is a “loyal soldier whose sunny outlook belies the pain of old wounds and a fear that he will fail his friends when they need him most.
HBO calls Nora a military medic struggling to come to terms with the sins of her past” and Owen a “gentle soul trapped in a warrior's body, condemned to fight an enemy he refuses to hate.”
All four play important roles in Ellie’s journey and Abby’s redemption, though if you’ve played The Last of Us Part 2, you know how their stories turn out. Assuming Season 2 follows the game’s narrative as closely as Season 1 did with Part 1, their paths will be far from easy.
The Last of Us Season 2 is currently in production. HBO has yet to announce a release date, though it’s expected to premiere in 2025.
More must-reads:
- Matt Campbell finalizes program-friendly contract extension with Iowa State
- Top Micah Parsons landing spots as Cowboys' contract talks deteriorate
- The '250-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Troubling report surfaces on Patriots' first-round rookie
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye might not feel comfortable with his blindside protection early in the upcoming season. Following troubles at left tackle in 2024, the Patriots invested in the position by drafting LSU standout Will Campbell with the No. 4 pick in April's draft. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, Campbell has been trending down at training camp this summer. "All eyes are on him every practice, which is a tough spot for a rookie," Graff wrote of Campbell. "So far, he’s been about what you’d expect from a rookie. He has some strong moments, particularly in the running game. But there have been struggles in the passing game. He’s been beaten for a sack in just about every practice, which isn’t great considering he’s usually on the field each practice for only 15 or so passing plays in full-team drills. "He tends to get beaten to the inside after oversetting, and it probably doesn’t help that the Pats don’t yet know who their left guard is next to him. Still, extrapolate those numbers, and that’s allowing two sacks each NFL game if you throw the ball 30 times. Not great." Graff believes the future is "bright" for Campbell, but doesn't think he will be a top-20 left tackle in 2025. NFL scouts had questions before the draft about Campbell's 32⅝ inch (or 33 inches, depending on whether one believes the league or LSU) arm length. Some suggested he'd be better suited to play guard in the league than left tackle. If Campbell continues to give up sacks, the Patriots might consider moving the 21-year-old to the interior part of the offensive line. Per OurLads, Campbell is projected to win the left tackle starting job for Week 1. If Campbell doesn't develop quickly in the preseason, Maye's progress as a thrower in the pocket could take a hit in the upcoming season.
Seattle Mariners Could See Key Contributor Return From Injury Earlier Than Expected
Speaking before Thursday's series opener with the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto provided some excellent news on Victor Robles and his potential return to the field, saying that he could be back on the major league roster earlier in September than originally thought. The following transcript comes from Seattle Sports 710: "...in the last two days we were informed that if all goes well, Vic has the potential of getting on our roster at some point in September, maybe more early than late. “Obviously we don’t have the ability to get through any setback, there’s not enough time left on the calendar. But right now he’s working his tail off. It’s trending in the right direction.” This is obviously great news for the Mariners, who have missed Robles at the top of the order, and on the bases. He's been out since early April with a fracture in his left shoulder. We have seen videos of him swinging on the field in just the last few days, which is a major step. The ROOT Sports telecast reported that he was practicing modified diving on Thursday, presumably as a way to test range of motion. While it's hard to count on anything from Robles at this point, his return would be a welcome one for a roster that needs another right-handed hitting option in the outfield. In a perfect world, he would be able to platoon with Dominic Canzone or Luke Raley in right field. Robles was hitting .273 in the early going for Seattle.He stole 30 bases in 77 games last season and is a spark plug at the top of the lineup. The M's have utilized J.P. Crawford in the leadoff spot in his absence for most of the year, but Randy Arozarena assumed the leadoff spot in Thursday's 6-0 win. The Mariners are 58-52 and in sole possession of the third and final wild card spot.
Steelers Add Familiar Face To Defensive Line Depth Chart After Recent Plague Of Injuries
The Pittsburgh Steelers likely have a handful of "bubble" players on speed-dial throughout training camp. Some guys always seem like they are on the cusp of making the roster, so they get called upon when injuries pile up. Recently, Pittsburgh lost three defensive linemen to knee issues, including Dean Lowry. There is no word on how severe they are just yet. At this point, it feels like the team needs bodies to work with the second and third-team defense. The Steelers signed more than just a camp body, however. They signed a veteran that knows the system. The announcement came via the player himself, as defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko posted on X that he is signing with the Steelers once again. Fehoko has spent 2023 and 2024 on the Steelers' practice squad after a three-year stint with the Los Angeles Chargers. In Los Angeles, he appeared in 19 games, including four starts. He has racked up 36 total tackles in his career, and he is looking to prove that he can do more than that, so he can get a chance to stick on the Steelers' 53-man roster finally. He will definitely have a window of opportunity with all the injuries on the defensive line, as well as the recent influx of youth. Captain Cameron Heyward is one of very few long-time veterans in the position group, so the coaching staff would likely be happy with having another veteran stick around for the entire 2025 season. Lowry was another veteran expected to make it past the final cuts, but that status is now up in the air. The injuries are not the only thing giving Fehoko a chance here. The Steelers' defensive line depth was already rough before the injuries piled up, and now it's even worse. It appears to be a very top-heavy unit, depending on how well rookie Derrick Harmon plays. Outside of that, there is a lot to be desired from the collective unit. A little bit of veteran presence from a familiar face is surely welcomed. Steelers Have Been Looking For Better Performances From Their Defensive Line Obviously, the 2024 season did not end the way the Steelers had hoped, as they routinely lost in the trenches late in the season. That failure forced a positional overhaul, including two rookie defensive linemen getting drafted together. That kind of end-of-year performance is absolutely unacceptable, and everyone knows it. It's time to get bigger, stronger, and meaner together, and that was what they went for in the 2025 offseason. So far, early returns have been great from training camp, although it's unclear if the defensive line is performing that well, the offensive line is performing that poorly, or a little bit of both. Either way, the first-team unit seems to be doing its job well. More depth is never a bad thing, however, and that's why Fehoko was brought back. They could really use someone like him holding down the fort for the backups. This will be a unique camp competition for Fehoko, as he will be competing against Logan Lee, who was essentially red-shirted in 2024, DeMarvin Leal, who has positional flexibility, and then more of the typical bubble players. Outside of the three projected starters and rookie Yahya Black, nobody's job is safe and secure. There are many bones for all the dogs to fight for. The roster move to free up a spot for Fehoko is to be determined, but the most likely scenario is one of the three injured defensive linemen either going on injured reserve or getting released with an injury settlement.
Matt Campbell finalizes program-friendly contract extension with Iowa State
A big-name coach secured his future with a Big 12 football program by making an unselfish act. Per Max Olson of ESPN, Matt Campbell agreed to a contract extension with Iowa State that will keep him in Ames through 2032. He took a program-friendly discount to keep a top staff and allocate $1 million in rev-share funds. "Iowa State and coach Matt Campbell have finalized his extension through 2032," Olson posted on X. "He’ll earn $5 million per year in total compensation. "The 3x Big 12 Coach of the Year took a discount on the deal to ensure his staff pool increased and allowed ISU to allocate an additional $1 million in rev-share funds for football, sources told ESPN." Campbell has been linked to big coaching jobs in the recent past, including in the NFL. He met with the Chicago Bears for their head coach opening this winter before they hired Ben Johnson. Campbell, 45, took over at Iowa State in 2016. He's gone 45-36 with the Cyclones. Iowa State went 11-3 last season and were one win away from making the College Football Playoff, as they made the Big 12 championship but lost to the Arizona State Sun Devils 45-19. Keeping Campbell in Ames is a no-brainer for Iowa State. He's helped keep the Cyclones relevant during his nine seasons with the program. Campbell was smart to take a discount, allowing the Cyclones to stay competitive in recruiting. ISU is the second head coaching gig Campbell has had in college. He went 35-15 during his five seasons at Toledo. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2015.
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.
