A Colts coach gets knocked down by his own player in a painful sideline moment.
There’s always a risk of injury during the preseason, but usually that is for the players and not the coaches.
Nevertheless, that wasn’t the case on Thursday night during the Colts’ tie against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Indianapolis special teams coordinator Brian Mason appeared to get hurt on the final play of the 13-13 tie when Colts quarterback Riley Leonard attempted a Hail Mary pass and the Indy assistant coach got taken out along the sideline.
Not good: #Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason got taken out on the very final play of tonight’s preseason game and was in significant pain.
Brian Mason went down in pain on the sideline during the Colts’ Aug. 13, 2026. NFL
The broadcast captured the moment a pair of players — one being a Colts player and the other being a member of the Patriots — made contact with Mason and sent him to the ground.
Mason could be seen in immediate pain when the broadcast showed a replay of the play.
The special teams coordinator appeared to be yelling in pain and rolled on the ground.
It wasn’t immediately clear what the Colts coach had hurt.
Indianapolis special team coordinator Brian Mason of the Indianapolis Colts looks on prior to the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Getty Images
Mason is going into his fourth season as the Colts’ special teams coordinator and has coached across various levels of football during his career.
Among his other stops were Ohio State, where he was a graduate assistant for two years, Cincinnati, where he was first named director of recruiting and then eventually promoted to special teams coordinator, and Notre Dame.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 23: Taylor Rapp #9 of the Buffalo Bills runs onto the field prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Broncos Country.
The Denver Broncos tout one of the best secondaries in the league. The star power and depth at cornerback is evident, and the team has an underrated starting duo at safety with Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga. However, the Broncos might be interested in adding some experienced depth at safety.
According to Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post, the Broncos recently worked out veteran safety Tyler Rapp. A second-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in the 2019 NFL Draft, Rapp has played in 93 games with 72 starts. Over seven seasons, he has notched 488 tackles, 12 interceptions, and 31 passes defended. He has been a productive player, though several hip and knee injuries have impacted his availability throughout his career.
After Jones and Hufanga, five players are battling it out in training camp for depth spots on the backend of their secondary. Those players are JL Skinner, Devon Key, Tycen Anderson, Miles Scott, and Parker Robertson. Skinner, Key, and Anderson have all been top-notch special teams’ players during their time in the NFL. Scott and Robertson are both rookies this season.
With P.J. Locke’s departure to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency, Denver may be looking for a more experienced player to assume his role with the team. None of the five players vying for a backup role have any significant in-game snaps. For perspective, Locke had over 1,800 defensive snaps during his time with the Broncos as a reserve and pinch-starter. Rapp has over 4,800 defensive snaps in his career.
Maybe it means nothing, but maybe it means something. In the event either Jones or Hufanga missed time, it could be wise to have a veteran player who has a lot of starting experience as one of their depth players. What do you think, Broncos Country? Would you be interested in the Broncos signing Rapp? Let me know in the comments section.
As always, thank you for reading. Here is today’s slate of articles for Horse Tracks.
When the Cincinnati Bengals added Boye Mafe this offseason, the obvious expectation was that he would help the pass rush. According to Myles Murphy, Mafe is bringing considerably more than that.
The knowledge Mafe has brought to Cincinnati’s defensive front is one of the biggest things that has impressed Murphy so far through camp.
“That’s one of the big reasons why we got him here,” Murphy said recently. “Of course he can rush; he’s a big, twitchy player, but his IQ is very high as well.”
“His football IQ is second to none. He knows ball.” Myles Murphy on Boye Mafe and the impact he’s had on him and Bengals D. pic.twitter.com/EcvvEeuSNo
Mafe arrived in Cincinnati after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and helping them to a Super Bowl championship last year. The former second-round pick has 20 career sacks and gives the Bengals an experienced edge presence as they reshape their defensive front.
Murphy is entering a pivotal season of his own. The Bengals’ 2023 first-round pick has shown flashes during his first three years in Cincinnati, with last year being his best to date with 52 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and three passes defensed.
The addition of an experienced player such as Mafe gives Murphy someone alongside him who can help with the finer points of playing the position.
That veteran influence has become a theme throughout Cincinnati’s defense. Mafe is among a group of experienced newcomers who have taken on vocal roles, and Murphy has specifically talked about learning from the veterans Cincinnati brought into the building.
The results are beginning to show on the practice field as well. Mafe and Murphy were among the standouts during Cincinnati’s first padded practice, repeatedly creating pressure and disrupting the offense in the backfield.
Murphy also offered some insight into what defensive coordinator Al Golden is trying to accomplish schematically.
“He never wants to give the quarterback a concrete look,” Murphy said. “It’s the NFL, and we’re going against the best quarterback in the league every single day, so the last thing we want to do is to sit still and give him a concrete read.”
For Murphy, though, perhaps the biggest change entering this season isn’t another player or even Golden’s scheme. It’s confidence.
“More so just knowing who I am and seeing who I can be,” Murphy said. “Having that confidence and sureness in the defense and knowing that we’re going to get on the ball and balling out.”
That’s an encouraging statement from a player the Bengals have been waiting to see take the next step. Murphy has recorded just 8.5 sacks through his first three seasons in the league. But at 24 years old, there is still plenty of reason to believe his best football could be ahead of him.
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: A generic photo of the jumbotron before the Emirates NBA Cup Final game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks on December 16, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks entered last season’s NBA Cup as a team with good-not-great odds of conquering it. They left it with the trophy and outright refused to raise a banner, but will ultimately find themselves hanging up two, not one, by the end of October. Ah, life.
Now, the defending NBA Cup champions know exactly what stands between them and another deep tournament run, ideally back-to-back tourney chips, after the NBA unveiled the full group-play schedule for the 2026 NBA Cup on Wednesday.
The NBA already suspiciously placed New York in East Group B back on July 1, alongside the Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, with group play running from Oct. 30 through Nov. 27. The group winner, along with one Eastern Conference wild card, will advance to the knockout stage.
The Knicks will open group play on Oct. 30 in Philadelphia against a royally revamped 76ers team featuring LeBron James and C’s odd-man-out Jaylen Brown. They then travel to Indiana on Nov. 13 to face a Pacers squad expected to welcome back — but not much more — Tyrese Haliburton after he missed last season recovering from an Achilles injury.
New York’s final two games come at Madison Square Garden, beginning with a Nov. 25 rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals against Donovan Mitchell and the Wannabe Contenders Cavaliers before closing group play on Nov. 27 against a Miami team that added Giannis Antetokounmpo and depleted its four-to-12 depth in the process.
Knicks’ NBA Cup Group Breakdown
Philadelphia 76ers (Oct. 30, Away): The Sixers added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown and look like the strongest opponent out there. Not only that, but they also boast franchise player Tyrese Maxey and an extraordinary young man in VJ Edgecombe.
Indiana Pacers (Nov. 13, Away): Yes, they will have Tyrese Haliburton back, but this Pacers team is lottery bound for me until they prove they were not a one-year fluke. And you bet I’m betting on my belief.
Cleveland Cavaliers (Nov. 25, Home): Eastern Conference Finals rematch after New York swept Cleveland. It will be good to extend the streak, won’t it?
Miami Heat (Nov. 27, Home): Now led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo following a blockbuster offseason trade, it’s unknown whether the Heat will be able to field any playable dude besides Giannis, Adebayo, and Wiggins — depending on how you see the latter.
Anyway, for what matters here, the NBA Cup knockout stage will begin with the quarterfinals on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, followed by the semifinals on Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9. This year’s championship game — mark it on your calendars if you’re a Knicks fan — is scheduled for Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis after the event moved from Las Vegas.
Full 2026 NBA Cup Schedule
Oct. 30: Knicks at 76ers
Nov. 13: Knicks at Pacers
Nov. 25: Cavaliers at Knicks
Nov. 27: Heat at Knicks
Dec. 4-5: Quarterfinals
Dec. 8/9: Semifinals
Dec. 11: NBA Cup Final
New York will enter the tournament with a chance to become the first franchise to successfully defend the NBA Cup title after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in last year’s championship game, and will have a shot at putting together three consecutive championship victories (a mini three-peat? three-peat lite?) for the first time since the 2000-2002 LA Lakers.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 04: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers juggles softballs while working out during training camp at SAP Performance Facility on August 04, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Odighizuwa supplied pressure up the middle and grabbed a handful of Titans quarterback Cam Ward’s jersey as he ran past.
The Titans did not take kindly to Odighizuwa touching their quarterback during the joint practice.
On the next play, Brown sniffed out a Ward throw over the deep middle for an interception.
The Titans were unable to connect down the field against the 49ers’ defensive backfield.”
Fred Warner drops eye-popping praise about ‘sticky’ 49ers defensive backs “The way they’re playing, sticky in coverage, playing the ball in the air, being able to play the run game or the ball thrown the flat, the ability to tackle, I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen thus far,” Warner said. “I’m really excited about what I’m seeing. We just got to continue to jell and mesh that thing together so it’s the best version for when that time comes.”
Fred Warner, 49ers’ pass defense stand out in heated session with Titans’ Cam Ward (paywall) “But the bulk of Ward’s completions came on screens and short throws, and his best opportunities deep down the field couldn’t be hauled in by his receivers. He was twice flushed from the pocket by third-round rookie Romello Height. On another play, Ward forced a throw to Wan’Dale Robinson in tight coverage, allowing safety Ji’Ayir Brown to step forward and pick off the pass.
That play also ended in a brief dustup involving cornerbacks Green and Upton Stout. During the ensuing delay, Warner walked from the sideline to the east end zone, raising both arms to pump up the crowd.
After all, it’s been a while since he’s been able to do that.
“That’s why I love joint practices,” he said afterward. “You really have an opportunity to work on your craft and really see where your team is….I don’t know if I’ve felt that confident in that part of the game as I feel right now,” he said. “That’s not a knock on any team that I’ve played with before. But I think this group is kind of meshing together, playing together, sticky in coverage, playing the ball in the air. … I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen thus far. I’m really excited.”
His best throws came in a move the ball sequence in which he dropped a perfect ball between three defenders to rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling that would have gone for a long touchdown. And then, he had another layered throw over linebacker Cody Barton for a big gain to TE Jake Tonges.”
Through the first two weeks of camp, three young 49ers — second-year linebacker Nick Martin and rookies Jaden Dugger and Romello Height — have emerged as the top candidates for the job. Each has done one of those jobs well over their career, but they’re trying to add other tools to their belt throughout camp.
It’s why Dugger spent some time at a recent practice with the defensive line, working to hone his pass-rush moves. And it’s why observers have seen Height take reps dropping into coverage. Martin has also occasionally lined up as the fifth defender on the line of scrimmage during team periods in this camp.
Linebacker coach K.J. Wright said the winner of that competition, which he says is still wide open, won’t claim the job just based on physical attributes. They’ll have to prove they can handle the workload that accompanies so many responsibilities. Hence the position’s name.”
Jun 2, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon (82) looks on during the team's OTA at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It’s game week for the New England Patriots.
After 13 training camp practices and a joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots will play their first preseason game of the year Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.
While the plan for Drake Maye and the starters are yet to be known, the preseason opener will provide a first look at New England’s rookie class in a true game setting.
Among the group, Patriots fans are most excited to watch one in particular. In the results of the latest SB Nation Reacts survey, 47% of participants said that was tight end Eli Raridon.
The comment section, however, was largely split between two choices:
SlotMachinePlayer
Gotta be TE. We have Henry who’s close to retirement, Raridon who’s the hopeful replacement and Arkin chipping in with the blocking. No other position group is relying so heavily on rookies. If Henry gets dinged up, we’re 100% rookie at TE. Even last year’s O-line wasn’t invested so heavily in rookies.
Mark_P
i picked jacas but i can see why people picked raridon as well
NMPatsfan
TE is a sneaky position of need. HH won’t play much longer, hoping Raridon can improve his blocking and be the future #1 TE
Maye The Force Be With You
Barring injury elsewhere, Raridon is the one that is going to play a lot this season, so a good pre-season performance will be big for the team.
XGhost-PepperX
Jacas and a close 2nd Raridon
BFI
I opted for Jacas, because the pass rush is still a big question mark. I might have gone with Obiazor, if he was available on the list, since LB is another area of concern.
All in all, this week’s survey results look as follows:
It’s been a strong start to the summer for Raridon, who was drafted in the third-round out of Notre Dame. The tight end has regularly been repping as the second tight end behind Hunter Henry, and even has shared the field with the veteran leading to multiple receptions from Drake Maye.
Elsewhere in the class, pass rusher Gabe Jacas was the clear second choice receiving 36% of the votes. After a turbulent first few months with the team, Jacas has upped his participation level in recent practices and physically looks like the Patriots best pass rusher off the edge. He’ll now truly get to get after opposing quarterbacks.
First-round pick Caleb Lomu, who has repped at both left and right tackle, received 7% of the votes. While UDFA tight end Tanner Arkin and fifth-round cornerback Karon Prunty each received 4%.
Barring injury, Raridon and Jacas currently project to play the biggest roles for New England this season. The Patriots are hoping the depth at tight end and juice off the edge can help them get back to the Super Bowl, where they currently have the fifth-highest odds on FanDuel Sportsbook to win the AFC.
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 9: Head Coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers and Head Coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets before the game at Levi's Stadium on September 9, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Jets 32-19. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rather than simply going home when OTAs ended, the young receivers stayed around, continued studying the playbook, and put in additional work in the weight room. For Hankerson, that commitment is already showing up on the field. “They’re seeing the fruits of their labor,” Hankerson said.”
K.J. Wright sees versatility, growth from 49ers’ young linebackers “As smart as he is, that’s why I really appreciate about Dugger,” Wright said. “I know it isn’t easy as a rookie playing MIKE, WILL, STAR, I’m stressing his brain a little bit. The game will slow down for him. He’s a smart guy with really good recall.”
Two days later, they will play their first of three preseason games.
So, it will not be long before the rest of the NFL will get a glimpse of things that, up to this point, have been on display only on the 49ers’ practice field.
Two of the 49ers’ undrafted rookie defensive tackles — Bryson Eason and James Thompson — might have the most to gain from that kind of exposure.”
Why self-proclaimed underdog Gracen Halton has chip on shoulder as 49ers rookie “I’ve always been an underdog,” Halton said. “Whether it’s my height or all the stuff they say, but at the end of the day this is football. You got to put your head on somebody’s chin, and if you do that, then you are going to make some plays and do what you do.
“My saying is, ‘Underdogs prevail.’ So that’s my mindset.”
@BCampbell__87) pic.twitter.com/t87ZXVZWp3
