Jason Sanders’ job with Jets in jeopardy after missed field goal, extra point

The Jets have a kicker problem.

Jason Sanders beat out Cade York in this summer’s kicking competition, but the Jets have to be searching for another kicker to bring in before they play the Titans on Sept. 13.

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Sanders missed an extra point and a 54-yard field goal attempt Friday night against the Giants.

The 54-yarder came up well short.

Sanders has done little to inspire confidence this summer, but he was slightly more consistent than York so the Jets kept him and cut York last Tuesday.

That came one day after Sanders went 2-for-5 in practice field goal attempts. Sanders has not shown a big leg at all and now is even missing shorter kicks.

“Am I worried about it?” Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said after the Jets’ 23-6 preseason loss to the Giants at MetLife Stadium. “I didn’t like the fact that we missed these field goals. But the thing is we’re not going to panic and we’re going to make sure we make the right decision to make sure either we fix those issues or we get the right person in here.

“Jason’s been good for us. He’s been good in practice. I’m going to evaluate that and see exactly what direction we’ll go.”

The Jets did not re-sign Nick Folk in free agency after he had an outstanding 2025 season.

Jason Sanders misses a kick in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ 23-6 preseason loss to the Giants on Aug. 28, 2026 at MetLife Stadium. Bill Kostroun / New York Post

Folk instead signed with the Falcons.

The Jets now may be searching for another kicker either through a trade or on the waiver wire after teams make cuts this weekend.

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Edge rusher Joseph Ossai started, one of the few players expected to have a big regular-season role to play.

But Ossai left with a foot injury after 11 plays and did not return.

Ossai was on the sideline and looked OK, but it is an injury to watch since the Jets expect him to have a role on defense after signing him to a three-year, $34.5 million contract in March.

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Rookie guard Anez Cooper left the game with a shoulder injury.

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CB Tre Brown (finger) and RB Dominic Richardson (elbow) also left the game.

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CSR Weekend Warriors: 8/29-8/30

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

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Kevin O'Connell doesn't rule out keeping four quarterbacks on 53-man roster

With all teams cutting to 53 players on Sunday afternoon, with a current maximum of 90, most if not all franchises will be making tough decisions.

The Vikings will likely be making tough decisions at quarterback, where the team has four quarterbacks. After Friday night's preseason finale, coach Kevin O'Connell opened the door to the possibility of keeping all of them on the 53-man roster.

"I don’t think it is out of the question that we try to keep all of those guys," O'Connell told reporters after the game (via a transcript generated by Minnesota's opponent, the Broncos), "but at the same time, we got to do what’s best for our team. So we’ll work through that and that will definitely be part of the conversation because there was a reason why we wanted to have a deep quarterback room, and all four of those guys had their moments throughout the last month and six weeks or so, and that’ll definitely be a part of the evaluation as we go throughout each position — making sure that our 53[=man roster] and the practice squad are exactly what we want them to look like.”

Earlier in the session, O'Connell was specifically asked where 2025 starter J.J. McCarthy stands.

“We're going to obviously evaluate our entire depth chart now," O'Connell said. "First and foremost, we got to cut down our football team. It's just going to be a tough couple of days and figure out our practice squad and potential additions to the roster at different positions. But we're going to work through that as a staff and see where he's at from a health standpoint, first and foremost. We don't have any long term concerns, still consider him day-to-day and see what that looks like."

That's hardly a firm guarantee McCarthy will be on the roster. When asked point blank about the player's status, O'Connell didn't say he's the backup to Kyler Murray. Then, O'Connell mentioned roster cuts and the practice squad.

The response opens the door to a possibility we hadn't considered: The Vikings cut McCarthy, he goes to waivers, he clears waivers (given his fully-guaranteed contract through 2027), and they offer him a spot on the practice squad.

Of course, he may not take it. But if he's going to be third on the depth chart, he's not going to play. And if an opportunity emerges with another team that would get him closer to the field, he could take it.

Would it be a major blow to the ego of a top-10 pick to be on the practice squad? Sure. But how much worse is that than not being the starter — and possibly being No. 3 behind Carson Wentz?

Regardless, the Vikings have a decision to make. Murray is QB1. Wentz may indeed have won the backup job. What will happen with McCarthy and Max Brosmer? We'll find out by Sunday at 4:00 p.m. ET.

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Fernando Cruz keeps spirits up despite likely facing Tommy John surgery: ‘happened to the right guy’

New York Yankees pitcher Fernando Cruz (63) reacts after Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) scores on his two-run home run to tie the game in the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. (Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post)

A day later, with the tears gone and adopting what he described as a feeling of peacefulness, Fernando Cruz said he is looking at all options. 

On Wednesday, the valuable Yankees reliever was diagnosed with a partial tear in his UCL, which typically calls for Tommy John surgery that sidelines pitchers for at least a year.

But no decision has been made, said Cruz, who said he will receive a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister and expects to know more about his elbow and about his plan in two or three days. Some pitchers attempt to rest and rehab the ligament without going under the knife. 

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“It’s not in our hands right now,” said the 36-year-old Cruz, who likely would not pitch again until he is 38 if he undergoes the procedure — which likely complicates the decision. “I know the best is yet to come.” 

Cruz said he had been dealing with the elbow issue for about three weeks, which became obvious on the mound: A typically dominant righty had allowed nine earned runs in his past 13 ²/₃ innings. 

He then acknowledged the issue to the Yankees because, “I was affecting the New York Yankees — I wasn’t [just] affecting Fernando Cruz,” he said. 

He went for tests Wednesday, received the news that was dreaded and said he cried, which is understandable given the predicament for a pitcher who pitches with as much emotion as any in the game. 

And then the religious Cruz accepted the injury, which he said must have a purpose. 

“I’m ready for it,” Cruz said before the Yankees’ 5-1 loss to the Astros at the Stadium. “I think it happened to the right guy.” 

Fernando Cruz reacts dejectedly after Jeremy Peña belts a two-run home run to tie the game in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ loss to the Astros on Aug.25, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Fernando Cruz throws a pitch during the sixth inning of the Yankees’ loss to the Astros on Aug. 25, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The Yankees already had a thin bullpen and now have lost their fireman, who, when right, would routinely enter mid-game jams and throw a few splitters to escape, then would shout his way back to the dugout. 

But on Thursday, Aaron Boone referenced the person before the pitcher. 

Fernando Cruz throws a pitch during the sixth inning of the Yankees’ loss to the Astros on Aug. 25, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“He’s been such a great person for our team and for our room and how he goes about things,” the manager said before losing 5-1 to the Astros in The Bronx. “So I hate this for him. But I also know how just clear-minded he is, really strong faith. And we’ll sit down in the end, make the best decision for him.”

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Veteran righty Justin Topa made his Yankees debut and generally pitched well, allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk in two innings. 

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Clarke Schmidt, who has been building up from 2025 Tommy John surgery, is expected to begin a rehab assignment Saturday. If he completes the comeback, Schmidt would return as a reliever. 

Injured Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt during a workout on Feb. 27, 2026, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

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The announced starters for the series with the Red Sox are Cam Schlittler (Friday), Carlos Rodón (in one end of Saturday’s doubleheader) and Will Warren (Sunday). 

Max Fried could return for Saturday’s other game, though Boone wanted to make sure the lefty got through his side session Thursday.”

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49ers News: The San Francisco 49ers take on the Las Vegas Raiders today

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: James Thompson Jr. #75 of the San Francisco 49ers works out during training camp practice at SAP Performance Facility on July 27, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Four under-the-radar players, one position to watch for 49ers
“The team has played it safe with [CJ] West this preseason (he sat out of the first exhibition game), but he suffered a concussion in a practice last week before returning Sunday. The injury opened the door for an undrafted rookie such as James Thompson Jr. or Bryson Eason to make the roster. Now that West is back in the mix, don’t be surprised if he has a big role in this defense, particularly on early downs.….The 49ers will be in nickel defense plenty, but Dugger’s combination of length (6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan) and speed (4.6-second 40-yard dash) should get him on the field early and often. How he develops will go a long way in determining whether San Francisco’s young defense takes a step forward in 2026.”

49ers hosted former UFL pass rusher Jah Joyner ahead of their preseason finale
“Joyner previously played for the Las Vegas Raiders after going undrafted in 2025. He never stepped onto the field during the 2025 regular season, but played 52 snaps during the preseason. Listed at 6’5”, 265 pounds, Joyner lined up exclusively on the edge.

Joyner played 10 games in the UFL last season. He had a tryout with the Steelers in June 2026, but never signed a deal.

The 49ers working out a pass rusher the day before their preseason finale makes sense. They’ll need the bodies. The players in the 2-deep roster have bigger fish to fry, as their regular season gets underway by the weekend. Because of that, you don’t run the risk of the players you believe will play in Week 1 playing in a meaningless game for them two weeks before the season kicks off.”

49ers head to Las Vegas hoping to get preseason finale vs. Raiders out of the way (paywall)
“I don’t think you’ll see many starters,” Shanahan said. “We just don’t have enough time as we usually do, so I’ll be surprised if any of them are out there. There might be a couple, but it will be closer to how Week 1 (of the preseason) was.”

49ers land Trent Williams successor in 2027 NFL mock draft
“Stanford offensive tackle Niki Prongos has been one of the more pleasant surprises in my summer film study, and I wanted to make sure he was in this mock,” Reid wrote. “There’s a bit of projection with this pick, as Prongos is still a work in progress. But the 6-foot-7, 315-pound former walk-on has good foundational tools, and I really like his upward trajectory.”

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Christian Gonzalez gets real about ‘frustrating’ Patriots extension talks

Christian Gonzalez will have to wait for his future.

The star cornerback is headed into the Patriots’ final preseason without the long-term contract extension that’s been hanging over his head the past few months.

Wednesday marked Gonzalez’s return to practice this week after what coach Mike Vrabel called a minor injury kept him sidelined since Aug. 10 — though whispers of it having to do with his contract status loomed..

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez runs toward a practice field during the team’s training camp. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

“I’m not going to get into that,” the 24-year-old told reporters. “I’m out here now. So it is what it is.”

Gonzalez is entering the fourth year of a $15 million rookie contract, with New England having opted in for a fifth year.

Heading into the Patriots’ third preseason game — a tilt with the Browns in Cleveland on Thursday — Gonzalez did make it clear that he wasn’t entirely happy with the situation.

“It’s frustrating. But I’m focused on the season. I’m focused on here now and doing what I have to do,” he said. “I’m out here to compete and get better.”

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez catches a pass during Patriots training camp. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

In July, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he had offered the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 draft the “highest contract in Patriots franchise history,” which would seemingly eclipse defensive lineman Milton Williams’ four-year, $104 million pact. Among cornerbacks, Devon Witherspoon’s four-year, $132 million extension with Seattle is the landmark deal.

The Patriots are well aware of the what Gonzalez brings to the table — he allowed league-low 43.4% completion rate when targeted last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

“We want him here,” New England VP of player personnel Elit Wolf told reporters Wednesday. “He’s an elite player. Been on record saying that before and we continue to work with his representation to find a resolution that works for everyone. We’re just taking it a day at a time right now. We haven’t [set] a deadline.”

If Gonzalez has one, he isn’t saying either, though he didn’t exactly rule out missing the season opener — a Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks — as an option.

“I’m focused on today, on this practice,” he said. “And we’ll see where we go from here.”

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Saints lose cornerback and special teamer Rejzohn Wright to season-ending hip injury

Saints cornerback and special teams contributor Rejzohn Wright will miss the entire 2026 season.

New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore confirmed that Wright is out for the season with a hip injury that will require surgery.

Last year Wright played exclusively on special teams for the Saints, but he was competing in training camp for a role on defense as well. Instead, he'll miss the year.

The 25-year-old Wright first became known to football fans when he was featured on the Netflix college football documentary series Last Chance U. He was originally an undrafted free agent with the Panthers out of Oregon State in 2023. He is the brother of Jets cornerback Nahshon Wright.

Wright has been with the Saints since 2024 but spent the whole 2024 season on injured reserve and will now spend the whole 2026 season on injured reserve as well.

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