Former Pro Bowl pass rusher preparing for NFL return
The NFL regular season is a month away, and former Pro Bowl pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue is reportedly attemping a comeback.
Ngakoue didn’t play in 2025, but he has been working out in hopes of landing a deal.
Free agent Pro Bowl DE Yannick Ngakoue, who has 71.5 career sacks, has been training for the past several months in preparation for his return to the NFL in 2026.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 10, 2026
Ngakoue spent last season out of football to fully recover, with his sights set on returning this season. pic.twitter.com/4tSv6Uce8P
Ngakoue’s last team was the New England Patriots, although they released him right before the season finale in the 2024 regular season.
Bgakoue began his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He then bounced around quite a bit, spending time with the Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens before going to New England.
Yannick Ngakoue had two separate stints with Baltimore, and he played five games there in 2024 before being released and joining New England.
Ngakoue’s only Pro Bowl season came in 2017, when he had a career high 12 sacks and six forced fumbles with the Jaguars. He is 31 years old, so it will be interesting to see if any teams takes a flier on the former Maryland Terrapins star.
Patriots turn expected release into trade with Dolphins
All signs pointed to the New England Patriots releasing offensive lineman Caedan Wallace ahead of the first preseason game.
However, that direction has changed. On Monday, the Patriots announced that they have traded Wallace to the Miami Dolphins. The full trade includes Wallace and a 2029 seventh-round pick going to Miami in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round pick, and the Dolphins posted the trade details also on social media.
Trade | We have agreed to terms on a trade with New England to acquire tackle Caedan Wallace and a 2029 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round selection, pending a physical. pic.twitter.com/NjmIyYU1sf
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 10, 2026
Jordan Schultz and other NFL insiders reported earlier on Monday that New England was releasing Wallace. Still, it turns out the Dolphins had interest in acquiring him rather than taking a chance on waivers.
Sources: The #Patriots are releasing OT Caedan Wallace.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 10, 2026
Wallace was their 3rd-round pick in 2024 out of Penn State. He will go on waivers as he looks for a fresh start. pic.twitter.com/h8chYajaEl
The Patriots selected Wallace in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft after he played college football at Penn State. In his final season with the Nittany Lions, he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. However, New England hoped Wallace could play left tackle despite playing almost all of his college snaps at right tackle.
The Patriots’ first preseason game is on Thursday against the Indianapolis Colts, and the Dolphins play on Friday against the Washington Commanders.
Cowboys hand star defender a $105.9 million extension
The Dallas Cowboys acquired star defensive lineman Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets in November, and now Jerry Jones is investing big-time in the four-time Pro Bowler.
The Cowboys and Williams agreed to a massive three-year contract extension worth $105.9 million, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. In total, it is a five-year deal worth over $151 million.
In all, #Cowboys DL Quinnen Williams has a 5-year deal worth $153.15M — with $101M guaranteed. Massive. https://t.co/wUyqZ3UPRk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 10, 2026
The Cowboys gave up a first- and second-round pick to land Williams at the previous trade deadline, and now they are keeping him in town for at least the next few seasons.
After coming to Dallas, Williams recorded 9 tackles with 1.5 sacks and an interception in seven games.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones even stated that he was ready to give up Micah Parsons and a first-round pick for Williams previously, so it’s not a surprise that they are giving him a whopping new contract.
Taking all five years of the contract into account, that brings Williams just over $30.5 million per season, which puts him fourth among DLs, behind only Jalen Carter (who just got a new deal), Jeffery Simmons and Chris Jones, respectively.
So, the Cowboys and Williams enter 2026 with a new deal and hopes of a playoff trip.
EuroLeague owner claims he is ‘very serious’ about trying to sign Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic can become a free agent next summer. If he does, he sounds likely to have an unexpected contract offer on the table.
Dimitrios Giannakopoulos, the owner of Greek basketball power Panathinaikos, says he fully intends to try and lure Jokic to Europe with a contract offer next summer. Giannakopoulos even said he made an offer to the Denver Nuggets to buy Jokic out of the final year of his contract, which was swiftly rejected.
“People are going to say, ‘OK, now he’s joking,’” Giannakopoulos told the “Euro Insiders” podcast, via Anthony Slater of ESPN. “I did make a very serious proposal this year both to his team and to him. I got a rejection. I know that he has one more year of a contract.
“It took a few seconds [for the Nuggets] to say, ‘Who? Greece? Where? What? Bye. But let’s wait until next year.”
Jokic could have signed a max contract this offseason, but opted to wait one more year for financial reasons. He has publicly said he has no intention of leaving the Nuggets and that he wants to play out the remainder of his career in Denver. As long as he remains without a long-term deal, however, there will be room for far-fetched speculation.
This is not the first time the Nuggets have had to tangle with Giannakopoulos, as he unsuccessfully tried to sign Jonas Valanciunas last summer. Panathinaikos also has a history of bringing in big names, and even had Rick Pitino as their head coach for a period of time.
Jokic is still just 31 and remains a perennial MVP candidate, and he will have the opportunity to sign a $359.5 million deal with Denver next summer. He has no incentive to leave the NBA, be it financial or from a competitive standpoint. The Nuggets probably won’t lose any sleep over this potential threat.
CeeDee Lamb has blunt warning for Jerry Jones
CeeDee Lamb thinks the Dallas Cowboys are on the verge of something great, and he wants to make sure Jerry Jones keeps it that way.
The Cowboys’ star wide receiver made clear that he wants the organization to find a way to make sure that he, George Pickens, and Dak Prescott can remain together for years to come. Pickett is playing on the franchise tag this season, and his long-term future is uncertain.
“I’m sure we can make a way,” Lamb said, via Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports. “I know it’s going to be a little crazy, but I know we can make a way for this one. Listen, this is my advocation: ‘@ Jerry, can you please figure out a way? Let’s figure it out. I don’t care what needs to happen.’”
Pickens and the Cowboys had an opportunity to work out a long-term deal during the offseason, but never came particularly close. Dallas also has to worry about re-signing defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, while Prescott and Lamb have a combined cap number around $64 million this season. They might have to make some tough decisions in order to make all that work.
That said, Pickens is coming off a breakout season that saw him catch 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. His presence also made it harder for opposing defenses to double-team Lamb. It is a mutually beneficial relationship, and it makes plenty of sense that Lamb wants to ensure it continues for years to come.
Mike Trout accidentally hosted the worst team bonding event ever
Mike Trout saw an opportunity recently to bring his Los Angeles Angels teammates a little closer together. To say it did not go according to plan turned out to be an understatement.
The Angels had an off-day in Baltimore on Aug. 3, which allowed Trout to hold a team bonding day at his private golf club in Millville, N.J., with a course designed for Trout by Tiger Woods. Aug. 3 also happened to be the day of the trade deadline, and the Angels wound up being sellers.
Five Angels players were traded at the deadline, and four of them were in attendance at Trout’s golf event and found out they’d been dealt while golfing.
“It seemed like every four or five holes someone was getting the call,” Trout admitted to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Reliever Brent Suter, outfielder Jo Adell and reliever Ryan Zeferjahn were all traded while on the course. Reliever Kirby Yates found out he was dealt while in a car traveling back to Trout’s home after the round was over.
“You were hearing some cheers and some hugs going on throughout the golf course as guys were getting traded,” Adell said. “We got to hole nine and I was pretty much giving out hugs.”
In retrospect, scheduling a golf outing for trade deadline day was probably not a great idea. That said, it’s not as if the Angels get many off-days on the East Coast that would allow them to visit Trout’s golf club. The date was essentially preordained for them.
There was actually some speculation that Trout exerted some influence over which of his teammates got traded. This would serve as pretty solid evidence to back his assertion that was never the case.
Norman Powell had the most amusing quote about his new team
Norman Powell is not exactly trying to raise expectations when it comes to his new team.
Powell joined the Chicago Bulls during the offseason and was asked in a new interview what he thinks the team can do this year. The former Miami Heat wing is keeping the list of potential outcomes very broad.
“We have the potential to be really good. But we also have the potential to be really bad,” Powell told Mark Medina of Fadeaway World.
Hard to argue with that. The Bulls went 31-51 last season, so people might be more inclined to lean toward the latter outcome. Still, Caleb Wilson leads the team’s two first-round picks, and Powell and Nic Claxton were brought in to give the roster some experienced hands.
Most players are reluctant to raise the possibility of having a bad season, but Powell is not most players. He has had his unfiltered moments in the past, so perhaps this should not come as a big surprise.
Report reveals what Kawhi Leonard expects to happen with his impending trade
Kawhi Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors may be held up due to the NBA’s ongoing investigation, but Leonard himself does not seem too stressed about it.
Leonard is operating under the belief that the NBA will conclude its investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers before the start of training camp, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. He expects that he will be able to join the Raptors well before the start of the regular season.
Kawhi Leonard is working under the belief the NBA’s ongoing investigation will conclude before the start of training camp, sources say, and that the seven-time All-Star remains on course to join the Toronto Raptors.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) August 10, 2026
More @TheSteinLine: https://t.co/9y6rOaHRpU
The Raptors have refused to complete the agreed deal with the Clippers, as they do not want to be on the hook for any penalties related to how the Clippers paid Leonard. That has left him in a state of limbo with camp a little over a month away. The Raptors are scheduled to open camp on Sept. 29.
There has been a whole host of reporting about the ongoing investigation and when it might end. Some have suggested it could drag into next year, while other reports indicate it is moving into its final stages. All involved would almost certainly prefer the latter, as a trade is hinging on the outcome and the league probably just wants this behind them.
On the other hand, the NBA must be careful, as rival owners will want to see the Clippers properly punished for any wrongdoing.
NFL makes significant change to challenge rules
The NFL is making a significant change to replay challenge rules, though coaches may not be eager to take full advantage of it.
The NFL will allow head coaches to designate a member of their staff to be able to throw the challenge flag during games, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. The move is optional, and coaches would have to inform officials who their designee is before the start of a game.
In the past, head coaches have been the only ones permitted to throw the challenge flag during games. Some coaches probably will not want to delegate that responsibility to someone else, even if the authority to throw it ultimately remains with them.
Head coaches already have a lot of responsibilities on the sideline during games. There have also been instances in which coaches have gotten carried away and thrown the flag more with their heart than their head. Sometimes, the flag even gets thrown when it is not allowed to be.
Some coaches might find it advantageous to let the flag be someone else’s problem, but many will probably want to keep the final say themselves.
Controversial former MLB All-Star announces his retirement
A controversial former MLB All-Star is officially calling it quits.
Tim Anderson, best remembered for his time as Chicago White Sox shortstop, announced his retirement on Monday. The 33-year-old said he had tried to get his body back to where it needed to be in order to play again, but simply had not succeeded.
Anderson: "I fought to try to get back for the last 2 or 3 years. I trained. I just couldn't get the body to operate where it used to … Overall I'm happy. I'm happy in real life, the real world."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) August 10, 2026
The White Sox announced they would hold a night to honor Anderson on Sept. 17.
Thanks for the memories, No. 7.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 10, 2026
Celebrating the two-time All-Star and 2019 American League batting champion Tim Anderson during a special pregame ceremony on Thursday, September 17. pic.twitter.com/2JKDQA2Kqn
Not that long ago, Anderson was one of baseball’s bright young stars. He won a batting title with the White Sox in 2019 by hitting .335, and he even garnered MVP votes in the shortened 2020 season. He was still hitting .300 and making All-Star teams in 2022, though his power had already started to rapidly decline.
Anderson faded completely in 2023, hitting just .245 with no power to speak of. That was the same year he was involved in an infamous fight with Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians in which he was knocked down by a right hand.
Anderson’s last MLB appearances came in 2025 with the Los Angeles Angels. He hit just .205 in 31 games before he was ultimately released.
Clippers sign tallest player in NBA
The Los Angeles Clippers have added a new player to their roster who is now the tallest in the NBA.
The Clippers agreed to a two-way contract with center Jamarion Sharp, the team announced Monday. Sharp, who played collegiately for Western Kentucky and Ole Miss, stands 7’5″.
OFFICIAL: We’ve signed Jamarion Sharp to a two-way contract 🖋️ pic.twitter.com/FqtWlvsMcy
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 9, 2026
At that height, Sharp beats out a handful of players, including Victor Wembanyama, who are officially listed at 7’4″.
Sharp, 24, spent last season with the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks’ G League affiliate. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he won Defensive Player of the Year honors last season after leading the league with a staggering 3.9 blocks per game. He also led the NCAA in blocked shots twice while playing for Western Kentucky.
The Clippers were in the hunt for center depth with Yanic Konan Niederhauser poised to miss time due to right foot surgery. It will be fun to see if Sharp gets some game time, though it will obviously be tougher to bully NBA players than it was for him to protect the rim at the G League level.
Incredibly, as tall as Sharp is, he is not the tallest player in the sport as a whole, nor is he even all that close.
LaMelo Ball picks the wildest trio he wants to see wear his shoes
LaMelo Ball kept it real about who he wants to see wear his shoes.
When asked that question recently, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard pulled names straight out of an encyclopedia.
“Jesus, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X,” Ball said.
LaMelo Ball was asked to pick 3 people to wear his shoes:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 8, 2026
“Jesus, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X.”
(h/t @Meloleague)
pic.twitter.com/YYZuYm8ak7
That was quite a triumvirate that Ball picked, but amusing, to say the least. Some may have expected Ball to respond with the names of basketball players, but he went with extremely influential historical figures.
That was also the kind of answer to a question that should make Timberwolves fans and reporters excited about the former No. 3 overall pick.
Ball was traded by the Charlotte Hornets to the Timberwolves as part of a four-team swap in July, and he now forms a backcourt tandem with Anthony Edwards, who is another star with a fun personality. During his first six seasons in the NBA, Ball, who will turn 25 years old on Aug. 22, averaged 20.8 points, 7.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds through 303 games, while also winning a Rookie of the Year Award and earning an All-Star nod once.
Ball is a signature athlete of PUMA, and his sixth shoe with the brand, the “Puerto Rico” Puma MB.06, was unveiled last month in Puerto Rico.
Klay Thompson turns heads at a concert with a mystery woman
There is a new mystery surrounding the offseason of Dallas Mavericks shooter Klay Thompson.
On one hand, there are rumors the Mavericks could buy him out, which would allow the four-time NBA champion to sign with another team. On the other hand, a TMZ Sports report detailed Thompson’s weekend at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, Calif., where he was apparently spotted with a mystery woman.
Here is video showing Thompson at the reggae group Rebelution’s concert with the woman.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Klay Thompson seemed to have a fairly fun time at the Orange County Fair Saturday night … along with a mystery lady friend 👀 pic.twitter.com/zzQQs8JcPz
— TMZ (@TMZ) August 9, 2026
TMZ added that Thompson and his companion had a security guard around them to ensure their privacy.
Thompson’s life beyond basketball has become news fodder, especially during his relationship with rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The five-time NBA All-Star and the “WAP” singer recently broke up, adding another twist to his off-the-court life.
In any case, Thompson can spend his offseason however he wants. The 2026-27 NBA regular season is still months away, so he definitely has plenty of time to entertain himself.
In two seasons so far with the Mavericks, Thompson has averaged 12.9 points on 40.3% shooting from the field and 38.7% shooting from behind the arc through 141 games.
Thompson has one more year left on his current contract, which has a cap hit of $17.46 million in the 2026-27 campaign.
Brooks Koepka had a harsh quote about his first year back on the PGA Tour
Brooks Koepka will not be part of the 2026 FedExCup Playoffs after a disappointing first season since returning to the PGA Tour.
The 36-year-old Koepka concluded his 2026 season with a frustrating performance at the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
After shooting 67 and 66 in the first and second rounds, respectively, Koepka fired a 74 on Saturday and a 70 on Sunday to finish the event 3-under 277 and tied for 67th with four others.
As if that was not harsh enough, the two-time major champion got very blunt in his assessment of his season.
“I think it’s pretty pathetic that I can’t get through,” Koepka told the media after his season-ending start, via Cameron Jourdan of Golfweek.
“Zero top-10s basically in two years. To be in the prime of your career and be as good as I think I am, I think that’s very pathetic, disappointing. Just need to go home and completely reevaluate everything.”
Koepka revealed in December that he was leaving LIV Golf with plans to rejoin the PGA Tour. His first season back on the PGA Tour has been a bumpy one, as he made the cut 11 times in 16 starts and finished inside the top 10 of an event just once.
With just 438 FedExCup points to his name, Koepka ranked 94th overall, well behind the top-70 cutoff line.
Commanders receive tough update on Laremy Tunsil injury
The Washington Commanders shared a new update on the injury of star offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil.
Washington head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Monday that Tunsil will need surgery to address the torn triceps he suffered in practice last Saturday, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
Quinn did not specify a timeline for Tunsil’s return, but the injury could keep him out until the 2027 season.
The five-time Pro Bowler Tunsil is viewed as a crucial piece of Washington’s offense, particularly as part of star quarterback Jayden Daniels’ protection unit. However, he will not be able to provide those services for the Commanders for at least multiple weeks of the upcoming 2026 season, based on the latest report on his status.
With Tunsil unavailable, the Commanders will go with Brandon Coleman as their starting left tackle, Schefter added.
It is a downgrade at the position for Washington, which finished just 18th in the league last season with a 7.3% offensive sack rate. For now, the Commanders will just have to hope that Tunsil’s surgery goes smoothly and that he makes a speedy recovery.
Washington acquired Tunsil in 2025 via a trade with the Houston Texans. He played and started in 14 games during his first season with the Commanders before signing a 2-year $60.2 million contract extension with the NFC East franchise in March.
Mike LaFleur reveals what he wants to see from Carson Beck next
Carson Beck earned some believers with his performance in last week’s Pro Hall of Fame Game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
Even though the Cards lost the contest, 33-30, Beck turned heads with his steady play under center, and Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur wants the former Miami Hurricanes star to build on that showing.
“To continue to stack one day at a time,” the 39-year-old LaFleur said, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.
“Let’s see what we can do today. That’s in the past, what did we learn from it? Because there was a lot of great learning experiences from that game in terms of stuff that us as an offense, us as a team, but each player could do a little bit better.”
The Cardinals used a third-round pick to select the two-time College Football Playoff national champion in the 2026 NFL Draft, and while Jacoby Brissett is still considered the alpha of the team’s quarterback room, Beck surely did not hurt his stock with his performance against Carolina. If anything, he must have given his chances of winning at least the chief backup role a big shot in the arm.
In that game, the 23-year-old Beck went 15/19 for 188 passing yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He was sacked once for a loss of two yards and earned a 125.4 passer rating.
Beck should have more chances to show what he can do in the field before the season, with the Cardinals scheduled for three more preseason games, including Thursday’s meeting with the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
Kevin O’Connell keeps Kyler Murray-JJ McCarthy decision on hold
There are not many more compelling quarterback battles in the NFL offseason than the one between JJ McCarthy and Kyler Murray for the Minnesota Vikings.
Days before the Vikings play their first preseason game, head coach Kevin O’Connell seemed to indicate that the team has yet to determine who gets the QB1 gig.
“Nothing has really changed from a standpoint of the timeline and things like that,” O’Connell said before Sunday’s practice, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.
“So we’ll see how the reps continue to go and when we feel like we’re at that place, we’re going to make sure we communicate that both in house and internally and obviously to you guys as soon as possible.”
It is also possible that the Vikings have already decided who will be under center for the team in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, and O’Connell simply wants to reveal it at a more appropriate time.
As things stand, it appears that the keys to the offense will be handed to Murray, who may be new to the team but has the clear edge in experience over McCarthy. Seifert previously shared a takeaway about Murray being the “heavy favorite” to win the battle against McCarthy, who went 6-4 as a starter for Minnesota in 2025.
Murray, a former top pick overall, is looking to revive his NFL career with a new team after seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. In 87 career starts in the league, he has amassed 20,460 passing yards and 121 touchdowns against 60 interceptions, while also racking up 3,193 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on 532 carries.
Bears rookie’s Ben Johnson story will have fans loving their coach more
Nobody told Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson that he’s allowed to take a break from football during the offseason.
Johnson led the Bears to the postseason in his first year of calling the plays for the team. He instantly became a fan favorite in Chicago both for his football acumen and his shared animosity toward the Green Bay Packers.
A story told by Bears rookie tight end Sam Roush may boost Johnson’s approval rating even higher among fans. Roush recently spoke to CHGO Sports during training camp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill.
“I was here over the summer a little bit. I was lifting, maybe eight in the morning; [Ben Johnson] walks in, and he’s got like this bed head,” Roush said, gesturing at his own hair.
“I look at him and I was like, ‘You slept in the facility last night, didn’t you?’ And he was like, ‘Don’t ask those kind of questions.’
“It’s the middle of June. Nobody even has to be here, and he’s sleeping in his office.”
Roush, who Chicago drafted in the third round in April, also called Johnson an “incredible” and “very intense” coach with nothing but love for his players.
Bears fans got a glimpse of that passion last season every time Johnson took the mic for his postgame press conferences. He also proved he was a man of the people when he went shirtless after a big win over the Philadelphia Eagles to give Bears fans free hot dogs.
Johnson pulling an all-nighter in the middle of June probably doesn’t surprise Bears fans at this point.
NBA teams’ reported interest in Ben Simmons is revealed
Ben Simmons has not fallen off the NBA radar completely just yet.
Simmons on Sunday teased an NBA comeback with an Instagram post of him looking completely jacked during a workout on the hardwood. While it’s long been his M.O. to look like an all-world player on the practice court, teams reportedly remain interested in his services.
According to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, there are “several” NBA teams that “have expressed interest” in Simmons ahead of the 2026-27 season. The 30-year-old point forward is reportedly “open” to signing a minimum deal. One Western Conference team reportedly made a non-guaranteed offer to Simmons for minicamp.
Simmons’ NBA prospects remain speculative rather than tangible. But the three-time All-Star has a very real opportunity with the Australian men’s basketball team. Per Spears, Simmons is slated to participate in a player-led minicamp with the Boomers beginning Monday in Melbourne.
Simmons, who has been hampered by numerous injuries over the past few seasons, is said to have “zero restrictions” on his health heading into the camp.
Simmons sat out the entire 2025-26 season while recuperating from his injuries. He made the most of his time off the court by winning a much wetter kind of championship.
The former No. 1 overall pick has been linked to a reunion with the Philadelphia 76ers. While the team’s current roster composition may prevent that from happening, Simmons sparked even more rumors with a recent LeBron James-themed post.
Freddie Freeman has stern message amid Dodgers’ downward spiral
Freddie Freeman has openly addressed the Los Angeles Dodgers’ ongoing free fall.
The Dodgers dropped another contest Sunday to the Arizona Diamondbacks, losing 4-2 against their division rival at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. The defeat was L.A.’s eighth over its last nine games.
Freeman, who went 1-for-4 and grounded into a backbreaking double play in his last at-bat, spoke to reporters after the result. When asked about the team’s ongoing slide, which extends to a 9-15 run over the last month, Freeman’s message was clear.
“There’s no concern here. We’re a good team,” the three-time World Series winner said without feeling the need to explain further.
Freeman attributed the Dodgers’ current struggles to the usual “baseball ups and downs” that every team goes through — even back-to-back defending champions.
If there’s any time for the Dodgers to work out the kinks of their current roster, it’s now. Despite officially losing the season series against Arizona in Sunday’s contest, the Dodgers still hold a 7.5-game lead over the D-Backs in the NL West with just over 40 games left in the season.
The Dodgers have two-time Cy Young Award winners Tarik Skubal and the returning Blake Snell on the mound for their next two games against the Kansas City Royals, who enter their three-game series with a 49-70 record.
