WINNIPEG, MB., – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the following roster transactions:
Added to roster:
American defensive back Greg Ducre (5-10, 180, January 22, 1992, Washington)
Ducre has been placed on the suspended list while he completes travel requirements.
Calgary, AB – The Calgary Flames announce today that they have signed restricted free agent defenseman Connor Mackey to a two-year contract with a $912,500 AAV.
Mackey, a native of Tower Lakes, Illinois, was originally signed by the Flames on March 20, 2020 after spending his college hockey career with Minnesota State University (NCAA). The 24-year-old blue-liner made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season for the Flames and finished the campaign skating in 6 games notching one goal, three points and 20 penalty minutes. Mackey also suited up in 27 games for the Stockton Heat (AHL) during the 2020-21 season recording three goals and 13 assists for 16 points and 33 penalty minutes. The left-shot defenseman was named as an AHL Canadian Division All-Star for the 2021 season and also made his Team USA debut at the 2021 World Championships capturing a bronze medal in Latvia.
CONNOR MACKEY – DEFENSE
BORN: Tower Lakes, IL DATE: September 12, 1996
HEIGHT: 6’2″ WEIGHT: 200 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
ACQUIRED: Signed as a college free agent on March 20, 2020
TERM: Two-year
AAV: $912,500
Calgary, AB – The Calgary Flames announce today that they have signed free agent forward Brad Richardson to a one-year contract with a $800,000 AAV.
Richardson, a native of Belleville, Ontario is an NHL veteran of 16 seasons totaling 107 goals and 139 assists for 246 points over 825 career games. Richardson has spent time with the Avalanche, Canucks, Coyotes and Predators over his career and also won the Stanley Cup in 2012 as a member of the Darryl Sutter lead Los Angeles Kings. Richardson was a fifth-round draft pick (163rd overall) in 2003 while a member of the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League.
BRAD RICHARDSON – CENTRE
BORN: Belleville, ONT DATE: February 4, 1985
HEIGHT: 6’0″ WEIGHT: 195 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
DRAFTED: Colorado – 5th round (163rd overall) in the 2003 NHL Draft
TERM: One-year
AAV: $800,000
Calgary, AB – The Calgary Flames announce today that their 2020 draft pick goaltender Daniil Chechelev has signed an AHL contract with the Stockton Heat for the 2021-22 season.
Chechelev, a native of Khabarovsk, Russia was drafted by the Flames in the fourth round (96th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old goaltender appeared in 21 games for HK Ryazan (VHL) in 2020-21 posting a .912 Sv% and a 2.58 GAA. Chechelev also played in 19 games for Russkie Vityazi Chekhov (MHL) last season where he sported a .924 Sv% and a 2.49 GAA. In four seasons of MHL play, Chechelev posted a record of 53-38-5.
DANIIL CHECHELEV – GOALTENDER
BORN: Khabarovsk, RUS DATE: February 23, 2001
HEIGHT: 6’2″ WEIGHT: 183 lbs.
CATCHES: Right
DRAFTED: 4th round (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
Angel City FC, San Diego to select up to nine players from current NWSL clubs; Kansas City exempt from process; One additional international player slot also approved for all 12 NWSL clubs
CHICAGO – The National Women’s Soccer League announced today the process and procedures for the 2021 NWSL Expansion Draft, featuring Angel City Football Club and San Diego NWSL, set to take place on Thursday, December 16, 2021. Prior to the expansion draft, teams will submit a list of protected and unprotected players which will be distributed to all clubs on Friday, December 10 by 5 p.m. ET. A public release of those lists will follow.
Kansas City received an exemption from the 2021 Expansion Draft per agreement set forth when the team was established.
Except as noted below, teams must designate all players and U.S. allocated players as either protected (meaning they are ineligible for selection by ACFC and San Diego in the expansion draft) or unprotected (meaning they are eligible for selection by the ACFC and San Diego in the expansion draft), according to the following requirements:
Teams are permitted to protect a total of nine (9) players, which may include one (1) U.S. allocated player. All other players and other U.S. allocated players must be unprotected.
Individuals on the Discovery List of any team are not eligible to be selected in the expansion draft (meaning that teams are not required to designate Discovery players as protected or unprotected).
Teams are required to disclose to the league, along with the protected/unprotected designation, any players/U.S. allocated players who a team believes will be unavailable to play by January 1, 2022, due to injury, retirement, loan, or any other reason. This information will be shared with the expansion teams.
Angel City FC and San Diego may select one (1) player from each team, for a total of nine (9) selections each. Additionally, both clubs may select no more than one (1) unprotected U.S. allocated player. One (1) $150,000 Funded Allocation Money grant will be assigned to each Expansion team, which they may keep or exchange with a team if they select an unprotected U.S. allocated player from that team.
The NWSL also announced today that each of the league’s 12 clubs will have the option of including up to five international player slots on their rosters in 2022, up from four in 2021. The change was requested by the league and approved by U.S. Soccer’s board of directors.
The following are the NFL transactions for Wednesday, September 8. Transactions will be published each day after they are circulated to NFL clubs. This version will include waiver requests, assignments via waivers, terminations, free agent signings, reserve list and practice squad additions and deletions, and trades.
| WAIVER SYSTEM TRANSACTIONS | |||
WAIVER REQUESTS (All are NO RECALL) |
|||
ATLANTA |
|||
| Maggio, Dom | P | Wake Forest | |
| From Reserve/Injured Injury Settlement |
|||
BALTIMORE |
|||
| Hill, Justice | RB | Oklahoma State | |
| Injured | |||
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS |
|||
| Mazza, Cole | LS | Alabama | |
| From Reserve/Injured Injury Settlement |
|||
MINNESOTA |
|||
| Samia, Dru | G | Oklahoma | |
| From Reserve/Injured Injury Settlement |
|||
|
CLAIMING DEADLINE: 4:00 p.m., N.Y. Time, Thursday, 9/9/21 |
|||
|
TERMINATION OF VESTED VETERAN |
|||
BUFFALO |
|||
| Hester, Treyvon | DT | Toledo | |
| From Reserve/Injured Injury Settlement |
|||
| TERMINATIONS VIA WAIVER SYSTEM | |||
CHICAGO |
|||
| London, Lacale | DT | Western Illinois | |
HOUSTON |
|||
| Armstrong, Cornell | DB | Southern Mississippi | |
MIAMI |
|||
| Askew, Jaytlin | DB | Georgia Tech | |
NEW YORK GIANTS |
|||
| Mack, Austin | WR | Ohio State | |
TENNESSEE |
|||
| Herring, Chandon | G | Brigham Young | |
| ACTIVE LIST ADDITIONS | |||
ACTIVATIONS |
|||
DALLAS |
|||
| Brown, Noah | WR | Ohio State | |
| From Reserve/COVID-19 | |||
TENNESSEE |
|||
| Davis, Nate | G | North Carolina-Charlotte | |
| From Reserve/COVID-19 | |||
| Jones, Ben | C | Georgia | |
| From Reserve/COVID-19 | |||
|
FREE AGENT SIGNINGS |
|||
BALTIMORE |
|||
| Cannon, Trenton | RB | Virginia State | |
HOUSTON |
|||
| Amendola, Danny | WR | Texas Tech | |
NEW YORK GIANTS |
|||
| Ebner, Nate | DB | Ohio State | |
PHILADELPHIA |
|||
| McCain, Mac | DB | North Carolina A&T | |
| From Denver Practice Squad | |||
RESERVE LIST ADDITIONS |
|||
|
ATLANTA |
|||
| Sheffield, Kendall | DB | Ohio State | |
| Reserve/Injured | |||
HOUSTON |
|||
| Fairbairn, Ka’imi | K | UCLA | |
| Reserve/Injured | |||
| PRACTICE SQUAD TRANSACTIONS | |||
ADDITIONS |
|||
BALTIMORE |
|||
| Bell, Le’Veon | RB | Michigan State | |
| Veteran | |||
| McKenzie, Reginald | DT | Tennessee | |
CHICAGO |
|||
| Hunt, Margus | DT | Southern Methodist | |
| Veteran | |||
| Square, Damion | NT | Alabama | |
| Veteran | |||
| Woods, Josh | LB | Maryland | |
| Exception | |||
DENVER |
|||
| Smith, Saivion | DB | Alabama | |
HOUSTON |
|||
| LeBlanc, Cre’von | DB | Florida Atlantic | |
| Veteran | |||
JACKSONVILLE |
|||
| Patrick, Aaron | DE | Eastern Kentucky | |
NEW YORK GIANTS |
|||
| Board, C.J. | WR | Chattanooga | |
| Veteran | |||
SAN FRANCISCO |
|||
| Johnson, Dontae | DB | North Carolina State | |
| Veteran | |||
SEATTLE |
|||
| Muse, Tanner | LB | Clemson | |
| Williams, DeShon | TE | Washington | |
|
TAMPA BAY |
|||
| Borregales, Jose | K | Miami | |
TENNESSEE |
|||
| Jones, Chris | DB | Nebraska | |
| Exception | |||
| Levin, Corey | C | Chattanooga | |
| Exception | |||
| McDougald, Bradley | DB | Kansas | |
| Veteran | |||
WASHINGTON |
|||
| Ksiezarczyk, Evin | T | Buffalo | |
CONTRACTS TERMINATED BY CLUB |
|||
BALTIMORE |
|||
| Richards, Jordan | DB | Stanford | |
CHICAGO |
|||
| Alufohai, Auzoyah | DT | West Georgia | |
| Pierce, Artavis | RB | Oregon State | |
HOUSTON |
|||
| Nickerson, Hardy | LB | Illinois | |
JACKSONVILLE |
|||
| Vedvik, Kaare | K | Marshall | |
SAN FRANCISCO |
|||
| Kaufusi, Corbin | T | Brigham Young | |
WASHINGTON |
|||
| Toth, Jon | C | Kentucky | |
|
PRACTICE SQUAD PROTECTIONS |
|||
ARIZONA |
|||
| Douglas, Rasul | DB | West Virginia | |
| Fitts, Kylie | LB | Utah | |
| Hamilton, Antonio | DB | South Carolina State | |
BALTIMORE |
|||
| Bynes, Josh | LB | Auburn | |
| Ellis, Justin | NT | Louisiana Tech | |
| Levine, Anthony | DB | Tennessee State | |
| McSorley, Trace | QB | Penn State | |
|
CLEVELAND |
|||
| Bradley, Ja’Marcus | WR | Louisiana-Lafayette | |
| Mullens, Nick | QB | Southern Mississippi | |
| Naggar, Chris | K | Southern Methodist | |
| Odenigbo, Ifeadi | DE | Northwestern | |
NEW YORK GIANTS |
|||
| Board, C.J. | WR | Chattanooga | |
SAN FRANCISCO |
|||
| Johnson, Dontae | DB | North Carolina State | |
TENNESSEE |
|||
| Levin, Corey | C | Chattanooga | |
| McDougald, Bradley | DB | Kansas | |
|
WASHINGTON |
|||
| Kunaszyk, Jordan | LB | California | |
| Martin, Wes | G | Indiana | |
| Norris, Jared | LB | Utah | |
| Wise, Daniel | DE | Kansas | |
| DALLAS COWBOYS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS on Thursday night | ||
| DALLAS COWBOYS | ||
| The Cowboys did not practice Tuesday. The Tuesday practice report is an estimation. | ||
| Status Report | ||
| (no players listed) | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Monday | T Ty Nsekhe (foot) | |
| Tuesday | T Ty Nsekhe (foot) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Monday | DE Tarell Basham (ankle), T La’el Collins (neck), DE Chauncey Golston (hamstring), CB C.J. Goodwin (hamstring), DE Demarcus Lawrence (back), QB Dak Prescott (right shoulder), S Donovan Wilson (groin) | |
| Tuesday | DE Tarell Basham (ankle), T La’el Collins (neck), DE Chauncey Golston (hamstring), CB C.J. Goodwin (hamstring), DE Demarcus Lawrence (back), LS Jake McQuaide (foot), QB Dak Prescott (right shoulder), S Donovan Wilson (groin) | |
| Wednesday | DE Tarell Basham (ankle), T La’el Collins (neck), DE Chauncey Golston (hamstring), CB C.J. Goodwin (hamstring), DE Demarcus Lawrence (back), LS Jake McQuaide (foot), T Ty Nsekhe (foot), QB Dak Prescott (right shoulder), S Donovan Wilson (groin) | |
| TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | ||
| The Buccaneers did not practice Wednesday. The Wednesday practice report is an estimation. | ||
| Status Report | ||
| OUT | S Jordan Whitehead (hamstring) | |
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Monday | S Jordan Whitehead (hamstring) | |
| Tuesday | WR Antonio Brown (knee), DT Steve McLendon (not injury related–resting veteran), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (not injury related–resting veteran), S Jordan Whitehead (hamstring) | |
| Wednesday | S Jordan Whitehead (hamstring) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Tuesday | WR Chris Godwin (quadricep), TE Rob Gronkowski (not injury related–resting veteran) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Monday | RB Giovani Bernard (ankle), WR Antonio Brown (knee) | |
| Tuesday | RB Giovani Bernard (ankle) | |
| Wednesday | RB Giovani Bernard (ankle), WR Antonio Brown (knee), WR Chris Godwin (quadricep), TE Rob Gronkowski (not injury related–resting veteran), DT Steve McLendon (not injury related–resting veteran), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (not injury related–resting veteran) | |
| ARIZONA CARDINALS at TENNESSEE TITANS | ||
| ARIZONA CARDINALS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | TE Darrell Daniels (toe) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | LB Dennis Gardeck (knee) | |
| TENNESSEE TITANS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | WR A.J. Brown (knee) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | CB Chris Jackson (hamstring), LB David Long (hamstring) | |
| CHICAGO BEARS at LOS ANGELES RAMS on Sunday night | ||
| CHICAGO BEARS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| Wednesday | Practice Not Complete | |
| LOS ANGELES RAMS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| Wednesday | Practice Not Complete | |
| CLEVELAND BROWNS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | ||
| CLEVELAND BROWNS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | DE Jadeveon Clowney (illness), T Michael Dunn (back) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | WR Odell Beckham (knee), S Grant Delpit (hamstring), S Ronnie Harrison (ankle), WR Rashard Higgins (hamstring), CB Troy Hill (hamstring), C J.C. Tretter (knee), CB Greedy Williams (groin) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring) | |
| KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| Wednesday | Practice Not Complete | |
| DENVER BRONCOS at NEW YORK GIANTS | ||
| DENVER BRONCOS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| Wednesday | Practice Not Complete | |
| NEW YORK GIANTS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | TE Evan Engram (calf) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | RB Saquon Barkley (knee), WR Kenny Golladay (hamstring), LB Justin Hilliard (foot), CB Adoree’ Jackson (ankle), CB Josh Jackson (calf), TE Kyle Rudolph (foot), DT Danny Shelton (neck), TE Kaden Smith (knee), T Andrew Thomas (ankle), WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring) | |
| GREEN BAY PACKERS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | ||
| GREEN BAY PACKERS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | S Vernon Scott (hamstring) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | DT Tyler Lancaster (back), LB Za’Darius Smith (back) | |
| NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | CB Ken Crawley (hamstring) | |
| JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at HOUSTON TEXANS | ||
| JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | CB Tre Herndon (knee) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | CB Tyson Campbell (calf) | |
| HOUSTON TEXANS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | CB Lonnie Johnson (thigh), QB Deshaun Watson (not injury related–personal matter) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | DT Maliek Collins (knee), DE Whitney Mercilus (thigh), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (thigh) | |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERS at WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM | ||
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| Wednesday | Practice Not Complete | |
| WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | WR Curtis Samuel (groin) | |
| MIAMI DOLPHINS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | ||
| MIAMI DOLPHINS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | T Liam Eichenberg (thigh), WR Preston Williams (foot) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | RB Salvon Ahmed (back), S Clayton Fejedelem (shoulder), WR DeVante Parker (shoulder), LB Elandon Roberts (knee), WR Albert Wilson (quadricep) | |
| NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | WR Nelson Agholor (ankle), T Yodny Cajuste (hamstring), S Jalen Mills (ankle) | |
| MINNESOTA VIKINGS at CINCINNATI BENGALS | ||
| MINNESOTA VIKINGS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| Wednesday | Practice Not Complete | |
| CINCINNATI BENGALS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| Wednesday | Practice Not Complete | |
| NEW YORK JETS at CAROLINA PANTHERS | ||
| NEW YORK JETS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | S Sharrod Neasman (hamstring) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | RB La’Mical Perine (foot) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | T Mekhi Becton (concussion) | |
| CAROLINA PANTHERS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | WR Shi Smith (shoulder) | |
| PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at ATLANTA FALCONS | ||
| PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | G Brandon Brooks (knee), G Landon Dickerson (knee), S Rodney McLeod (knee), LB Davion Taylor (calf) | |
| ATLANTA FALCONS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | LB Brandon Copeland (hamstring) | |
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS at BUFFALO BILLS | ||
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | DE Tyson Alualu (elbow) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | C Kendrick Green (thumb), LB Alex Highsmith (groin) | |
| BUFFALO BILLS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | DT Star Lotulelei (calf) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | CB Taron Johnson (hand), WR Emmanuel Sanders (foot) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | WR Isaiah McKenzie (shoulder), DT Harrison Phillips (knee) | |
| SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at DETROIT LIONS | ||
| SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| Wednesday | Practice Not Complete | |
| DETROIT LIONS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | DE Michael Brockers (shoulder), T Taylor Decker (finger), DT Levi Onwuzurike (hip), CB A.J. Parker (shoulder), DE Nicholas Williams (elbow) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), RB D’Andre Swift (groin) | |
| SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | ||
| SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| Wednesday | Practice Not Complete | |
| INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | ||
| Practice Report | ||
| DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | G Quenton Nelson (foot, back), CB Xavier Rhodes (calf) | |
| LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | WR Parris Campbell (Achilles), T Eric Fisher (Achilles), G Danny Pinter (foot), DE Kemoko Turay (groin) | |
| FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE | ||
| Wednesday | QB Carson Wentz (foot) | |
SUPER STARTERS: History indicates that the best way for a team to start its drive toward a Super Bowl championship is to win in Week 1.
The 55 Super Bowl winners have a 44-10-1 record in the Kickoff Weekend games of their title seasons. The Super Bowl LV champion TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, who host the DALLAS COWBOYS in the league’s annual primetime Kickoff Game on Thursday (8:20 PM ET, NBC), became the first eventual Super Bowl winners to lose the opening game of their championship season since New England in 2014.
The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, who have appeared in each of the past two Super Bowls, host the CLEVELAND BROWNS in an AFC Divisional playoff rematch on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS). Kansas City has won its past six Kickoff Weekend games, the longest active streak in the AFC and tied for the longest active streak in the NFL (Green Bay).
Since 1978 when the NFL went to the 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are victorious in their season-openers are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than those that lose an opening game. This season will feature a 17-game schedule for each team for the first time ever.
Note: There are a different number of winning and losing teams in season-opening games due to the fact the NFL had 31 teams in each season from 1999-2001, which creates an odd number for the total number of results.
In 2020, the 14 playoff teams compiled an 11-3 record on Kickoff Weekend, with the eight division winners going a perfect 8-0.
— NFL —
STARTING STREAKS: The Chiefs aren’t the only team to have excelled in openers. Below is a sampling of other notable active NFL Kickoff Weekend milestones and streaks:
— NFL —
START ME UP: Some players have excelled in openers. Below is a sampling of notable individual performances on NFL Kickoff Weekend:
Jones also has 67 career receptions in Week 1 and can become the ninth player in league history to reach 75 career receptions on Kickoff Weekend.
— NFL —
START ’EM EARLY: Jacksonville rookie quarterback TREVOR LAWRENCE, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, New York Jets rookie quarterback ZACH WILSON (No. 2), and New England rookie quarterback MAC JONES (No. 15), are each expected to make their first career starts on Sunday, when Jacksonville travels to Houston (1:00 PM ET, CBS), the Jets visit Carolina (1:00 PM ET, CBS) and New England hosts Miami (4:25 PM ET, CBS).
With a start by any of the three players, at least one rookie quarterback will have started in Week 1 in 14 consecutive seasons, extending the longest streak in the NFL since at least 1950.
This season is expected to join 2012 (five rookie quarterbacks) as the only seasons since 1970 in which at least three rookie quarterbacks started in Week 1. It can also become the first time that multiple rookie quarterbacks each start in Week 1 since 2016 (DAK PRESCOTT and CARSON WENTZ).
The rookie quarterbacks to start in Week 1 since 2008:
| SEASON | QUARTERBACK | TEAM | STARTING RECORD AS ROOKIE |
| 2008 | Joe Flacco | Baltimore | 11-5 |
| 2008 | Matt Ryan | Atlanta | 11-5 |
| 2009 | Mark Sanchez | New York Jets | 8-7 |
| 2009 | Matthew Stafford* | Detroit | 2-8 |
| 2010 | Sam Bradford* | St. Louis Rams | 7-9 |
| 2011 | Andy Dalton | Cincinnati | 9-7 |
| 2011 | Cam Newton* | Carolina | 6-10 |
| 2012 | Robert Griffin III | Washington | 9-6 |
| 2012 | Andrew Luck* | Indianapolis | 11-5 |
| 2012 | Ryan Tannehill | Miami | 7-9 |
| 2012 | Brandon Weeden | Cleveland | 5-10 |
| 2012 | Russell Wilson | Seattle | 11-5 |
| 2013 | EJ Manuel | Buffalo | 4-6 |
| 2013 | Geno Smith | New York Jets | 8-8 |
| 2014 | Derek Carr | Oakland Raiders | 3-13 |
| 2015 | Marcus Mariota | Tennessee | 3-9 |
| 2015 | Jameis Winston* | Tampa Bay | 6-10 |
| 2016 | Dak Prescott | Dallas | 13-3 |
| 2016 | Carson Wentz | Philadelphia | 7-9 |
| 2017 | DeShone Kizer | Cleveland | 0-15 |
| 2018 | Sam Darnold | New York Jets | 4-9 |
| 2019 | Kyler Murray* | Arizona | 5-10-1 |
| 2020 | Joe Burrow* | Cincinnati | 2-7-1 |
| 2021 | Mac Jones^ | New England | – |
| 2021 | Trevor Lawrence*^ | Jacksonville | – |
| 2021 | Zach Wilson^ | New York Jets | – |
| *No. 1 overall pick | |||
| ^Expected to start Week 1 | |||
— NFL —
CHAMP CHASING HISTORY: Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY enters his 22nd NFL season as the league’s all-time leader in touchdown passes (581) and is in striking distance of the league’s all-time passing yards record. Brady has 79,204 career passing yards, trailing only DREW BREES (80,358).
The players with the most career passing yards in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | PASSING YARDS |
| Drew Brees | San Diego Chargers, New Orleans | 80,358 |
| Tom Brady | New England, Tampa Bay | 79,204 |
Brady also enters the season with 99 career games with at least 300 passing yards. With at least 300 passing yards on Thursday against Dallas in the league’s annual primetime Kickoff Game (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Brady will join Brees (123 games) as the only players ever with at least 300 passing yards in 100 career games.
The players with the most career games with at least 300 passing yards in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES WITH 300+ PASSING YARDS |
| Drew Brees | San Diego Chargers, New Orleans | 123 |
| Tom Brady | New England, Tampa Bay | 99 |
This Thursday will also mark the 300th regular-season career start of Brady’s career, making him the first quarterback in league history to reach the milestone.
Other quarterbacks that can reach career passing milestones in Week 1:
— NFL —
KICKOFF KELCE: Last season, Kansas City tight end TRAVIS KELCE ranked second in the league with 1,416 receiving yards, the most ever by a tight end in a single season. He also became the first tight end in NFL history to record at least 1,200 receiving yards in three different seasons. In 111 career games, Kelce has 7,881 receiving yards, the 10th-most all-time among tight ends.
With at least 119 receiving yards against Cleveland on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Kelce will become the fastest tight end (112 games) to reach 8,000 career receiving yards in NFL history, surpassing ROB GRONKOWSKI (120 games).
The tight ends to reach 8,000 career receiving yards in the fewest games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES TO REACH 8,000 REC. YARDS | ||
| Rob Gronkowski | New England, Tampa Bay | 120 | ||
| Antonio Gates | San Diego Chargers | 137 | ||
| Jason Witten | Dallas | 147 | ||
| Travis Kelce | Kansas City | 111* | ||
| *Has 7,881 receiving yards entering Sunday | ||||
Kelce also enters this season with 48 career receiving touchdowns. With at least two touchdown receptions on Sunday, he will become the fifth-fastest tight end to reach 50 career receiving touchdowns, surpassing VERNON DAVIS (115 games).
The tight ends to reach 50 career receiving touchdowns in the fewest games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES TO REACH 50 REC. TOUCHDOWNS | |||
| Rob Gronkowski | New England | 59 | |||
| Jimmy Graham | New Orleans | 73 | |||
| Antonio Gates | San Diego Chargers | 92 | |||
| Jerry Smith | Washington | 100 | |||
| Vernon Davis | San Francisco | 115 | |||
| Travis Kelce | Kansas City | 111* | |||
| *Has 48 receiving touchdowns entering Sunday | |||||
— NFL —
TITANS DEBUT: Tennessee wide receiver JULIO JONES enters his first year as a Titan with 848 receptions for 12,896 receiving yards and 60 receiving touchdowns in 135 career games.
Jones needs two receptions on Sunday against Arizona (1:00 PM ET, CBS) to become the second-fastest player (136 games) to reach 850 receptions in NFL history, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON (140 games).
The players to reach 850 career receptions in the fewest games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES TO REACH 850 RECEPTIONS |
| Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh, New England, Tampa Bay | 133 |
| Marvin HarrisonHOF | Indianapolis | 140 |
| Andre Johnson | Houston Texans | 142 |
| Julio Jones | Atlanta | 135* |
| *Has 848 receptions entering Sunday | ||
With at least 104 receiving yards, Jones can also become the fastest player ever to reach 13,000 career receiving yards, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (154 games).
Additionally, Jones enters this season with at least 100 receiving yards in 58 career games. With at least 100 receiving yards on Sunday, he will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON (59 games) for the third-most such games in NFL history.
The players with the most games with at least 100 receiving yards in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES WITH 100+ REC. YARDS |
| Jerry RiceHOF | San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle | 76 |
| Randy MossHOF | Minnesota, Oakland, New England | 64 |
| Marvin HarrisonHOF | Indianapolis | 59 |
| Julio Jones | Atlanta | 58* |
| *Active | ||
— NFL —
DUAL-THREAT BACKS: Carolina running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY has totaled 5,817 scrimmage yards (3,145 rushing, 2,672 receiving) and 45 touchdowns (29 rushing, 16 receiving) in his first four seasons, while also recording nine games with both a rushing and receiving touchdown, the most ever by a player through his first four seasons.
With both a rushing and receiving touchdown against the Jets on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), McCaffrey will surpass CHUCK FOREMAN (nine games) for the most such games by a player through his first five seasons in NFL history. New Orleans running back ALVIN KAMARA, who is also entering his fifth season, has eight such career games and can tie Foreman when New Orleans takes on Green Bay Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX).
The players with the most games with both a rushing and receiving touchdown in their first five seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES |
| Chuck Foreman | Minnesota | 9 |
| Christian McCaffrey | Carolina | 9* |
| Abner Haynes | Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs | 8 |
| Alvin Kamara | New Orleans | 8* |
| *Entering fifth season | ||
— NFL —
ROOKIES NO MORE: The 2020 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT, and the 2020 Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year, Washington defensive end CHASE YOUNG, will meet in Week 1, when the Chargers visit the Washington Football Team on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS).
It will mark the fourth time in NFL history, and second-consecutive season, that the two reigning Rookies of the Year will meet on Kickoff Weekend. In 2020, Arizona quarterback KYLER MURRAY and San Francisco defensive lineman NICK BOSA met in Week 1.
The Kickoff Weekend matchups featuring the reigning Associated Press Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year in NFL history:
| SEASON | REIGNING OROY (TEAM) | REIGNING DROY (TEAM) | WEEK 1 RESULT |
| 2021 | QB Justin Herbert (L.A. Chargers) | DE Chase Young (Washington) | ??? |
| 2020 | QB Kyler Murray (Arizona) | DL Nick Bosa (San Francisco) | AZ 24, SF 20 |
| 1989 | RB John Stephens (New England) | DB Erik McMillan (N.Y. Jets) | NE 27, NYJ 24 |
| 1975 | RB Don Woods (San Diego Chargers) | LB Jack LambertHOF (Pittsburgh) | PIT 37, SD 0 |
LHP Dillon Peters has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list and is scheduled to make his fourth start with the Pirates tonight against the Tigers.
Peters has been sidelined since 8/28 with a low back strain after making his last start with the Pirates on 8/27 vs. St. Louis (5.0ip/3er).
The 29-year-old lefthander began the season with Los Angeles (AL), but did not appear in a game with the Angels. He was acquired by the Pirates in exchange for cash considerations on 7/19 after being designated for assignment by the Angels on 7/14. Peters went 1-0 with a 1.50 ER (12.ip/2er) in five games (two starts) with Triple-A Indianapolis before joining the Pirates on 8/15.
To make room for Peters on the active roster, RHP Shea Spitzbarth has been optioned to Indianapolis. Spitzbarth, who was just recalled to the big league team on Sunday, was charged with one run in 0.2ip Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
The 26-year-old Spitzbarth made his Major League debut with the Pirates on 8/2 at Milwaukee and has given up two runs in 4.0ip over his four appearances with the Bucs.
BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today made the following roster moves:
Reinstated infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernández and infielder/outfielder Danny Santana from the COVID-19 Related injured list.
Optioned outfielder Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Worcester.
Designated infielder Taylor Motter for assignment.
Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.
Hernández, 30, was placed on the COVID-19 Related injured list on August 27. The right-handed batter has hit .258 (108-for-419) with an .811 OPS, 30 doubles, three triples, and 17 home runs in 112 games for Boston this season. His .409 on-base percentage since June 27 leads the American League, as he has reached base in 49 of his last 52 games. Hernández has made 64 starts in center field, as well as 40 at second base and four at shortstop.
Santana, 30, was placed on the COVID-19 Related injured list on Sunday. The switch hitter has played in 35 games with Boston this season and batted .168 (18-for-107) with two doubles, one triple, four home runs, and 13 RBI. He has made 12 starts in center field, 11 at first base, two in left field, and two at designated hitter.
Cordero, 27, has appeared in 48 games with the Red Sox this season, making 27 starts in left field, eight at first base, one in right field, and one at designated hitter. He has hit .189 (24-for-127) with six doubles, one home run, and nine RBI. In 58 games with Worcester, Cordero has batted .309 (67-for-217) with a .914 OPS, seven home runs, and nine stolen bases.
Motter, 31, played in three games for Boston, starting each of the last two at second base. The right-handed batter hit .333 (2-for-6) with three runs scored, one double, one triple, one RBI, and one walk for the Red Sox.
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