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🚨 Headlines
🏐 Husker heartbreak: Texas A&M stunned previously undefeated Nebraska in the NCAA volleyball quarterfinals, knocking out the No. 1 overall seed to join Kentucky, Pitt and Wisconsin in the Final Four.
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🏒 NHL blockbuster: The Wild acquired superstar Quinn Hughes in a blockbuster trade with the Canucks, bringing the 2024 Norris Trophy winner (best defender) to Minnesota as they seek to snap their skid of nine straight playoff series defeats.
🎓 UM launches investigation: Michigan has hired a law firm to investigate how things have been handled by its athletic department in the wake of numerous scandals, most notably those involving Connor Stalions and Sherrone Moore.
Mahomes lays on the ground after his fourth-quarter injury. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Chiefs’ season went from bad to worse on Sunday in Kansas City, where a 16-13 loss to the Chargers officially eliminated them from the playoffs and a late knee injury put Patrick Mahomes out for the season with a torn ACL.
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Dynasty over? Even before Mahomes’ devastating injury, many presumed the Chiefs were nearing a crossroads in the dynasty that saw them make 10 straight postseason appearances, reach seven straight AFC title games and win three Super Bowls. The question now is whether that dynasty will be put on pause, or end altogether.
This is what a crossroads in a dynasty feels like. You look left, there’s some problems. You look right, some more problems. The Patriots experienced it during their decade-long Super Bowl drought. And it was brought upon in some of the same ways this Chiefs team came up short.
But the key for the Patriots was that in their drought, Brady and Belichick hung in and eventually the right levers were pulled and the correct buttons were reset. They certainly had the titanic-sized egos that could have sunk it all. Go ask the early 1990s Dallas Cowboys about that.
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Maybe that’s the first real task in Kansas City. To absorb the (for now) one lost season and turn the microscope within. Some dynasties end in sports. A spare few others just pause. Distinguishing what makes the difference between the two is the next great chapter that Mahomes and Reid have to write together.
Josh Allen and the Bills pulled off a stunning 21-point comeback to snap the Patriots’ 10-game win streak. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
Indiana’s dream season continued on Saturday night in Manhattan, where junior QB Fernando Mendoza was awarded the Heisman Trophy.
In addition to being Indiana’s first Heisman winner in over 127 seasons of football, he’s also the first Big Ten player to win the Heisman since Ohio State’s Troy Smith in 2006.
Mendoza is the fourth straight Heisman winner who transferred schools during his college career, joining Travis Hunter (2024), Jayden Daniels (2023) and Caleb Williams (2022).
Voting tally: Mendoza finished with 2,362 total points (643 first-place votes) to beat out Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, who was second with 1,435 points (189 first-place votes). Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love was third with 719 points and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin was fourth with 432 points.
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Overlooked no more: “I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated, to know I was you,” said Mendoza, a 2-star recruit out of high school. “The truth is, you don’t need the most stars, hype, or rankings. You just need discipline, heart and people who believe in you. I hope this moment shows you that chasing your dreams are worth it, no matter how big or impossible they seem.”
Victor Wembanyama returned from a 12-game absence on Saturday night in Las Vegas to help the Spurs beat the league-best Thunder, 111-109, and advance to the NBA Cup Final.
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What he’s saying: “I keep asking these guys for the last 12 games, just get better, do some beautiful things,” said Wemby after posting 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks in 21 minutes. “I’m just glad to be a part of something that’s growing to be so beautiful. Pure and ethical basketball.”
From Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko:
If the first quarter of Saturday night’s semifinal was a reminder of the reign of terror the Thunder have enjoyed for months, the second was a reminder of the French force that refuses to bend the knee. His introduction to the game — coming off the bench for the first time in his career — changed everything.
The friendly skies that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had coasted in since October were now met with 7-foot-4 turbulence. Missed Spurs shots became simple second-chance opportunities for the gangly center. Half-court sequences that OKC would typically carry out in its sleep were now being second-guessed.
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For one glorious evening, the now 24-2 Thunder looked less like the most devastating team in the sport and more like a group that forgot just how impactful Wembanyama truly is.
What’s next: The Spurs will face the Knicks in tomorrow’s NBA Cup Final after New York eliminated Orlando, 132-120, behind Jalen Brunson’s season-high 40 points.
🌎 The world in photos
Hoke Smith II reacts after a first-half touchdown. (David Jensen/Getty Images)
🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland — Navy retained the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy with a comeback 17-16 win over Army on Saturday in the 126th edition of their storied rivalry.
Elsewhere: Bowl season got underway as Washington routed Boise State, 38-10, in the LA Bowl and South Carolina State outlasted Prairie View A&M, 40-38 (4OT), in a thrilling Celebration Bowl.
U.S. keeper Aerin Frankel makes a save. (Leila Devlin/Getty Images)
🇨🇦 Edmonton, Canada — The U.S. women beat Canada, 4-1, on Saturday at Rogers Place to clinch the first sweep in the seven-year history of their Rivalry Series. Next up: the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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Total domination: The Americans outscored the Canadians 24-7 across the four-game series, led by five goals each from Abbey Murphy and captain Hilary Knight.
(Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
🏴 London, England — Another day, another goal from Erling Haaland. Two, in fact, as he scored a brace in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace to keep them two points shy of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
Wild stat: Haaland has now scored more goals with Manchester City (147) than Cristiano Ronaldo did with Manchester United (145), despite playing fewer than half as many games (168 vs. 346).
Security personnel attempt to control the crowd as Messi leaves the stadium. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images)
🇮🇳 Kolkata, India — Lionel Messi’s tour of India got off to a chaotic start on Saturday when fans — angry that he was barely visible during his brief appearance at Salt Lake Stadium — hurled objects onto the field. The event’s chief organizer was jailed and pledged to refund tickets.
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Immortalizing the GOAT: The three-day tour’s festivities began earlier in the day when a gargantuan 70-foot statue of Messi was unveiled in soccer-crazed Kolkata.
📺 Watchlist: Monday, Dec. 15
Acrisure Stadium. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
🏈 Dolphins at Steelers
The Steelers host the Dolphins on “Monday Night Football” (8:15pm ET, ESPN) in a game that has playoff implications for both teams.
Where it stands: Pittsburgh (7-6) narrowly leads Baltimore (7-7) in the NFC North, while Miami (6-7) has won four straight to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.
🏀 NBA on Peacock
Four of the NBA’s best teams take the floor in tonight’s doubleheader, with the Celtics (15-10) hosting the Pistons (20-5) in the first game (7pm) and the Nuggets (18-6) hosting the Rockets (16-6) in the nightcap (9:30pm).
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Jokić’s historic pace: Three-time MVP Nikola Jokić seems to have gotten better yet again, with his current player efficiency rating (35.98) sitting more than three points higher than his own previous NBA record (32.85). It’s worth noting that Giannis Antetokounmpo (34.97) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.94) are also both currently besting that previous record.
⚽️ College Cup Final
A first-time NCAA champion will be crowned tonight in men’s soccer, as No. 15 NC State takes on Washington in the College Cup Final (7pm, ESPNU). This is the Wolfpack’s first appearance in the title game, and the Huskies’ second in the past five years.
More to watch:
🏀 NBA trivia
Allan Houston makes a move against Sean Elliott in the NBA Finals. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Knicks and Spurs, who will meet in the NBA Cup Final, have also faced off once in the NBA Finals.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
One of the top quarterback prospects in the class of 2024 is already leaving Florida. DJ Lagway announced he’s entering the transfer portal after a rocky second season with the Gators.
Lagway announced his decision in a social media post. He thanked fans, friends and his coaches before saying, “After much prayer, reflection and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.”
Lagway, 20, tossed 16 touchdowns against 14 interceptions during his second season with the Gators. The team went just 4-8, leading to Billy Napier’s firing in the middle of the season.
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Napier was replaced by Billy Gonzales, who benched Lagway during a November game against Kentucky after the sophomore threw three interceptions in the first half. Despite the performance, Gonzales stuck with Lagway the rest of the season. He turned in arguably his best performance of the year in the team’s final game, throwing three touchdowns against one interception during a 40-21 win over Florida State.
Big things were expected from Lagway — a five-star prospect and one of the best quarterbacks in the 2024 class — when he first joined the Gators. While Lagway wasn’t expected to see much playing time as a freshman, he was pushed into a starting role following an early injury to Graham Mertz.
Lagway acquitted himself well, throwing for 456 yards and three scores in his first start. He showed enough promise the rest of the way, going 6-1 in his starts and leading Florida to wins over multiple ranked opponents before helping the team win a bowl game vs. Tulane.
Because of that, Florida entered the 2025 season ranked No. 15 by the Associated Press. The team moved up to No. 13 after winning its first game, but then fell out of the Top 25 after losing to South Florida to open September. Florida wasn’t ranked in the Top 25 the rest of the way.
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Lagway dealt with an offseason shoulder issue that prevented him from throwing, which may have played a major role in his sophomore struggles.
Given his former status as a top prospect, Lagway should draw plenty of interest in the transfer portal. Things may not have gone well for him in his second season, but he’s shown flashes of brilliance at times.
After a lost sophomore year, a change of scenery could be the best thing for Lagway moving forward.
New York Giants fans experienced a similar situation in Week 15. After taking a big hit, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart needed to briefly leave the contest against the Washington Commanders to be evaluated for a concussion. It marked the fifth time in 10 games that Dart has entered the blue tent on the sideline this season.
“We’re not gonna change much in terms of how we play the game,” Kafka said. “I think just having the thought process for how we scheme it up. We had a couple opportunities where he’s protected and he’s got somebody in front of him. On that one particular play where he got out, that was a pass. I think there’s not much you can do there. Of course we have his health, and everyone’s health, in mind when we call plays.”
Dart passed concussion protocol and was allowed to return to the game. He finished the contest 20-of-36, for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Dart also threw an interception in the 29-21 loss to the Commanders. After the contest, Dart said he didn’t “really understand” why he was forced to leave the game after the hit.
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Keeping Dart healthy has been a major talking point in New York after the rookie missed two games earlier in the year with a concussion. While Dart was out, multiple pieces were written suggesting people around the Giants told Dart to play smarter and protect himself when possible. Dart has said he’s going to keep playing aggressive football, though did note he’s sliding more since his return.
Figuring out a way to keep Dart healthy will be a major challenge for Kafka, or his replacement, going forward. Dart has proven to be an exciting young rookie, with 13 touchdowns against four interceptions through 11 games. He’s also flashed potential as a dual-threat player, rushing for 400 yards and scoring seven touchdowns.
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Dart’s running ability is a true weapon, which is why the Giants need to handle the situation carefully. If he can continue to develop as a passer, Dart can be the franchise player the Giants desperately need. But that will only happen if Dart stays on the field. And while he’s mostly been able to do that as a rookie, the number of times he’s visited the blue tent this season is a concern, especially when Dart relies on his legs to make splash plays.
It was an odd week for fantasy basketball with the NBA Cup quarterfinals and semifinals taking place in Week 8. As a result, many fantasy managers had fewer games to work with. That definitely impacted the week’s High Score fantasy basketball perfect lineup. Let’s take a look at the top-six scorers on the week after recapping the NBA Cup so far.
In the Eastern Conference, the Magic took down the Heat while the Knicks defeated the Raptors last Tuesday to advance to the semifinals. Desmond Bane was brought in via trade to Orlando before the season and this was his signature performance so far, dropping 37 points on 14-of-24 shooting from the floor. The Knicks got 35 points from Jalen Brunson in their win over Toronto. Brunson would continue his strong play, scoring 40 points in the semifinal against the Magic to lift the Knicks to the NBA Cup Final.
Out West, the Thunder kept up their historic win pace by demolishing the Suns 138-89. A career game from point guard Stephon Castle helped the Spurs get by the Lakers to advance. Castle had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, carrying the team with Victor Wembanyama sidelined. Then, Wemby returned in heroic fashion to help San Antonio stun OKC with a 111-109 victory for the Thunder’s second loss of the season. Wembanyama came off the bench but scored 22 points in 21 minutes with nine rebounds.
The top-six performances overall by position from Week 8.
(Taylor Wilhelm)
A closer look at the top performers
Russell Westbrook: The Kings are likely headed for the lottery again and could start to move pieces as a result. But in the meantime, Westbrook is surprising everyone as a top-25 fantasy asset in High Score. He posted a vintage triple-double line of 24-12-14 with three stocks against the Pacers to start the wonky schedule week. There’s almost always going to volatility with his box scores but we’re seeing a 70-point ceiling for Westbrook in the right spot.
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Keyonte George: The Jazz guard has taken a huge step in Year 3 in the NBA. He’s becoming a nice 1B option to Lauri Markkanen’s 1A for Utah. Isaiah Collier missing time early on really cleared the way for George, who scored a career-high 39 points against the Grizzlies over the weekend. He has great category coverage averaging 4.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game this season. That will allow him to maintain his floor of around 45 fantasy points.
Derik Queen: Freezing Cold Takes must be having a field day with everyone questioning the trade for Queen at the 2025 NBA Draft. While New Orleans gave up a lot, it looks like the franchise may have a stalwart as Queen is firmly in the Rookie of the Year conversation. He lands on this list thanks to his first career triple-double with 33-10-10 to go with three blocks against the Spurs on Monday. Since Nov. 4, Queen is averaging 14.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while playing over 28 minutes per contest.
Nikola Jokić: This feels like it’s becoming a de factor weekly Jokić update. The top High Score asset had a quiet week with just one game in which Joker and the Nuggets made swift work of the Kings on Thursday. It was one of the lower High Score totals for the big man this season but still likely helped your lineup pick up the W with scoring down last week. He had 36-12-8 with two steals in just 29 minutes of action.
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Jalen Johnson: A down week can also be said about Johnson, who failed to reach the 70-point mark but sneaks onto this list after edging out a few players at 59 points. Johnson recorded two triple-doubles on the week and now has a four-game streak of triple-doubles. He continues to make his case for Most Improved Player as we await the return of PG Trae Young. Young is expected to be back at practice this week so a return appears imminent. That will likely impact Johnson’s fantasy stock.
Stephen Curry: Steph nearly reached a 50-burger on Sunday night to make it into the top-six scorers for the week. He was lights out, shooting 16-26 from the floor and 12-19 from distance for 48 points. He also added 3 boards, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block. We talk about this a lot but the beauty of High Score is that players like Curry can still turn it back and give us a ceiling game in the right environment. That was the fourth time Steph has scored 40+ points in a game this season. The magic is still there.
Welcome back to The Playlist — your weekly scan of the fantasy basketball landscape, where we break down waiver adds for 9-cat and standard points leagues to help you stay competitive.
Week 9 offers some time off for every team except for the Spurs and Knicks, who will play in the Emirates NBA Cup championship on Tuesday. Speaking of Tuesday, the results of the NBA Cup championship will not count towards Week 9 scoring.
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Three teams play four games (MIA, HOU, TOR), 14 teams play three games and 13 teams play just two games this week. This will be the final odd scheduling week until we reach the All-Star break. Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk pickups.
Huff is building momentum as one of the best shot blockers in the NBA. He leads the league in total blocks and is averaging 2.5 blocks in just 19 minutes per game. As the starting center, he’s risen to 2.8 per game, and over his last six outings, he’s swatting 3.5 shots a game. His defense alone warrants him being on every roster, yet he’s still under 40%.
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One thing I’m expecting? Some positive regression on his shooting numbers. He’s currently sitting at 42% FG and 56% TS, which are far below his career numbers of at least 50% FG and 65% TS, respectively. Shallow leagues need to take action.
Tyson is surging in his second season and, like Huff, is somehow still under-rostered. In December, he’s averaging an efficient 17.5 points, 9 rebounds, including three double-doubles. His versatility gives him real 9-cat value: strong FG%, rebounds from the wing, low turnovers and just enough stocks to matter.
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In points leagues, he’s hitting 30-38 FP with regularity thanks to rebounding and efficiency. Tyson should be rostered in all leagues, especially with Evan Mobley becoming the latest victim of the dreaded calf strain.
Eason was upgraded to questionable ahead of Monday’s tilt against Denver, indicating he’s nearing a return from his oblique injury that sidelined him for 11 games.
He’s a target in 9-cat leagues for efficiency, 3s, rebounds and stocks, especially with Houston playing four games this week, offering multiple lineup opportunities. Eason is a key factor of the Rockets’ rotation, so getting him back gives Houston another two-way weapon.
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🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: Deeper leagues
Marcus Smart – PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers (10% rostered)
Since Austin Reaves will miss at least the next week or so with a calf strain, Smart has some short-term appeal in deeper leagues. Smart drew his 10th start of the season on Sunday, finishing with 8 points (2-7 FG, 3-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 3-pointer, 1 steal and 2 blocks in 31 minutes — solid all-around production. The 12-year vet remains a disruptive defender, averaging 1.7 steals per contest. While he can be helpful in any format depending on need, I prefer him in points leagues because efficiency is his primary weakness.
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Jamal Shead – PG, Toronto Raptors (6% rostered)
Shead has been one of the Raptors’ biggest surprises over the past two weeks, producing TJ McConnell-like numbers off the bench: strong assists, low turnovers and steals, but with more 3s.
With Toronto entering a favorable Week 9 schedule (four games, including a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back), Shead profiles as a streaming option in 12+ team 9-cat and points leagues.
The Grizzlies will be without Zach Edey (ankle) for at least four weeks, leaving Santi Aldama and Landale to help man the frontcourt. Landale is an add for deeper 9-cat formats, since he’s more of a bench depth streamer whose upside can be a low-end double-double.
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In 14 games without Edey this year, Landale is averaging 10.5 points with 5.7 rebounds per game. That’s not too far off his seasonal numbers, with the primary difference being that he averages three more minutes per game when Edey is not active.
Welcome to The High Score Playlist: my weekly column that lets you know who to add off the waiver wire and get in your lineup for the upcoming week in fantasy basketball. You can also read my 9-cat and standard points leagues pickups story for advice in those formats.
So press play and shuffle through the latest fantasy basketball info.
Jabari Smith Jr. – FC, Houston Rockets (46% rostered)
Smith isn’t a classic waiver add in shallow leagues, but he’s still available in far too many High Score formats. Over his last five games, he’s averaging 32 fantasy points in High Score with a 42-point outing in his last contest.
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The Rockets play two of their four games against fantasy-friendly teams in the Pelicans and Kings, leaving multiple chances to start Smith in an abridged week. He should be well over 50% rostered.
The rookie from Washington State has been inconsistent recently; however, there have been a couple of boom performances over the past two weeks that could surge again in Week 9. He’s had two double-digit rebounding efforts with at least five assists in his last three games.
With the Clippers and Wolves on tap for Monday and Wednesday (five-game slates), you can start him with the chance at another 40-point fantasy performance. Coward dropped 50 fantasy points on the Clippers just two weeks ago, plus he has dual eligibility.
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Anthony Black- G, Orlando Magic (28% rostered)
Franz Wagner’s latest injury extended Black’s run as a player to roster in High Score. He’s been an invaluable piece of Orlando’s recent success, and it’s translated into substantial fantasy numbers. Over the past 30 days, Black ranks 76th overall in High Score, averaging 35.6 fantasy points per game thanks to his multi-category output of 16-5-4 and 1.5 steals per game.
Orlando plays two games on the biggest slates this week, so he may not fit into your lineup now, but he’s a hold across all formats.
Jordan Walsh – G/FC, Boston Celtics (25% rostered)
Walsh remains severely underrated in High Score and fantasy in general. He’s averaged 32 fantasy points per game over the last two weeks and has evolved into an efficient scoring option for the Celtics while leaning into his strengths as a defender and decent rebounder.
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While Walsh faces challenging opponents in Detroit, Miami and Toronto in Week 9, the Miami game falls on a small five-game slate where he can get run in a fast-paced game. He’s established himself as a viable starter for a Boston team that continues to surprise in what was assumed to be a gap year.
Noah Clowney – FC, Brooklyn Nets (31% rostered)
Clowney’s long-term outlook continues to surge after he’s been a reliable 30+ point fantasy asset over the past month, averaging 17.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 stocks per game. Brooklyn plays two games this week, and the only real chance to start him will be ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Raptors.
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If he hits 30+ minutes, he has 40+ point upside. Also, given the state of the organization and his contract, the Nets need to see what they have in their 21-year-old big, who is putting up career numbers in his third campaign.
Chris Harris will take over defensive coordinator duties in the interim.
The Jets are 3-11 and sit at the bottom of the AFC East. On Sunday, New York allowed six touchdowns to Trevor Lawrence — five through the air and one on the ground. This season, the Jets rank 30th in defensive scoring, giving up 28.4 points per game, and they are last in the league with three takeaways, all of which were fumbles.
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Wilks was one of Glenn’s earliest hires after he got the head coaching job during the 2025 offseason. During Wilks’ first season in New York, the Jets traded key defensive stars, including cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Wilks was also fired after just one season as DC at his previous team in San Francisco. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan was ready to move on from Wilks following the 2023 campaign despite the team’s success.
In 2005, Wilks began his NFL coaching career as an assistant in Washington, then became a defensive backs coach for Chicago, San Diego and ultimately Carolina in 2012. Wilks worked his way up to defensive coordinator with the Panthers in 2017 before getting his first head coaching opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. He lasted only one season there, finishing 3-13. Wilks had a brief second stint with the Panthers in 2022, where he served as interim head coach/secondary coach.
Defensive backs coach Chris Harris steps in to finish the season as defensive coordinator. Harris is a former NFL defensive back, selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. During his eight-year career, Harris played for Chicago, Carolina, Detroit and Jacksonville, retiring after the 2012 season.
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The Jets’ next game will be Sunday on the road against the New Orleans Saints, before they close out a disappointing season against New England and Buffalo in Weeks 17 and 18.
There will be no more drives into deep left field for Nick Castellanos with the Philadelphia Phillies. The team signaled the end of the Castellanos era on Monday, when it reportedly agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with Adolis García, according to multiple reports.
With the move, García — who was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers in November — is expected to be the primary right fielder for the Phillies in 2026. While García struggled at the plate last season, hitting just .227/.271/.394, with 19 home runs, he’s considered a strong defensive addition. That’s something the Phillies lacked with Castellanos, who expressed frustration about being removed from games for defensive reasons last year.
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While defense played into Philadelphia’s decision to sign García, the team is likely also hoping for a resurgent offensive year from the 32-year-old. After posting an All-Star season with the Rangers in 2023, García has seen his numbers decline the past two seasons, when he has slashed just .225/.278/.397.
Although García struggled in 2025, he show some signs that suggest he has one more strong season left in his bat. He saw a rebound in his exit velocity after it dipped in 2024. He also managed to cut his strikeout rate to a career-low 24.7%. Neither of those improvements resulted in a better year in 2025, but the Phillies might view both as promising signs that García can recoup some of his previous form in the short term. It helps that his main calling card — power — should play well in Citizens Bank Park, one of the best places to hit home runs in the majors.
With García expected to take over as the team’s primary right fielder, the Phillies need to make a decision on Castellanos. The 33-year-old is entering the final season of his five-year, $100 million deal and is set to make $20 million in 2026. Following the García signing, the Phillies are expected to trade or release Castellanos ahead of spring training.
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Castellanos has also seen a decline in his performance at the plate in recent years, though he has actually hit better than García lately. Over the past two seasons, Castellanos has a .252/.303/.416 slash line. But frustration over his role last season, combined with his poor defense, was apparently enough for the Phillies to move on from the veteran.
Castellanos is still capable of popping home runs at a fair clip, but he saw his exit velocity and hard-hit rate drop in 2025, two possible signs of decline. Because of that, the Phillies might need to eat some of his contract if they want to trade the outfielder. Given his struggles on defense, Castellanos could be used as a designated hitter with his new club.
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That isn’t an option for the Phillies after Kyle Schwarber re-signed with the team. With Schwarber firmly entrenched as the designated hitter, the Phillies are prioritizing improving their outfield defense. While the team rated well in most areas last season, defense was a weakness, with nearly every metric ranking the Phillies as a below-average defensive team.
Despite contending for multiple seasons, the Phillies are still searching for their first World Series championship since 2008. Bringing in García isn’t a blockbuster move, but one that should shore up one of the team’s biggest weaknesses.
Given how close the Phillies have come to winning it all in recent seasons, even a small upgrade could pay major dividends when the season is on the line in October.
As NBA trade season approaches, we looked at sellers last week, and now it’s time to look at some teams that could end up being buyers before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
They are 20-5 and sitting atop the Eastern Conference, but this team is in dire need of more shooting and a firm secondary scoring option.
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Lauri Markkanen makes a lot of sense, and facilitating a deal for him wouldn’t be particularly difficult, at least through the lens of matching salaries or attaching draft equity, because the Pistons control their future draft assets.
The beauty of Detroit’s flexibility is it can go in a bunch of different ways and it can also put Jaden Ivey on the table in negotiations. But the Pistons do need to move now, as Jalen Duren is up for a new contract next summer.
So, this is complicated.
The Knicks should be looking for whatever upgrade they can get their hands on to improve their depth and make a real Finals run with the East being as open as it is.
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However, they’re so short on assets and less than $150,000 away from the second apron, so it’s almost unrealistic to expect them to do something major. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try, though.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely be the biggest name on the trade market. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
This is a weird team, and the pieces may not all fit together. But that’s all the more reason to try to make a real upgrade, if one is there for the taking.
The contract of Tyus Jones ($7 million, expiring) could bring the Magic something, but their first apron buffer is at just $1.2 million, which in the NBA is peanuts.
As such, look for the Magic to package Jones with Jett Howard to see if they can extract a larger contract elsewhere.
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They can get just about anyone they want to, but given the fact that they’re as good as they are right now, they can easily choose to stand pat.
They improved their depth last summer and remain $2.8 million under the second apron, which does give them some flexibility for the trade deadline.
More than likely, they’ll stick with their main core and instead make moves around the margin.
They’re not in bad shape by any stretch, so we’ll see what — if anything — they cook up.
It was tempting to leave them out, simply due to the Fred VanVleet injury, but at 16-6 and with Kevin Durant on the roster, that would be indefensible.
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They need a point guard. Full stop. They probably won’t be able to acquire a big-name player, but they could attempt to use VanVleet’s $25 million salary to facilitate something.
Going into the rest of the season short on playmaking guards wouldn’t be advisable.
Victor Wembanyama will, more than likely, sign a full-max contract extension next offseason, which means the Spurs are on the clock to round out the roster as they see fit.
They have multiple expiring contracts in the form of Harrison Barnes and Kelly Olynyk ($32.4 million in total), a plethora of draft picks and plenty of young players, all of which could be combined to make a push for another star — such as Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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Whichever player the Spurs identify, they have enough juice to do something big if they want to.
When you have a team with Luka Dončić, you’re almost always in a state of competitiveness, meaning you’re automatically looking to buy and add pieces around him.
While the Lakers will more than likely wait to do something big during the offseason, that doesn’t mean they won’t be on the lookout for something that makes sense.
They have expiring contracts, but very little draft equity and are short on young players. That’s a tough mix, which could lead them to try their luck in free agency instead.