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Player News
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Jonathan Mingo CAR WR
Panthers' Jonathan Mingo: Bumps down the depth chart
1h agoWith the Panthers' selection of Xavier Legette with the No. 32 overall pick Thursday night, Mingo is pushed down the wide receiver depth chart, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Carolina has made it a point to upgrade its wideout room this offseason, first trading for Diontae Johnson before then trading up into the final pick of the first round for Legette. Adding those two to veteran slot man Adam Thielen pushes both Mingo and Terrace Marshall down in the pecking order for targets. Mingo -- who is bouncing back from a late-season foot issue -- started 14 of 15 games he appeared in as a rookie, but he posted an uninspiring 43-418-0 receiving line on 85 targets. He was one of the least productive starting receivers in the league in 2023.
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Jaycee Horn CAR CB
Panthers' Jaycee Horn: Fifth-year option to be picked up
2h agoThe Panthers have elected to pick up Horn's fifth-year contract option, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Horn, who the Panthers took eighth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, is thus slated to remain under contract with the team through the 2025 campaign. Injuries have hampered the starting cornerback over his first three years as a pro, but when available the 24-year old has made his mark in Carolina's secondary, while racking up 85 tackles and four picks over the course of 22 regular-season outings.
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Deebo Samuel SF WR
49ers' Deebo Samuel: Drawing interest from Pats, Bills
3h agoThe Patriots and Bills have interest in trading for Samuel, Michael Giardi of Boston Sports Journal reports.
There's been a lot of trade chatter around Samuel's teammate, Brandon Aiyuk, but Giardi reports Samuel is "more likely to be traded" and has a couple interested suitors in Buffalo and New England. Both offenses are in dire need of wideout help, and the Bills (33rd overall) and Patriots (34th) hold picks atop the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night. Samuel has two years left on his contract but has been more prone to injuries throughout his career, missing six regular-season games and parts of several others across the last two seasons. Aiyuk, meanwhile, is coming off a career year and a second consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. The Niners used their first-round pick Thursday night on Florida WR Ricky Pearsall, further fueling trade chatter on the team's veteran wideouts.
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Jacoby Brissett NE QB
Patriots' Jacoby Brissett: Set to compete with Maye
4h agoBrissett is in line to compete with newcomer Drake Maye for the Patriots' starting QB job ahead of the upcoming NFL season, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.
Given that New England selected Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it's only a matter of time before the North Carolina product is installed as the team's starter. That said, it's possible that the rookie begins the season as Brissett's understudy, with coach Jerod Mayo noting Thursday of the Patriots' signal-caller situation that "at the end of the day, our philosophy is the best players will play. We will compete and the best player will start." Brissett rejoined the franchise that drafted him in 2016 on a reported one-year, $8 million deal, providing New England with an experienced option who can either helm the offense until Maye is deemed ready to do so, or alternatively serve as quality backup and mentor to Maye, who doesn't turn 22 until Aug. 30. Meanwhile, 2022 fourth-rounder Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke are also on hand to provide the Patriots with QB depth ahead of training camp.
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Marcus Mariota WAS QB
Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Likely headed for backup role again
7h agoMariota will be joined by fellow Heisman winner and No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels in Washington's QB room.
The incoming rookie was a four-year college starter (five if you count a COVID-shortened season) and is already 23 years old, making him a strong bet to quickly take over as QB1 in Washington. Mariota presumably knew the Commanders were likely to use the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback when he signed with them in March, but the team at least traded Sam Howell to Seattle, leaving the 30-year-old unchallenged for a backup role. It remains to be seen how the Commanders divide reps between Daniels and Mariota this spring and into summer.
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Michael Mayer LV TE
Raiders' Michael Mayer: Joined by Bowers in TE room
17h agoGM Tom Telesco said Thursday that he excepts Mayer to "take a leap this year" even though the Raiders drafted fellow tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13 overall, Nick Walters of KTNV Las Vegas reports.
The Raiders presumably plan to use a lot of multi-TE formations, but the new competition for snaps and targets is nonetheless terrible news for Mayer's fantasy value. He and Bowers were arguably the most productive tight ends in college football over the past half-decade, with Mayer recording 2,099 yards and 18 TDs in three seasons at Notre Dame and Bowers putting up 2,538 and 26, respectively, over three seasons for Georgia. While Mayer is both taller and heavier, Bowers is faster, more agile and an earlier draft pick (Mayer went 35th in 2023). On the bright side, Telesco said there's "no concern" about the foot injury that brought Mayer's rookie season to an early end after 14 games (12 starts) and a 27-304-2 receiving line, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com.
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Manuel Rodriguez TB RP
Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Summoned to big leagues
2m agoThe Rays recalled Rodriguez from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
It will be the first stint in the majors this season for Rodriguez, who has posted a 1.08 ERA and 13:2 K:BB over 8.1 innings with Durham in 2024. Assuming he makes an appearance, it would be the 27-year-old's first at the big-league level since 2022.
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Colin Poche TB RP
Rays' Colin Poche: Lands on IL with back injury
4m agoThe Rays placed Poche on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to April 24, with mid-back tightness, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Poche was knocked around for three runs in his last appearance Tuesday and it's possible he might have been compromised physically in that outing. He will miss at least the next two weeks, depriving the Rays of another high-leverage reliever after they already lost Pete Fairbanks (arm).
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Luis Robert CHW CF
White Sox's Luis Robert: Could return in mid-May
8m agoWhite Sox GM Chris Getz said Friday that Robert (hip) could be back from the injured list in mid-May, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
The 26-year-old was given a six-week recovery timeline after he landed on the shelf April 6 with a Grade 2 right hip flexor strain, and it appears he may be slightly ahead of that timetable. Veterans Tommy Pham and Rafael Ortega had their contracts selected by Chicago on Friday and should see most of the action in center field until Robert can return from the injured list.
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A.J. Puk MIA SP
Marlins' A.J. Puk: Playing catch
9m agoPuk is playing catch and is no longer feeling fatigue in his left shoulder, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Puk landed on the injured list last weekend, but it sounds like he could have a shot to return when his 15 days are up or close to it. He will shift back to a relief role when he does make it back and should eventually be in the mix for high-leverage situations.
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Jake Burger MIA 1B
Marlins' Jake Burger: Going through full workout
12m agoBurger (oblique) will go through a full on-field workout Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Burger is nearly two weeks removed from suffering a left intercostal strain and is finally ready to resume all baseball activities. It would appear a rehab assignment is just around the corner, with a return sometime in early- to mid-May if all goes well.
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Nick Pivetta BOS SP
Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Throwing live batting practice
21m agoPivetta (elbow) will throw a 50-pitch live batting practice session Saturday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
If Pivetta comes out the live BP session without any hiccups, he should be cleared to make a rehab start next week. That would probably set him up to rejoin the Red Sox' rotation the following week if all goes well. Pivetta has been out since early April with a right elbow flexor strain.
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Craig Porter Jr. CLE PG
Cavaliers' Craig Porter: Another absence coming
32m agoPorter (ankle) won't play in Saturday's Game 4 against the Magic.
Porter will miss his fourth straight contest to start the playoffs Saturday due to a left ankle sprain. His next chance to suit up is Game 5 on Tuesday against Orlando.
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Khris Middleton MIL SF
Bucks' Khris Middleton: Good to go Friday
38m agoMiddleton (ankle) will play in Friday's Game 3 against the Pacers, Pat Boylan of Bally Sports Indiana reports.
Middleton has been upgraded from questionable to available Friday despite suffering a right ankle sprain in Game 2. There is no indication that the 32-year-old forward will be on a minutes restriction. Middleton is averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 35.5 minutes across the first two games of the series against Indiana.
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Reggie Jackson DEN PG
Nuggets' Reggie Jackson: Questionable for Saturday
1h agoJackson (ankle) is questionable for Saturday's Game 4 against the Lakers, Brendan Vogt of TheDNVR.com reports.
Jackson left the Nuggets' Game 3 win Thursday in the third quarter and was unable to return, finishing with five points and an assist in seven minutes. Coach Michael Malone said Friday that Jackson has a sprained left ankle and is wearing a preventative boot. With the Nuggets leading the series 3-0, the team will likely be cautious with the 34-year-old.
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Larry Nance Jr. NO PF
Pelicans' Larry Nance: Practices Friday
1h agoNance (undisclosed) was a full participant in practice Friday, Jim Eichenhofer of the Pelicans' official site reports.
Nance left Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Thunder in the third quarter favoring his right leg and grabbed at his ankle as he walked to the locker room. He didn't play at all in the final frame. On Friday, coach Willie Green said that despite the soreness, Nance "went through a full practice." This is good news for the Pelicans, who are still without Zion Williamson (hamstring).
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Kawhi Leonard LAC SF
Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Present at shootaround
5h agoLeonard (knee), who is questionable for Friday's Game 3 against the Mavericks, was present for the Clippers' morning shootaround, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.
Leonard returned from a nine-game absence during Tuesday's matchup against Dallas and continues to deal with knee inflammation ahead of Friday's game. However, his presence at shootaround is encouraging, and he appears to be trending in the right direction in the hours leading up to tipoff.
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Daniel Gafford DAL C
Mavericks' Daniel Gafford: Present at shootaround
5h agoGafford (back) was on the court and walking around during shootaround ahead of Friday's Game 3 versus the Clippers, Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Gafford is officially listed as questionable Friday due to back spasms. The 24-year-old big man's availability will likely be determined shortly before tipoff at 8 pm ET.
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Ryan Suzuki CAR C
Hurricanes' Ryan Suzuki: Up from AHL
1h agoSuzuki was recalled from AHL Springfield on Friday.
Suzuki has 14 goals and 30 points in 51 outings with Springfield in 2023-24. Although he'll be with the Hurricanes, the 22-year-old is not expected to play for Carolina during the postseason.
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Nicolas Hague LV D
Golden Knights' Nicolas Hague: Unavailable for Saturday
2h agoHague (lower body) will miss Game 3 on Saturday, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Hague had two goals, 12 points, 43 PIM, 154 hits and 111 blocks in 73 appearances in 2023-24. He also missed Wednesday's 3-1 win over Dallas due to the injury. Alec Martinez is likely to remain in the lineup due to Hague's continued absence.
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Cam Talbot LA G
Kings' Cam Talbot: Set to start Friday
2h agoTalbot is expected to start at home against Edmonton on Friday, per Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period.
Talbot has struggled against the Oilers, allowing 10 goals on 75 shots (.867 save percentage) over two playoff contests. Edmonton ranked fourth offensively with 3.56 goals per game in the regular season, so the squad is likely to continue to give the veteran goaltender trouble, especially because Talbot's been floundering for a while now. He has a 2.92 GAA and an .897 save percentage over his past 17 outings dating back to March 7.
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Igor Shesterkin NYR G
Rangers' Igor Shesterkin: Slated to face Capitals
3h agoShesterkin is slated to start on the road against Washington on Friday, according to Seth Orlemann of USA Today.
Shesterkin won the first two games of the series while stopping 42 of 46 shots (.913 save percentage). The Capitals ranked 28th offensively with just 2.63 goals per game in the regular season, so it's not surprising that they haven't given Shesterkin much trouble in the first round. That said, the series moving to Washington might help the Capitals, who were 22-12-7 at home compared to 18-19-4 on the road during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Ilya Lyubushkin TOR D
Maple Leafs' Ilya Lyubushkin: Misses practice Friday
3h agoPer Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun, Lyubushkin (personal) missed practice Friday, but is an option to play Saturday, according to coach Sheldon Keefe.
Lyubushkin left the team for the birth of his third child after Wednesday's loss to Boston. The 30-year-old rearguard is expected to return ahead of Game 4 versus Boston on Saturday. Lyubushkin had four assists, 64 hits and 30 blocked shots in 19 games with the Maple Leafs after he was dealt from Anaheim on Feb. 29. Look for Timothy Liljegren to remain in the lineup, should Lyubushkin be unavailable Saturday.
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Connor Hellebuyck WPG G
Jets' Connor Hellebuyck: Between pipes Friday
3h agoHellebuyck will defend the road crease in Colorado on Friday, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Hellebuyck has struggled in the opening two games of the series, despite going 1-1, as he has allowed 10 goals on 77 shots. Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Colorado snapped Hellebuyck's six-game winning streak. He was 37-19-4 with a 2.39 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 60 regular-season appearances. The Avalanche have had no problem finding the back of the net thus far, and will hope to continue the trend as the series shifts to Colorado for Games 3 and 4.