標籤: backup

In an ideal world, New York Giants decision-makers reportedly hope Jeremiah Love is still on the board when they make the No. 5 pick next week. However, if he doesn’t, they have three backup plans in mind.

There has been much speculation about what the Giants will do with the fifth overall selection in next week’s NFL Draft. Early mock drafts linked Big Blue to talented Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. And when new head coach John Harbaugh was asked about his choice to select him in Round 1, he even called him a potential Hall of Famer.

Still, while the coach is a fan of Downs, it seems a different player is at the top of his wish list. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, “Coach Harbaugh and the Giants in particular are heavily dependent on Jeremiah Love. If he’s available, it’s hard to see them passing up that opportunity.”

New York Giants like to trade back in Round 1

There have been previous reports that, despite Cam Scatebo being there, the Giants brass were very interested in the Notre Dame running back and Heisman Trophy finalist. Unfortunately for New York, it looks likely that the Tennessee Titans will take him at No. 4. So what do they do if he’s no longer available?

According to Giants Insider, Downs and his OSU teammate Sonny Styles are the other players “highest on their radar” with the fifth overall selection. Still, a pick among the five is not considered an “ideal” scenario by Harbaugh and the front office.

“In an ideal world, the Giants would like to move back a few spots, add more picks (they have just two in the top 100), and draft a player like Caleb Downs. But that’s easier said than done,” Raanan reports.

In just less than a week, Giants fans will find out which direction the team goes with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The game between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders had some ups and downs… but most of them happened before the puck even dropped at UBS Arena.

On Monday, the Hurricanes recalled two players from the Chicago Wolves, Felix Unger Sorum – who was Chicago’s leading scorer, and Pyotr Kochetkov – the goaltender projected to miss the remainder of the season.

Then, on the morning of the game, defensemen Joel Nystrom and Ronan Seely were recalled.

Roster dilemma leads to emergency backup goaltender assignment

Two hours before the game, head coach Rod Brind’Amour spoke to the media and confirmed that all three skaters – and Kochetkov – would play against the Islanders. However, a monkey wrench was thrown into that plan less than an hour before puck drop.

Kochetkov was pulled from the ice shortly after warmups began, as it was then announced that he would not be able to start due to roster technicalities. Furthermore, the problem came with an additional issue, as Frederik Andersen was unavailable to play.

Thus, Long Island native Brandon Bussey took the crease for the second consecutive night. The emergency backup goaltender was 28-year-old Thomas Sullivan, who played seven games for nearby Stony Brook University between the ACHA’s 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, and previously warmed the bench as an emergency goaltender for the Washington Capitals in a game against the Islanders during the 2022–23 season.

game highlights

Early in the first period, Nikolaj Ehlers scored the Hurricanes’ first goal of the game, with the primary assist coming from Unger Sörum, making his second-inning of his NHL career. It was a good frame for the 20-year-old forward, who also hit the post on a shot from the right face-off circle. You could see he was enjoying the occasion too.

“It’s been really fun,” he said during the first intermission. “I’ve just been smiling all day, and just waiting for this moment, so it’s been really fun.”

To make the moment even more special for the young winger, he was joined in the stands by his family, who had traveled from Norway and Sweden.

“This is very special,” he said. “They’ve helped me a lot on my journey so far, and I have a lot to thank them for. So, it’s been really fun to have them visit here.”

In the second period, the Islanders went to work during a delayed penalty, with Bo Horvat finding the back of the net to hold the Hurricanes to 54 seconds, tying the game and scoring the 300th NHL goal of his career in the process. Additionally, the second assist came from Victor Eklund, younger brother of San Jose Sharks top-six forward William Eklund, in his NHL debut.

In the third period, Mark Jankowski scored the go-ahead goal with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. This proved to be the game-winner, as neither team was able to score after the Islanders pulled their goaltender.

A rare occurrence, the Hurricanes fell behind 29–21, but ultimately won 2–1.

storm notes

No clear explanation was ever given regarding the roster issue other than a ‘roster technicality’. After the trade deadline, teams do not have a roster limit and are limited only by salary cap rules. Thus, the impression is created that this was merely a matter of paperwork.

With the Boston Bruins clinching the top Eastern Conference wild card with a 4–0 win over the New Jersey Devils, the Hurricanes are scheduled to face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs.

Scoring their 113th point with the win over the Islanders, the Hurricanes finished second in the entire league, guaranteeing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs over the top-place Colorado Avalanche.

During the third period, William Carrier took a blow to the face while on the bench. He left the game after some time.

Not only was Felix Unger Sorum’s family present during the game, but Ronan Seely’s father as well as Brandon Bussey’s family were also confirmed to be in attendance.

On Tuesday, it was the first time since April 13, 2023 that the Hurricanes finished the regular season with a win, when they defeated the Florida Panthers 6–4.

Nikolaj Ehlers was the only player to skate in all 82 games for the Hurricanes this season.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Green Bay Packers were one of the teams to sign veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​before he signed a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. While Cousins ​​is off the board, NFL rumors throughout the offseason indicated that head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst are looking for an insurance plan behind Jordan Love for next season.

It’s certainly possible that Green Bay could use one of their Day 3 selections on a signal-caller, but it’s much more likely that someone with starting experience will be brought in. Given the success LaFleur had in reviving the career of Malik Willis, serving as the Packers’ backup quarterback could be attractive to many passers around the league. With that in mind, let’s look at our list.

jimmy garoppolo

Shanahan is fond of coach Jimmy Garoppolo coming from the tree. When called into action, he executes the offense and his familiarity with concepts and play designs makes him a great fill-in starter or injury replacement. The Los Angeles Rams would love to bring back Jimmy Garoppolo and he is on the radar of the Arizona Cardinals, who are now coached by Mike LaFleur. With his only option being to serve as the No. 2 on the depth chart, Green Bay could prove worthwhile for the 34-year-old quarterback. Jordan Love has missed two starts due to injury in each of the last two seasons, so playing time will be a very real possibility. However, given that he is an undrafted free agent, Gutekunst may wait until after the 2026 NFL Draft to sign Garoppolo so as not to impact the compensatory selection the team receives next year.

RELATED: Predicting the landing spot for the best QB available

Will Lewis

Trading a third-day pick for one of the Tennessee Titans’ draft busts certainly worked out for the Packers two years ago. Similar to Willis, Titans quarterback Will Lewis never could put it together and the environment he had to work in certainly didn’t help him. He is in a contract year, carrying a $3.036 million cap hit in 2026, so he is definitely an affordable backup quarterback. The physical tools are still there, including excellent arm strength and above average athleticism. This would be a riskier No. 2 option behind Love than signing Garoppolo, but there is something even better with Lewis.

RELATED: Green Bay Packers considering contract extensions with 3 players

Anthony Richardson

The most interesting option for the Packers is clearly Anthony Richardson. In terms of physical tools, he brings even more to the table than Willis. Of course, he has a career 67.8 passer rating with a 50.6 percent completion rate and an 11-13 TD-INT ratio in 17 career games played. If Love is injured for several weeks and Richardson is forced to become the Packers’ starting quarterback, LaFleur will certainly be taking a gamble as the head coach of a playoff contender. There’s also no long-term benefit here, as the fully guaranteed fifth-year option on Richardson’s contract won’t be touched. That said, Richardson’s camp should see Green Bay as the best landing spot for his future and that’s equally good for the Packers.

RELATED: Green Bay Packers expected to trade for former top pick

tyrod taylor

If Green Bay doesn’t want to sacrifice a draft pick by trading for Will Lewis or Anthony Richardson and the number of suitors for Jimmy Garoppolo pushes his contract value to uncomfortable limits, there’s always Tyrod Taylor. He’ll turn 37 in August, but he’s well-respected in the locker room and has a 13-8 TD-INT line with a 63.4 percent completion rate and an 85.7 passer rating in 19 games over the past three seasons. He could be a useful starter on offense for LaFleur for a week or two, while also providing some advice for Love.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Tennessee Titans believe they have found their franchise quarterback after making Cam Ward the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While Ward is still proving himself after leading his team to a 3-14 record last season, the soon-to-be 24-year-old now has a new coach showing him the way. The Titans also have a new QB who could develop into something special.

According to ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the Titans signed local legend Hendon Hooker to a one-year contract on Wednesday. Hooker, now 28, spent parts of last season with the Panthers and Jets but did not see the field.

The 68th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has struggled to find his footing in the pros. Hooker spent the first two years of his career with the Lions, but was surprisingly released before the start of his third season. Third-round picks rarely make the cut after just two seasons, but clearly Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell had seen enough.

Hooker has appeared in only three games, completing 6 of 9 passes for 62 yards. Now, the former Tennessee Volunteers QB gets a chance to move forward as a member of the Titans. The Titans also have free agent signees Mitchell Trubisky and Will Lewis as backups to Ward. Unless Lewis is traded, it will be difficult for Hooker to make a roster spot at Tennessee, but it’s better than not having a spot on an active NFL roster.

RELATED: Tennessee Titans could lean toward Jeremiah Love at 4

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

Entering the offseason, there was some talk that backup Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee could emerge as a popular trade candidate. After all, many teams were in need of a new starting QB when the offseason began. Many of those spots are filled, though the Cardinals and Steelers could still use more competition.

The Eagles could still trade the 26-year-old McKee, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. However, after seeing Philadelphia’s third-string quarterback, Sam Howell, sign with the Cowboys, the Eagles were also in need of another third-string QB.

On Wednesday, they filled their need by trading for Andy Dalton from the Panthers. The Eagles agreed to send a 2027 seventh-round pick to Carolina in exchange for the three-time Pro Bowl QB.

The 38-year-old Dalton brings 169 games of starting experience to Philadelphia, where he will be joining his sixth NFL team. Dalton will use what he has learned in 15 NFL seasons to help Hurts and McKee prepare for their next opponent on a weekly basis. Having made at least one start in each of the last 15 years, Dalton is always ready to step up at a moment’s notice.

Barring another move, Dalton will likely step in as the Eagles’ QB3 behind Hurts and McKee. Still, he could be one of the most capable QB3s in the NFL in 2026. For the low price of a future seventh-round pick, that type of protection is worth the price.

RELATED: Philadelphia Eagles want to trade Pro Bowler

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

A new rumor provides the New England Patriots with a great secondary option if they are unable to complete a trade for AJ Brown in the coming days.

Despite being soundly defeated by the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl last month, the Patriots’ 2025 campaign far exceeded expectations and was truly a magical run. However, they won’t surprise opponents this year, and they need to improve at some key spots on the roster if they hope to be a Super Bowl contender again in 2026.

A situation report shows the top priority for the Patriots is wide receiver. After releasing Stefon Diggs last week after a productive season, the team needs to find a new top target in the passing game for MVP candidate Drake Mays. This is why the franchise has been linked to AJ Brown in recent weeks.

The Philadelphia Eagles star made no secret of his frustrations with the offense last season. It was so bad that the three-time Pro Bowler being transferred in the next few weeks is a very real possibility. Unfortunately, it looks like the current asking price is too high for the Browns.

According to a report last week, the Patriots reached out to the Eagles and offered first- and third-round picks for the 28-year-old. Unfortunately for the Pats, there are rumors around the NFL that Philly is looking at at least a first and second rounder for Brown.

Should the Patriots target a Brian Thomas trade?

This is a price the Patriots may not be willing to pay. However, an interesting backup option at a lower price has just emerged. SNY NFL insider Connor Hughes reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars are taking offers on talented wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

The 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft had a big rookie season. Earning Pro Bowl honors by posting 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 catches. However, in 2025, he was not as effective in the new offense under head coach Liam Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinsky. Tallied only 48 catches, 707 yards and two TDs in 14 starts.

Thomas won’t come cheap, and the price will probably start with the first-rounder the Patriots offered the Browns. While it will be a bit risky, it’s worth it for a 23-year-old who has already shown he can be a WR1 in the NFL. Plus, he’s locked in for two more seasons at a bargain rate, and New England will also have the option to extend him for another season in 2028.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos