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This is another blow to the battered and bruised pitching staff of the Toronto Blue Jays. As they await final word on the next steps for injured pitcher Jose Berrios, manager John Schneider says “surgery is on the table.”

“At this point it is an option,” Schneider said Friday. “We’re just trying to figure out if this is the path we’re going down.”

Although Berrios met with renowned elbow surgeon Dr. Keith Meister earlier this week, the manager says as far as he knows, there is no ligament damage involved. Of course, Schneider is not a doctor, nor does he play doctors on TV (or in Clubhouse).

However, he did mention “loose bodies”, as noted by renowned author Keegan Matheson. It seems like we’re still talking about the stress fracture that Berrios suffered during spring training with no ill effects. But he has had some elbow pain with low velocity in his last two rehab starts.

“He’s trying to make the best decision now and for the long term,” Schneider said, indicating that the 31-year-old pitcher will have the final say on which path to take. “I think he’s been in a little back-and-forth on this, and just wants to get it right.”

Berrios’ surgery decision looming, and contract decision after season

This is an even more important decision for his future because Berrios has opted out after the season. The seven-year, $131 million contract he signed with Toronto in 2021 will pay him $24 million apiece for two more years. Unless he decides to opt out and become a free agent. But as his injuries continue to worsen, it is becoming a controversial issue.

What makes it even more difficult for Berrios is that he has been the picture of health throughout his major league career until this season. He didn’t miss a start for six consecutive years (32 starts per season) until 2025… when he missed just twice. In this era of pitcher injuries and Tommy John surgeries, this is truly a remarkable accomplishment.

But in the ultimate proof that no pitcher can escape injury forever these days, Berrios faces a career-defining moment any day now.

When the New York Giants were considering a deal to send Dexter Lawrence out of town, the first question that came to mind was how they would replace him. After all, this was a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, a player whom new head coach John Harbaugh described not as a franchise cornerstone but as a “middle stone.”

Harbaugh never got the chance to coach that monstrous interior guard, but he knew what kind of impact the 6-foot-4, 340-pound player could make. Even when the Giants traded Lawrence for the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, there was no immediate replacement available in that draft range. This meant that the Giants may have to get creative in an attempt to overcome the new deficiencies in their defense.

On Tuesday, the Giants took a step toward finding a solution to Lawrence’s departure by signing defensive tackle DJ Reeder.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Giants have signed Reader to a two-year, $12.5 million contract. The 6-foot-3, 330-pound defender is now 31 years old, but he has started 128 of 137 games in his 10-year career.

The truth is that there is no alternative to a player of Lawrence’s caliber. But players like Reeder can help offset the loss. The Giants also recently signed veteran DT Shelby Harris. Both will look to strengthen the Giants’ run defense in 2026, but it’s likely the Giants will continue to look for long-term improvement.

RELATED: New York Giants May Consider Trading $30 Million Player

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 NFL Draft, one of the Las Vegas Raiders’ biggest needs was at wide receiver. They selected a pass catcher – but not until the sixth round. While their draft has been praised, with good reason, the Raiders could not fill every need.

For a team that desperately needs an option for the future of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, waiting until pick No. 195 says a lot about where general manager Jon Spytek stands on the current roster. Let’s take a look at where the room stands and who could emerge as the playmaker they’ll need in 2026

Depth without a star: Breaking down the current receiver roster

The Raiders used second- and fourth-round picks on Jack Beech and Donte Thornton Jr. last year. The two combined for 30 receptions and 359 yards as rookies – not exactly eye-popping. In fact, both will feel extra pressure as they enter training camp later this summer.

Additionally, Trey Tucker led the team with 57 receptions for 696 yards and five touchdowns in 2024 — a modest stat line that is a baseline, not a ceiling, under new offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak. Tucker’s speed is advantageous, but he hasn’t done anything to establish himself as a primary receiver during his career, even in the slot.

Free agency additions filled the depth chart without solving a key problem. Jalen Naylor, who spent time with Kirk Cousins ​​at Minnesota, averaged nearly 440 receiving yards with 10 combined touchdowns over the past two seasons as the fourth receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Jordan Addison. Not exactly WR1 type ability.

Derek Young, a special teams standout in Seattle, and veteran Phillip Dorsett — a Super Bowl champion who spent last season on Atlanta’s practice squad and hasn’t appeared in a regular season game in two years — round out the group. Cedric Jackson and Brandon Rice have the lowest NFL track records.

The room is versatile and well-rounded. It’s not deep with proven pass catchers.

Also Read: Las Vegas Raiders Draft Recap: Getting to know the picks including Fernando Mendoza

There is no clear No. 1 in sight for the Raiders

No one has locked down the No. 1 spot yet and this is really an opportunity. The question is who steps up and runs Kubiak’s offense through them.

The dominoes begin to fall at the training camp. Chemistry with Mendoza and Cousins, learning Kubiak’s system, creating roles — it all gets sorted out between now and September.

Bech and Tucker are the likeliest candidates to lead the group, but don’t expect them to look like they did in Chip Kelly’s attack a year ago. The scheme is different, the quarterback is different and the opportunity in front of them is bigger.

Kubiak’s offense thrives on versatility. Last season in Seattle, Smith-Njigba was the engine, lining up outside, in the slot and in the backfield and turning jet sweeps into chunk gains. He was everywhere, and defenses couldn’t stop him.

The Raiders don’t have Smith-Njigba. But Tucker plays a similar style: fast, playful and dangerous in space. This makes him the most natural fit for that role in Kubiak’s system.

Without a true No. 1 receiver on the roster, Kubiak is betting on his current group for production. The blueprint is clear: Re-create Smith-Njigba’s versatility and production, with the pieces already in the building.

Also read: Las Vegas Raiders’ 2026 draft pick ‘May never play football again’

Malik Benson brings versatility, special teams value

Malik Benson arrives in Las Vegas with legitimate production. He led Oregon with 43 catches for 716 yards and six touchdowns last season, lining up outside in the slot and turning touch passes into jet sweep gains — the exact type of versatility Kubiak is looking for.

Benson’s calling card is speed – he ran the 100-meter dash in 10.4 seconds in high school and it shows on tape. He cleanly tracks the deep ball at full speed, forces defenses to respect his vertical presence and creates separation without relying on 50/50 balls.

Oregon WR Malik Benson is the fastest player in the 2026 draft class.

With true game breaking speed, I see him being an excellent deep threat or even an All-Pro kick returner in the NFL.

Even with a 4.37 40-yard dash, he plays even faster than that, and he’s absolutely electric. pic.twitter.com/tPENgScTmz

– Cam (@42Cyc) 24 March 2026

At Oregon, his intermediate and deep route production took a significant jump, and his catch rate increased while drops nearly disappeared. He’s not a short field weapon or run blocker, but in a system that wants to push the ball downfield, he can bend coverages in ways that benefit every receiver around him.

Benson will have opportunities not only on offense, but on special teams as well. He was the Ducks’ punt returner last year. He had a breakout season as a punt returner, totaling nine returns for 161 yards, including an 85-yard punt return touchdown.

He is not coming in and taking charge. But after roster cuts, there will be four months of reps talking.

ALSO READ: Las Vegas Raiders 2026 NFL Draft recap: Best class in years, but the wide receiver room still needs an answer

Braven Honda graduated from San Diego State with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in May 2021. During his time at SDSU, … More about Braven Honda

Overall, the Las Vegas Raiders are preparing to make Fernando Mendoza the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s even reportedly already learning the offense from Brian Griese, who has overlap with first-year Raiders head coach Clint Kubiak on the 49ers in 2023.

Still, Mendoza is not expected to be the Raiders’ Week 1 starter. Las Vegas would love to find a bridge QB who can hold down the starting job until they determine the Heisman winner is ready for the job, no matter how long that takes.

recently, athleticSaad Youssef gave an idea of ​​who that QB could be. He plans to sign free agent Kirk Cousins ​​for the Raiders.

The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback wants an opportunity to play in 2025 after being limited to just eight starts. That opportunity could come in Vegas, where he would be an ideal veteran mentor for a rookie QB.

Cousins ​​not only has 14 seasons of NFL experience, but he spent the first three seasons of his career largely as a backup, starting only nine games in that time. Mendoza’s career certainly won’t start off the same way, but that doesn’t mean he can’t learn a lot from Cousins ​​early on.

Ultimately, Cousins ​​and the Raiders could be a perfect fit. He gets a chance to play (even if there’s no guarantee he’ll play for long), and they make sure a talented veteran who isn’t afraid to work can help coach their young franchise QB.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: End of March edition

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

The Atlanta Hawks are arguably one of the hottest teams in the league as they are on a nine-game winning streak, and they are trying to make it 10 games against the Orlando Magic. This trend began when C.J. McCollum was inserted into the starting lineup for Zachary Rishachar, as statistics showed that the Hawks were a better team when he played with the other four starters of Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.

Those stats are still proving true, and it doesn’t look like McCollum will be going back to the bench any time soon. After his win against the Milwaukee Bucks, McCollum was asked if he would like to be the starter.

“For me, this is what the team needs,” McCullum told reporters. “I think the money comes on time every two weeks, regardless. That’s always helpful, but historically, I’ve been a starter, but I’m comfortable filling whatever role is necessary for us as long as we’re competing for something. That’s what’s really important to me: winning basketball and competing for something right now. That’s what they want me to do, and when your boss tells you something, you’ve got to do that.”

McCallum’s move into the starting lineup hasn’t affected the way the Hawks play, and if anything, it’s made them better. Jalen Johnson has been able to continue producing at a high level with McCollum in the lineup.

“Some of the lineups may look different, but CJ has been a great vet and he understands the game at a high level,” Johnson said. “So having him on the court with us, he just shows us little signs and things where we can be effective, and I think he’s done a great job leading our group.”

The Hawks needed a vet like McCallum on their team, as they were one of the younger teams in the league when the season began. McCollum has made big shots in postseason basketball and played with some of the game’s stars. His presence will only make the Hawks better, especially at this point in the season.

The Hawks are currently trying to climb the Eastern Conference standings, but despite their winning streak they haven’t made much of a splash. At this point, all they can do is control what they can and hope that the teams above them start falling away.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a new quarterback in the room. After speculation over the weekend that former Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson could be brought in ahead of the 2026 NFL season, general manager Brett Veach has initiated a trade to move in a very young direction.

Instead, Kansas City rolled the dice on a former first-round pick. With Patrick Mahomes on the mend, the Chiefs wanted a signal-caller who could step up, handle the heat and keep the offense steady when needed. Interestingly, they found that option within the AFC.

Chiefs find new QB2 as Mahomes recovery continues

The Kansas City Chiefs are finalizing a trade with the New York Jets for quarterback Justin Fields, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Fields is one of his best electric dual-threat quarterbacks. The former first-round selection brings elite athleticism and big-play ability that can change games in a heartbeat. Now, the Chiefs are bringing that skill set to Kansas City. Per the trade, the Jets receive a 2027 sixth-round pick, while paying Fields $7 million of his $10 million guaranteed.

However, there is a hurdle in the trade. Fields’ physical examination is pending; Let’s hope things don’t go as bad as they did with Max Crosby and the Ravens. With this trade, the Jets have three first-round picks and one pick each in the next four rounds, as well as three sixth-round picks, although with conditions.

Mahomes suffered ACL and LCL tears at the end of the 2025 season, and his status for the start of the 2026 campaign remains uncertain. Even if the franchise quarterback is ready to go, the Chiefs still need a reliable insurance policy behind him. This need became even more urgent after backup Gardner Minshew left in free agency to sign with the Arizona Cardinals.

Enter fields. The former Ohio State star was selected 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. This will be his fourth stop in the Kansas City League after stints with the Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers and Jets. His role in Andy Reid’s crime will be one of the most interesting storylines of the season. Whether he ends up starting early until Mahomes recovers or simply serves as a high-upside QB2, Fields gives the Chiefs something they didn’t have before: a dynamic playmaker who can move forward and keep the offense dangerous when called upon.