Colts’ defensive ends Samson Ebukam and Dayo Odeyingbo are each deal with a calf injury at this time.
Following the Colts’ third training camp practice on Sunday, both defensive ends Dayo Odeyingbo and Samson Ebukam are dealing with with calf injuries.
At this time, we do not know the extent of the injuries for either player. Odeyingbo did not practice at all on Sunday and was seen on a stationary bike.
“They’re both dealing with calfs,” said Steichen after Sunday’s practice.
Ebukam was signed during the 2023 offseason by the Colts and made an immediate impact. He led the team in sacks with 9.5 and was second in pressures, behind only DeForest Buckner. Ebukam also ranked ninth among all edge rushers in PFF’s run defense grade.
Odeyingbo, meanwhile, is coming off a 2023 season where he produced eight sacks and 29 pressures–both of which were career highs for him.
“I think it definitely helps in the sense that you see results in the work you’re putting in,” said Odeyingbo about his confidence after last season. “Production-wise, those are the kind of results you want to see.
“Just seeing consistent growth from year to year and production and in my technique personally is something that is something to be excited about and something I’m looking forward to this year.”
Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan noted that without either Ebukam or Odeyingbo on the field, Tyquan Lewis took over opposite of Kwity Paye at defensive end.
The depth of the Colts’ defensive front will be one of its key features this season, with the team believing they have eight or potentially nine players they can rely on over the course of a game–creating a constant barrage for the opposing offensive line to deal with.
The season is right around the corner, as Notre Dame football and many other programs will soon commence its summer practices ahead of the 2024 campaign.
As always, outlets take a look at which games will be impactful around the country, and 247Sports believes that the Irish will play in one of those games this fall.
Florida State will travel North to South Bend and take on Notre Dame on November 9th, the game that 247Sports has as the No. 17 biggest impact this season.
Brad Crawford notes that the Seminoles are coming off an ACC championship, but “must replace a considerable amount of production from this season’s 13-win squad.”
The two teams have faced-off 11 times, with the Irish winning the last three meetings. Impressively during the streak, Notre Dame has scored over 40-points in each contest.
Hopefully the Irish get to .500 in the series this year, and get over the hump when they play each other in 2026.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
Javon Bullard, Evan Williams and Kalen King all grabbed interceptions during Packers training camp this weekend.
Defensive backs Javon Bullard, Evan Williams and Kalen King — all draft picks of the Green Bay Packers in 2024 — enjoyed an interception-filled weekend at training camp.
Bullard, a second-round pick, produced what would have been a pick-six of quarterback Jacob Eason on Saturday.
On Sunday, Williams celebrated his 23rd birthday by intercepting Sean Clifford to end the second-team offense’s two-minute sequence. Through six practices, Williams has three interceptions.
King also joined the mix on Sunday. On the field for first-team reps, King — a seventh-rounder out of Penn State — jumped a short pass to Christian Watson while playing Cover-2 and might have taken the interception of Jordan Love back for a touchdown.
“Obviously, we’re all competitors so we all want to make plays and be playmakers back there,” Bullard said Saturday.
Of course, interceptions during training camp are a double-edged sword. While the defense is creating them, the quarterback is turning the ball over.
But the Packers need more playmakers on defense after intercepting only seven passes total during the 2023 season.
Can Bullard, Williams and King help the Packers start taking the ball away? It’s been an incredible start to camp for Jeff Hafley’s defense in the takeaway department.
“They say a pick-a-day makes the bad feelings go away,” Williams said, via Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. “It’s been a good little streak. I think just our whole defense, we probably have more than double-digit interceptions, probably around 15, in the first week of camp. And that’s definitely something to be proud of.”
More help could be on the way. Kitan Oladapo, a rookie safety out of Oregon State, will eventually return from offseason toe surgery. Oladapo intercepted two passes during his final collegiate season.
Analyzing Monday’s Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds odds and lines, with MLB expert picks, predictions and best bets.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
The Cincinnati Reds (50-55) welcome the Chicago Cubs (51-56) to Great American Ball Park Monday for the 1st contest of a 3-game series. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Reds odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Reds lead 5-2
Chicago won at the Kansas City Royals 7-3 Sunday, closing as a +161 underdog. The Cubs took the final 2 games of the 3-game set, tallying 16 total runs in the 2 wins. The Cubs are 24-31 on the road this season and 7-3 in their last 10 away games. Chicago is 51-56 against the spread (ATS).
The Reds lost at the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 Sunday as -107 underdogs. They were underdog in all 3 games against the Rays, losing Saturday and Sunday after taking Friday’s opener. Cincinnati has won 3 of its last 5 and is 8-7 over its last 13. This is Cincinnati’s 1st homestand after the All-Star break — they went 3-5 on an 8-game trip to start the 2nd half. Cincy is 5-2 over its last 7 home games — they are 25-28 at Grate American Ball Park and 57-48 ATS overall.
Cubs at Reds projected starters
RHP Jameson Taillon vs. RHP Carson Spiers
Taillon (7-5, 2.96 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 1.15 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 7.0 K/9 through 100 1/3 innings.
Last start: Loss, 7 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K in 1-0 home defeat vs. Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday
2024 away splits: 2-2, 3.28 ERA (46 2/3 IP, 17 ER), 1.16 WHIP, 6 HR, 5.8 K/9 in 8 starts
Career vs. Reds: 5-5, 4.79 ERA (88 1/3 IP, 47 ER), 1.36 WHIP, 8.6 K/9 in 16 starts
First time facing Reds this season
Spiers (3-2, 3.83 ERA) makes his 6th start and 11th appearance. He has a 1.26 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 through 47 innings.
Last start: Win, 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 9 K in 7-4 home win over Miami Marlins July 12
2024 home splits: 2-1, 3.94 ERA (32 IP, 14 ER), 1.38 WHIP, 4 HR, 8.2 K/9 in 7 appearances (3 starts)
Career vs. Cubs: 0-0, 2.79 ERA (9 2/3 IP, 3 ER), 1.24 WHIP, 13 K/9 in 2 appearances (1 start)
2024 vs. Cubs: 1 relief outing, 5 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K in 4-2 home loss June 9
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
The Cubs haven’t played overly well on the road, but they will have the pitching advantage. Meanwhile, the Reds are also one of the worst teams in the majors as home underdogs at 6-11 straight up and 8-9 ATS.
Cincinnati hasn’t played at home since July 14, and it has gone 5-5 in its last 10 at GABP. Spiers hasn’t pitched well as of late either, having allowed 3 or more runs in 4 of his last 5 starts.
There’s no good value here. The Reds (+1.5) as home underdogs are too expensive to take at -172, and the Cubs (-1.5, +142) are too risky, especially considering how poorly they’ve played on the road.
The Cubs are 3-5 O/U in Taillon’s last 8 starts, and they have gone Under in 6 of their last 8. Chicago has scored 3 or fewer in 6 of 8 as well, so it hasn’t had an overly consistent offense. The Cubs are 45-58-4 O/U on the season.
The Reds, who are 46-55-4 O/U on the season, have gone Under in 3 straight and in 5 of their last 6 games. Cincinnati has scored 4 runs in its last 3 games — 1 total run in its last 2.
Neither team is batting well right now. TAKE UNDER 9 (-122).
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
Looking to place your first wager? Be sure to check out the latest welcome offers at the topsports betting apps first to collect bonus bets and more.
This weekend was the last recruiting time before a dead period, and Ohio State football didn’t host a gathering like many other schools did.
That opened up the time for some Buckeye 2025 commits to visit other schools, and defensive end commit, [autotag]Zion Grady[/autotag], was one of them. The nation’s No. 80 overall player according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings took a trip to Auburn on Saturday.
Rivals reporter Bryan Matthews wrote a story claiming that he felt like the Tigers “have a good chance” to flip the 6-foot, 4-inch, 235-pound star.
As Lee Corso famously says, “not so fast my friends,” as Grady quoted the story and claimed that he’s “1000% lock-in.”
If I had to guess the reason for the trip was an accompany one his best friends, 2025 Auburn commit [autotag]Malik Autry[/autotag]. Ohio State is actively trying to flip the defensive tackle, and Grady is just trying to help those efforts.
Contact/Follow @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on X.
When the Detroit Tigers selected Ohio State baseball’s star catcher [autotag]Dillon Dingler[/autotag] in the second round of the draft, it seemed like only a matter of time until he made his Major League Baseball debut.
On Sunday, a trade that the Tigers made involving its starting catcher Carson Kelly has opened up a big league starting spot. It was reported by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi that Dingler will indeed be called up on Monday to make his debut.
On the season in AAA, the catcher has hit .308 with 17 home runs and 52 RBI. Dingler has also scored 44 runs while chipping in 5 steals, showing he has a well-rounded game.
This will clearly be a huge moment for Dingler, and we will all be rooting for him as he looks like his Major League service clock will begin.
Contact/Follow @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on X.
Former UNC star quarterback Drake Maye is adjusting just fine to NFL life.
NFL Training Camp is well underway, meaning we’re that much closer to seeing live game action.
While Training Camp provides a great opportunity for veterans to work with teammates after a long offseason, it’s also the first larger-scale chance for rookies to work with their new NFL teammates. The 2024 NFL Draft Class sported plenty of exciting rookies: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye – to name a few – with fans craving to see where they fit on their respective teams’ depth charts.
New England hasn’t enjoyed a consistently good quarterback since Tom Brady, the GOAT football player who won seven Super Bowls as Patriots QB. The Patriots are hoping Maye, who threw for 8,018 yards and 63 touchdowns in college, can be their next franchise quarterback.
In the early stages of NFL Training Camp, Maye is already receiving praise from his teammates.
Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers on rookie quarterback Drake Maye:
"He looks good, man. He's getting more comfortable with the scheme, him and his guys are getting the right timing. He has exceptional arm talent," Peppers said.
Jabril Peppers, picked back in the 2017 NFL Draft like Trubisky, recently signed a 3-year extension with New England.
Like Peppers said above, his job is to make life tough for Maye in Training Camp by covering receivers, pressuring when needed and helping him realize the difficulties of playing NFL football.
If Maye keeps playing like Peppers says he is, a starting NFL job will be closer than Maye might think.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
After earning his first-career Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4) win Saturday afternoon, Brad Majman went back to back at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), taking the victory in race two on Sunday morning. With another hard-fought battle, Majman (No. 95 …
After earning his first-career Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4) win Saturday afternoon, Brad Majman went back to back at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), taking the victory in race two on Sunday morning. With another hard-fought battle, Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) had to hold off his teammate Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4) to take the win.
As the race passed the halfway point, Hauanio led Majman by about 0.4s. Facing consistent pressure from his teammate, Hauanio slipped up and dropped a wheel off the racing surface as they exited the chicane, slowing him just enough to allow his competition to get by. With Majman taking the point, Teddy Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) slid into second, Harbir Dass (No. 23 Berg DMG Racing Ligier JS F4) into third, and Drew Szuch (No. 28 Szuch Racing Ligier JS F4) moved to fourth, leaving Hauanio all the way back in fifth. Determined to regain lost ground, Hauanio kept his focus forward and started to pick them off one by one. First getting around Szuch and Dass, just under 10 minutes were left on the clock when Hauanio overtook Musella and moved back into second. Still 5.127s behind Majman, Hauanio had quite a bit of ground to make up.
Close racing continued between Musella, Szuch and Dass. As Hauanio got around Musella in Turn 8, Szuch also looked to the inside, darting under Musella to overtake third. Dass followed in his tracks as the three jockeyed for the position. Demitri Nolan (No. 5 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) pulled up to join the fight just as Szuch started to fall off the pace, dropping to seventh before the checkered flag waved.
When they crossed the finish line, Majman led Hauanio by 3.942s. Dass emerged with the third-place position, followed by Nolan in fourth and Musella in fifth.
“It was a very early morning, but nice to have a good track after a warmer track in race one,” said Majman atop the podium. “I got settled into the race after the initial start. Kekai made an amazing move around the outside of me on the safety car restart in Turn 1. Then, I was settling in, just doing what I needed to do, and I was able to capitalize on his mistake out of the chicane. From there, we just brought the car home. I’d like to thank Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, JND, Kart Class, Nat Pat, Paul Marc Masons, and all my family and supporters that are watching at home.”
Brad Majman sweeps weekend at NJMP, winning race three on Sunday Afternoon
Gavin Baker Photography
Brad Majman swept the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend in the Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4), winning three of three races at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP). Once again holding off a hard-charging Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4), Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) sped off to victory for the third time in two days.
A car stuck in the grass in Turn 2 slowed the pace with a quick safety car period, and the ensuing restart placed Hauanio, Majman, Musella, Dass and Maite Caceres (No. 6 Abitab / Supermatch Ligier JS F4) all nose to gearbox. Contact between Dass and Caceres sent both cars spinning, sending them to the back of the field and allowing the frontrunners to pull ahead. Hauanio had pulled ahead as they raced toward Turn 1, but was side by side with Majman and Musella as they exited Turn 2. Racing through the chicane, Majman emerged with the lead, as Musella took second and Hauanio fell back to third. Not willing to settle, Hauanio kept the pressure on Musella throughout the closing minutes of the race. Diving to the inside, Hauanio made his move in Turn 1, sneaking past Musella, who dropped a wheel off the racing surface as they raced toward the white flag.
When they crossed the finish line, it was Majman with the advantage, with Hauanio in second and Musella in third.
“It’s been an amazing weekend,” said Majman atop the podium. “I made a couple mistakes this season, but it’s nice to be able to head home to friends and family and tell them that I’ve been the first person to clean sweep the JS F4 Series. I’d like to thank Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, JND, Nat Pat, Kart Class, Paul Marc Masons and everyone that’s watching at home—although there probably isn’t too many people watching at the moment in the middle of the night. Thanks to everyone that’s been following me this weekend, and everyone who supports me.”
With the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour complete, the Ligier JS F4 Series enters their summer break, returning to action at Circuit of The Americas on October 31-November 3 for their season finale. A live stream of the COTA SpeedTour will be available on YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV with live timing and scoring accessed on the Race Monitor app. Additional news and updates from the Ligier JS F4 Series paddock will be available on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Colts’ safety Julian Blackmon had an impressive interception on Sunday and Shane Steichen detailed what he saw.
On the third day of Colts training camp, Anthony Richardson threw his first interception, but from the sounds of it, it was more so a much more impressive play by Julian Blackmon than an error by Richardson.
“That ball, when Anthony threw it there, I was like, ‘Oh heck yeah, we got one–holy crap, that was a heck of a play,’ said Shane Steichen after practice.
Steichen makes sure that his viewpoint during practice is from a similar angle as the quarterback, so he can see the play developing as Richardson does. As he was watching the play unfold, Steichen thought Richardson made the right decision based on what the defense was doing, but Blackmon fooled both of them.
“The one interception he had,” added Steichen, “I threw it right there too and when he made the play, I mean I ran over to him and dapped him up because it was an incredible play.”
So, what specifically did Steichen see Blackmon do on that play?
“He was down in the box and he kind of wheeled back and went and got it.”
Blackmon is coming off a 2023 season where for the first time in his career, he spent the majority of his snaps playing near the line of scrimmage as the defense’s strong safety. It also happened to be an incredibly impactful season for him as well.
Blackmon was a very sound tackler, making 88 of his 95 attempts and ranked among the best at his position group in PFF’s run stop rate metric. In coverage, Blackmon came away with four interceptions, two pass breakups, and quarterback’s had a passer rating of 57.5 when targeting him.
“I think he’s going to have a huge year for us,” Steichen said. “Just the way his mindset, the way he sees the game. I mean, the way you talk football to him it’s like talking to another coach and he made a ton of plays today. He made some big time plays.”
Blackmon would test free agency during the offseason but ended up re-signing with the Colts a one-year deal worth $3.7 million.
When it comes to what’s next for Blackmon in 2024, he only has one goal in mind: be better than the year before.
“I think that as you go you realize how hard it is in this league to continue to get better and better, and I think that I’m just chasing to get better than the last year,” said Blackmon on Sunday. “Whatever that looks like last year, I want to see what I did that wasn’t as positive and try to maintain something that’s better than that.”
There are very good reasons for both sides to get a done as soon as possible. Wirfs wants long-term job security, to avoid injury and the possibility of playing on the franchise tag next year. The Bucs want to lock in one of the best pass-blockers in the NFL and the cornerstone of their offensive line.
Some of the deals signed earlier this offseason should provide some glimpse into a likely Wirfs contract. Lions right tackle Penei Sewell signed a four-year, $112 million deal averaging $28 million per year, the most ever for a tackle. Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw just signed a four-year, $104 million deal, which included less overall money but guaranteed slightly more.
The details of Wirfs’ extension are likely the main culprit for the tardiness of an agreement. The Bucs probably want a four- or five-year deal with more money loaded into the backend to relieve their salary cap next year. Wirfs may want more cash up-front and a shorter deal so that he can hit free agency once more before he turns 30.
While these details have drawn out negotiations, there is little question a deal will get done. General manager Jason Licht said on WDAE that Wirfs deserves to be the “highest-paid” tackle in the NFL, a distinction he also made when talking about Antoine Winfield Jr. before making him the highest-paid safety. Time is the only real thing separating Wirfs and a long future with Tampa Bay.
