Lamar Jackson injury: Ravens star sprains ankle vs. Titans
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Lamar Jackson is questionable to return after spraining his ankle against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. Jackson was tripped up by a Titans defender during the third quarter and hurt his ankle on the play. He was replaced by Tyler Huntley at QB.
Baltimore was already up 24-7 at the time of the injury. Jackson is 15-of-20 for 222 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions through the air so far.
The Ravens are in full control against Tennessee, and probably won’t even need Jackson to finish off this win. The Titans entered the week as one of four winless teams throughout the NFL this season.
Lakers ace defender Matisse Thybulle learning from savants Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves
Lakers guard Matisse Thybulle says he has been tested on defense daily by dynamic scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
“I mean, you have to work soooo hard. They’re soooo talented,” Thybulle said, laughing. “And it’s just … I think for me it’s great because getting to play against two of the best offensive players in the NBA every day just primes you for — I think it primes all of us, but me specifically — just primes you for what to expect. And I think it was a big thing when you’re growing up that practice should be harder than the games. And I think in the NBA it’s a little different because you just have to pace yourself for such a long season. But guarding Luka and AR, practice is definitely going to be harder than the games.”
During the first four days of Lakers training camp, Thybulle was frequently listed as one of the players who has been a menace on defense.
It was why the Lakers signed the 6-foot-5 free-agent wing to a one-year, $3.2-million contract.
Thybulle, along with Ziaire Williams and Adou Thiero, has been praised for how disruptive he has been during workouts.
“I just think naturally it’s going to be a healthy competition and it gets you better. It’s going to make Austin better when Ziaire is picking them up full court every possession and Matisse is in the passing lane trying to blow things up,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I think [Thybulle and Williams] — [and] Adou with his physicality — those guys are getting better from practicing that way. It goes both ways.”
Thybulle made a name for himself on the defensive end of the floor. He is a two-time NBA all-defensive second team selection, both times with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021 and 2022.
Still, Thybulle said he’s picking up new skills.
“I think, like the best offensive players in the league — Luka being probably one of the best — change pace so well,” Thybulle said. “And I think as I’m growing in this league, growing as a defender, learning when to change pace and go for steals versus sitting back and being solid and make it more of a cat-and-mouse game as opposed to trying to be in every passing lane every single time.”
On offense, Thybulle will try to mold his game around Doncic and Reaves.
Thybulle will be asked to knock down corner threes and fill the lane on the fast break.
Over the course of his seven-year career, he has made 34.9% of his three-pointers.
“I think luckily for me, I started my career in an offense that was similar to that, and just understanding you never know when it’s going to come, but just to be ready,” Thybulle said. “And just for me personally, at this point, having the confidence in my shot to know that when it comes, I’m ready for it, as opposed to just hoping for the best. I think it goes a long way as well.”
Health has been an issue for Thybulle during the past two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
He played in just 30 games last season while recovering from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb and in just 15 games during the 2024-25 season because of right knee and right ankle injuries.
But he’s healthy now and ready for a breakout season.
He’s one of nine new players on the roster and he’s one of the Lakers that will compete for a starting role.
“I leave those decisions up to the coaches,” Thybulle said. “Yeah, so for me, if my teammates are happy with how I’m playing and the coaches are happy with how I’m playing, that’s a good sign to me that I’m doing a good job. But if that means I’m coming off the bench or that means I’m starting, I trust that the coaches know how to use me best to create the most impact, and we’ll go with that.”
Two starting spots up for grabs
When the Lakers play their first exhibition game Monday night in Sacramento, the big story line will be the starting five.
Redick has said Doncic, Reaves and Walker Kessler will for sure start and that the other two spots will be decided by an open competition.
Redick was asked who would be available in Sacramento.
“Obviously, [we’re] still working through stuff,” he said.
Keon Coleman’s preposterous catch offers a glimpse of what he could mean for Bills
Perhaps few players entered the 2026 NFL season under a bigger microscope than Buffalo Bills WR Keon Coleman.
After two underwhelming seasons with the Bills, after Buffalo selected him with the 33rd overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, owner Terry Pegula put enormous pressure on the wide receiver at a press conference announcing the firing of head coach Sean McDermott. Speaking about the roster construction, Pegula addressed the wide receiver specifically:
“Can I interrupt? I’ll address the Keon situation,” Pegula said. “The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon. I’m not saying Brandon wouldn’t have drafted him, but he wasn’t his next choice. That was Brandon being a team player and taking advice of this coaching staff who felt strongly about the player. He’s taken, for some reason, heat over it and not saying a word about it, but I’m here to tell you the true story.”
With those words, under the bus — and microscope — went Coleman.
Coleman’s production through the first three weeks of the 2026 NFL has been mixed at best. He caught six passes in Buffalo’s Week 2 win over the Detroit Lions, but was held to just a single reception in a Week 1 win over the Houston Texans, and another single reception in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
But two receptions against the New England Patriots illustrated just what he could offer Buffalo and quarterback Josh Allen.
Take this first catch, as he makes a tough adjustment on a corner route to secure the reception:
Keon Coleman went up to get that one@NEvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+Stream on @NFLPlus
Somehow Coleman pulls in this throw from Allen, moving the chains on a critical 3rd-and-6 situation early in the fourth quarter of a tight contest against the Patriots. Here is another look at the circus catch from the Bills wide receiver:
The Trail Blazers acquired a player who once looked like a future face of the NBA for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. That’s how far Ja Morant’s value has fallen. Morant once electrified the NBA with his explosive handle, acrobatic finishes and complete disregard for anyone standing between him and the rim. But with injuries, off-court troubles and diminishing on-court performance, it becomes harder to justify paying him more than $40 million in each of the next two seasons.
But for just Grant and Murray, I understand why the Blazers took the chance. Deni Avdija needs a co-star. Scoot Henderson hasn’t shown enough consistency to become one. Damian Lillard is returning from a torn Achilles. Shaedon Sharpe is recovering from knee surgery. Taking the next step could require a gamble on talent Portland wouldn’t otherwise have a realistic chance to acquire. And maybe, just maybe, Morant could be that piece.
(Dillon Minshall/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
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In his first 12 games last season, Morant was as bad as he’s ever been. He scored 22.4 points per 36 minutes on 47.7% true shooting and struggled to get to the basket. All that was missing was the James Harden fat suit, because Morant clearly didn’t want to be in Memphis anymore. But after returning from a calf strain in December, he posted 28.5 points per 36 on 58.7% true shooting over his final eight appearances. His efficiency and shot distribution resembled his two All-Star seasons, when he produced 29.6 points per 36 on 56.6% true shooting.
Ja began to look more like Ja. In the clips above from his 40-point game against the Sixers, he displayed burst off the dribble and finished acrobatically with either hand. His ability to get into the paint was returning, and so were the opportunities it created for everyone else.
In the next three games, he logged 36 assists: 11 against the Lakers, 13 against the Magic and 12 against the Hawks. He manipulated defenders with his handle, drew help and found the open man. In transition, he pushed the ball ahead before defenses could get organized.
For a brief moment before a sprained ligament in his left elbow and a Grizzlies tank job ended his season, Morant finally began to look like himself again. Of course, it was only eight games. But at 27, imagine what a healthy Morant could do for Avdija, who averaged 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists last season.
At 6-foot-8, Deni’s combination of size, downhill scoring and passing turned him into an offensive centerpiece. And at only 25, he may be only just tapping into his ceiling. Having another player capable of getting downhill could spare him from having to beat a set defense so often.
But can these Blazers blend?
Even at his peak, Ja had a shaky jumper and defensive limitations. Portland can help mitigate those flaws with Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara there to take the tougher defensive assignments. The both of them also offer spot-up shooting, screening and connective passing on offense. But the core pieces need to offer enough of those role-player qualities too.
Morant has made 33% of his career catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, compared with Avdija’s 34.5%. Spacing could become an issue for this team if Camara can’t sustain his improvement from last year and if Donovan Clingan can’t successfully become a spot-up threat.
Is Dame supposed to play off-ball most of the time now just to offer some spacing? Maybe early on. But he averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists in his last season in Milwaukee and was named an All-Star. At age 36 coming off a torn Achilles, there’s no telling how much he has left. But Blazers fans know more than anyone how foolish it’d be to ever count out Dame.
Last season, Portland ranked 22nd in isolation scoring efficiency and 28th in pick-and-roll scoring efficiency, per Synergy Sports. Lillard could help solve those problems with his pull-up jump shooting. So could Ja. And their shared presence alleviates the pressure on each other to be themselves right away. Especially for Dame. At age 36, in his first year back from a torn Achilles, it might be beneficial for him to take on a lighter workload. And there will still be plenty of moments that everyone in the building knows the ball should be in Dame’s hands.
It’s been a weird year in Portland. But looking purely at the basketball situation, the Blazers hired one of the league’s most-respected assistants in Micah Nori and have an impressive blend of proven veterans and young players. Maybe Scoot takes a leap in a sixth-man role. Maybe Clingan becomes the rare center who can both put a lid on the rim and shoot 3s on the other end. Maybe Deni goes from All-Star to All-NBA. Maybe Dame looks like Dame once again. And maybe Ja still has a few prime seasons left in him. Or maybe Morant shoots Portland in the foot.
Keon Ellis is already looking like Jordi Fernández’s kind of player
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 28: Keon Ellis #1 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks during a press conference at Brooklyn Nets Media Day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 28, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Keon Ellis is one week into his first Nets training camp, and Jordi Fernández is already seeing what he expected.
“He’s got the best hands in the NBA, and that’s hard to teach,” Jordi Fernández said at Friday’s practice. “At the same time, you want to be disciplined and follow the schemes, whatever the game plan is. I trust him. I know he’s very diligent with his work and everything, and I know he can perform at a high level. He’s going to help us a lot at the defensive end.”
The connection between Ellis and Fernández goes back to Sacramento, where the two were together from 2022-24 while Fernández worked under then-Kings head coach Mike Brown. That familiarity was part of what made Brooklyn an appealing destination for Ellis this offseason, when the Nets signed him to a two-year, $18 million contract with a full mutual option for the second season.
“You have a guy with many intangibles, is a super pro. He has probably the best hands in the NBA, can shoot the ball, can handle, is a good human,” the Nets coach said. “He’s coming here and is about business. It was a no-brainer.”
Ellis knows the mutual respect benefits both of them.
“In this game — and it is a business — having someone like Jordi being the head coach, someone you’re familiar with, [is big]. You know all the schemes, you know what he’s about, you know what they want to run,” Ellis said Friday after practice. “It’s a safe space right there. He’s familiar with my game, I’m familiar with how he rocks. That was the No. 1 thing.”
He added, “He [Jordi] knows how I play, and I know how he wants his team to play. I know I can have a big impact in that way.”
Ellis enters Brooklyn coming off a season in which he averaged 6.7 points while splitting time between Sacramento and Cleveland following a February trade. He also shot 36.3% from three last season after hitting on 42.9% over his first three NBA seasons.
“It’s not for me to say [how much of an impact he will make],” Fernandez said. “It’s for me to believe every time he guards he’s going to be good on that player, and every time he shoots the ball, I believe it’s going to go in.”
Michael Porter Jr. has noticed it, too.
“Strong start. Keon has been hooping these first two days. He plays the right way. He plays defense. He can really shoot the ball, and he’s been just overall very solid,” Porter said at Friday’s practice.
He’s also made an impression on Nets sophomore Drake Powell.
“Keon’s been great overall so far, not just on the court, but off the court as well,” Powell said at Media Day. “I think what I can take from him defensively is just how active he is with his hands and, you know, just being in the right spot. The ball will just naturally come to him defensively, get a steal and from there we’re just out and running.”
The Nets held their first scrimmage of training camp Friday, giving Ellis and the rest of the roster their first chance to compete in a game-like setting.
One week of training camp won’t tell us everything. For now, Ellis has already given Fernández and his teammates plenty to like.
Knicks' Mike Brown challenges Mo Diawara to 'take a step forward' in 2026-27
With the Knicks ramping up their preparations to defend their NBA title during the coming season, head coach Mike Brown has pinpointed a player who he thinks has what it takes to earn a more significant role this go-around: Mo Diawara.
Diawara, still just 21 years old, returns to Knicks training camp following the “best summer of [his life]” back in his hometown of Paris, France.
Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 51st pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Diawara was traded to the Knicks ahead of a rookie season that ended with a ring on his finger, but included plenty of learning from the team’s veteran core.
“Now I know the physicality I need for this league, how I need to prepare my body,” he explained in a news conference on Saturday. “I still look a lot to those vets, just helping me with a routine to get ready for this new year.”
“Now that I’ve been in the league a year, it is a little bit easier,” Diawara declared.
Will the Knicks starters see the floor in their preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on the night of Oct. 5?
“Probably, but not much,” Brown answered.
With that in mind, Diawara could be one of the players who is given the leash to show off what he’s learned in that game.
Brown outlined what he’s looking to see on the floor from his guys and how to set the tone ahead of the regular season. The Knicks host the 76ers in that game, too, at Madison Square Garden, which will include raising a banner to the rafters.
“You’re going to make some mistakes, and I’m okay with that,” Brown explained. “But when someone makes a mistake, how quickly do they try and make up for it?”
“I’m huge on next-play speed. Guys can’t drop their heads or hesitate. Boom: right away, move on. It’s the little things. Boxing out, competing for offensive rebounds, and sprinting to the corners in transition.”
Diawara and Brown seem aligned on the key areas for the young swingman to focus on improving.
“Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there, because he didn’t know what to do.”
“His cadence is better, he has a better feel not only for what he should do, but what his teammates should be doing,” Brown continued. “He’s one of those players who needs to take a step forward.”
“I’m shooting a lot of threes, working on that a lot to improve it going into my second year,” Diawara added.
During the 2025-26 regular season, the 6’9″ forward shot a respectable 36.9 percent from behind the arc on 1.9 attempts per game, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest, which included seven starts across 69 games played. However, his role off the bench shrank significantly during the team’s title run, as he only played in six of the team’s 19 playoff games.
Dunc’d On: UTA Season Outlook 2026-27 with David Locke
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and founder of the Locked On Podcast Network, joins to preview Utah’s season, including Keyonte George’s development, Jaren Jackson Jr.’s fit alongside Lauri Markkanen, and expectations for Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey. They examine the rotation, Will Hardy’s system, and the offensive and defensive questions that will shape Utah’s place in the West.
0:47 – Looking back at last season and Utah’s rebuilding progress
4:07 – Keyonte George’s breakout, extension and defensive development
14:27 – Jaren Jackson Jr.’s fit alongside Lauri Markkanen
22:57 – Darryn Peterson’s game and rookie expectations
30:07 – Ace Bailey’s development and next steps
39:30 – Starting lineup, closing groups and bench rotation
52:18 – Will Hardy’s offensive system and playing style
55:19 – The NBA’s emphasis on push-offs and flopping
59:00 – Team strengths and weaknesses
1:10:36 – Season prediction and Utah’s place in the West
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Luka Doncic Files Petition Seeking Daughters’ Move From Slovenia Amid Custody Dispute
Luka Doncic has filed a Hague Convention petition seeking to bring his two daughters to the United States from Slovenia. The filing comes amid an ongoing custody dispute with his former fiancee.
Doncic addressed the situation in a statement to The Athletic.
“Nothing is more important to me than my daughters,” said Doncic. “I will do whatever it takes to make sure they have both parents present in their lives.”
The petition was filed in Slovenia, where local laws prevent it from being made public. The Hague Convention aims to secure the effective exercise of access rights to a child, according to the U.S. Department of State.
Doncic is in a custody battle with Anamaria Goltes, whom he dated beginning in 2016 and became engaged to in 2023. Both daughters currently live in Slovenia, where Doncic spends his offseasons.
Doncic had hoped to resolve the matter by Sept. 25. That deadline passed without an agreement with Goltes or a resolution through the Slovenian courts.
He returned to the U.S. last week ahead of Los Angeles Lakers training camp. The source said there is no guarantee when he will see his daughters during the season.
The dispute kept Doncic from playing for Slovenia’s national team this summer. In a May Instagram post, he said he was pursuing joint custody and had faced major obstacles in seeing his daughters over the previous eight months.
Goltes filed for child support and legal fees in Los Angeles in March but later withdrew that petition.
Doncic’s older daughter was born in the United States in November 2023 when he was still on the Dallas Mavericks. He left the Lakers for four days last December to be in Slovenia for the birth of his younger daughter.
ESPN Expands ‘Inside The NBA’ Schedule For 2026-27 Season
“Inside the NBA” will have a bigger presence on ABC and ESPN this season. The studio show featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will air on 25 nights on ESPN or ABC during the 2026-27 regular season, which marks five more appearances than in its first season after exiting TNT. Seven broadcasts will come before Christmas, up from four over the same stretch last season.
Each night includes a one-hour pregame show, trimmed to 30 minutes for ABC games, and a postgame show after the final game broadcast.
Fans, and Barkley himself, criticized ESPN last season for the show’s limited early schedule. The Christmas broadcast was its only appearance between Nov. 12, 2025, and Jan. 24, 2026. This season includes seven appearances in that window.
The 2026-27 campaign could be the last for Barkley and Johnson on the show. Barkley, 63, recently told Bill Simmons he had planned to retire at 60 but agreed to stay for two seasons at Johnson’s urging during the network transition.
“I said: ‘I love you, man. You’re the best. I’ll stay,'” said Barkley. “So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year, 100 percent.”
Disney licensed the show as part of a settlement between the NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery after Turner lost its NBA media rights in 2025. TNT continues to produce the program.
Victor Wembanyama takes strong stand against promoting sports betting
Sports betting is everywhere. One place – or person, rather – where you won’t find any support is with San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama.
According to the American Gaming Association, sports betting revenue surged to a record $16.96 billion in 2025, a staggering 22.8% year-over-year increase. That figure was bolstered by a 22% annual growth of the online sports betting market.
Despite the popularity, and despite the potential revenue Wembanyama could net, he’s not interested in those endorsements.
“Absolutely not,” Wembanyama told reporters Thursday, Oct. 1 when asked if he would ever become a brand ambassador for a sports gambling company. “I would never do that. Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it, in my opinion. Everybody does whatever they want, but without me.”
As the landscape for sports betting and prediction markets has exploded in recent years, several players have profited by signing deals to endorse these companies.
Recently, LeBron James’ previous deal with DraftKings expired, so he partnered with Polymarket. In February 2026, Giannis Antetokounmpo took a passive equity stake in Kalshi that is less than 1%, and he’s doing promotional work for the prediction market. Boardroom, a sports and entertainment media network co-founded by Kevin Durant, has partnered with FanDuel, with Durant frequently appearing in ads and even floating proposed parlay bets that fans and users can tail.
Wembanyama, 22, has repeatedly been outspoken about several cultural and societal issues, from his rejection of soda products, to saying he was “horrified” of fatal shootings of civilians by federal immigration enforcement officers.
Similarly, Wembanyama has expressed a desire to be very intentional about the brands he partners with.
“In the past, a dimension of money, but not anymore,” Wembanyama said. “But even with that, I refused much, much more money than I’ve made for things that were not to my values. And now I want to promote things that have a good impact, have a good influence with who I can share messages and values. The one thing that’s very important for me: our biggest strength is not our millions and millions (of dollars), our biggest strength is by inspiring. And we can inspire in a good or bad way.
“I want to inspire in a good way; that’s the strongest thing I can do.”
