After the 2023-24 season, one factor was clear, the Boston Bruins had been going to separate up their goaltending tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. GM Don Sweeney traded Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators and the return was considerably head-scratching.

Sweeney obtained a 2024 first-round draft choose, ahead Mark Kastelic, who’s becoming very effectively on the Bruins’ fourth line and goalie Joonas Korpisalo. It was not the return that Bruins followers had been hoping for and on the time. Now, they’re left cleansing up Ottawa’s entrance workplace’s disastrous determination.

Joonas Korpisalo ranked as worst goalie contract

James Mirtle of The Athletic ranked the goalie’s worst contracts and dear backups, rating the 12 worst contracts. Coming in at No. 1 within the high spot was Korpisalo’s, to no fault of his personal. The Senators entrance workplace dished out a five-year, $20 million contract with a $4 million AAV. Other than one good season, he has struggled and final season was as unhealthy as issues may get for somebody incomes the contract he bought. 

In 2023-24 with the Senators, he went 21-26-4 with a 3.27 GAA and an 890 SV%. Ottawa couldn’t get out of that contract fast sufficient and Sweeney was there to assist. Now, it must be identified that the Senators are retaining $1 million of Korpisalo’s wage with the Black and Gold on the hook for $3 million.

Boston is hoping that goalie coach Bob Essensa might help him flip issues round and thus far by way of two video games, the returns have gone as about as you’d count on. There’s a buyout choice for the Bruins, but it surely’s unlikely that might occur anytime, but when Brandon Bussi continues to play effectively with the Windfall Bruins within the American Hockey League (AHL), then Sweeney can be taking a look at a choice.

Sweeney wanted to spend cash this offseason and did, but when they will eat $3 million this season and presumably past for Korpisalo, then holding on to Ullmark might have been the path to go. As an alternative, Bruins followers are hoping their new goalie performs lower than 25 video games in 2024-25 or issues may get dicey between the pipes with Korpisalo.

Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who impressed “Fernandomania” whereas profitable the NL Cy Younger Award and Rookie of the 12 months in 1981, has died at 63.

The Dodgers introduced the information, saying Valenzuela died Tuesday night time at a Los Angeles hospital. They didn’t present the trigger or different particulars.

Valenzuela’s loss of life comes because the Dodgers put together to open the World Collection on Friday night time at house in opposition to theNew York Yankees. Main League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred stated Valenzuela could be honored in the course of the Collection at Dodger Stadium.

After pitching within the majors for 17 seasons, Valenzuela served as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the Dodgers, beginning in 2003. He had stepped away fromhis broadcasting duties earlier than the beginning of those playoffs to “give attention to his well being,” the staff stated.

Known as up late within the 1980 season as a reliever, Valenzuela, who was born in Navojoa, Mexico, took the baseball world by storm within the strike-shortened 1981 season. After Jerry Reuss was injured on the eve of Opening Day, Dodgers supervisor Tommy Lasorda gave the ball to the 20-year-old Valenzuela, who had by no means began a significant league sport in his profession.

He responded with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astrosand went on to start the season with an 8-0 report, together with 5 shutouts, and an 0.50 ERA.

“Tommy Lasorda got here as much as me and stated, ‘Are you able to pitch tomorrow?’ I stated, ‘I am prepared,'” Valenzuela recalled in 2023. “That is what I used to be on the lookout for, the chance to indicate what I can do.”

Along with his Mexican roots, Valenzuela’s pitching movement — the stout determine glancing skyward on the apex of every windup — was a success. His signature pitch was the screwball, taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo in 1979. Throughout Valenzuela’s warmups, ABBA’s hit “Fernando” blared from the audio system. Latino followers turned out in massive numbers — each at house and on the highway — to see “El Toro,” the Bull.

Although Valenzuela has not been elected to the Baseball Corridor of Fame, he stays part of Cooperstown, which options a number of of his artifacts, together with a signed ball from his no-hitter in 1990.

“His charisma was unbelievable,” Corridor of Fame Dodgers Spanish-language announcer Jaime Jarrin stated in 2023. “The truth that he got here right here to the foremost leagues after spending only a few weeks in San Antonio at Double-A — and from the start, he was simply superb. And the individuals fell in love with him.”

Valenzuela completed the 1981 season with a 13-7 report, 2.48 ERA, 11 full video games and eight shutouts. He led the Nationwide League with 192 innings pitched and topped the majors with 180 strikeouts, turning into the primary participant to win Rookie of the 12 months and the Cy Younger Award.

That season was the beginning of six straight All-Star appearances for the left-hander. Valenzuela completed third in Cy Younger voting in 1982, fifth in 1985 and second in 1986 earlier than a shoulder harm hindered him for the remainder of his profession. He gained one other World Collection title with the Dodgers in 1988 (although he didn’t pitch within the postseason) in addition to Silver Slugger awards in 1981 and 1983.

“He is among the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes,” Stan Kasten, president and CEO of the Dodgers, stated in a press release. “He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained near our hearts ever since, not solely as a participant but in addition as a broadcaster. He has left us all too quickly. Our deepest condolences exit to his spouse Linda and his household.”

Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990, together with a no-hitter on June 29, 1990, that got here in a6-0 victory over theSt. Louis Cardinalsat Dodger Stadium. It was an emotional profession spotlight for Valenzuela, who struck out seven and walked three.

“When you’ve got a sombrero, throw it to the sky!” Corridor of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully exclaimed in his sport name.

From 1983 to 1987, Valenzuela averaged 262 innings pitched and 13 full video games for the Dodgers. He had a streak of 255 consecutive begins, which led to August 1988. He registered 20 full video games in 1986, when he gained a league-high 21 video games and had a 3.14 ERA. He had 96 full video games in his first seven seasons.

He retired in 1997, and Valenzuela stays among the many franchise leaders in wins (141), strikeouts (1,759), innings pitched (2,348), begins (320), full video games (107) and shutouts (29).

“63 is manner too younger. … A chunk of my childhood is gone,” actor and “Entry Hollywood” co-host Mario Lopez posted on X. “Rising up as a Mexican child one of many foremost causes I am a Dodgers fan is due to Fernando. … Not solely an amazing participant, however an amazing man to the group. What a legend.”

Valenzuela’s rise from his tiny hometown of Etchohuaquila within the Mexican state of Sonora to stardom in america was inconceivable. He was the youngest little one in a big household who tagged alongside when his older brothers performed baseball.

He signed his first professional contract at age 16 and shortly started overpowering older gamers within the Mexican Central League.

In 1978, legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito was in Mexico to observe a shortstop when Valenzuela entered the sport as a reliever. He instantly commanded Brito’s consideration, and at age 18, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers in 1979. He was despatched to the California League that very same 12 months.

In 1980, Valenzuela was referred to as as much as the Dodgers in September and shortly made his massive league debut as a reliever.

Valenzuela’s rise from humble beginnings in Mexico and his feats on the mound made him vastly standard and influential in Los Angeles’ Latino group whereas serving to entice new followers to MLB. Their fondness for him continued for years after his retirement.

“Fernando was an impressive ambassador for baseball,” Manfred stated in a press release Tuesday night time. “He constantly supported the expansion of the sport via the World Baseball Traditional and at MLB occasions throughout his house nation. As a member of the Dodger broadcasting staff for greater than 20 years, Fernando helped to achieve a brand new era of followers and domesticate their love of the sport.

“Fernando will at all times stay a beloved determine in Dodger historical past and a particular supply of pleasure for the hundreds of thousands of Latino followers he impressed.”

Valenzuela was unceremoniously launched by the Dodgers in March 1991, days earlier than the season began. He pitched for 5 different groups over the subsequent seven seasons — the CaliforniaAngels(1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), San Diego Padres (1995-97) and the Cardinals (1997) — earlier than retiring with a 173-153 report, 3.54 ERA and a couple of,074 strikeouts over 17 campaigns.

Six years after his taking part in profession had ended — and 14 years after he threw his final pitch for the Dodgers — Valenzuela returned as a member of the Dodgers’ broadcast staff in 2003.

The Dodgers, breaking from their custom of solely retiring the numbers of Corridor of Famers, retired his No. 34 throughout a pregame ceremony at Dodger Stadium in August 2023. The quantity had been unofficially retired, and by no means worn by one other participant, since Valenzuela had been let go by the staff 32 years earlier.

Valenzuela, who turned a U.S. citizen in 2015, served on the teaching workers for Mexico in the course of the World Baseball Traditional in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017. He was an element proprietor of the Mexican League staff Tigres de Quintana Roo, with son Fernando serving as staff president and son Ricky serving as normal supervisor. Fernando Valenzuela Jr. performed within the Padres andChicago White Soxorganizations as a primary baseman.

Along with his sons, Valenzuela is survived by his spouse, Linda, who was a schoolteacher from Mexico whom he married in 1981, and daughters Linda and Maria, in addition to seven grandchildren.

ESPN’s Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez and The Related Press contributed to this report.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who impressed “Fernandomania” whereas successful the NL Cy Younger Award and Rookie of the 12 months in 1981, has died. He was 63.

The workforce stated he died Tuesday night time at a Los Angeles hospital, however didn’t present the trigger or different particulars.

His dying comes because the Dodgers put together to open the World Sequence on Friday night time at house in opposition to the New York Yankees. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred stated Valenzuela could be honored throughout the sequence at Dodger Stadium.

Valenzuela had left his shade commentator job on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language tv broadcast in September with out clarification. He was reported to have been hospitalized earlier this month. His job stored him as an everyday at Dodger Stadium, the place he held courtroom within the press field eating room earlier than video games and remained common with followers who sought him out for images and autographs.

“God bless Fernando Valenzuela!” actor and Dodgers fan Danny Trejo posted on X.

Valenzuela was one of the crucial dominant gamers of his period and a wildly common determine within the Nineteen Eighties, though he was by no means elected to the Baseball Corridor of Fame. Nonetheless, he’s a part of Cooperstown, which options a number of artifacts together with a signed ball from his no-hitter in 1990.

“He is among the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes,” Stan Kasten, workforce president and CEO, stated in a press release. “He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained near our hearts ever since, not solely as a participant but additionally as a broadcaster. He has left us all too quickly.”

Valenzuela’s rise from humble beginnings because the youngest of 12 kids in Mexico and his feats on the mound made him vastly common and influential in Los Angeles’ Latino neighborhood whereas serving to entice new followers to Main League Baseball. Their fondness for him continued for years after his retirement.

“63 is method too younger…. A chunk of my childhood is gone,” actor and “Entry Hollywood” co-host Mario Lopez posted on X. “Rising up as a Mexican child one of many fundamental causes I’m a Dodgers fan is due to Fernando. … Not solely an excellent participant, however an excellent man to the neighborhood. What a legend.”

Los Angeles Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela signing autographs for followers earlier than a sport vs. the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in 1981 Picture by Richard Mackson / Sports activities Illustrated through Getty Pictures

Eva Torres, initially from Mexico Metropolis, drove from Anaheim to have a look at murals of Valenzuela on Sundown Boulevard close to Dodgers Stadium.

“I wasn’t a fan of baseball however I’m a fan of his,” she stated. “He’s like me, an immigrant that got here right here to do nice issues.”

In 1981, Valenzuela turned the Dodgers’ opening day starter as a rookie after Jerry Reuss was injured 24 hours earlier than his scheduled begin. He shut out the Houston Astros 2-0 and started the season 8-0 with 5 shutouts and an ERA of 0.50. He turned the primary participant to win a Cy Younger and Rookie of the 12 months in the identical season.

His performances created the delirium often known as “Fernandomania” amongst Dodgers followers. The ABBA hit “Fernando” would play as he warmed up on the mound.

“Fernando Valenzuela was a real icon of the Dodgers and the sport,” Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., posted on X. “His legacy and reference to the Latino neighborhood in LA is among the causes I fell in love with the Dodgers.”

Valenzuela was 13-7 and had a 2.48 ERA in his first season, which was shortened by a gamers’ strike.

He was an All-Star choice yearly from 1981-86, when he recorded 97 victories, 84 full video games, 1,258 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA. He was 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA in eight postseason begins. He earned two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove.

Los Angeles Dodgers former pitcher Fernando Valenzuela throws the ceremonial first pitch earlier than the sport between the American League and the Nationwide League at Dodger Stadium in 2022. Picture by Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports activities

Valenzuela’s no-hitter on June 29, 1990, a 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, was an emotional profession spotlight. He struck out seven and walked three.

“When you’ve got a sombrero, throw it to the sky!” Corridor of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully exclaimed in his sport name.

Nicknamed “El Toro” by the followers, Valenzuela had an unorthodox and memorable pitching movement that included trying skyward on the apex of every windup. His repertoire included a screwball — making him one of many few pitchers of his period who threw that pitch recurrently. It was taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo after the Dodgers felt Valenzuela, who wasn’t often known as a tough thrower, wanted one other pitch.

Early in his Dodgers profession, Valenzuela spoke little English and had hassle speaking along with his catchers. Rookie Mike Scioscia discovered Spanish and have become Valenzuela’s private catcher earlier than changing into the workforce’s full-time catcher.

Valenzuela was a better-than-average hitter, with 10 profession house runs.

Finally, his pitching was compromised by nagging shoulder issues that stored him out of the 1988 postseason, when the Dodgers received the World Sequence.

The workforce launched Valenzuela simply earlier than the 1991 season. He additionally pitched for the previous California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.

He retired in 1997, going 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 seasons, the all-time main league chief in wins and strikeouts (2,074) by a Mexican-born participant. In 11 seasons with the Dodgers, he was 141-116 with a 3.31 ERA.

Valenzuela’s rise from his tiny hometown of Etchohuaquila within the Mexican state of Sonora to stardom within the U.S. was unbelievable. He was the youngest youngster in a big household who tagged alongside when his older brothers performed baseball.

He signed his first professional contract at age 16, and shortly started overpowering older gamers within the Mexican Central League.

In 1978, legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito was in Mexico to look at a shortstop when Valenzuela entered the sport as a reliever. He instantly commanded Brito’s consideration and at age 18, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers in 1979. He was despatched to the California League that very same 12 months.

The jersey of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, #34, hangs within the hallway of retired numbers earlier than his jersey retirement ceremony at Dodger Stadium. Picture by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities

In 1980, Valenzuela was known as as much as the Dodgers in September and shortly made his large league debut as a reliever.

He stays the one pitcher in MLB historical past to win the Cy Younger and Rookie of the 12 months awards in the identical season. The left-hander was the Nationwide League’s beginning pitcher within the All-Star Recreation in 1981, the identical 12 months the Dodgers received the World Sequence.

Throughout his profession, he made the duvet of Sports activities Illustrated and visited the White Home.

In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers because the Spanish-language radio shade commentator for NL video games. Twelve years later, he switched to the colour commentator job on the workforce’s Spanish-language TV feed.

“He constantly supported the expansion of the sport by the World Baseball Traditional and at MLB occasions throughout his house nation,” Manfred stated in a press release. “As a member of the Dodger broadcasting workforce for greater than 20 years, Fernando helped to achieve a brand new era of followers and domesticate their love of the sport. Fernando will at all times stay a beloved determine in Dodger historical past and a particular supply of satisfaction for the tens of millions of Latino followers he impressed.”

He was inducted into the Mexican Skilled Baseball Corridor of Fame in 2014. 5 years later, the Mexican League retired Valenzuela’s No. 34 jersey. The Dodgers adopted in 2023 after preserving his quantity out of circulation since he final pitched for the workforce in 1991. The workforce has a rule that requires a participant to be within the Baseball Corridor of Fame earlier than having the Dodgers retire his quantity, however they made an exception for Valenzuela.

The Dodgers named Valenzuela as a part of the “Legends of Dodger Baseball” in 2019 and inducted him into the workforce’s Ring of Honor in 2023.

He turned a U.S. citizen in 2015.

Valenzuela served on the teaching workers for Mexico throughout the World Baseball Traditional in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017. He was a part-owner of the Mexican League workforce Tigres de Quintana Roo, with son Fernando Jr. serving as workforce president and son Ricky serving as common supervisor. Fernando Jr. performed within the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox organizations as a primary baseman.

Along with his sons, he’s survived by his spouse, Linda, who was a schoolteacher from Mexico whom he married in 1981, and daughters Linda and Maria in addition to seven grandchildren.

Francine Prose
1974: A Private Historical past
Harper, 2024

Prolific novelist and critic Francine Prose’s first memoir is a robust instance of deeply private, political historical past written in her standard stellar prose. Though Prose said in my first MFA course that “you possibly can’t educate writing,” I’d argue that one can be taught rather a lot about writing from studying her books (some thirty or extra eventually depend). Her consideration to element, dialogue, and the rhythm of life is obvious all through her work. Her memoir is about in 1974 and it’s a vital yr in Prose’s life and our collective historical past as a nation. At twenty-six, she’d left her marriage, revealed her first novel (Judah the Pious), was engaged on a 3rd, and moved to San Francisco. She writes of this time, “I preferred feeling free, alive and on edge, even a bit of bit afraid … I needed to really feel like an outlaw.” This was the San Francisco of the early Nineteen Seventies with activism within the air but in addition a bitter coming-of-age for the sixties era who’d thought they have been altering the world. For Prose, “If the late ’60s have been about believing in the opportunity of elementary change, the Nineteen Seventies have been in regards to the dawning realization that the modifications we’d needed weren’t going to occur.”

Prose writes about her relationship with Anthony Russo, an “anti-Vietnam battle whistleblower and free speech hero” and one among two males from RAND Company who leaked the Pentagon Papers. She’s sufficiently starstruck by Russo—“I had by no means met anybody like Tony”—though her portrait of the person reveals his petty frustration at not getting the identical “credit score” (learn: media consideration) as Daniel Ellsberg. Prose and Russo spend nights driving round in his historical Buick—giving her area to explain San Francisco with pretty noirish prose: “As we headed west via Outer Sundown and circling again alongside the avenues of Outer Richmond, vivid streaks of neon signage dripped down the windshield onto the glistening streets.” Her attraction to the not clearly engaging Russo is detailed in an early scene:

We each cared about politics. We each preferred tales. We each preferred to snicker. We have been each much less easygoing than we tried to seem … Gravity’s Rainbow was one among our favourite novels. It spoke to our perception that historical past and the forces that formed it have been in each far more sinister than essentially the most evil eventualities we might think about.

She hopes for an emotional connection however serves extra as an ear to Russo’s ranting. And though her buddy and roommate tries to warn Prose off of getting concerned with Russo, she embraces the connection. Their near-nightly rides round San Francisco and alongside the Pacific served Prose’s want for a type of directionless freedom: “I had no concept the place we have been going or the place we might find yourself. I preferred not realizing, not caring, not having to resolve.” There’s a second of their first evening collectively once we see a touch of Russo’s darkness. They’re parked at evening above the ruins of the Sutro Baths: “We stood on the sting of a drop-off. There was simply sufficient moonlight filtering via the clouds to see the darkish stone swimming pools under us, the cracked basins stuffed with muck. Past the ruins have been the seaside and fog and the black waves rolling in.” Prose acknowledges the horrible chance of the second: “Trying again, I’m a bit of frightened for that woman hanging out with a semi-famous, presumably unbalanced buddy of a buddy, wanting down right into a stone pool into which an individual could possibly be thrown and nobody would ever discover them.” However, she says, “I wasn’t scared then.” And it’s a part of the ability of her writing that we will really feel on this scene the yearning for freedom of our personal twenty-something selves. The affair finally ends badly, and Prose strikes on along with her life: “We misplaced monitor of one another, and we let ourselves overlook.”

Along with her standard deftness, Prose weaves the non-public, the historic, and the political right into a story of her personal development into a robust author and the nation’s awakening into the truth of our home and international violence, buying and selling idealism for acquisition. By setting the narrative in 1974, private occasions play out within the shadow of Nixon’s resignation, the Pentagon Papers, the Patty Hearst kidnapping, home spying by the CIA, and the continuing horror of the Vietnam Struggle. For Russo, bringing to mild the American authorities’s cowl ups in assist of continuous the Vietnam Struggle was each a campaign and his downfall. As Prose reveals, by the point she met him, he was paranoid, bitter, and unhealthy information. But it surely’s a part of the work of memoir that Prose accomplishes to point out her personal unhealthy selections and the best way she was in a position to transfer on. For Prose, her time with Russo serves as an area for reflecting on what is feasible. “Once I hear individuals speaking in regards to the crises we face now, saying that there’s nothing that may be achieved.… Tony believed that you simply needed to do one thing. That’s what we believed.… Even when … the probabilities have been that the majority of what you probably did would finally be undone, you continue to needed to attempt.” It is a deftly woven and fantastically written memoir by one among our most essential writers.

The Tennessee Titans are transferring on from veteran wide-out DeAndre Hopkins after simply 1 1/2 seasons with the group.

Tennessee is reportedly sending the 32-year-old receiver to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs forward of the NFL’s commerce deadline. The Chiefs will ship the Titans a fifth-round decide that may conditionally turn into a fourth-rounder if Hopkins reaches sure benchmarks.

Hopkins initially signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Titans as a free agent in 2023. He racked up 75 catches for 1,057 yards and 7 touchdowns throughout his first yr in Tennessee, however has seen his numbers tail off in 2024 (15 catches, 173 yards, one landing in six video games).

Now, Hopkins will get an opportunity to work with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs whereas the Titans turn into the most recent NFL group to amass draft capital for a big-name receiver. The Las Vegas Raiders despatched Davante Adams to the New York Jets forward of Week 7 simply hours earlier than the Cleveland Browns traded receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Payments.

Here is what to know in regards to the Titans’ choice to commerce Hopkins and what it means for his or her franchise’s future.

NFL TRADE CANDIDATES:16 gamers who may very well be on the block forward of 2024 deadline

Why did the Titans commerce DeAndre Hopkins?

Just a few elements doubtless performed into the Titans’ choice to commerce Hopkins. At first, the Titans are usually not a contender in 2024. They’ve posted a 1-5 file via six video games to open the season, so buying and selling Hopkins – who’s on an expiring contract – for an asset that may speed up the group’s rebuild looks as if a sensible transfer.

Hopkins’ expiring deal additionally performs an enormous function within the commerce. The chances of him re-signing with the Titans do not look significantly nice, as he has seen a downturn in manufacturing in his first season working with head coach Brian Callahan. The 32-year-old is on tempo for simply 42 catches and 490 yards, which might each mark career-lows, and three touchdowns over a 17-game season.

If that output had continued, Hopkins might have regarded for a change of surroundings through the 2025 offseason. Forward of his age-33 season, Hopkins would doubtless need to find yourself with a contender to chase his first Tremendous Bowl ring.

NFL POWER RANKINGS WEEK 8:Bucs, Vikings slip in reshuffled NFC image

The Titans may also save a bit of cash by offloading Hopkins. They’d have owed him roughly $8 million for the remainder of the 2024 NFL season, per Spotrac.com. They might nonetheless eat a few of that wage to facilitate a cope with the Chiefs, however both means, Tennessee will not be paying Hopkins the total allotment of what he is owed. And the dead-cap hits related to him ($10.25 million in 2024 and $5.89 million in 2025) actually aren’t back-breaking.

The Titans additionally had a really perfect commerce associate within the Chiefs. Kansas Metropolis badly wanted some vast receiver assist after dropping No. 1 goal Rashee Rice for the season in Week 4 to a torn ACL and No. 2 receiver Hollywood Brown to a sternoclavicular damage within the preseason.

Nevertheless, the Chiefs additionally had a aim to not give up a top-100 draft decide as they tried to amass receiver assist, per The MMQB’s Albert Breer. That made Hopkins one of many Chiefs’ most closely fits and allowed the Titans to get a good value whereas turning an expiring contract right into a future asset.

CHIEFS:With out Patrick Mahomes’ typical fireworks, Kansas Metropolis is serving up discover to remainder of NFL

Tennessee will not be hurting an excessive amount of at receiver with out Hopkins, both. The Titans signed Calvin Ridley to a big-money contract through the 2024 offseason and has veteran Tyler Boyd on the roster as effectively. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who has confirmed to be an efficient NFL function participant, will doubtless draw into the lineup to exchange Hopkins in three-receiver units.

That provides the group loads of weapons to assist them consider whether or not Will Levis may be their long-term beginning quarterback, which was certainly one of Tennessee’s fundamental targets getting into the 2024 season.

The 2-time defending Tremendous champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are addressing their largest want forward of the upcoming NFL commerce deadline by buying Tennessee Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins, in keeping with ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Chiefs reportedly will ship a conditional fourth-round decide to the Titans in alternate for the five-time Professional Bowler.

Regardless of being the final undefeated staff within the NFL, the Chiefs are perilously skinny at receiver after accidents to Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes had simply two wholesome receivers to throw to forward of Wednesday’s commerce — rookie Xavier Worthy and seven-year veteran Justin Watson.

To date in 2024, Hopkins has 15 receptions for 173 yards and a landing. He had three one-catch video games for the 1-5 Titans, together with his finest sport coming in a 30-14 loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers by which he hauled in six catches for 73 yards and a rating.

Hopkins, together with tight finish Travis Kelce, presumably will create a 1-2 cross catching possibility for Kansas Metropolis within the franchise’s quest to turn into the primary staff to win three consecutive Tremendous Bowls.

Subsequent up for Kansas Metropolis is a highway matchup in opposition to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to wish some assistance on the perimeter.

On Tuesday, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles up to date the statuses of his crew’s high two receivers and it is protected to say issues aren’t good.

After struggling a brutal leg harm on Monday night time, Tampa Bay’s high wideout this season, Chris Godwin, will seemingly miss the remainder of the yr, in line with Bowles. He additionally provided a timeline for his different high receiver, Mike Evans. Evans injured his hamstring throughout the 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and can be down for some time.

Bowles says Evans is more likely to return after the crew’s bye week. That might set his return as being again for Week 12 in opposition to the New York Giants. So he is more likely to miss the following three video games.

The Bucs have now misplaced their high two go catchers and might want to readjust on the fly. By seven weeks, Godwin had 50 catches for 576 yards and 5 touchdowns. Evans had 26 receptions for 335 yards and 6 touchdowns. The subsequent highest receiver so far as receptions are involved is Sterling Shepard who has caught eight passes for 93 yards and a landing. That is a steep drop-off.

Tampa Bay will ether have to work a commerce or get extra from younger receivers Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer and Shepard, whereas additionally seeing tight finish Cade Otton step up and shoulder extra of a load.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped to 4-3 in Week 7 with a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on “Monday Evening Soccer.” After constructing a 10-0 lead after the primary quarter, the Buccaneers had been outscored 17-0 within the second quarter en path to the defeat.

The Buccaneers could not convert their lone pink zone journey of the second quarter to factors. On that drive — which led to a Baker Mayfield interception — the Buccaneers’ quarterback took a shot to Mike Evans ultimately zone. Evans could not cling on and injured his hamstring within the course of.

The five-time Professional Bowl huge receiver was coping with an harm to that hamstring previous to the sport. Evans left the competition after that play and didn’t return.

It was a tough night time for Tampa Bay’s huge receiver corps. Chris Godwin suffered a severe ankle harm within the last minute of the sport as nicely and has been positioned on injured reserve. On Tuesday, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles supplied an replace on Evans’ standing.

When will Mike Evans return?

Bowles mentioned Evans’ hamstring harm is “average” however didn’t present a selected return date. He mentioned that Evans can be out by way of the Buccaneers’ bye in Week 11.

All issues Buccaneers: Newest Tampa Bay Buccaneers information, schedule, roster, stats, harm updates and extra.

The Buccaneers have video games towards the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and San Francisco 49ers forward of the bye. That places Evans’ earliest return at Nov. 24 for Tampa Bay’s Week 12 recreation on the highway towards the New York Giants.

The Falcons recreation would be the first recreation Evans has missed since Week 18 of the 2022 NFL season. He hasn’t missed an everyday season recreation as a result of harm since Week 16 of the 2021 season.

When was Mike Evans injured?

Evans injured his hamstring midway by way of the second quarter of Week 7’s “Monday Evening Soccer” recreation between the Ravens and Buccaneers. It got here after his first and solely landing of the sport — his one hundredth profession receiving landing.

Evans is simply the eleventh participant in NFL historical past with 100 landing receptions. The others are:

• Jerry Rice (197)
• Randy Moss (156)
• Terrell Ownes (153)
• Cris Carter (130)
• Marvin Harrison (128)
• Larry Fitzgerald (121)
• Antonio Gates (116)
• Tony Gonzalez (111)
• Tim Brown (100)
• Steve Largent (100)

Mike Evans stats

In 2024, Evans has 26 catches for 335 yards and a league-leading six touchdowns in seven video games.

Buccaneers WR depth chart

With Evans and Godwin each out with harm, this is how the remainder of the energetic roster seems for Tampa Bay at huge receiver:

The Buccaneers even have Marquez Callaway and Ryan Miller obtainable on their observe squad.