Sports
Skylar Thompson gets shot to lead Dolphins' offense at Seattle
Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) throws the football against the Buffalo Bills during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Skylar Thompson is kind of like the teenager who has been handed the keys to his father’s sports car.
Thompson will be behind the wheel of Miami’s high-octane offense when the Dolphins travel across country to face the host Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Thompson, a seventh-round pick in 2022 out of Kansas State, will be replacing Tua Tagovailoa, who was placed on injured reserve after sustaining his third concussion in two seasons last Thursday in a 31-10 loss to the visiting Buffalo Bills.
Thompson plans to keep things simple.
“When tomorrow comes, I’ll focus on tomorrow,” Thompson said. “That’s my approach to everything. That’s been my approach since I’ve gotten here, and that’s led me to success.”
Thompson started three games in 2022 with Tagovailoa sidelined, including a playoff defeat to the Bills. Thompson completed 78 of 150 passes for 461 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in those three starts, going 1-2.
He served as the Dolphins’ No. 3 quarterback all of last season and didn’t get into a game.
“I felt like my rookie year I was doing things exactly by the book and viewing everything as I would see it in the playbook,” Thompson said. “The footwork and everything. And it was all new to me. I studied it so much — I felt I knew it so well that sometimes it slowed me down a little bit even.
“That’s just another progression of being in my third year and having this opportunity again. I feel like I have a very good understanding of what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”
The Dolphins (1-1) signed former Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley off Baltimore’s practice squad for depth, but they appear ready to go with Thompson until Tagovailoa gets back. Thompson completed 8 of 14 passes for 80 yards off the bench last week.
“I have no doubts in my mind that Skylar is going to go out there and do the best he can in Seattle,” Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler said. “I’m super excited to see him play and work on this opportunity. Obviously, we’re praying for and sad about Tua, but I have no hesitation with Skylar going out there as QB1 this week.”
The Seahawks (2-0) are coming off a 23-20 overtime victory last Sunday at New England. With running back Kenneth Walker III sidelined due to an oblique injury, Geno Smith carried the offense by completing 33 of 44 passes for 327 yards and a touchdown.
“That was a heck of a performance, man,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “… There’s a little chip on his shoulder. I like it, because they just keep sleeping on this guy. He played at a super high level, so he deserves all the credit he’s getting right now.”
Smith drove the Seahawks down the field for a last-minute field goal in regulation to tie the score, then led the winning march in overtime.
“Whenever I’m in this situation and the game is on the line, I’m so happy and just excited for those opportunities. I look forward to them actually,” Smith said. “I know it’s going to happen more and more times throughout the season. The best quarterbacks always find ways to win. I want to be regarded in that light.”
The Dolphins had one player who missed practice on Wednesday due to an injury, offensive tackle Terron Armstead (shoulder). The Seahawks had eight: Walker, wide receiver DK Metcalf (hand), tight end Brady Russell (shoulder), defensive end Leonard Williams (knee), linebackers Jerome Baker (hamstring), Uchenna Nwosu (knee) and Boye Mafe (knee) and safety K’Von Wallace (shoulder).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bobby Witt Jr. put on 10-day IL, likely sealing Royals' seller status
Jul 18, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) makes a diving stop during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. landed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday due to tightness in his lower back.
A starter for the American League in the All-Star Game last week, Witt left the Royals’ 4-3 win against the San Francisco Giants on Monday with back spasms. The roster move is retroactive to Tuesday.
Being without their best player for any length of time is likely the crowning blow for the Royals, who at 42-60 have a better record than only the Los Angeles Angels (41-60) and Colorado Rockies (41-61) heading into play Wednesday.
Because of the relative weakness of the AL Central, the Royals are 12 games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians. But with a little more than two months to play and a dozen games to make up, Witt’s injury should insure the Royals will be sellers at the trade deadline on Aug. 3.
Veteran starting pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are projected to be coveted by contenders, though the Royals have said they are not inclined to move either right-hander.
In 94 games this season, Witt is batting .289 with 13 homers and 39 RBIs. He has 103 hits and 22 doubles, scoring 51 runs.
His 30 stolen bases lead the major leagues.
Witt is a three-time All-Star and the winner of two Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. He won the AL batting title in 2024 when he led the majors with a .332 average.
Kansas City’s shortstop since 2022, Witt has a career average of .288 with 118 home runs, 412 RBIs and 178 stolen bases in 720 games.
In a corresponding move, the Royals promoted 32-year-old Andrew Velazquez from Triple-A Omaha. He is a well-traveled utility infielder who has not played in the major leagues since 2023.
He and Tyler Tolbert, a 28-year-old infielder hitting .328 in 38 games this year, are expected to share duties at shortstop.
The Royals also transferred right-hander Stephen Kolek to the 60-day injured list, designated center fielder Kameron Misner for assignment and traded right-hander Nate Pearson to the Houston Astros in exchange for right-hander Max Martin.
–Field Level Media
Sports
O's place rookie C Samuel Basallo (shoulder) on 10-day IL
Jul 12, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (29) throws to first for an out during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Already without injured starter Adley Rutschman, the Baltimore Orioles placed rookie catcher Samuel Basallo on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation on Wednesday.
The roster move is retroactive to Monday. In a corresponding move, the Orioles recalled right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez from Triple-A Norfolk.
Basallo, 21, is enjoying a solid first full season in the majors, posting 16 homers and 46 RBIs to go along with a .241 batting average in 86 games. He left Sunday’s game at the Houston Astros with right shoulder discomfort and did not play in Monday’s series opener at the Boston Red Sox.
Sam Huff started Monday and also was behind the plate Wednesday afternoon in the opener of a day-night doubleheader against Boston. Tuesday night’s game was rained out.
Rodriguez, 26, is 0-for-7 with an RBI in five games this season with Baltimore. He played 44 games for the Cleveland Guardians in 2024-25, hitting .176 with two home runs and 15 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, Raiders at odds over bonus
Jun 9, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko (left) talks with quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza (15) and Kirk Cousins (8) during minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images What’s the deal with Fernando Mendoza as the Raiders begin training camp with rookies due in Las Vegas on Thursday?
The franchise might be without the No. 1 overall pick, and the cause of his absence is a clause in his unsigned rookie deal.
The Heisman Trophy winner is locked into the four-year, $57.2 million contract parameters set by the collective bargaining agreement, with a $38.11 million signing bonus.
Representatives for Mendoza, according to multiple reports, are asking for the entire signing bonus at the time the rookie puts pen to paper on his first pro deal. Fact is, the lump sum bonus for No. 1 picks has become a matter of course since the Cincinnati Bengals decided to pay Joe Burrow, the top pick in the 2020 draft, his full signing bonus before ever taking a snap. After some posturing and public consternation, the Jacksonville Jaguars followed suit in 2021 (Trevor Lawrence) and 2022 (Travon Walker).
Rookies report for the first day of training camp with the Raiders on Thursday and veterans join next week, including backup quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins could start the season as the No. 1 quarterback even if Mendoza decides to sign.
But he’s not the only quarterback giving the stiff-arm to his rookie contract at the moment. A line formed behind Mendoza with Rams rookie first-round pick Ty Simpson (13th overall) waiting to see whether any precedent is established with the only quarterback drafted ahead of him. Carson Beck (65th overall by the Arizona Cardinals) and Drew Allar (76th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers) were in the same holding pattern as of Wednesday afternoon.
–Field Level Media
Bobby Witt Jr. put on 10-day IL, likely sealing Royals' seller status
O's place rookie C Samuel Basallo (shoulder) on 10-day IL
