Sports
Bryce Elder's effective outing steers Braves to win over Nationals
Jul 31, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Bryce Elder (55) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Matt Olson and Michael Harris II hit home runs and Bryce Elder pitched six strong innings, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a 6-2 win over the visiting Washington Nationals on Friday.
Atlanta has won both games in the four-game series and holds a 6-3 lead over the Nationals in the season series. The Braves are on a three-game overall winning streak, while the Nationals have dropped three in a row.
Olson went 2-for-4 with a double and a first-inning solo homer. Harris finished 2-for-4 and put the game away with a three-run shot in the sixth inning.
Elder (7-6) allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out three. He earned his second win over Washington this season.
Atlanta’s Elieser Hernandez covered the final three innings in relief. He gave up five hits, including a solo homer to Andres Chaparro in the ninth, but fanned four, walked one and earned his first career save.
CJ Abrams also went deep for Washington.
Most of Atlanta’s damage came against Foster Griffin (12-3), who pitched 5 1/3 innings and permitted six runs on nine hits and two walks, striking out three. Griffin saw his eight-decision winning streak end.
Olson socked his 29th homer with two outs in the first, a 396-foot shot into the right field seats.
Atlanta added a run in the second when Jim Jarvis, who finished with three hits, lined an RBI single to center field.
Abrams cut the Nationals’ deficit to 2-1 leading off the fourth, when he crushed an elevated cutter from Elder high into the right field seats. It was his 28th homer and eighth in his past 12 games.
The Braves broke the game open in the sixth by scoring four times. Olson led off with a double, Ozzie Albies followed with a single and Harris lined a three-run blast 421 feet into the right field seats for his 20th home run.
Griffin soon exited with a runner on base, and Jarvis came through with an RBI single against Trevor Williams.
The Nationals got two runners on base in the seventh and eighth innings but came up empty both times. Washington finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 on base.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Falcons, G Matthew Bergeron agree to 4-year extension
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron (65) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Atlanta Falcons and left guard Matthew Bergeron have agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2030 season.
The team announced the deal on Saturday but didn’t provide any financial terms. ESPN and NFL Network said the contract is worth $96 million, with $60 million fully guaranteed.
“Matthew is the type of player you build around,” Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said. “He’s establishing himself as one of the top young guards in the NFL, and his toughness, consistency and leadership have made him a cornerstone of our offensive line and the culture we’re building in Atlanta.
“Extending players like Matthew reflects our commitment to investing in the trenches and building a strong foundation for the future.”
Bergeron, 26, is a native of Montreal who played in college at Syracuse. The Falcons selected him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and Bergeron has played in 49 of 51 possible games — all starts.
With Bergeron teaming with left tackle Jake Matthews, the Falcons led the league in 2025 with 61 first downs from that side of the line. Matthews enters his 13th season as a starting offensive lineman for the team.
Bergeron told AtlantaFalcons.com that staying in Atlanta with the new contract “means the world” to him.
“I’m from Canada, and the second I got to Atlanta everybody welcomed me with open arms,” he said. “Atlanta is a special place for me and my family. And now, I have the resources to give back to a community that has given me so much and changed my life.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) to miss season
Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) stiff arms Tennessee Titans cornerback Marcus Harris (26) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall requires right knee surgery and will miss the 2026 season.
General manager John Lynch confirmed on Saturday that Pearsall needs a procedure to repair a torn PCL.
Pearsall, a 2024 first-round pick, experienced pain and swelling in his knee earlier this week at training camp. He initially sustained the injury in Week 4 last season and wound up appearing in only nine games.
Through his first two seasons, Pearsall has recorded 67 catches for 928 yards and three scores in 20 contests.
The 49ers placed Pearsall, 25, on injured reserve Saturday and also confirmed the signing of wideout Deebo Samuel. Terms were not disclosed but reports earlier in the week said Samuel returns on a one-year deal for $7 million. Samuel will replace Pearsall of the 49ers’ roster.
Samuel, 30, caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five TDs in 16 games last season with the Washington Commanders.
Samuel played for San Francisco from 2019-24, posting 334 receptions for 4,792 yards and 22 TDs in 81 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Steelers signing veteran S Rayshawn Jenkins
Oct 19, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) reacts after intercepting a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins, multiple outlets reported on Saturday.
Jenkins, 32, recorded 45 tackles and one interception in 17 games (three starts) last season with Cleveland.
He has 562 tackles, 11 interceptions and four forced fumbles in 139 games (92 starts) with the Los Angeles Chargers (2017-20), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021-23), Seattle Seahawks (2024) and Browns.
Jenkins, a fourth-round draft pick by the Chargers in 2017, has scored two defensive touchdowns: a pick-six in 2022 and a 102-yard fumble return in 2024.
Jenkins provides depth in the secondary behind starting safeties DeShon Elliott and Jaquan Brisker, along with fellow veteran newcomer Darnell Savage.
–Field Level Media
Falcons, G Matthew Bergeron agree to 4-year extension
49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) to miss season
