Sports
Bye, bye birds? O's prez hopeful team can retain C Adley Rutschman
Jul 12, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) waives to the fans before a game against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Is Adley Rutschman available at the trade deadline if the Baltimore Orioles hear an offer they like?
When questions about the catcher’s future with Baltimore came up Friday afternoon, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias didn’t say yes. He didn’t say no, either.
“We’ve put ourselves in a position where we’ve got to be pretty open-minded here as we go into these talks,” Elias said. “But Adley is one of the best things we have going for us.”
The “talks” Elias references aren’t deadline discussions per se, but contract conversations likely to dictate whether the Orioles believe they can make Rutschman, 28, an offer he wouldn’t refuse.
Rutschman has one year of arbitration remaining. He’s playing on a one-year, $7.25 million contract in 2026 and can become an unrestricted free agent following the 2027 season.
A .251 hitter with eight home runs in 2026, Rutschman has been limited to 67 total games and is currently on the injured list. He hit .277 with career highs of 20 home runs and 83 RBIs in 2023 and had 19 homers, 21 doubles and 79 RBIs in 2024 before playing in just 90 games last season (nine home runs, 29 RBIs).
Rutschman, already a three-time All-Star, has reportedly drawn interest from several American League teams. That includes East division rivals in the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, USA Today and ESPN reported.
A switch-hitter currently recovering from a wrist injury, he is set to hit Saturday and would begin a rehab assignment next week barring any setbacks, Elias said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
DeAndre Hopkins joins Georgia Tech as assistant WRs coach
Nov 27, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) reacts after making a catch against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins has been hired as an assistant wide receivers coach at Georgia Tech.
Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key made the announcement on Friday for Hopkins, who auditioned for a coaching role last week with the New England Patriots.
“DeAndre is one of the greatest receivers of all-time, but his value to our program goes far beyond that,” Key said in a statement. “He has an exceptional knowledge of what we’re doing on offense due to his long relationship with (offensive coordinator) George Godsey and strong familiarity with the ACC, but most importantly, he’s a leader of men that I’m very excited for our players to be around, on and off the field.”
Despite his foray into coaching, Hopkins took to social media to note that his playing career isn’t done.
“I Haven’t retired from the @NFL … But if you’re a WR and you want to be great, come to @GeorgiaTechFB,” Hopkins wrote on X on Saturday morning.
Hopkins, 34, recorded just 22 catches for 330 yards in 17 games (three starts) last season with the Baltimore Ravens.
He has totaled 1,006 receptions for 13,295 yards and 85 touchdown catches in 195 NFL games (172 starts).
Hopkins has seven career 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has caught over 100 passes four times. He earned first-team All-Pro honors three straight years (2017-19).
Hopkins spent his first seven seasons with the Houston Texans before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals. He spent three seasons with Arizona before being released, and he also played with the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bills S C.J. Gardner-Johnson carted off practice field
Dec 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (35) reacts against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images Buffalo Bills veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson sustained an injury to his lower right leg on Saturday and was carted off the practice field.
The severity of the injury was not immediately known for Gardner-Johnson.
Gardner-Johnson, 28, won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2024 season before he was traded to the Houston Texans on March 11, 2025.
He played just three games with the Texans before catching on with Chicago and playing seven more contests with the Bears. He totaled 66 tackles and three sacks and two interceptions in 2025.
Gardner-Johnson has 20 interceptions, 370 tackles and seven sacks in 87 career games (71 starts) with the New Orleans Saints (2019-21), Eagles (2022, 2024), Detroit Lions (2023), Texans and Bears.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Chiefs rookie WR Cyrus Allen carted off practice field
Jun 9, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cyrus Allen (13) runs drills during the Kansas City Chiefs mandatory mini-camp at the Chiefs practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images Kansas City Chiefs rookie receiver Cyrus Allen was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury on Saturday after he collided with a teammate during a special teams drill.
The severity of the injury was not immediately known for Allen, who had difficulty putting weight on his left leg before a cart was summoned to take him back to the locker room.
Allen, 23, impressed head coach Andy Reid during the first few days of training camp.
“He’s done a nice job,” Reid said Friday. “The quarterback trusts him.”
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Allen was selected by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati.
–Field Level Media
DeAndre Hopkins joins Georgia Tech as assistant WRs coach
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