Sports
Falcons in comfort zone after consecutive comeback victories
Oct 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
If there is a constant with Raheem Morris’ Atlanta Falcons, it is a flair for the dramatic.
Through five games of the Morris regime, the Falcons sit 3-2, with each contest decided by eight points or less. Over the past two weeks, Atlanta has been able to get the job done late in each game.
After beating the New Orleans Saints 26-24 on a last-second Younghoe Koo field goal in Week 4, the Falcons used an improbable comeback on Thursday to top the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36-30 in overtime.
On defense, and trailing by three points with less than two minutes left, the Falcons forced a punt before Kirk Cousins – who set a single-game franchise with 509 passing yards – led the offense to the 34-yard line with one second remaining. It was just enough time for Koo’s game-tying 52-yarder as regulation expired.
It then took Atlanta just four plays in overtime to go home a winner, as Cousins found the seldom-used KhaDarel Hodge on a walk-off 45-yard touchdown in overtime.
With its work done in Week 5, the franchise is now able to take a collective deep breath ahead of a stress-free Sunday viewing slate.
“I gave the guys a ‘Victory Friday,'” Morris said a day after the most recent win. “They are probably coming in on their own, getting a little bit of treatment if they need it, doing what they need to do in the weight room, but they weren’t required to be in the building today.”
As thrilling as the last two victories have been, the opponents the Falcons have beaten has made the wins even more impressive. In the midst of a three-week stretch against NFC South foes, Atlanta now sits in first place in the division, while holding tie breakers over New Orleans and Tampa Bay.
“The importance of division games are always of high magnitude,” Morris said. “We’ve talked about it from the beginning. To outrun the South, the only way you can do that is beating South opponents. It’s always a big deal to get back-to-back like that, and to do it in a dramatic fashion.”
Now, Morris and the team get a mini-bye week before traveling to face the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 13.
“I’m going to watch everybody play on Sunday,” Morris said, when asked if he’ll watch the Panthers this weekend. “This is the best part about playing on Thursday night. You’re home sitting on your couch on Sunday, watching RedZone on one TV, the local game on the other. I can’t wait.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rangers place 3B Josh Jung (calf) on 10-day IL
Jul 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) follows through on his single against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images The American League West-leading Texas Rangers placed starting third baseman Josh Jung on the 10-day injured list on Saturday — retroactive to Wednesday — with a left calf strain.
In a corresponding move, the Rangers recalled infielder Josh Smith from Triple-A Round Rock before Saturday’s home game against the second-place Seattle Mariners.
Jung, 28, exited Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox after three innings with a left calf issue and has not played since. In 92 games this season, the 2023 All-Star is hitting .294 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. He is eligible to return to the active roster on Aug. 1.
Texas’ first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft, Jung has hit .264 with 58 home runs and 196 RBIs in 417 games with the Rangers.
Smith, 28, is in his third stint with the Rangers this season, batting .230 with one run and eight RBIs in 40 games. The versatile five-year veteran has played five positions in 2026, mainly seeing time at second base (34 games/30 starts).
In 496 games with Texas since being acquired from the New York Yankees in 2021, Smith has hit .236 with 32 homers and 136 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros put RHP Spencer Arrighetti (foot) on 15-day IL
Jul 8, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images In the thick of the American League West and AL wild-card races, the Houston Astros placed right-handed starter Spencer Arrighetti on the 15-day injured list Saturday with nerve irritation in his foot.
Arrighetti, 26, left Friday’s start against the Chicago White Sox after one inning and 33 pitches due to the foot issue.
In a corresponding move, Houston recalled left-handed reliever Bryan King from Triple-A Sugar Land.
In 17 starts this season, Arrighetti is 7-5 with a 4.60 ERA, allowing six or more earned runs in three of his final four starts before the All-Star break. The 2021 sixth-round pick, who debuted with Houston in 2024, is 15-23 with a 4.66 ERA in 53 games (52 starts).
The 29-year-old King has made 42 relief appearances with the Astros in 2026, posting a 2-3 record with a 3.40 ERA. Across his three MLB seasons, all with Houston, he is 8-7 with a 2.91 ERA in 138 relief outings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics activate star Nick Kurtz (thumb) from IL
![Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) takes first base as Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) misses a catch during the first inning] at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.](https://dailyfacthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/29355296.jpg)
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) takes first base as Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) misses a catch during the first inning] at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The Athletics activated All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz from the 10-day injured list prior to Saturday’s road game against the Minnesota Twins.
Kurtz sustained a right thumb capsule sprain and was placed on the IL on July 10 and the injury forced him to miss the All-Star Game. He had been elevated to American League starter when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) of the Toronto Blue Jays backed out.
Kurtz is batting second and serving as the designated hitter on Saturday.
Kurtz exited a 6-1 loss at Detroit on July 8 after 1 1/2 innings after he appeared to hurt the hand while trying to field a throw in the bottom of the first. The following day, he was the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 4-1 loss to the Tigers.
Kurtz, 23, is batting .266 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 92 games. He was the unanimous 2025 AL Rookie of the Year with a .290 batting average, 36 home runs and 86 RBIs in just 117 games.
Third baseman Max Muncy was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. He was recalled by the A’s earlier this week and went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in two games.
Muncy, 23, is batting .223 with five homers and 20 RBIs over 48 games. He has a .218 average in 111 big league games over the past two campaigns.
–Field Level Media
Rangers place 3B Josh Jung (calf) on 10-day IL
Astros put RHP Spencer Arrighetti (foot) on 15-day IL
