Sports
Week 4 MNF: Titans-Dolphins Preview, Props, Prediction
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) looks to pass against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla., Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. Miami will have its third different quarterback in four games under center when the Dolphins play host to the winless Tennessee Titans in the first of Monday night’s doubleheader to close out Week 4 of the NFL regular season.
The Dolphins (1-2) have yet to lead in a game this season — they won on a last-second field goal in Week 1 — but enter Monday night only 1 1/2 games back in the AFC East. They’ll turn to Tyler Huntley, signed off Baltimore’s practice squad, at quarterback with Tua Tagovailoa and Skylar Thompson injured.
The Titans (0-3) are one of only two winless teams in the NFL, with the other being division rival Jacksonville. Monday night provides an opportunity for Tennessee to take advantage of an injury-riddled opponent to stay within two games of Houston in the division.
ODDS AND TRENDS
Despite their quarterback carousel, the Dolphins are consensus 2.5-point favorites at home. That includes at BetMGM, where Miami has been backed by 56 percent of the spread-line bets and 68 percent of the money since opening at 1.5.
The Dolphins’ -140 moneyline has also been a popular play, drawing 66 percent of all money wagered.
The public is expecting a low-scoring game, with the Under supported by 66 percent of the bets and 55 percent of the money at 37.0 total points.
PROP PICKS
–Tyler Huntley Under 32.5 Rushing Yards (-115 at BetMGM): The fifth-year veteran has averaged 24.5 rushing yards in 20 regular-season appearances. However, he’s not considered a true dual-threat quarterback, rushing only 15 times for 55 yards in five appearance for the Ravens last year. And it’s unlikely that Miami coach Mike McDaniel will take many risks getting another quarterback injured and having to turn back to journeyman Tim Boyle.
–DeVon Achane Anytime TD Scorer (+100 at DraftKings): With Raheem Mostert not expected to play, the bulk of the backfield work again falls to Achane. He was held out of the end zone last week at Seattle but scored in each of Miami’s first two games and should here. Tennessee enters Week 4 allowing an average of 124.3 rushing yards per game.
THE NEWS
Tennessee scored 15 points in 51 seconds last December to turn a 14-point deficit into a stunning 28-27 victory over the Dolphins. Titans quarterback Will Levis, then a rookie, passed for a career-high 327 yards.
“It was a lot of fun,” Levis said of the comeback win. “But different team, different season for both of us. Any time you play on Monday night, the whole world is watching, and it gives a little bit of extra excitement, so we’ve got that. That was a good win for us, and we’re just hoping to go get another win down there at a point of the season where we really need one.”
The Titans haven’t looked too stout this season while being outscored 78-48.
The Dolphins have different issues after Tagovailoa sustained a concussion in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. He is on injured reserve and the earliest he can return is Oct. 27 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Thompson started last week’s 24-3 loss at Seattle and completed 13 of 19 passes for 107 yards and was sacked five times before exiting with a rib injury in the third quarter. Boyle was 7 of 13 for 79 yards and sacked once as Miami finished with just 205 yards of total offense.
Tyler “Snoop” Huntley will start against the Titans with Boyle serving as the backup. The Dolphins acquired Huntley from Baltimore’s practice squad on Sept. 17.
“We targeted him for a reason,” McDaniel said Thursday of Huntley, who made 10 starts (including the playoffs) in four seasons with the Ravens. “And it’s a player that we’re very familiar with from the opponent’s standpoint.”
Miami ranks last in the NFL with a scoring average of 11 points per game. It hasn’t scored a touchdown in its past seven quarters and has been outscored 55-13 during its two-game skid. Star wideout Tyreek Hill has just six catches for 64 yards and no scores in the two setbacks. He didn’t practice on Friday, but the Dolphins cited rest as the reason.
The Titans are 28th in scoring (16.0) and 29th in total offense (260.3 yards per game). Levis shares the NFL lead with eight individual turnovers (five interceptions, three lost fumbles). He has thrown four touchdown passes.
Veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins believes Levis will work through turnover issues.
“I wouldn’t want anyone else out there on the field the way he prepares and goes about his day,” Hopkins said. “I think he’s going to learn from his mistakes. He hasn’t even played a full season. It’s going to come with time.”
Levis is 3-9 as a starter entering Monday’s contest.
INJURY REPORT
Tennessee will be without cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (groin) for at least four games after he was placed on injured reserve on Friday. Standout defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (elbow) missed practice Friday for the second straight day and was officially listed as doubtful on the final injury report. Cornerback L’Jarious Sneed (hamstring) and safety Amari Hooker (face) are questionable.
For Miami, McDaniel said that left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller both remain in concussion protocol. Linebacker David Long and cornerback Siran Neal missed Thursday’s practice with hamstring injuries but Siran returned on a limited basis on Friday.
THEY SAID IT
“Very confident. We have a heck of a coaching staff who’s able to put together a crazy gameplan. It’s going to be a crazy game Monday night.” — Hill on the Dolphins’ ability to overcome injuries at the quarterback position.
PREDICTION
This is a critical early season game for a pair of struggling teams who don’t want to fall too far back in the AFC pack before the calendar turns to October. The Dolphins are on their third quarterback in as many weeks and while Huntley is an experienced veteran, it’s a tall task after being signed just last week. The Titans are coming off two poor performances after blowing their winnable opener against Chicago, and finally get in the win column heading into their bye week. — Titans 23, Dolphins 20
–Field Level Media
Sports
PK save in final minutes helps Galaxy earn tie vs. Earthquakes
Jul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfield Nick Fernandez (20) and LA Galaxy midfield Lucas Sanabria (8) battle for the ball during the first half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images James Marcinkowski saved a penalty shot five minutes into extra time as the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy preserved a 1-1 tie against the San Jose Earthquakes in the latest installment of the California Clasico rivalry at Stanford, Calif.
Marcinkowski, who is in his second season with the Galaxy after five seasons with the Earthquakes, made a dive to his left to stop a shot from the spot by the Earthquakes’ Timo Werner. Marcinkowski finished with five saves.
Joseph Paintsil scored a goal in the first half for Los Angeles (5-7-6, 21 points), who earned a point for the first time in three matches since the World Cup break ended.
Reid Roberts scored a goal in the 62nd minute for the Earthquakes (10-4-3, 33 points), who were unable to convert the go-ahead goal late in the match after Ousseni Bouda earned a penalty on a foul from Marcinkowski.
Angus Gunn, who played for Scotland in the World Cup, made one save in his second match since joining San Jose during the break.
The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 13th minute when 19-year-old Harbor Miller took the ball up the right side and found Marco Reus in the middle of the field. Reus sent Paintsil forward on a breakaway and the forward slid home his fourth goal of the season.
The Earthquakes got even in the 62nd minute after the Galaxy nearly coughed up an own goal on a clearance header that clanked off the crossbar.
The rebound came to the feet of San Jose’s Benji Kikanovich, who fired a shot that was knocked down in the penalty area. Roberts cleaned up a loose ball on the goal line for his second tally of the season.
Paintsil nearly gave Los Angeles the lead in the 83rd minute before Gunn used his right hand to swat away a shot headed toward the upper right corner of the goal.
While the Galaxy were without defenders Jakob Glesnes (yellow-card accumulation) and Emiro Garces (red card on Wednesday), the Earthquakes were without forward Preston Judd (yellow-card accumulation).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rams QB Ty Simpson becomes last first-round pick to sign
Jun 2, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws the ball during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Quarterback Ty Simpson became the last of the 2026 first-round draft picks to sign on Saturday, coming to terms with the Los Angeles Rams.
The rookie’s contract is fully guaranteed at four years and $25.4 million with a $14.9 signing bonus, NFL Network reported on Saturday.
The Rams, with reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford at quarterback, made a stunning selection in April by drafting Simpson with the 13th overall pick.
Simpson, projected as a second-rounder, passed for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 games at Alabama last season, his first as a starter. He now is projected to have time to develop as a backup to Stafford, 38.
The only other quarterback to be selected in the first round, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, went No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Heisman Trophy winner signed a four-year rookie deal worth a fully guaranteed $57.27 million which includes a fifth-year option.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Another Tiger possibly on trade block, Casey Mize, faces Royals
Jul 19, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize (12) pitches during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images The possibility of Tarik Skubal getting traded has loomed over the Tigers all season. But another key Detroit starter and impending free agent, Casey Mize, also could swap out uniforms if the Tigers choose to sell before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Mize could be making his last appearance with the club when the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon.
The 29-year-old right-hander has battled groin tightness at various times this season, but when he’s been on the mound, he has delivered quality innings. Mize (4-6, 2.79 ERA) has allowed two or fewer runs in 11 of his 15 starts.
Mize had his latest start, his first after the All-Star break, cut short when a comebacker from Los Angeles Angels’ Jo Adell struck his left wrist. He exited after 3 1/3 innings but didn’t have any lingering effects from the injury.
“I’m good,” Mize said, according to the Detroit News. “I (am) looking forward to Saturday. We’ve been checking all the boxes that we need to and I’m feeling good.”
Mize, who gave up one run and five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in Anaheim, Calif., is not dwelling on the trade speculation.
“Where we are as a team makes that more simple (to deal with),” Mize said. “There are so many unknowns. We’re in a 10-game sprint right now, and it takes tons of focus on what we’re doing here and now, day to day. That’s kind of how I’ve always played, so that makes it pretty easy to focus on that instead of the other stuff. I’m just leaning on that and really caring about what we’re doing right now.”
Mize hasn’t faced the Royals this season, but he has made more career starts against them than any other club. He is 3-2 with a 4.97 ERA in 13 starts vs. Kansas City. Royals catcher Salvador Perez has a .424 average with five extra-base hits against him in 33 at-bats.
Michael Wacha (5-7, 3.66) will start for the Royals. Wacha was sharp in his first start after his All-Star appearance, holding San Francisco to one run and three hits in six innings on Monday.
The 35-year-old right-hander had one of his best outings of the season against the Tigers on May 9, tossing seven scoreless innings. He only allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six.
In 11 career starts against Detroit, he is 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA.
Like Mize, Wacha is a potential trade candidate, as is another veteran Royals starter, Seth Lugo. Wacha is signed through next season with a club option for 2028.
“We’ll be open-minded to anything,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “But we have to be very, very pointed on what we want to get out of any one of those two. And it’s also, they made a commitment to us, and that’s big. And I think that’s important to the morale of the team.”
The Tigers have won three straight, including the first two games of the current four-game series. Skubal struck out 12 in 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball during the Tigers’ 2-1 victory on Friday.
Kansas City had won three straight prior to visiting Detroit, while the Tigers have won three in a row.
–Field Level Media
PK save in final minutes helps Galaxy earn tie vs. Earthquakes
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