Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie, 38, is retiring after a 16-year NHL career in which he won a Stanley Cup and became a U.S. Olympic hero.

He had missed this past season with a back injury.

He made the tear-filled announcement at the outdoor Washington Harbour venue where he and teammates jumped into the fountains as they celebrated winning the 2018 Stanley Cup.

‘To my family, friends, coaches, trainers, teammates, fans and to the game of hockey, I promise you this, from the moment my skates touched the ice, I gave you everything I had,’ Oshie said. ‘With that … I’d like to officially announce my retirement.’

Oshie, then with the St. Louis Blues, became a household name at the 2014 Sochi Olympics when he scored on four of six attempts in the shootout as the USA beat Russia 3-2 in the preliminary round.

His prowess in shootouts – he was 7-for-10 entering the Olympics – was a frequent topic of conversation when general manager David Poile and his selection committee chose the U.S. Olympic team roster. ‘You know at some point we are going to end up in a shootout, and we are going to want T.J. Oshie,’ Poile had said.

International rules allow teams to use a player over and over in shootouts once the initial three players go. Oshie, at one point, had to score or Russia would have won. He did and then eventually got the game-deciding goal.

The performance gave him the nickname ‘T.J. Sochi.’

Oshie was traded to the Capitals in July 2015 and quickly became a fan favorite and eventual alternate captain. He scored 26 goals and 33 goals his first two seasons in Washington, respectively.

He was due to become a free agent for the first time in his career but stayed with the Capitals after signing an eight-year contract.

‘I wanted to stay here for a lot of reasons but mostly because of my teammates,’ he said during the June 9 ceremony.

In 2018, his third season with the team, Oshie and the Capitals won the franchise’s lone Stanley Cup title. He had 21 points in 24 playoff games, a league-best six power play goals and two game-winning goals. He scored twice in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals to keep the Capitals’ hopes alive.

After the Capitals beat the Vegas Golden Knights for the championship, he shared the moment on the ice with his father, Tim, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years earlier.

“My dad. Oh boy. He doesn’t remember a lot of stuff these days,” he told NBCSN. “But he remembers enough. I tell you what – he’s here tonight. I don’t know where he’s at. But this one will stick with him forever. You can guarantee that.”

Tim Oshie died in May 2021, and T.J. Oshie scored a hat trick in his first game back. It was one of seven hat tricks in his career.

‘Man, what an amazing ride we had,’ Oshie said. ‘From Presidents’ trophies to heartbreaking losses to the Stanley Cup, we’d been through it all. I’ve been lucky in my life to be part of some amazing locker rooms, but the bond we have here in DC is special.’

Oshie finished his career with 302 goals, 393 assists and 695 points in 1,010 career games.

He also had 49 shootout goals (tied for third overall) and 21 game-deciding shootout goals (third overall).

(This story was updated with new information.)

The biggest stage in college baseball, the one that hundreds of teams across the country begin their seasons dreaming about in the dead of winter, is finally here.

With the end of the super regional round of the 2025 NCAA tournament, which wrapped up June 9 with Murray State’s 5-4 win against Duke, the eight-team field for the College World Series has been set, with festivities beginning on June 13 from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

Five of the eight teams remaining in the national championship hunt are national seeds, a group led by No. 3 Arkansas, which is seeking its first ever CWS title. Unlike last year, when the field was evenly split with four SEC teams and four ACC teams, seven different conferences are represented in the 2025 CWS, including Oregon State, which played as an independent program this season following the dissolution of the Pac-12.

Here’s a look at the College World Series bracket, including matchups, teams and the schedule:

College World Series matchups

The 2025 College World Series will open with four games. The winners of those games will advance to play one another while the losers will do the same, with the latter aiming to avoid elimination with a second loss.

Here’s a look at those opening matchups:

All times Eastern

• Friday, June 13: No. 13 Coastal Carolina vs. Arizona | 2 p.m. | ESPN (ESPN+)
• Friday, June 13: No. 8 Oregon State vs. Louisville | 7 p.m. | ESPN (ESPN+)
• Saturday, June 14: No. 15 UCLA vs. Murray State | 2 p.m. | ESPN (ESPN+)
• Saturday, June 14: No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 6 LSU | 7 p.m. | ESPN (ESPN+)

Watch the 2025 College World Series live with ESPN+

CWS schedule

• First day of CWS: Friday, June 13
• CWS championship series: June 21-June 22/23

The 2025 College World Series will begin on Friday, June 13. Eight days later, on June 21, the event’s championship series is set to start. It will run through June 22 or June 23, depending on whether the best-of-three series goes two or three games.

College World Series bracket

How does the College World Series work?

The College World Series is a double-elimination tournament that leads up to a best-of-three championship series between the final two teams remaining in the field.

For a deeper explanation on how the tournament works, click here.

Does the NCAA Baseball Tournament re-seed?

The NCAA tournament, including the College World Series, does not re-seed to pair lower matchups with higher ones.

That means that the two highest-seeded teams remaining in the CWS, No. 3 Arkansas and No. 6 LSU, will play each other since that was how the NCAA tournament bracket was set up, rather than having both the Razorbacks and Tigers take on the lowest-seeded teams remaining.

Who is in the College World Series?

• No. 3 Arkansas
• No. 6 LSU
• No. 8 Oregon State
• No. 13 Coastal Carolina
• No. 15 UCLA
• Arizona
• Louisville
• Murray State

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On his 86th birthday, Dick Vitale got a pair of gifts he won’t soon forget.

The legendary ESPN college basketball analyst has signed a multi-year contract extension through the 2027-28 season, the network announced on June 9.

Additionally, ESPN unveiled the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, an annual men’s college basketball event that will honor the color commentator and former coach. The inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational will feature Duke against Texas on Nov. 4 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I couldn’t believe it when I got the call from ESPN,” Vitale said to ESPN. “They said, ‘we want to have a big game called the Dick Vitale Invitational.’ I said, ‘are you serious?!’ All of the people at ESPN, starting with (ESPN chairman) Jimmy Pitaro, and all of my friends and colleagues have been so great to me especially with my recent battles with cancer. They’ve been by my side from day one and to do this is unbelievable. Long after I’m gone, to still have a game out there with my name attached to it? Wow, that is truly unbelievable!”

Vitale has been with ESPN since 1979, joining as a college basketball analyst shortly after the network went on the air. During that time, he has called over 1,000 games and become synonymous with ESPN’s college basketball coverage with his high energy, colorful personality and famous catchphrases. 

His latest contract will stretch his ESPN tenure to nearly 50 years.

Vitale’s on-air work has earned him induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. In April, he received the Dean Smith Award, which is given out annually by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to “an individual in college basketball who embodies the spirit and values” of the iconic former North Carolina coach.

Vitale has been a more infrequent presence on ESPN over the past several years as he has undergone treatment for various forms of cancer. He called his first game in nearly two years in February, when Clemson upset No. 2 Duke.

“Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all,” Pitaro said in a statement. “Through the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, we will celebrate him and his profound impact on the sport. We are also thrilled that Dick will remain a signature voice on ESPN through the 2027-28 season.”

INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark’s favorite color is blue. Outside of the gym, she’s happiest being on the water or a golf course. She says the same thing to teammate Aliyah Boston before every Indiana Fever game.

When you buy one of the basketballs in Clark’s new line from Wilson, you’re not just getting a ball. You’re getting a glimpse of Clark herself.

The colors, the patterns, the detailing — all are the result of months-long conversations between Clark and Wilson’s design team about who she is, what she likes and what messages she wants to send to young fans.

“It was a really fun process for me to go through,” Clark told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s things that are super important to me and all very different things, too, throughout my life. So hopefully they can make an impact on whoever’s going to pick the ball up.”

Clark joined Michael Jordan as the only athletes with full basketball collections for Wilson, signing a multiyear sponsorship deal in May 2024 with the official manufacturer of basketballs for the WNBA, NBA and NCAA. In part because of the short turnaround time before the release of her first signature ball last October, Clark’s first line leaned heavily into history. The records she broke at Iowa. Her historic rookie season with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.

But Clark and Wilson knew they wanted future lines to be more personal, reflecting who Clark is as a person as much as a player.

“She’s actually influencing this. It’s not just people at Wilson picking the design,” Hudson Vantrease, director of product design at Wilson, said.

“We never wanted to just put her name on a ball and call it a day,” he added. “We want to tell the most compelling story, and having her as part of that is a positive to it.”

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Wilson invited USA TODAY Sports to attend the design team meeting in April where Clark saw the finished basketballs for the first time. The design team also gave USA TODAY Sports a behind-the-scenes look at the collaboration process with Clark for the latest collection, which will be released June 23.

There are four balls in the collection, and they differ in both purpose (one is an indoor-only ball, one is outdoor-only and two can be used either indoors or outdoors) and price point. One, the Embrace, is an Evo NXT basketball, meaning it has the same construction as a regulation W ball and could be used in official games.

“Awesome. Awesome, awesome, awesome,” Clark said when she walked into the Indiana Fever’s practice gym and saw the four new basketballs. “You guys killed it.”

The team responsible for developing Clark’s line has about a dozen core members. They met with Clark at last year’s All-Star Game and got her initial thoughts about the collection, including what a young Caitlin Clark would have wanted.

“I think she said a blue ball,” said Haley Reines, the product line manager at Wilson.

Afterward, Reines and product designer Julia Muscarello sent Clark a detailed questionnaire, asking her everything from her favorite color (blue) to her hobbies outside of basketball (golf, being on the water) to what she’d be if she wasn’t a basketball player (chef). They also monitored social media, taking note of Clark’s clothes — there’s an Instagram account devoted to her fits — and what she does off the court.

“I don’t want to say borderline stalking, but yeah,” Muscarello said with a laugh. “I was trying to stay on the Caitlin pulse.”

Those answers and details drove the design process, which involved “hundreds” of hours.

Christopher Rickert, the senior director of global production at Wilson, said the team began with 50 design ideas and whittled them down. Sometimes the color wasn’t right. Sometimes the pattern didn’t work. Sometimes what seemed like a great idea on paper didn’t quite translate into reality.

When the team had 10 ideas, they sent the designs to Clark for her thoughts. There were further tweaks, and prototypes were made to make sure the designs looked the same on an actual basketball as they did in drawings.

The four designs ultimately chosen for this year’s line all have very different looks, but there’s a commonality to all of them.

Clark.

“Whenever I do something, I want to make it the best product possible for people. But also I feel like this is an easy way for me to connect with my fans,” Clark said of being so involved in the design process.

“I want it to feel very personal for them, too. They can connect with me, not just by watching me on TV or coming and buying a ticket to a game.”

Take the Oasis ball, which can be used indoors and outdoors. Clark told Reines and Muscarello that her favorite color is blue, she likes pastels and her happy places are the water and golf course. So the panels of the Oasis ball are white and light blue, and the light blue panels have what looks like pink and green splashes of paint but is actually an abstract drawing of a golf course.  

Clark picked up on it right away when she saw the ball.

“That looks like a hole on a golf course!” she exclaimed.

Light blue is also the shade used for the pattern on the Envision, an outdoor ball. At first glance, it looks like a maze, but it’s really the words “DREAM BIG.” That phrase is also on the Aspire, an indoor/outdoor ball that at first appears to be white or grey. Put it in the sunlight, however, and the phrases “Dream Big,” “Keep Going” and “You’re Going to Be Amazing Because You Are Amazing” emerge in bold, Fever-red letters.

That last phrase is what Clark says to Boston before every game.

“See, she loves it!” Clark said, pointing to a picture of her and Boston on the bench that was on the design team’s planning whiteboard. “We’ll get her a free basketball. She’ll love it. I’m going to put it in her locker.”

Because the Embrace is an official basketball, it cannot have any obvious detailing. Look closely, though, and you can see a pattern — again, light blue — within the Wilson logo and in what looks like a sunburst around the airhole. Both are the visual representation of the decibel level at a Fever game; the Wilson team took an audio file of the sound and made a graphic out of it.

“Fans really admire how she just plays so well under pressure,” Muscarello said. “Sometimes it’s OK to embrace the noise.”

Though Clark had been involved in every step of the design process, seeing the basketballs on a computer screen is very different than holding the finished product. Clark picked up each of the basketballs and examined it, taking note of the different details. She spun each ball and shifted it from one hand to the other.

She also studied the design team’s white boards, pointing to some of the notes and photos.

Though she initially seemed most taken by the Oasis ball, she was fascinated with the Envision’s UV technology and said she’d have loved to have had a basketball that revealed “secret” messages when she was a kid.

She also was impressed that Wilson’s design team was able to turn a decibel meter reading into a design.

“They’re all unique in their own way. They all have different things I love about them,” Clark said. “I think they each serve their own purpose and are different.

“So I guess you have to buy ’em all!” she added, laughing.

While there will be some fans who buy the whole collection, whether to use or keep as memorabilia, Clark was conscious of not pricing any fans out of the new line. Two of the balls are less than $50, with the outdoor Envision ball costing $27.95 and the Oasis indoor ball priced at $49.95, while the Aspire outdoor ball is $54.95.

The Embrace, which is Wilson’s premium Evo NXT basketball, costs $124.95.

All the balls will be available on Wilson’s website and at retail sporting goods stores. Last year’s collection sold out almost immediately and, given the appetite for all things Clark, it’s a good bet this one will, too.

“It’s kind of cool to see how the balls came back and they feel very `me,’” Clark told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s what I love about it. I feel like I’m sharing part of my life and my journey with people.

‘I could have never dreamed (as a child) to have something like this,’ she added. ‘It’s pretty special.’

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

Those hoping for the return of Caitlin Clark will have to wait a little bit longer.

The Indiana Fever had a health update on their star’s immediate status after Clark was back at practice ahead of Tuesday’s game against Atlanta Dream, which was slated to be the earliest date for her return based on the initial prognosis. Coach Stephanie White confirmed to reporters that Clark has made progress since suffering a left quad injury two weeks ago, but the team is still ‘going to be cautious’ with her.

Clark has already missed four consecutive games after suffering the injury May 24 against the Liberty. The Fever have a 2-2 record without her in the lineup this season. They beat the Chicago Sky, 79-52, in their most recent outing.

Here’s everything to know about Clark’s status for Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Dream, including the latest comments from Clark and White on the injury recovery process:

Is Caitlin Clark playing Tuesday vs Atlanta Dream?

No. White told reporters after practice Monday that Clark is expected to miss her fifth consecutive game while recovering from a left quad injury. White said that while both Clark and fellow injured Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham have returned to practice, the team wants to make sure they are in basketball shape before returning to a WNBA regular-season game.

‘It’s one thing to do some shooting drills. It’s another thing to get out there on the floor, get into movement patterns, rhythm, timing,’ White said, according to the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Sports Network. ‘… so picking and choosing the things they can be in in practice, so we can see their progression. Both of them being out for long periods of time, you’ve got to work your way into being game ready.’

The next possible chance for Clark to return from injury is Saturday, June 14 vs. the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty.

Caitlin Clark injury update

Clark suffered a left quad strain during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty on May 24, but the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year said she doesn’t know the specific play that caused her injury. She only knows it happened early in the contest. She got an MRI upon feeling pain after the game that revealed her left quad strain.

The Fever initially announced Clark would be sidelined for at least two weeks, meaning the earliest she could return to the lineup would be Tuesday’s game at the Atlanta Dream. Clark said last week there was a ‘possibility’ for her to return then, but added that she wouldn’t ‘rush back if it’s not worth it.’

‘We’re trying not to put an exact date out there, because it is kind of a day-by-day thing and see how I feel,’ Clark said Thursday. ‘It’s the type of injury, like, you don’t know. When I wake up, I’ll feel different than the day before. We’ll see.’

White added more context to Clark’s outlook when asked Monday if Clark had been medically cleared for basketball activities after team doctors re-evaluated her during the weekend.

‘I don’t know if cleared is the right word,’ the Fever coach said. ‘We’re ready to start ramping back up and make sure. It’s completely different when you’re doing one-on-one workouts and when you’re out there in five-on-five getting up-and-down the floor, moving laterally. So she’s been allowed to do some practicing, not everything, and we’re going to be smart. We’re going to be cautious, and we’re going to play the long game and work her back in very intentionally.’

Caitlin Clark stats

Clark leads the WNBA in assists per game to start the 2025 season. Here’s a look at the 2024 Rookie of the Year’s full stats (per game):

• Minutes: 35.0
• Points: 19.0
• Rebounds: 6.0
• Assists: 9.3
• Steals: 1.3
• Blocks: 1.0
• Turnovers: 5.0
• FG%: 40.3
• 3PT%: 31.4
• Games played: 4

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An NFL player’s rookie season can set a course for his professional career, but Year 2 is hardly too late to blaze a new path.

Even with the likes of Jayden Daniels and Brock Bowers flourish almost immediately, instantaneous success can be difficult to come by in the NFL for first-year players. Many of the most accomplished draft picks spend their inaugural campaigns getting up to speed with their playbooks and adjusting to a higher level of competition, leaving them ill-equipped to showcase their full skill set. But a horde of the 2024 NFL Draft class is now learning how vital the first full offseason as part of a team can be, as there’s ample time to adjust after slipping up or receiving limited opportunities.

Here are nine second-year players who need to step up this fall after rough rookie seasons:

Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

What’s left to say about one of the most tumultuous starts in some time for a historically hyped passer? With Ben Johnson coming aboard as head coach and play caller and the interior offensive line reconstructed with proven veterans, the No. 1 pick looked poised to leave last season fully behind him. But details released from the forthcoming book by ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, who reported Williams and his father sought to find a way to avoid the Bears, served as a reminder just how hard it will be for both the quarterback and the organization to shake the past.

The controversy hasn’t killed the good vibes of a Bears offseason that was nothing short of transformative. With Johnson calling the shots, Williams will have someone who not only can drill down on the finer points of quarterback play and schematic concerns but also a figure who wants to turn the attack loose. That mentality should jell well with that of the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, whose preternatural sense for igniting big plays was often canceled out by the wider ineptitude of the league’s last-ranked offense.

Questions remain about how Williams will embrace playing on schedule and within structure given how rhythmic Johnson’s prolific offenses for the Detroit Lions were. But after taking a league-worst 68 sacks last season, Williams should be eager to minimize punishment in the early going by taking advantage of quick hits and boosting his league-low checkdown rate of 7.1%, according to Pro Football Focus. And with massive improvements in protection as well as the expected strides that the rejuvenated receiving corps should make, support shouldn’t be a pressing question anymore.

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

By any measure, a rookie season that entailed 885 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches can hardly be considered a failure. But Harrison has been dealing with outsized expectations his entire life, and in a year that was shaped by the breakout performances of fellow first-year receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison didn’t clear the sky-high bar that accompanied him into the NFL as the No. 4 pick.

After Harrison had a stunningly quiet introduction into the NFL with one catch on three targets, Kyler Murray frequently seemed to force the issue with his new standout pass catcher. The result: Harrison hauled in just 62 of his 116 targets, with the off-kilter chemistry between Murray and the Ohio State product requiring further work.

Darius Robinson, DE, Cardinals

When Robinson was selected with the No. 27 overall pick, it was widely understood that the 6-5, 285-pounder would take time to translate his considerable physical tools into consistent production. But after a strong start in training camp, he suffered a calf injury in August that would sideline him for all but the last six games of the season. With his mother dying in October, Robinson later called it ‘the hardest year of my life.’

A busy Cardinals offseason brought a robust investment in the defense, with Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, Calais Campbell and first-rounder Walter Nolen III all coming aboard to boost Jonathan Gannon’s pass rush. But Robinson’s forcefulness should remain a vital asset for the front given that the defense ranked 28th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric and was middling against the run.

The arrival of Campbell could prove to be a particular boon to Robinson’s development. The six-time Pro Bowler learned how to get the most out of his massive frame (6-8, 307 pounds), and his tutelage should help Robinson develop a better pass rush plan and more comfort using counters.

Tyler Guyton, OT, Dallas Cowboys

A rough transition to the professional level seemed inevitable for Guyton, a 6-8, 322-pound former H-back who offered an enticing package of athleticism but lacked the refinement to engender much trust as a rookie as he flipped from right tackle to the left side. The No. 29 overall pick started 11 games for the Cowboys and proved to be a weak link for the line, committing 18 penalties while struggling mightily against in both pass protection and run blocking.

‘I’m not going to make any excuses,’ Guyton said last week. ‘I just didn’t play as good as I needed to last year. I’m coming with a different attitude this year to become last week a better player.’

His commitment has drawn the attention of Dallas’ new coaching staff, with head coach Brian Schottenheimer saying Guyton has had a ‘terrific’ offseason so far. Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who helped the Cardinals build a punishing identity up front despite underwhelming overall talent, should be a major asset for a player behind the curve on positional knowhow. Crafty edge rushers still could pose a problem – and there are plenty waiting on the Cowboys’ schedule – but the arrow is decidedly pointed in the right direction for Guyton’s trajectory heading into training camp.

Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers

In the lead-up to his year’s draft, Dave Canales repeatedly backed Legette despite the No. 32 overall pick having his rookie season largely defined by his seven drops, including one that doomed the Panthers’ push for a December upset of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Then, Carolina took wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 8 overall pick in April. Within a year, a player who once looked central to Bryce Young’s development now appeared to be shunted to the side.

Canales, however, isn’t taking that view point even with McMillan aboard.

‘I think, you know, with T-Mac coming into the room, again, it’s just options,’ Canales said in May, according to the Panthers’ site. ‘It opens things up, and it creates a little bit of balance where the field doesn’t tilt one way or the other. So you have two guys who can make it happen outside, and that’s a good thing.’

The connection between Young – who was benched in Week 2 but resumed his starting spot after filling in for an injured Andy Dalton later in the season – and Legette was clearly off throughout the 2024 campaign, with the receiver hauling in just 49 of his team-leading 84 targets. Legette didn’t play a leading role in the blossoming of the downfield passing attack later in the year, as the pass catcher never had more than 60 yards in a game after Week 3. Meanwhile, undrafted free agent Jalen Coker cleared that bar four times for the Panthers last fall.

Between the arrival of McMillan and the emergence of Coker, Legette looks unlikely to operate as the true No. 1 receiver some might have hoped he would become, with a downtick in his targe share likely in order his season. But the 6-3, 227-pounder remains an imposing matchup as a vertical threat, and a more robust receiving corps should allow Young to attack defenses in a more complete manner after plenty of challenges to start his career. Ultimately, the Year 2 outcome might hinge on whether his back-to-basics offseason work on catching with his hands rather than his body helps Legette secure the big plays that fell through his fingertips last season.

Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, New England Patriots

The arrival of a new coaching staff after can often spell trouble for young players coming off a disappointing season, with the new regime typically not placing much weight on previous investments of draft capital. While the hiring of Mike Vrabel could produce a necessary reset, Polk should be on alert as he tries to prove himself after a woeful professional debut.

The No. 37 pick in last year’s draft posted just 12 receptions for 87 yards on 33 targets in 2024. Adding to the sting: The Patriots could have grabbed Ladd McConkey, who led the Los Angeles Chargers with 1,149 last season, but instead traded back three spots and nabbed Polk. With New England adding Stefon Diggs and third-rounder Kyle Williams to the receiving corps, it hardly seems as though the team is content to bide its time for a player who still has so far to go to provide a meaningful boost to Drake Maye.

Maybe the hire of Josh McDaniels and a more streamlined offense will point Polk toward greater contributions this fall. With Maye gaining more confidence and the unit better equipped to attack downfield, the 6-1, 205-pound receiver might have more opportunities to leverage his skills operating in contested-catch scenarios. But given his first impression – and how the team responded – a turnaround is far from a guarantee.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Freeing himself from coverage has never been a problem for Mitchell. The 6-2, 205-pound target routinely snapped off quick changes of direction to shake cornerbacks or merely raced past them, with his 91 open score in ESPN’s receiver metrics tying him for ninth in the league with Tyreek Hill and Zay Flowers.

Capitalizing on those opportunities was another matter entirely.

The second-round pick from Texas brought in just 23 of his 55 targets for 312 yards. Much of that could be traced back to Anthony Richardson, who completed just 47.7% of his passes last year and repeatedly overthrow Mitchell when the receiver was in prime position deep downfield. But some of the on-field problems that prompted his surprising tumble to Day 2 of the draft – including inconsistent precision and urgency – flared up once again.

‘(He’s) just young,’ Colts general manager Chris Ballard said after the season. ‘… Like any young player, there’s going to be a maturation process with him. And he has some definitely really strong moments, but we need more consistent moments from him.’

For Mitchell, however, any path toward reaching those moments isn’t very clear at this point. While the Colts primarily used Mitchell as a deep threat, Alec Pierce averaged a league-best 22.3 yards per reception in 2024 in that capacity and could be a candidate for an extension. Indianapolis also returns two other receivers who eclipsed 800 receiving yards last season in Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs, and the offense will also be breaking in first-round tight end Tyler Warren. Unless an injury opens up an avenue for more playing time, a successful season might simply constitute sharpening his skills and earning more trust.

Kingsley Suamataia, G, Kansas City Chiefs

There are few jobs within the NFL more difficult for a 21-year-old rookie to take on than serving as Patrick Mahomes’ blindside protector. Nevertheless, Suamataia was pushed into the spot just months after being taken as a second-round draft pick out of BYU.

Things unraveled almost immediately, with the Chiefs pulling the rookie lineman late in a Week 2 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals in which he surrendered two sacks and was flagged twice for holding the league’s eventual sack king in Trey Hendrickson. But his resurfacing with a start at offensive guard in the regular-season finale might have been the shift necessary to get his pro career back on track.

“We moved him there for that second Denver game, so I mentioned that was one of the positives – the only positive that came out of that game – but I thought he did a nice job there, so we’re moving him in there,’ Chiefs coach Andy Reid said in late May. ‘Listen, (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) runs a million different looks, so this is the best thing for him, to get in there and have a bunch of things thrown at him, and he’s doing a nice job so far.”

With Kansas City having traded Joe Thuney to the Bears, Suamataia now has a chance to seize the starting left guard spot if he can beat out Mike Caliendo, who took over when Thuney kicked out to left tackle late in the season. Working on the interior might help accentuate Suamataia’s strengths and leave him less vulnerable in obvious passing situations, as his tendency to overset to compensate for recovery shortcomings created abundant issues when dealing with edge rushers.

Jermaine Burton, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Third-rounders typically don’t need to worry about their standing after just one year, even in the most trying circumstances. But while the Bengals didn’t cut ties with Burton despite the receiver’s disappointing rookie year culminating with him being left at home for the regular-season finale, it’s clear massive changes are needed for a course correction.

“Nobody should be happy with it,” Burton said last week when asked about the benching. “I was very disappointed, but it’s something that I moved on from, and grew from, and can’t wait, looking forward, really looking forward to this year.”

With Andrei Iosivas having solidified his standing as the No. 3 receiver behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins while Mike Gesicki returns at tight end, any substantial offensive contributions are likely out of reach for Burton in the near future. What matters now is not just getting in coaches’ good graces but staying there. While a spot as a backup should be secure given the Bengals’ inaction in bringing in any outside competition this offseason, Burton is one of the few players who might stand to benefit from establishing a pattern of overall reliability rather than the flash plays he’s already shown himself capable of.

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PITTSBURGH — Drop the name of Aaron Rodgers to a couple of friendly strangers in the Steel City and it doesn’t matter that you’ve just met. Pass the truth serum. In these parts, where the fans bleed Black and Gold, it seems that everybody has some passionate opinion about the new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback.

“I was expecting this to happen,” Corrine Farrell said. ‘But I’m extremely disappointed with the Steelers organization.”

As Farrell broke down her reasoning with USA TODAY Sports on a plaza at PNC Park before the Pirates took on the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night – she is skeptical of how Rodgers will impact locker room chemistry, wonders about the one-year commitment and among other concerns, didn’t feel his anti-vax stance — Arianna Lower sat behind her and provided background optics.

Lower flashed a thumb-down and shook her head.

“Steelers fans, we’ve been through the ringer,” Lower said. “I just want something to last. I want a Josh Allen.”

Taking the pulse from fans about Rodgers, 41, was quite the exercise during a rain delay that pushed back the first pitch. And it was apparent that for all the items on Rodgers’ agenda as he seeks to regain the form that allowed him to earn four NFL MVP awards, winning over the Steelers’ rabid fan base is also a legitimate challenge.

Master a new system. Mesh with new teammates. Adapt to a new city. Shoot, convincing Steelers Nation that he is the answer might be tougher than any of that.

Of course, winning can change hearts and minds – and well, winning big when considering a franchise that has never had a losing season in coach Mike Tomlin’s 18-year tenure but hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016 – but there is no free pass.

Never mind a grace period. Rodgers, whose one-year contract could pay $19.5 million with incentives and guarantees $10 million, according to ESPN, seemingly gets little, if any, grace from the fan base.

“My honest opinion, I’m not happy about it,” Ron Stadler, another lifelong fan, declared. “I wanted to see Mason Rudolph get a chance.”

He added, “I have a lot of friends that feel the same way.”

And a son, too. He summoned Ron Stadler, Jr., standing a few feet away. And the forty-something son was a lot less diplomatic.

“No, not optimistic at all,” Stadler, Jr. said. “I wish he’d have retired already. He sucks.”

Say what? About a four-time NFL MVP?

“Look at his record the last three years,” Stadler, Jr. shot back. “And he’s almost as old as me. C’mon, Tomlin.”

Rodgers, set to participate in the Steelers’ minicamp that opens Tuesday, joins a quarterback room that includes Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and sixth-round rookie Will Howard. His two seasons with the New York Jets included a torn Achilles tendon that wiped out his 2023 campaign after four plays and a meltdown in 2024 that extended way beyond the quarterbacking and including the early season firing of coach Robert Saleh.

The skepticism for another fresh start, though, may be even worse when assessing reaction on social media since the much-anticipated news finally broke on Thursday that Rodgers would join the Steelers for his 21st NFL season.

Maybe the most extreme damnation came from a (now-ex) Steelers fan who posted a video on social media that went viral. In the video, the man renounced his fan loyalty and burned a signed Minkah Fitzpatrick jersey.

Sorry, Minkah. The jersey became a convenient prop. It’s not like the five-time Pro Bowl safety is making the personnel decisions.

“First off, why Minkah’s jersey? That’s bonkers,” Cam Heyward, the veteran defensive tackle, said in a rebuttal post on X. “Second, why burn (it) when there are plenty of people who need clothes? Third, you’re going to regret it.”

Leave it to Heyward, team captain and well-respected locker room presence, to lend a voice of reason to the mix.

Still, from the jersey-burning guy to the handful of fans encountered at the baseball game, there’s something to be drawn about the psyche of Steelers fans.

As Tomlin is prone to state, “The standard is the standard.’

For followers of a franchise that has won six Super Bowls, that means a championship standard, which is why the drought cuts so deeply. Last season’s championship visions, with Russell Wilson supplanting Justin Fields at quarterback, unraveled so fast down the stretch. The Steelers went from 10-3 in mid-December to losing their final five games, including another first-round playoff knockout.

Maybe Rodgers will be the difference-maker at quarterback that Pittsburgh hasn’t had since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season. After all, Tom Brady was 43 during the 2020 campaign when he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl 55 crown.

“I’m not going to hold my breath,” Farrell said of the prospect of a deep playoff run.

“I go into every season optimistic,” she allowed. “I’m really hoping, although I don’t like him, that maybe he changes things to the point that we win more than nine games.”

Hey, optimism isn’t extinct after all. Voices of positivity remain. You just have to dig a bit deeper these days to find it coming from a Steelers fan.

“I’m real excited,” maintained Austin Patton, another Steeler fan lifer. “No other quarterback on the roster is better. His experience is huge. Tom Brady did the same thing.”

He knows. His is not the popular opinion.

“A lot of people hate, but every year I think they’re going to the Super Bowl,” Patton added. “Maybe there’s a bit of delusion…”

Or with Rodgers’ arrival, just another reason to express some serious passion.

Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: @JarrettBell

The Houston Texans have added another running back into their backfield mix in 2025.

Former Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb has passed a physical and signed with the Texans, the team announced on Monday evening. The official news of the signing comes one day after initial reports first broke.

Houston will be just the second team Chubb will play for in his career. He spent each of his seven previous seasons with the Browns after the team selected him with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Chubb will turn 30 in December and is coming off of two straight injury-shortened seasons.

He suffered a torn MCL and damaged ACL in a Week 2 game that ended his season early in 2023 and kept him out of action until Week 7 last year. The Georgia product made it through eight games in his return as the Browns’ starting running back until he broke his foot in Week 15.

In eight games during the 2024 season, Chubb compiled 332 yards on 102 rushes (3.3 yards per carry) and three rushing touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 31 yards and added a receiving touchdown as well.

Chubb will potentially join a backfield that already features Joe Mixon. Houston is coming off of a 10-7 season and will try to claim its third consecutive AFC South crown in 2025.