Author: Charles

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The Rams will be without WR Puka Nacua in Week 7 against the Jaguars.

The LA Rams have ruled out wide receiver Puka Nacua for the team’s Week 7 game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Nacua suffered an ankle injury in last week’s game. His status for Sunday’s contest had been up in the air all week.

“He’s making good progress,” said Rams coach Sean McVay. “I am very optimistic about hopefully having him ready after the bye. I think it’ll serve him well and I have confidence in our other receivers to be able to step up.”

Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL up to this point in the season. Through five-plus games, he had caught 54 passes for 616 yards with two touchdowns. Nacua has surpassed 100 receiving yards in three of six games.

Compared to the rest of the NFL, Nacua is first in receptions and second in receiving yards, according to PFF.

The Jaguars‘ pass defense currently ranks 22nd in the NFL, allowing 6.9 yards per pass.

Along with not having Nacua, the Rams have also ruled out right tackle Rob Havenstein. In for Havenstein the last two games has been Warren McClendon — a fifth-round draft pick in 2023.

Rams WR Puka Nacua and RT Rob Havenstein are OUT for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.

Everyone else is good to go.

— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) October 17, 2025

Barcelona have confirmed that Ferran Torres will miss tomorrow’s LaLiga clash against Girona after failing to recover from a knock.  

The Spanish forward picked up a hamstring injury in Spain’s 2-1 victory over Georgia during the international break.  

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick is left with a selection headache, as six stars are already ruled out due to injuries. 

Raphinha, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, Joan García and Marc-André ter Stegen are out with injuries. 

The good news for them is that attackers Lamine Yamal and Fermín López are confirmed as fit to play alongside other attacking options of Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji. 

Barca have back-to-back matches against Girona and Olympiacos before travelling to Madrid for their first Clásico of the season against league leaders Real Madrid on October 26. 

Hansi Flick’s men will head into tomorrow’s match on the back of a 4-1 loss against Sevilla in La Liga and a 2-1 loss against Paris Saint-German in the Champions League before the international break. 

Before losing to Sevilla, Barcelona enjoyed a strong start to the season, with six wins and one draw in their opening eight matches. 

They are currently two points behind leaders Real Madrid; a win tomorrow would see them go top of the table, at least briefly, with El Clásico in sight.  

The homeside currently play their matches at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys while Camp Nou is undergoing renovations. 

Heading into tomorrow’s match, Barcelona have won seven out of their last 11 meetings against Girona.  

Meanwhile Girona head into the match against Barcelona on the back of a 2-1 win over Valencia before the international break. 

The win saw Girona claim their first victory of the season after a tough start to their campaign.  

Míchel saw his side suffer heavy defeats against Rayo Vallencano, Villarreal and Sevilla, but his side remain unbeaten in their last three matches and have only lost one in their last five in La Liga.  

The visitors sit 17^th in La Liga on level points with 18^th placed Real Oviedo and will be without seven players. 

Juan Carlos, David López, Abel Ruiz, Viktor Tsygankov, Azzedine Ounahi, and Donny van de Beek are ruled out with injuries, while Iván Martín and Alejandro Francés are suspended . 

The match between Barcelona and Girona will be live for broadcast in the UK on Premier Sports 1 at 3:15pm BST. 

The Boston Red Sox have one big decision to make this offseason: whether or not to re-sign superstar Alex Bregman. With the current consensus being that the Sox will re-sign him, they still may pursue other options. 

And, it seems like they will at least pursue a backup plan. According to Dean Ciriaco, the Sox are expected to meet with two-time NPB MVP Munetaka Murakami, as they view him as a replacement for Bregman if push comes to shove.

MORE: Cubs linked to $7.75 million former Cy Young candidate, would create 1-2 punch with Shota Imanaga

“I am hearing that the Red Sox fully intend on meeting with Munetaka Murakami and that they view him as a potential replacement to Alex Bregman,” Ciriaco posted. 

Ciriaco continued, stating that he believes the Sox should move on from Bregman, and presumably pursue Murakami, as Bregman isn’t worth the money.

“Whether you like it or not, Bregman was not worth the $40 million. He produced around $28 million worth of value. Time to move on,” Ciriaco concluded. 

MORE: Red Sox predicted to deal Jarren Duran for $53 million All-Star ace in blockbuster trade

This season, Bregman was only able to play 114 games due to injury, but he still slashed .273/.360/.462/.821 with 28 doubles, 18 homers, and 62 RBI. He also brings leadership to the clubhouse and other intangibles that no one else brings. 

So, in a perfect world, the Sox re-sign Bregman, even with the down year. However, that shouldn’t stop them from pursuing Murakami; on the contrary, they need to get him too, and put him at first or DH. That will be proof that they are all-in on winning, and they intend to bring the dynasty back.

MORE MLB NEWS

Giants predicted to be top landing spot for $7.75 million former Cy Young candidate to replace Justin Verlander

Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow reveals team’s position on what type of pitching acquisitions they will target

Yankees predicted to trade for $22.5 million Cy Young to create super rotation, would headline with Gerrit Cole

The Tennessee Titans host the New England Patriots at Nissan Stadium this Sunday, and it’s a game with a lot of storylines. Former head coach Mike Vrabel returns to Nashville for the first time since his firing in 2023. Brian Callahan was fired as Vrabel’s replacement earlier this week, which also saw Bill Callahan resign as offensive line coach. The Patriots are surging in Drake Maye’s second year, and the Titans are struggling to find footing behind Cam Ward.

There are a lot of intricate nuances in this game that will affect the players on the field. The Titans could either respond with explosive play or fall flat on their faces, which will impact players on both sides of the ball. When that happens, it impacts each player’s fantasy value, so while there are several players in this game that you might start, should you?

Let’s take a look at four fantasy players to start and sit, and one sleeper in this Week 7 matchup.

Start: QB Drake Maye

Maye is having a surprisingly good sophomore season. Rather than a slump, he seems to be on the rise. He’s thrown 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions through the first six weeks, and has just one game with fewer than 261 yards passing. The Titans’ pass defense isn’t great, and if they allow Maye to get the ball off, the target is likely to catch it. He spreads the ball around, not afraid to use all of his weapons, and has two rushing touchdowns as well. He’s a definite start in any league against the Titans in Week 7.

Sit: WR Stefon Diggs

Diggs is questionable to play this week with a chest injury, but that’s not the only reason to sit him this week. He has been inconsistent all season, despite being the Patriots’ top target. He will be facing L’Jarius Sneed and Darrell Baker Jr., both of whom have played well the last couple of weeks. Plus, the Patriots spread the ball around often. He’s a flex option, at best, in Week 7.

Start: TE Chig Okonkwo

This might sound crazy, but the Patriots rank 26th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. They have an incredibly stout run defense, and with Patrick Surtain holding down the secondary, the middle third of the field provides the most opportunity for Cam Ward. Chig is the second-most targeted receiver for the Titans, and with Calvin Ridley questionable to play, Okonkwo is poised to get increased targets. Use caution, here, he’s not a TE1 option most weeks, but he could see a big week against the Broncos.

Sit: RB Tony Pollard

Pollard has been so-so this season. He’s done a little bit, enough for everyone to continue to trust him with the ball, but he has done it quietly. He averages just 3.9 yards per carry and has just two rushing touchdowns on the season. Against the Broncos, Pollard isn’t a good option in any league.

Sleeper: RB TreVeyon Henderson

The Titans have the 26th-ranked run defense in the NFL, and they give up the second-most fantasy points to running backs (22.67). Henderson only got 29% of the snap share in Week 6, but he converted 10 carries into 36 yards while Rhamondre Stevenson logged 13 carries for only 18 yards. The Titans have allowed nine rushing touchdowns through six weeks, and Henderson is looking for his breakout game. It comes at the expense of the Titans in Week 7.

Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice is set to return this week when Kansas City plays Las Vegas.

Count offensive coordinator Matt Nagy among those who can’t wait to see what Rice is able to do on the field.

“Rashee, his growth from rookie year to last year, unfortunately getting hurt to now, this year the word is just exciting, optimistic,” Nagy said in his Thursday press conference. “The kid has done so much on and off the field to better himself, both as a person and a player. I think you feel that and see that with the love and friendship that these guys have internally. You see that [and] you feel it.

“I half get goosebumps just thinking about when he goes out there and what he does to this offense. There is an excitement that you have — remember now he hasn’t played for a little while, so there is a little bit of some realness to it too. But that’s the beauty of what [G.M.] Brett Veach and [head] coach [Andy] Reid have done with the depth that we have in this offense. I think it’s been stated that there hasn’t been a whole lot of plays and games that the three of those guys have played together, and now we get to do that.”

By those three guys, Nagy means Rice, Hollywood Brown, and Xavier Worthy.

Before tearing his ACL last year, Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards with two touchdowns in four games. He had 79 receptions for 938 yards with seven TDs as a rookie in 2023.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 29: Leon Bailey of Villa during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between Aston Villa FC and Celtic FC at Villa Park on January 29, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Leon Bailey is still unavailable for Roma, but Gian Piero Gasperini hopes the Aston Villa loanee will return to action in one or two weeks: ‘The encouraging thing is that we are close now, after eight weeks.’

Bailey joined Roma on an initial loan deal from Aston Villa over the summer, but has yet to make his debut with the Giallorossi.

The Jamaica international suffered a muscle injury during his very first training session with the Giallorossi in August.

The Aston Villa loanee partially trained with the group earlier this week, but is still not fit to feature in a competitive match.

Gasperini provides Bailey injury update

“Bailey won’t be available; hopefully, he’ll be back next week. As always, after a break, the team is split into two groups,” Gasperini said at a press conference on Friday (via Romanews), ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Inter.

“Those who played with their national teams had the first training session yesterday. Ndicka will return to training today, that’s normal after breaks. All the others had a good week of work.

“We were hoping his [Bailey’s] recovery time would be shorter, but clearly the injuries required this timeline. The encouraging thing is that we are close now, after eight weeks,” Gasperini continued.

“It will be a matter of one or two more weeks before he’s available. He’s coming off a long spell of inactivity, so it won’t all be smooth sailing; he’ll need time to integrate. Now we have to look forward. He’ll give us a big help; he has different skill sets from other players in the squad, and we count on him.”

Paulo Dybala, on the other hand, was not included in the Argentina squad and spent the international break training at Trigoria, so he’ll be eligible against the Nerazzurri tomorrow.

Dybala available for Roma vs. Inter

“The options we have are well-known. Dybala, like everyone else who stayed here, has had two good weeks of training,” said the Roma coach.

“The sessions have definitely been very useful for him and Pellegrini, but I’d say everyone who remained. I have to say I’m quite satisfied with what we’ve done over the past days. Of course, those who stayed have a good sense of their condition and how they’re feeling. For those who were away on international duty, it’s always a bit trickier. That’s the same for everyone. Many played, some a bit less, some more. The uncertainty of restarting after an international break is something every team faces.”

During his press conference today, Gasperini reiterated that Inter and Napoli remain the best teams in Serie A and that the Giallorossi’s target is to qualify for the Champions League.

Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has spent most of his NFL coaching career in New Orleans, but he said on Thursday that neither that history nor the way his time with the Saints ended will be on his mind this weekend.

Allen started his second stint with the Saints as their defensive coordinator in 2015 and moved up to the head coaching job when Sean Payton left the team after the 2021 season. Allen wasn’t able to replicate Payton’s success, however, and got fired after opening last season with a 2-7 record.

On Thursday, Allen said “I don’t think I’m going to go there” when asked about what went awry for the team last season and said he’ll be keeping his mind on Sunday’s game between his new team and his old one.

“A lot of good experiences, a lot of good people, a lot of wins,” Allen said, via Andrew Seligman of the Associated Press. “We were a part of a lot of success there. I’ve got fond memories of it, but this week is really all about let’s focus on the football. This is going to be about the players on the field, Bears versus the Saints, those guys will really determine the outcome of the game.”

The Bears rank 27th in points allowed and 26th in yards allowed, but Allen’s unit has done a good job of forcing turnovers. The Bears are second in the league with 12 takeaways and their plus-10 turnover differential in the last three games has helped fuel the three-game winning streak they hope to extend against the Saints.

After starting the season 6-0, Ohio State now hits the road again to head into the venerable Camp Randall Stadium to do battle with Big Ten foe, Wisconsin, on Saturday. Unlike most years, this visit to Madison doesn’t seem to be the daunting task it has been in years past because the Badgers are reeling, having lost four in a row and dealing with injuries — especially at the quarterback position.

One thing we like to do here at Buckeyes Wire is get a perspective from the opposite sideline when we can with one of our affiliated sites, and it just so happens that Ben Kenney of Badgers Wire was happy to oblige this time around. We fired off a few questions to get the fans’ and media’s take on how things are being viewed up in the land of bratwurst and beer, and it’s safe to say that this year, things are a little more subdued.

Still, we thank Kinney for taking his time, and what follows is a short question-and-answer session he was kind enough to respond to. Here’s how things are looking in the opposite locker room as Ohio State and Wisconsin set to tussle this weekend.

On the Wisconsin fanbase, when it comes to Luke Fickell

QUESTION from Buckeyes Wire: Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. This season has gone off the rails, and it felt like a year where Luke Fickell needed to show some momentum. Where is the fanbase with Fickell? What will it take for the former Ohio State defensive tackle to stay in Madison, or is it just a matter of time right now?

Ben Kenney of Badgers Wire: “To be honest, the fanbase is all but done with the Fickell tenure. There weren’t expectations of a breakthrough entering the year, given the team’s gauntlet schedule. But everybody at least expected some tangible progress. Instead, the team has lost every game it has played against Power Four competition by at least two scores, including recent 27-10 and 37-0 home losses to Maryland and Iowa, respectively. The overwhelming sentiment is that a change is imminent; it’s just a matter of when, for how much money, and whether the athletic director follows. Fickell would need a near miracle to keep his job.”

Wisconsin fans’ feelings about the matchup with Ohio State

QUESTION from Buckeyes Wire: Where is the Wisconsin fanbase with this game? Is there an excitement of turning the season around, apathy about what might occur, or more?

Kenney: “The fanbase’s collective calls for a coaching change signal that it is far from apathetic about the team and the rest of the season. However, I doubt any Wisconsin fan enters Saturday expecting the team to keep the game competitive. Last week’s loss to Iowa all but sealed the season’s fate. Again, it just feels like a matter of time before the program makes a move.”

What Badger fans think of Ohio State as a program right now

QUESTION from Buckeyes Wire: How do Wisconsin fans and media view Ohio State as a program, and this team as a whole? From the Ohio State side, there used to be a mutual respect that teetered on a little hatred when both teams were vying for Big Ten titles, but where is it now for Badger fans?

Kenney: “Just five short years ago, Wisconsin fans expected the program to take a leap forward to compete with the Buckeyes for the Big Ten. The program is obviously the conference’s standard for winning. After close calls in the 2017 and 2019 conference title games, the Badgers weren’t far from at least flipping one result every few years. Now, Ohio State looks to be playing an entirely different sport than Wisconsin. NIL investment obviously plays a part in that. In my opinion, Wisconsin has to worry about returning to Minnesota and Iowa’s level before it thinks about Ohio State.”

How Wisconsin could potentially pull off the upset of Ohio State

QUESTION from Buckeyes Wire: What does this game have to look like for Wisconsin to pull off the major shocker?

Kenney: “Wisconsin needs to start the game by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, play flawless defense, and pray its offense doesn’t hand the game away, which it has done several times this season. As may be clear through my tone, I’m struggling to see a way the Badgers can keep the game close.”

The most concerning thing about Ohio State for Wisconsin fans

QUESTION from Buckeyes Wire: What player or aspect of Ohio State concerns Wisconsin fans the most?

Kenney: “The obvious answer is talent. But specifically, Wisconsin’s secondary has struggled mightily throughout the year, allowing big performances from Alabama QB Ty Simpson and Maryland QB Malik Washington, among others. Jeremiah Smith should have no trouble making a big impact.”

A prediction for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin?

QUESTION from Buckeyes Wire: Lastly, if you are comfortable, give us a prediction and score for the game Saturday.

Kenney: Ohio State 45, Wisconsin 7

We thank Kenney for his time, and if you happen to know a fan of all things Wisconsin Badgers, tell them to head on over to Badgers Wire and enjoy the exceptional coverage they have going on over there.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.