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Jaelan Phillips MIA LB
Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips: Set for fifth-year option
2h agoThe Dolphins plan to pick up the fifth-year contract option of Phillips (Achilles) before May's deadline, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN reports.
General manager Chris Grier said Tuesday that Miami intends to pick up the fifth-year options of both Phillips and Jaylen Waddle. A right Achilles tear limited Phillips to just eight games last season, but he's reportedly on track to be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 campaign. He's been one of the Dolphins' more impactful pass rushers over the past three seasons, and the team will be more in need of those talents than ever with Christian Wilkins having moved on to Las Vegas.
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De'Von Achane MIA RB
Dolphins' De'Von Achane: Bulks up during offseason
2h agoAchane looks more muscular after working out this offseason, Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post reports.
A photo of Achane showing up for OTAs went viral, with some saying he looks much larger than he did during his rookie campaign. It's his second offseason bulking up for football without also considering track and field, though at this point it's unclear how much he's added relative to his weight from the 2023 NFL Combine (where he ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at 188 pounds). Achane averaged 7.8 yards per carry and scored a TD per game last season, albeit with injuries (six missed games) and Raheem Mostert's presence (209 carries) limiting the rookie to 103 carries and 27 catches in his 11 appearances. The Dolphins still have Mostert under contract -- along with backups Jeff Wilson, Salvon Ahmed (foot) and Chris Brooks -- but they'll presumably task Achane with more of the backfield work in his second pro season.
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Royce Freeman LAR RB
Cowboys' Royce Freeman: Picked up by Dallas
18h agoFreeman signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys on Tuesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Freeman spent his first three seasons with the Broncos before stops with the Panthers, Texans and Rams the last three years. The journeyman tallied 319 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in Los Angeles last year across 14 games. Dallas lost Tony Pollard to free agency, so its running back room currently consists of Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn (ankle), Malik Davis, Snoop Conner and Freeman. Freeman could get an opportunity to carve out a role for himself, but the Cowboys still seem likely to invest in the position during the 2024 Draft.
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Trent Taylor CHI WR
49ers' Trent Taylor: Returns to Bay Area
21h agoTaylor signed a one-year contract with the 49ers on Tuesday, Lindsey Pallares of the team's official site reports.
Taylor started his career in San Francisco before a two-year stay with the Bengals, and he spent the 2023 campaign with the Bears. The 29-year-old will have the opportunity to earn a role in the return game with the Niners after the departure of Ray-Ray McCloud in free agency this offseason.
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Trent Taylor CHI WR
Trent Taylor: Could return to Bay Area
22h agoTaylor has talked to the 49ers about a potential return to the team, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Taylor was selected by San Francisco in the fifth round of the 2017 Draft and spent three seasons there before stops in Cincinnati and Chicago. The 49ers do currently have a void in their return game, with Ray-Ray McCloud now in Atlanta, which is likely where the interest in Taylor lies.
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Deshaun Watson CLE QB
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Throwing full speed
1d agoWatson (shoulder) said Tuesday he's already resumed "throwing full speed" but that he's uncertain how large a workload he'll handle during OTAs and minicamp, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Watson clarified that certain members of the Browns' medical staff are in favor of a more conservative approach to the quarterback's recovery from right shoulder surgery, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, which would have him wait until training camp to fully practice. Still, Watson is confident he'll be available for the Browns' season opener, and there appears to be no real worries about his Week 1 status. In case Watson misses part of the offseason, or struggles during the fall, Cleveland can lean on experienced backups Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley.
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Miguel Amaya CHC C
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Returns to bench Wednesday
2m agoAmaya is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Amaya will head to the bench after he started at catcher over the past two games while going 3-for-8 with two extra-base knocks, two RBI and one run. Yan Gomes will be behind the dish Wednesday, but he and Amaya look poised to operate in a timeshare for the foreseeable future.
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Kris Bryant COL DH
Rockies' Kris Bryant: Lands on IL with lower-back strain
4m agoBryant was Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com on the 10-day injured list by the Rockies on Wednesday, retroactive to April 14, with a lower-back strain, Patrick Lyons reports.
The Rockies gave Bryant a few days to recover to see if he was able to avoid the IL, but ultimately some additional down time is needed. Because the move is retroactive, Bryant will be eligible for activation on April 24. However, there's no word yet as to whether he'll have a chance to be ready at that time. Sean Bouchard has taken his spot on the Rockies' roster.
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Dany Jimenez OAK RP
Athletics' Dany Jimenez: Falters again Tuesday
5m agoJimenez (1-1) was charged with a loss and a blown save against the Cardinals on Tuesday, allowing two earned runs on a hit and two walks over one-third of an inning.
Jimenez was entrusted with preserving a 2-1 lead when he entered in the sixth inning, but he immediately worked himself into trouble by allowing the first three hitters he faced to reach safely via a single and a pair of walks. Jimenez would go on to surrender back-to-back RBI sacrifice flies to allow the Cardinals to pull ahead by a run, which would prove the final margin of victory. The normally reliable right-hander has been a bit more vulnerable than usual of late, being saddled with blown saves in two of his last three outings while giving up a total of three runs on four hits over 2.2 innings in the entirety of that span.
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Tyler Nevin OAK LF
Athletics' Tyler Nevin: Gaining traction in lineup
7m agoNevin will start in right field and bat second in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Nevin will open a game in right field for the first time all season while the lefty-hitting Lawrence Butler rests with southpaw Steven Matz on the hill for St. Louis. Though Nevin's playing time in the outfield will likely be limited to when the Athletics face lefties, he should be in store for at least a semi-regular spot in the starting nine versus right-handers after Oakland recently placed third baseman/designated hitter J.D. Davis (adductor) and outfielder/designated hitter Brent Rooker (ribs) on the injured list.
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Brenton Doyle COL CF
Rockies' Brenton Doyle: Moved up to two hole
10m agoDoyle will start in center field and bat second in Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Doyle has been in the nine spot more than any other this season and had yet to hit higher than sixth prior to Wednesday. His move up no doubt is in part due to injuries (Kris Bryant, Brendan Rodgers) and days off (Charlie Blackmon), but Doyle has also earned earned it by collecting a .292/.333/.508 batting line with three home runs over his first 18 games this season.
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Darell Hernaiz OAK 3B
Athletics' Darell Hernaiz: Seizing hold of regular role
10m agoHernaiz will start at third base and bat sixth Wednesday against the Cardinals.
Though he's drawing a start at the hot corner in the series finale, Hernaiz appears to have leapfrogged Nick Allen on the depth chart at shortstop. Hernaiz will be making his fifth straight start and his seventh in eight games, despite having recorded just two hits through his first 26 at-bats in the majors. Hernaiz remains one of the top position prospects in the organization, so he could continue to play regularly while the 7-11 Athletics don't fancy themselves as contenders.
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Zion Williamson NO PF
Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Won't play Friday
29m agoWilliamson (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday's Play-In Game against the Kings, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Williamson suffered a left hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's Play-In Tournament loss to the Lakers and won't be available for the win-or-go-home matchup versus Sacramento on Friday. This is a huge blow for Williamson, who shined during his first playoff exposure by posting 40 points (17-27 FG) and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes before leaving the contest. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick's career continues to be defined by injuries, but the extent of his latest one remains unclear. If the Pelicans defeat the Kings and advance to the opening-round series against the Thunder, Williamson's next chance to suit up would come Sunday night.
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Jontay Porter TOR C
Jontay Porter: Receives lifetime ban
2h agoPorter has received a lifetime ban from the NBA for violating the league's gaming rules, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Commissioner Adam Silver suggested last week that a lifetime ban was on the table for Porter, and the league officially announced his punishment Wednesday. Per a press release from the NBA, Porter "disclosed confidential information about his own health status to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor" and limited his playing time to impact his prop bets in at least one Raptors game. Porter also placed at least 13 bets on NBA games between January and March of 2024, although none of the wagers involved a game in which Porter played. The league's investigation remains open, but Porter will be permanently barred from playing in the league.
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Kenyon Martin Jr. PHI SF
76ers' KJ Martin: Full participant in shootaround
4h agoMartin (toe), who is questionable for Wednesday's Play-In Game against Miami, was a full participant in Philadelphia's morning shootaround, Ky Carlin of USA Today reports.
Martin continues to deal with a toe issue that forced him to miss the final three games of the regular season, but his participation in shootaround creates optimism that he'll be able to return as postseason play begins Wednesday. Over his final five appearances during the regular season, Martin averaged 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game.
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Joel Embiid PHI C
76ers' Joel Embiid: Goes through shootaround
4h agoEmbiid (knee) participated in Wednesday's morning shootaround, Ky Carlin of USA Today reports.
Embiid logged two straight practices coming into the morning shootaround, but he's still carrying a questionable tag for Wednesday's game against Miami. Despite the questionable designation, it would be a big surprise if Embiid was unable to suit up Wednesday.
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Kessler Edwards SAC SF
Kings' Kessler Edwards: Logs garbage time minutes in win
12h agoEdwards ended with one rebound in two minutes during Tuesday's 118-94 Play-In Game win over the Warriors.
Edwards closed the game Tuesday, handed a couple of garbage time minutes as the Kings eliminated the Warriors. It's been a disappointing season for Edwards and given his limited role, it is hard to see him featuring too much, even if the Kings advance to the playoffs.
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Keon Ellis SAC SG
Kings' Keon Ellis: Shines bright in victory
12h agoEllis recorded 15 points (5-8 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals in 39 minutes during Tuesday's 118-94 Play-In Game victory over the Warriors.
Ellis continued his improbable rise Tuesday, helping the Kings to a comfortable victory over the Warriors. He has been a revelation on the defensive end for Sacramento, highlighted once again by his six combined steals and blocks. They will now face the Pelicans in a do-or-die contest with a spot in the playoffs up for grabs.
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Sebastian Aho NYI D
Islanders' Sebastian Aho: Sitting out against Pens
27m agoAho will be rested for Wednesday's matchup with Pittsburgh, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Aho missed time as recently as April 9 against the Rangers due to an upper-body issue, so the decision to give him the night off shouldn't come as a surprise. Without the 28-year-old Swede in the lineup, the Isles will need to either bring a player up from the minors or hope that Noah Dobson (upper body) is ready to play.
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Morgan Barron WPG C
Jets' Morgan Barron: In doubt for postseason
1h agoBarron (lower body) is questionable for Game 1 of the playoffs, in addition to missing Thursday's clash with Vancouver, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Barron is coming off a career year in which he set new personal bests in games (80), goals (11) and hits (122). Without the 25-year-old winger in the lineup, the Jets will have to decide between David Gustafsson, Cole Perfetti and Rasmus Kupari for a spot in the lineup -- though all three could see minutes if coach Rick Bowness decides to rest some of Winnipeg's stars.
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Laurent Brossoit WPG G
Jets' Laurent Brossoit: Expected starter for Thursday
1h agoBrossoit is set to start at home against the Canucks on Thursday, per Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site.
Brossoit earned a 24-save shutout victory over Dallas in his last start last Thursday. He's been a superb backup goaltender for the Jets, posting a 14-5-2 record, 2.00 GAA and .928 save percentage across 22 contests this season. The Canucks are typically a difficult adversary, ranking sixth offensively with 3.42 goals per game, but they might rest some of their top players with the playoffs around the corner.
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Simon Edvinsson DET D
Red Wings' Simon Edvinsson: Sent to minors
1h agoEdvinsson was reassigned to AHL Grand Rapids on Wednesday.
Edvinsson had a goal and an assist in 16 contests with Detroit this season. He also has recorded eight goals and 29 points in 52 games with Grand Rapids. The Red Wings' campaign is over, but he should be a serious contender for a roster spot with the big club during training camp. The Red Wings took him No. 6 overall in the 2021 NHL Draft.
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Zach Aston-Reese DET C
Red Wings' Zach Aston-Reese: Heads to AHL
1h agoAston-Reese was sent to AHL Grand Rapids on Wednesday.
Aston-Reese had no points, two PIM and three hits in three contests with Detroit this season. With the Red Wings' campaign over, it makes sense for him to rejoin the minor-league squad. The 29-year-old forward has 14 goals, 29 points and 51 PIM in 59 outings with Grand Rapids.
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Max Comtois CAR LW
Hurricanes' Max Comtois: Returns to minors
2h agoComtois was returned to AHL Chicago on Wednesday.
Comtois made his Hurricanes debut Wednesday, registering an assist in 13:04 of ice time. He has recorded 19 goals, 43 points and 103 PIM in 62 AHL contests with Chicago in 2023-24.