All articles tagged with #rookies
Timberwolves open Las Vegas Summer League vs. the Pelicans, shifting focus from last year’s backcourt chatter to evaluating a thinner frontcourt after roster changes. Rookies Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky aim to show progress behind Rudy Gobert, with Summer League serving as clues toward internal development rather than definitive answers.
Detroit's Day 1 minicamp saw the defense collect three interceptions (Chuck Clark on Jared Goff; Jimmy Rolder on a Teddy Bridgewater pass; Aamaris Brown on Luke Altmyer), with Khalil Dorsey nearly adding a fourth. The session spotlighted versatile lineman Tyler Lacy, ongoing edge/left guard battles (Lacy, Giovanni Manu, others), and improved route running from Jameson Williams. Cornerback competition remains open (Arnold vs Ya-Sin, Rakestraw, Dorsey) while linebackers Bachie, Nowaske and Campbell were active in pass disruption; Zach Horton also flashed with a deep catch.
Day 1 of the Chargers’ mandatory minicamp highlighted two fourth‑round rookies, Brenen Thompson and Genesis Smith, with Thompson delivering a contested catch and a 50‑yard gain and Smith grabbing an interception in 7‑on‑7; other standouts included Keaton Mitchell and Tarheeb Still, while DJ Uiagalelei showed zip on his passes. Kicker Cameron Dicker went 8‑for‑8 on kicks, and coach Jim Harbaugh stressed the team’s strong work ethic as the camp continues with two more practices before a summer break.
Trevor Lawrence led a productive Jaguars offseason, with Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Jabbar Muhammad among the standouts; rookie Tanner Koziol emerged as a riser, while Josh Cameron and CJ Williams impressed as pass-catchers; Boerkircher and Morris disappointed at times, with training camp set to test the new depth.
Bhayshul Tuten again impressed in the Jaguars’ three-day rookie minicamp, flashing burst and likely staking a lead-back role as Chris Rodriguez nears return; on defense, Branson Combs and Jabbar Muhammad stood out with PBUs and a key stop. Rookie pass-catchers Josh Cameron, CJ Williams and Tanner Koziol made waves, with Koziol delivering a standout red-zone TD, and J'Mari Taylor continuing to push for a backfield role as camp progresses.
During Minnesota's second week of voluntary OTAs, the Vikings signed two undrafted rookie wide receivers—Michael Briscoe (Cal Poly) and Trayvon Rudolph (Toledo)—and waived Joaquin Davis as new GM Nolan Teasley starts shaping the roster; Briscoe is 6-2, 209 pounds and Rudolph is 5-10, 187 pounds, with prior brief stints in Seattle.
At Giants OTA No. 8, rookies took center stage: Mauigoa flashed athleticism as a pulling lineman, Davis and Fields stood out at tackle/receiving roles, Carter and Reese showed up on defense, Bankston sprinted with speed on a sweep, and Jaxson Dart connected with Malachi Fields for a late red-zone TD during 4th-and-short and situational work, with Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios also involved in team drills.
Day 1 of San Francisco’s OTAs showcased several rookies making strong early impressions—Kaelon Black and Jordan James at running back, Romello Height and Jaden Dugger as versatile edge players, and receivers Ricky Pearsall, Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing displaying burst and big-play ability—while De'Zhaun Stribling and Christian Kirk struggled, and notable absences/injuries (Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson, Trent Williams) kept things unsettled, with Isaac Guerendo out and Luke Farrell limited. Overall, the session underscored significant positional competition, especially at wide receiver and outside linebacker.
Detroit opens a three-week OTAs window, the first field work open to media for 2026, with six key storylines: updates on Kerby Joseph’s knee and rehab for Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta (plus other injuries to Brock Wright, Levi Onwuzurike, and Dan Jackson); a full look at the seven 2026 draft picks and undrafted rookies; a left guard battle among Christian Mahogany, Miles Frazier, Ben Bartch, and Juice Scruggs; development emphasis on the 2024 and 2025 draft classes; and preliminary notes on schematic changes on offense under Drew Petzing and defense under Kelvin Sheppard, plus any noticeable changes to practice tempo or structure.
Detroit's 2026 OTAs will test new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s run-first approach, scout for defensive versatility, monitor tackle battles as Sewell shifts to left tackle with Miller/Borom in the mix, and evaluate rookie roles (Miller, Moore, Rolder, Abney II, among others) while watching for meaningful year-two leaps from Williams, Ratledge, and TeSlaa.
The Giants opened their first week of OTAs with an indoor practice focused on fast, self-improvement work rather than contact. Several players were sidelined or limited, a three-kicker competition produced mixed results, and QB Jaxson Dart stressed making mature, safer decisions. Co-owner John Mara attended briefly as rookies are urged to 'hit the gas' to catch up after Dexter Lawrence’s departure; Hyatt and Roy Robertson-Harris left early, and Ar’Darius Washington drew first-team reps in the secondary.
Halfway through its first full season, MLB's 2026 rookie class has emerged as a major storyline, led by Kevin McGonigle's .288/.391/.412 start and Munetaka Murakami's league-leading power and elite metrics. The group also features breakout performers like Konnor Griffin, Nolan McLean, Sal Stewart, Chase DeLauter, Trey Yesavage and Parker Messick, showcasing depth in hitting, defense and pitching that could shape the league for years.
The Steelers opened 2026 OTAs with a reshuffled starting offensive line: LT Troy Fautanu, LG Mason McCormick, C Zach Frazier, RG Spencer Anderson, and RT Dylan Cook. Rookies Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker did not start in the opening group, with Dunker at LG and Iheanachor at RT among the second unit; Brock Hoffman was behind Anderson at RG. Fautanu and McCormick have moved back to their college positions on the left side to maintain chemistry, while Anderson earns the first look at RG and Cook handles tackle duties. Broderick Jones participated in warmups but did not work in team periods due to neck surgery, and Pittsburgh plans to mix and match the line over the coming weeks as the unit isn’t set in stone.
Sports Illustrated’s 2026 Swimsuit Issue spotlights 34 women, from cover stars like Hilary Duff to rookies such as Olandria and Ali Truwit, with launch week in New York and shoots around the world. In Instagram posts, models reflect on growth, representation, and confidence—from Duff calling her South Caicos shoot a “make-believe day with fairytale people” to Truwit celebrating a second-time feature after surviving a shark attack and veterans like Hunter McGrady and Jasmine Sanders emphasizing visibility and lasting empowerment.
Day 1 of the 49ers’ two-day minicamp featured the 2026 rookie class taking the field for the first time, with De’Zhaun Stribling debuting at No. 15 and showing in drills, Kaelon Black wearing No. 26 and catching a pass, and several UDFA standouts like Khalil Dinkins and Will Pauling flashing. Preston Stone participated on a tryout basis, Omari Porter and Eli Blakely made early defensive plays, and Mykel Williams continued ACL rehab as the team eyes an early 2026 return.