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  • Can Elijah Moore keep his career going with the Eagles? He’s trying to make the most of his extra reps.

    Can Elijah Moore keep his career going with the Eagles? He’s trying to make the most of his extra reps.

    The Eagles are Elijah Moore’s fourth team in three seasons, and when you’re 26 years old and your career trajectory is like Moore’s, the end tends to seem a bit closer.

    Moore was a second-round pick by the New York Jets in 2021 out of Ole Miss, where he was a college teammate of A.J. Brown. The Jets traded him after two seasons to Cleveland, attaching a third-round pick with him to acquire a second-round pick. Two seasons with the Browns yielded a combined 120 catches, 1,178 yards, and three touchdowns. Moore then signed a one-year deal with Buffalo last spring.

    With the Bills, he appeared in nine games and was targeted 17 times before being waived in late November. He landed on Denver’s practice squad and made an appearance in the AFC championship game, with one catch for 4 yards in seven snaps.

    How Eagles’ 53-man roster projection looks entering training camp Week 2

    The Eagles, preparing for life without Brown, brought in Moore to stockpile as much talent and depth at the position as they could. Moore entered training camp with an uncertain future. His roster spot is not guaranteed. He’s entering a season playing for a lower annual salary — $1.2 million — than he ever has.

    Asked Friday after the seventh practice of camp about his NFL journey, Moore was a little philosophical.

    “Life is not a linear path, I think, for any person,” Moore said. “There’s rarely — even some of the top players that get picked — that it goes exactly the way that they wanted. I think that’s there to teach you lessons. I’ve got kids. I got things I got to teach them outside of just having everything go my way. What example would I set if everything went my way? I wouldn’t have nothing to tell. I think it’s just brushing myself off, always having high hopes.”

    Elijah Moore is on his fourth team in three seasons.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Right now, his hopes may be high for a reason. With DeVonta Smith and rookie Makai Lemon missing multiple practices with hamstring injuries, Moore has taken plenty of first-team reps and has flashed his abilities. It would be too strong to call him a camp standout, but his stock certainly is up from where it was before these seven camp practices.

    “I’m super critical of myself so I always think there is so much improvement that I could do with my alignment, my assignment, my execution,” said Moore, who has 209 catches, 2,274 yards, and nine touchdowns through five NFL seasons. “Am I making the most of my opportunities? Yeah. Is there still opportunities I’m leaving out there? Yeah. I always want to be perfect, as perfect as I can.”

    Lane Johnson returned to Eagles practice on Friday

    Wide receiver for the Eagles in a post-A.J. Brown world is interesting. Smith is the obvious No. 1, and Dontayvion Wicks has emerged as the likely No. 2 option, but beyond them there are question marks. How much time will Lemon miss in camp and how could that affect his preparedness come Week 1? What role will Hollywood Brown have? Will Darius Cooper carve out a role that is more than just the dirty work? Is having Brown and Moore redundant?

    That last question is important for Moore, who has stood out more in camp so far than Brown, a player the Eagles signed to a deal with $5 million guaranteed. The Eagles could keep six receivers, but they may keep five, and Moore could find himself on the outside looking in if that’s the case (and even if the number is six).

    There still is a lot of time for that to shake out. For now, Moore will continue to try to prove himself to his new coaching staff. Besides his work with the offense, Moore also has taken punt return reps. He has one career kick return and two career punt returns, but he said he wants to make himself available to the Eagles for whatever they ask or need of him.

    Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean brings down Elijah Moore when he played for the Cleveland Browns in 2024. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “It’s one day at a time,” Moore said. “You got to make the most of every opportunity that you have. Whenever my number is called, it’s going to sound cliché, but you got to make the play.”

    Earlier in the week, Jalen Hurts shouted out Moore for his role in a sequence from Monday’s practice. Moore made a mistake that resulted in Quinyon Mitchell picking Hurts off for a would-be touchdown. But several plays later, Moore ran a perfect route and caught a deep post near the goal line.

    “We’re living in live bullets now, and everyone’s learning,” Moore said. “I made a mistake.”

    It was a two-part route, Moore said, and he only ran the first part.

    “That play is not going to make me,” he said. “You just keep playing.”

  • Expect LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to be the calm to the storm that often can be the Sixers

    Expect LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to be the calm to the storm that often can be the Sixers

    Nobody throws a premature party like the 76ers. From the 2012 blowout to welcome Andrew Bynum to a 2016 rally at the Art Museum after going 10-72 and getting the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft — a pick that turned out to be Ben Simmons — to the parade of big-name free agents and trade pieces who have come and gone since, this franchise has forever reveled in the shock and awe of a stunning acquisition.

    Its introduction of Jaylen Brown on Thursday — at a recreation center in Southwest Philadelphia, per Brown’s request — featured cheerleaders, neighborhood children, dozens of boosters, members of the organization, and music with a dance-party feel.

    Mike Gansey still has to ‘pinch myself a little bit’ after landing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in stunning Sixers overhaul

    The affair had the Sixers’ customary pomp. Maybe this time, the circumstances are different. There’s actually reason to think they might be.

    The Sixers pulled out all the stops, including their mascot, Franklin, for the introductory press conference of Jaylen Brown on Thursday. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The trade for Brown and LeBron James’s decision to sign here give the Sixers more than just two outstanding players — one still in his prime, one still capable of being great, even at age 41. They now have two players who have shown they can handle, and even thrive amid, the highest of expectations and the heaviest of pressure. The most promising Sixers teams of the last 10 years tended to shrivel up in those situations. The 2019 team had a two-games-to-one lead on the Toronto Raptors, with Game 4 at home … and lost the game and, eventually, the series.

    The 2021 club also was up, 2-1, this time against an inferior team in the Atlanta Hawks, this time squandering an 18-point lead in Game 4 and a 26-point lead in Game 5 and losing Game 7 … at home. The 2023 club was up, 3-2, on Brown’s Boston Celtics and … well … you remember.

    Have Brown and James been in similar scenarios? Have they had opportunities to close out playoff series and failed? Of course. They also have five championships and 12 Finals appearances between them, and they’ve met the measure of those moments, too, more often than anyone else on the Sixers’ roster.

    A bonus of LeBron James joining the Sixers roster is the level of reserve both he and Jaylen Brown bring when it comes to aspirations of an NBA title.Mark J. Terrill

    Few players in NBA history had as much on the line as James did in the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, when his Miami Heat — one season after losing in the 2011 Finals to the Dallas Mavericks, James still without a championship ring at the time — were down, 3-2, to the Celtics and facing a Game 6 in Boston.

    He delivered perhaps the best performance of his career that night: 45 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in a 98-79 Heat victory, then another 31 points and 12 boards in Miami’s Game 7 win.

    Jaylen Brown on joining Sixers: ‘Winning is the agenda’

    A comparable comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 Finals, the Cavaliers’ charge back to beat the Golden State Warriors in 2016. These transcendent performances have to remain in James’ past and would be too much to ask of him now, but they at least dispel any ridiculous notions that any important game would be too much for him, even at his advanced age.

    LeBron James performance in 2012 and 2013 with the Miami Heat proves that, mentally, he can guide a young, talented Sixers team to handle the big moments.J Pat Carter

    He’ll be calm. He’ll be cool. It doesn’t mean the Sixers are assured of winning such games, only that no one is likely to see the same sad scenes that played out here with Simmons and James Harden. No one is likely to see a Sixers star choke.

    “James doesn’t need to work himself into a frenzy, into an angry, unnatural lather,” Adrian Wojnarowski, who covered that Heat-Celtics series for Yahoo! Sports, wrote after Game 6.

    “He’s too good, and his talent will carry him if he comes to these pressure games with something far more lasting, with far more staying power than responding to the hellacious firestorm that surrounds his successes and failures.

    Five takeaways from Jaylen Brown’s Sixers introduction, from his visceral trade reaction to his thoughts on the Celtics

    “His personality is different than a Kobe Bryant, a Michael Jordan, and allowing for that has been a wise plan of action. There was a rage within James for this Game 6, a resolve, but it was contained within the context of the surgical way in which he took apart the Celtics.”

    As for Brown, he’s spent a decade in a market as demanding as Philadelphia’s. He was the NBA Finals MVP in 2024. He has played 142 postseason games in his career and has won 58% of them. His playoff statistics are comparable to, if not better than, his regular-season stats.

    New Sixers forward Jaylen Brown arrives for his introductory press conference at the Francis Myers Recreation Center on Thursday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “At this point in my career, how I would handle pressure would probably look different,” Brown said. “At this point now, I would probably ignore a lot of it or let it just be water under the bridge. …

    “I played in Boston for the last 10 years. The pressure is high there. It’s Titletown. They expect to win every single year, and they’re always looking for someone to blame. Some of those years, it was me, so I’ve been through that. All I come with is my work ethic, my mentality, my impact on winning. That’s just my approach. Nothing else matters — just, how do we win games?”

    It’s why he and James are here. It’s the only thing anyone cares about anymore with this team. Too many premature celebrations in the past. So much cynicism for so many years. It’s long past time for the Sixers to prove to everyone that they’re made of stronger stuff.

    Does the LeBron James signing make the Sixers favorites to win the title? We asked our experts.
  • Zack Wheeler’s delivery comes under scrutiny from the Blue Jays as Phillies lose a rain-delayed 5-4 series opener

    Zack Wheeler’s delivery comes under scrutiny from the Blue Jays as Phillies lose a rain-delayed 5-4 series opener

    Chase Utley, famous for his pregame routine and laser-focused preparation, was just getting warmed up. So, he led with an apology.

    “Zack,” he said. “Sorry, dude. I’ll pick this up.”

    Out in the bullpen, Zack Wheeler kept on throwing. Rain shortened his last start to two innings and delayed this one by two hours. Normalcy was gone long before Utley gave his Phillies Wall of Fame speech Friday night.

    Besides, things only got stranger once the game finally started. The Blue Jays accused Wheeler of taking his right foot off the rubber, leading to the ejection of their hitting coach and a two-word obscenity from Wheeler in the fourth inning of a 5-4 Phillies loss that went down to the final batter after the clock struck midnight.

    Trea Turner isn’t moving off shortstop (yet). The Phillies’ goal for now: Help him get better.

    “I’ve been pitching over there [on the first-base side of the rubber] forever, and I’m going to keep doing it, you know?” Wheeler said. “They’ve lost a lot of games over there, so they’re probably trying to pick some things up to complain about.”

    Zing!

    OK, let’s get this out of the way: The Phillies drew 10 walks — 10! — and lost after leaving the bases loaded twice in the last three innings. They had the tying run on third base — and reliever Tyler Rogers on the ropes — in the ninth after Luis Arraez’s 10-pitch walk. But Alec Bohm hit a first-pitch grounder for a force out at home before Brandon Marsh was thrown out by a half-step on a grounder to end the game.

    The Phillies finished 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11. Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Bryce Harper struck out in succession with two runners on base in the fifth inning.

    Brandon Marsh was thrown out by a half-step to end the game in the Phillies’ 5-4 loss Friday night.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    “Yeah, just got to be better,” Harper said after the Phillies (62-55) slipped back into a tie for the final National League wild card. “I ain’t got much for you. It’s got to be better in those situations and get those guys in.”

    Hey, it happens. Unlike, say, a team asking the home plate umpire to watch for a pitcher taking his foot off the rubber during his delivery.

    But MLB contacted the Phillies a few weeks ago, interim manager Don Mattingly said, after Wheeler started a nationally televised Sunday night game on NBC. A camera angle appeared to show that Wheeler’s right foot disengaged from the rubber.

    Luis Arraez’s biggest strength made him a logical cleanup hitter for Don Mattingly. And it’s worked.

    The Phillies disagreed and provided an overhead view that shows Wheeler’s foot does, in fact, stay on the rubber, albeit at the edge. Wheeler said his delivery has been the same for years. To his knowledge, nobody ever complained.

    “Not until this year,” he said.

    Or, more specifically, Friday night.

    Early in the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider asked plate umpire John Tumpane between innings to look for the placement of Wheeler’s foot. Tumpane, in turn, spoke with Wheeler.

    “John told me to make sure I stay on the rubber,” Wheeler said. “He kind of just said that MLB has me on a list.”

    The Blue Jays pressed the issue again in the fourth inning, with Tumpane ejecting hitting coach David Popkins, who drew the ire of Wheeler.

    “We were just getting information that his foot was off the rubber on the first base side, from video angles with that little step back from the windup,” Schneider said. “It’s hard to see in real time, but there was just an example of our hitting coach kind of protecting the players and me doing the same.”

    Low on prospect capital, loaded with needs, the Phillies’ best asset at the deadline turned out to be … Bryce Harper

    It was all part of a bizarre start for Wheeler, who walked five batters, more than in any start since April 7, 2019, and threw 116 pitches, his highest total since May 6, 2021.

    The Blue Jays led, 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2, and knocked out Wheeler with one out in the sixth inning after losing a 15-pitch duel with Nathan Lukes, who singled to load the bases. Lefty reliever Tim Mayza gave up a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.

    “He did that to me last year,” Wheeler said of Lukes. “When we played there, he had a really long at-bat also. I figured I’d have one of those tonight with him. It just happened to be the last one. I was just trying to throw everything at him, but he put a good at-bat together.”

    Wheeler threw only 32 pitches last Sunday in Baltimore before a rain delay forced him from the game. Surely, though, there was a toll from throwing more pitches than he had in five years.

    “Tired,” Wheeler said. “I’m not going to lie, you know? It was hot and humid, and the air was just still. I still had juice in me there at the end, but, yeah, I was a little tired.”

    Trailing, 5-2, in the ninth inning, the Phillies loaded the bases against Rogers on back-to-back walks and a catcher’s interference call that enabled Schwarber to reach. Bryson Stott scored from third when Turner hit into a fielder’s choice, and Harper punched an RBI single through the right side to cut the margin to 5-4.

    Arraez’s drawn-out walk reloaded the bases, and Rogers had thrown 31 pitches when Bohm swung at a first-pitch sinker.

    “I like it if he gets a hit and gets the ball in the air,” Mattingly said. “Obviously he’s not trying to hit a ground ball there. What you’re trying to do [is] you’re trying to get [Rogers] up a little bit. Obviously, we didn’t do that.”

  • Chase Utley’s path to the Phillies Wall of Fame was forged with hours in the video room

    Chase Utley’s path to the Phillies Wall of Fame was forged with hours in the video room

    The game was finished and the Phillies had a flight to catch as Kevin Camiscioli hurried to unhook the computer monitors and video equipment in the visiting clubhouse.

    But Chase Utley — “Nobody spent more time in that video room than Chase,” Pat Burrell said — wasn’t finished yet.

    Forget that the game was over. Utley had more tape to dissect. He replayed each at-bat like it was the Zapruder film. So Camiscioli, then the team’s director of video, gave his workstation to Utley and packed up everything else.

    “But then I pulled the wrong power cord, and it was the main power cord,” Camiscioli said. “As soon as I pulled it out, I could hear the power supplies click. They lost power.”

    Phillies Wall of Fame and then Hall of Fame? Chase Utley putting ‘pieces together’ on his Cooperstown chances.

    Camiscioli stood up and locked eyes with Utley.

    Utley spent hours before — and even after — games in the video room trying to find any advantage he could. He was obsessed, Utley said. And it’s that work ethic that he credits for the iconic career that landed him Friday night on the Wall of Fame at Citizens Bank Park and soon could take him to Cooperstown, N.Y.

    But when Utley’s computer unplugged, Camiscioli held his breath.

    “I said, ‘Man, I’m sorry,’” Camiscioli said. “He starts walking to me. I’m like, ‘Here we go.’ He looks at me and goes, ‘That’s OK.’ Phew. Bullet dodged.”

    Earning Philly’s respect

    Utley debuted in April 2003 as a pinch-hitter for the final home opener at Veterans Stadium. But he didn’t really arrive until later that month when the Phillies recalled him from triple A.

    The Scranton Wilkes-Barre bus pulled over and Utley waited at a Subway until a ride arrived to bring him to Philadelphia. A day later, he hit a grand slam for his first big-league hit and sprinted around the bases as if he was being chased. From then on, his connection with Philadelphia was unrivaled.

    Jimmy Rollins (left), Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard were part of the Phillies’ core that won the 2008 World Series.YONG KIM / File Photograph

    “I get asked all the time, ‘What was it like to play in Philly?” Utley said. “The truth is you don’t just play in Philly. You survive it. You earn it. And, if you’re lucky, you grow from it. To me, this city is about passion. It’s about emotion. It’s about toughness. But most of all, it’s about winning. For 13 years, I tried to play the game that this city expects us to play: hard, honest, no shortcuts, no excuses. You let me know every night whether I was doing my job. That’s what I love most about this city. In Philadelphia, you don’t get respect. You have to earn respect.”

    Fans roared on Friday when Utley walked onto the field and interrupted his Wall of Fame speech with ovations and catcalls.

    “I love you, too,” Utley responded to a screaming fan.

    Philadelphia has fallen for athletes: Wilt, Bednarik, Dr. J, Iverson, Schmidt, Clarkie, and so on. But there’s an argument to be made that no one won over Philly like Utley.

    The making of an icon: How Chase Utley became ‘The Man’ for the Phillies

    “I adore this town,” Utley said. “We had such amazing moments over the years and created so many memories together. Winning the World Series was No. 1, but there were so many other great times together. They supported me essentially from Day 1. I had to earn their respect, and I felt like I did a good job of that. I’m as much obsessed with the fans as they seem to be with me.”

    He grew up in Southern California but was made for South Philly. He played with a scowl and let his game do the talking. He was The Man and always arrived first at the ballpark and was last to leave.

    Utley would go to the trainer’s room before checking in with Camiscioli to watch video. Then he ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, hit the weight room, and took batting practice. He grabbed a sweet potato and watched more video before the game began. It was the same thing every day. Even the food didn’t change.

    “He just had that look in his eye,” Camiscioli said. “You got the heck out of the way. You knew when to talk and when not to talk. Just because you knew he was in the zone. You knew. Roy Halladay had that look, too. When it got to a certain time before the game, he would walk from Point A to Point B with determination. There was more speed than regular. A 7 o’clock game, he’s basically suited up to the cleats by 6 ready to go.”

    Chase Utley thanks Phillies fans while getting inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame on Friday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    ‘What could he be looking at?’

    Utley sat for more than an hour in the afternoon before a game studying every opposing pitcher. The video guys eventually knew what Utley wanted to see so they queued up clips of the other teams’ pitchers in every situation possible and watched Utley go to work.

    “He’d call you over sometimes after he was sitting there for three hours and he’d be like, ‘I don’t know if my eyes are going cross, but is this what I’m seeing?” Camiscioli said. “Some guys go to the clubhouse and they play cards. Some guys do nothing. Some guys play ping-pong. Chase watched video. That’s what he did. I’m surprised he doesn’t need glasses from staring at the monitors so much.”

    Other players soon filtered in, sitting with Utley as if he was a professor teaching a class. He shared the tidbits he gleaned from video — like the opposing pitcher always throws a fastball if he starts with his glove by his belt — and hoped he gave his teammates an advantage before the game started.

    Chase Utley serves tomato pie at Sarcone’s, talks playing for Don Mattingly, and what it’s like to be an All-Star

    “I wanted to be as prepared as I possibly could,” Utley said. “I felt like the more video I watched, the more information I could gather, the better suited I was to compete on a nightly basis. There were some days when it didn’t tell much, but there were plenty of days where I felt like I benefited greatly from the preparation I put in, my teammates also. Nowadays, the game has changed, and there’s plenty of people watching video. Back then, it wasn’t quite the same. I wanted to be as prepared as possible.”

    The video room is just a few feet from the dugout at Citizens Bank Park, and Utley would stop back after each at-bat, when players were still allowed to watch video during games. He used two monitors to compare what he saw before the game to what actually happened during the game and then leave the monitors up for teammates to check out. Class was always in session.

    “He was very generous with his knowledge,” Camiscioli said. “I never really saw him force himself onto anybody, but eventually people knew and figured it out. Ut had a routine. He was in the video room all the time. There were so many times where it would be like, ‘Oh my God. What could he be looking at?’ But then you started to notice guys filtering in and hovering around him. His preparation was just off the chart.”

    It was one thing to pick apart pitchers during a regular-season game, but Utley requested the same footage when he was selected to the All-Star Game. Camiscioli, who worked for the Phillies from 1996 to 2021, loaded an iPad before the All-Star break with clips of the American League pitchers. For Utley, nothing was an exhibition.

    “All-Star Game? He wanted to hit,” Camiscioli said. “You know how the All-Star Game is. It’s a fun time. He wanted to rake. It was business as usual.”

    Phillies fans walk the Citizens Bank Park concourse with Chase Utley jerseys on.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    A sense of pride

    It didn’t take long for Utley to tell Camiscioli and his staff to just give him some basic instructions on the computer so he could move through his film without help. That’s who he was, Camiscioli said. Utley didn’t want to bother anyone else.

    “He was great to us,” Camiscioli said. “He respected us and appreciated us. It wasn’t, ‘Oh, you’re just staff.’ In return, everyone wanted to run through a freakin’ wall for him. To this day, I still would.”

    So it meant something that Utley invited Camiscioli and other staff members from his playing days to be at his induction on Friday night. Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels were there. But so was Camiscioli and other behind-the-scenes folk who helped Utley become The Man. They loved him, Camiscioli said. Even if he made packing up the equipment a little bit complicated.

    “For me and the guys who worked with me, it was a sense of pride,” Camiscioli said. “We were proud that we could be a part of it. He treated us with respect. You know, that doesn’t always happen. He was really good to us.”

  • Luis Arraez’s biggest strength made him a logical cleanup hitter for Don Mattingly. And it’s worked.

    Luis Arraez’s biggest strength made him a logical cleanup hitter for Don Mattingly. And it’s worked.

    After the Phillies traded for Luis Arraez, Don Mattingly began scratching out potential lineups. He settled on Kyle Schwarber in the leadoff spot and Arraez batting cleanup.

    Wait … what?

    Shouldn’t that be reversed?

    “It is different than when I played, for sure,” Mattingly said Friday. “You would never have thought about hitting [Arraez] fourth. It would’ve been Schwarb fourth, for sure.”

    Trea Turner isn’t moving off shortstop (yet). The Phillies’ goal for now: Help him get better.

    Indeed, for much of the peak of his 14-year playing career, Mattingly was the ideal No. 3 hitter in a Yankees batting order that featured classic profiles of a leadoff (Rickey Henderson) and cleanup (Dave Winfield) hitter.

    Arraez is a contact-hitting savant who rarely strikes out but also doesn’t hit for power. In 891 starts before joining the Phillies, he batted cleanup only 38 times. Schwarber is among the most feared home-run threats in the sport but also leads the majors in strikeouts.

    So, what prompted Mattingly to turn the stereotypical lineup construction on its ear?

    “Well, I think it puts Luis in a spot where hits create runs, right?“ Mattingly said. ”Schwarbs is an on-base guy. If we get guys on base, I feel like it’s protection for Bryce [Harper]. They really don’t want to pitch to Arraez, either, because they know the hits are coming, and you’re really not going to punch him out for the most part. He doesn’t really strike out.”

    With Luis Arraez in the lineup, the Phillies were 32-for-101 (.317) and scored 16 runs in the last three games.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    So far, it couldn’t be working out any better.

    Arraez’s first two at-bats with the Phillies came with runners on first and second base Tuesday night. In both cases, he drove in a run. Through three games entering Friday night, he was 5-for-13 with two doubles, one homer, and four RBIs — all while batting in the cleanup spot behind Harper.

    There’s more. Arraez swung at 28 pitches and made contact with all of them. And with him in the lineup, the Phillies were 32-for-101 (.317) and scored 16 runs in three games.

    Mattingly conceded that he debated between Schwarber or Arraez in the leadoff spot, with the other hitting cleanup.

    “And honestly,” he said, “I didn’t know which way was better. It’s worked out so far. We’ll see where it goes. But I like him there because he’s on base and he’s also driving in runs with hits.”

    Chase Utley, pictured at his retirement ceremony, was added to the Phillies’ Wall of Fame on Friday night.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Honoring Utley

    At Harper’s suggestion, the Phillies ditched their City Connect jerseys for the classic red pinstripes in honor of adding Chase Utley to the team’s Wall of Fame. Harper prompted the change with a text to owner John Middleton.

    Utley, meanwhile, briefly played for Mattingly after the Phillies traded him to the Dodgers in August 2015.

    “Just a guy that you love on your team and just kind of pure baseball, as much as anything,” Mattingly said. “It just seems like hard-nosed, straight-ahead, no-fluff baseball, and I love that.”

    Low on prospect capital, loaded with needs, the Phillies’ best asset at the deadline turned out to be … Bryce Harper

    Mattingly recalled seeing Utley in spring training early in his career, when “most people probably didn’t know about Chase.”

    “Those at-bats looked good,” Mattingly said. “You see it with young guys. You can tell certain guys, it’s just like, ‘OK, this is different.’ Right?”

    Mattingly would know. Utley finished his career with a .275 average, .823 OPS, and 1,885 hits in 7,863 plate appearances; Mattingly was a .307 hitter with an .830 OPS and 2,153 hits in 7,722 plate appearances.

    Extra bases

    Schwarber took grounders and practiced picking throws in the dirt at first base. The Phillies are planning to start him there — and get Harper a day as the DH — this weekend. … With rain in the forecast through Saturday, the Phillies scratched triple-A righty Alan Rangel from his start Friday night in Worcester, Mass., in case they need a fresh arm. It also covers them in the rotation, although Andrew Painter is expected to make his next start Monday night in St. Louis after exiting his last start due to left hamstring tightness. … Aaron Nola (3-9, 5.55 ERA) is scheduled to start at 6:05 p.m. Saturday against Blue Jays righty Max Scherzer (1-4, 7.92).

  • ‘A sense of urgency,’ focal point of the offense, and more takeaways from Penn State football’s media day

    ‘A sense of urgency,’ focal point of the offense, and more takeaways from Penn State football’s media day

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State football coach Matt Campbell said the theme for these next few weeks is “preparation for the journey” as his squad works toward a Week 1 matchup vs. Marshall on Sept. 5 (3:30 p.m., FS1).

    “We’ve grown,” Campbell said Friday at the team’s local media day. “It was great to see Practice 1 and 2 because there was great growth between Practice 1 and Practice 2, and we’re going to have to not miss a day as we continue. There’s a sense of urgency.”

    Besides Penn State’s continued preparation, here are three other takeaways from Friday’s availability:

    Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser doubles as Penn State’s tight ends coach.Craig Houtz / For The Inquirer

    Tight end takeover

    Campbell said 12- and even 13-personnel, meaning two or three tight ends on the field, is going to be prevalent in new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s scheme, mostly because Campbell and Mouser want to design plays that highlight the team’s strengths.

    Tight end will be a focal point. Iowa State transfer Benjamin Brahmer was a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award for the nation’s top tight end last season, fellow Cyclones transfer Gabe Burkle is “the guy that cleans up the mess,” according to Mouser, and returnee Andrew Rappleyea began to break out at the end of 2025. Brahmer and Burkle were named to the Mackey Award watchlist earlier this week.

    Big Ten media day: Matt Campbell explains why Penn State was the right fit, keeping Terry Smith on staff, and more

    With that comes high expectations for the group, especially considering Mouser is also their position coach.

    “We think we’re the smartest on the offense, pretty much, so we always know what we’re doing, and if we do mess up, it’s our fault,” said Brahmer, a senior. “Or if anybody messes up, [Mouser] thinks it’s the tight ends’ fault because we’re kind of the central piece of that offense.”

    The idea of playing 12- and 13-personnel excites Rappleyea, who said the tight ends and wide receivers jokingly argue when Mouser calls for more tight ends during practice.

    “I think that [Mouser] realizes the way it is,” said Rappleyea, a junior. “The game’s evolving, and if you have big guys that can get open, we’re not going to complain about having two of us on the field instead of three receivers.”

    Consistency is key

    In any normal year, Campbell likely would have a general depth chart in his head for the season. But this is not a normal year, and Campbell is making every player earn their Week 1 spot.

    “Everybody’s either on a new team, at a new place, got new coaches, and everybody’s going in with kind of the same starting lines,” said Campbell, who’s entering his first season as the Nittany Lions’ coach after a decade in the same role at Iowa State. “You got to go earn it. To be honest with you, on a good team, some great teams that I’ve been a part of, championship ball, you kind of got to earn it because there’s enough good depth.”

    Penn State ranked No. 17 in preseason coaches’ poll

    Ultimately, Campbell emphasized that the players who separate themselves will be the consistent ones, particularly among the wide receivers. The Nittany Lions have developed a reputation for poor wide receiver play in recent years, but Iowa State transfers Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen received high praise from Campbell on Friday, alongside returnee Koby Howard, a sophomore.

    “I think [Sowell and Eskildsen] give you proven reps that these guys can do it. Can they do it at the consistency now that the great ones look like?” Campbell said. “I think then you look the rest of the way, and you see a guy like Koby. You saw what he could do. I think the same thing I would say about Kobe, and it’s his challenge, and he and I talked about it, is consistency. Can you be the best version of you every day?”

    Wide receiver Koby Howard is back with Penn State.Craig Houtz / For The Inquirer

    Versatile defense

    Campbell has made it known that he believes the defense under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn can be “multiple” in scheme and features Nittany Lions who can play different positions.

    He name-checked junior safety Marcus Neal Jr., senior cornerback Zion Tracy, and redshirt junior linebacker Tony Rojas, but they aren’t the only ones adding versatility.

    Sophomore defensive end Yvan Kemajou said Lynn’s scheme gives “a lot of freedom to the D-line and linebackers.”

    “I feel like we’re very multiple. I like that,” Kemajou said. “So it’s just great learning his scheme, just learning his style of playing defense, and it’s been great.”

    Why did Iowa State players follow Matt Campbell to Penn State?

    Senior linebacker Caleb Bacon, another Iowa State transfer, can play at different spots and has been working out at defensive end to start fall camp. He doesn’t necessarily have a position preference and is more focused on doing what he can to help Penn State.

    “If we need edge rushers, if we need linebackers, I think I’m really just ready for whatever,” Bacon said. “Kind of knowing this scheme, it all really helps. And playing strict linebacker in spring ball, and now transitioning a little bit of a mixed role, I think has been super beneficial for my football IQ and just knowledge of the defense in general.”

  • Eagles practice observations: Jalen Hurts has a happy birthday; Johnny Wilson contests; What’s up with Willie Lampkin?

    Eagles practice observations: Jalen Hurts has a happy birthday; Johnny Wilson contests; What’s up with Willie Lampkin?

    The Eagles held the seventh practice of their 2026 training camp on Friday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here were my observations from Day 7 (and links to Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6):

    Plenty Lane

    Lane Johnson returned after an excused four-practice absence for a noninjury related reason. The right tackle will need a ramp-up period and didn’t participate in team drills. Johnson didn’t speak with reporters after practice.

    Lane Johnson returned to Eagles practice on Friday. His teammates were grateful to welcome back their ‘cornerstone’

    The Eagles didn’t have additions to their list of players out after Wednesday’s light session and Thursday’s walkthrough. The following were sidelined: Wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring), receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring), receiver Britain Covey (hamstring), outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle) and safety Cole Wisniewski (hamstring).

    Linebacker Chance Campbell, who left early two days ago, was limited with a groin injury. Guard Micah Morris (shoulder) was also a partial participant.

    Nolan Smith Jr. took part in one-on-ones at Friday’s steamy practice. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The loneliest number

    Players were back in full pads for what was the hottest day of camp thus far. Eagles coaches continued to amp up the intensity with one-on-one drills between offensive and defensive linemen. Not many top-liners partook, but edges Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt had impressive pass rushes.

    The former bested tackle Myles Hinton with back-to-back inside-outside moves. Hinton rebounded in a later turn. Tackle Cameron Williams flashed his hands too early vs. Hunt and never stood a chance. He held up on the next turn, though.

    Center/guard Drew Kendall had a couple of strong blocks against defensive tackle Moro Ojomo. The Eagles currently have Kendall as the first guard off the bench, and it seems deserved. Could Morris push Kendall? He stood out in his two reps, although defensive tackle Ty Robinson isn’t quite in Ojomo’s class.

    Willie Lampkin has shown some ability as an interior offensive lineman. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Willie praise

    I’ve yet to write much about second-year offensive lineman Willie Lampkin. The Eagles signed the undrafted North Carolina product last August after camp and he spent all of last season on injured reserve. So we never got to see Lampkin practice. He’s clearly undersized at a generously-listed 5-foot-11, 290 pounds. But it’s easy to see why the team felt he was worth developing.

    Lampkin stoned undrafted rookie defensive tackle Zion Wilson in one-on-ones. He lined up mostly at center in the first week of camp, but he was at right guard on Friday. He’s a technically sound run blocker. He was able to move defensive tackle Byron Young. But he also didn’t cede much ground in pass protection.

    Lampkin may be too small to play guard. At center, he’d have problems against bigger nose tackles in pass pro. The Eagles would have to often slide help his way. But I’m not discounting the mauler’s chances of making the roster.

    Jalen Hurts (1) had a pleasant day at the office and was serenaded by his teammates. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Birthday gifts

    Birthday boy Jalen Hurts continued to show steady improvement in Sean Mannion’s new offense as the installation proceeds. The quarterback was especially sharp early in team drills. He got things rolling with what should be a staple of the scheme: a naked bootleg off under-center play action that is married with an outside zone-run fake. Elijah Moore was the target on the shallow crossing route and picked up an easy 10 yards or so — just as he did later on the same play.

    Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper takes pride in doing the dirty work. Will he be rewarded with a roster spot?

    Moore has been the primary slot receiver since Lemon got hurt almost a week ago. Later in the set, Hurts hit tight end Dallas Goedert on a hitch route in front of cornerback Riq Woolen. The Eagles ran more hitch routes than any team last season. The number is sure to decrease in the new system, but there’s always a time and place for an easy five yards.

    Later vs. the second-unit defense, Hurts didn’t have much on the first two reads to his left. But he checked to his third outlet on the right — receiver Hollywood Brown — for a short gain underneath. That might not sound sexy, but it was a successful play considering the coverage and Hurts going through his progression reads.

    Tyler Steen (56) was the only starter available on the offensive line at one point on Friday. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Running lines

    Markel Bell was in Johnson’s place at right tackle once again. Fred Johnson spelled left tackle Jordan Mailata on occasion as did Kendall for Landon Dickerson at left guard. When Cam Jurgens left with an unspecified injury midway though the workout, Jake Majors stepped in at center. At one point that meant that right guard Tyler Steen was the only starter on the offensive line. It showed.

    I’m not sure what happened to Jurgens. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis had a would-be run stop and sack on consecutive plays early on — and beat Jurgens soundly on the second — and that was the last I saw of the center in team drills.

    Moro Ojomo found himself in the opposing backfield again on Friday. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Under pressure

    The missing pieces up front made it more difficult on Hurts and Co. A faulty exchange between Majors and the quarterback interrupted the flow of a Saquon Barkley run. Ojomo used a swim move to penetrate into the backfield for a tackle for loss on the next Barkley carry.

    Smith split Fred Johnson and Kendall and notched a sack. Edge Arnold Ebiketie pressured Hurts out of the pocket. Ojomo jumped offside at one point. But Jalen Carter batted a Hurts pass after Ebiketie beat Bell once again from the outside.

    More than a week into Eagles training camp, Jalen Hurts and the new-look offense are ‘calibrating’

    Johnny on the spot

    I asked coach Nick Sirianni who he liked from his receiver group on contested balls. The subtext there could have been that the Eagles lost one of the strongest catch-point receivers in the NFL when A.J. Brown was traded. But they do have candidates beyond DeVonta Smith, who won in the air differently than Brown, who can pull in Hurts’ best throws.

    Sirianni mentioned Darius Cooper first before getting to Dontayvion Wicks, Lemon and Smith. Cooper probably is the closest to Brown in terms of his body shape. It wasn’t exactly a 50-50 ball, but Cooper hauled in a Hurts pass over the middle with cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in close quarters. The second-year receiver caught another pass near the hashes after Hurts escaped the pocket and threw across his body.

    Johnny Wilson is among those who could give the Eagles some size and help mitigate the departure of A.J. Brown. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Johnny Wilson wasn’t mentioned by Sirianni, but he has obvious size traits that should aid him on contested balls. The 6-6 receiver caught a deep pass from quarterback Andy Dalton after beating and boxing out cornerback Mac McWilliams. Wilson’s best moment of camp came when quarterback Tanner McKee went to him on a corner route in the end zone. He went up and over cornerback Jonathan Jones and got both feet inbounds.

    Tanner day

    McKee had maybe his best day in Mannion’s offense. He was first up with the second unit offense and connected on his first three passes — the best a pinpoint toss to receiver Danny Gray just out of corner Kelee Ringo’s reach. McKee would have gone 4 for 4 had receiver Erik Ezukanma not dropped one in his bread basket.

    In a later period, McKee found Cooper on a hitch route. He threw wide of Gray near the sideline, but had better luck with the same route when Cooper beat McWilliams and late-arriving safety Michael Carter II.

    Andy Dalton was solid Friday but might have seen Tanner McKee close the gap in their QB2 competition. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Still good Dalton

    Dalton didn’t necessarily have a bad day, but McKee may have closed the gap in the backup competition. Dalton heaved a pass to Samori Toure in traffic, but Carter ran step for step with the receiver and was awarded with a pass breakup. Tight end Eli Stowers was the check down on a few occasions.

    Dalton exposed Ambry Thomas when he completed back-to-back sideline tosses to Ezukanma and Brandon Hayes after each receiver turned the cornerback around. Rookie quarterback Cole Payton hasn’t gotten as many snaps over the last few practices. He nearly tossed another interception when Ringo jumped a route.

    Extra points

    Running back blocking has been sharp of late. Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley all had successful blitz pickups. … Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. drew a false start when he feigned a blitz pre-snap. … Linebacker Smael Mondon tipped a ball at the line when he rushed. … Linebacker Deontae Lawson ripped the ball from tight end E.J. Jenkins for a fumble. … The Eagles sang “Happy Birthday” to the 28-year-old Hurts during the post-practice team huddle. … There was a Boston flavor to VIP guests at practice. Former Red Sox (and Cubs) general manager Theo Epstein, who is a friend of Eagles GM Howie Roseman, took in the action. New 76er (and former Celtic) Jaylen Brown showed up to the delight of many in attendance. … The Eagles return to practice on Saturday and will be off on Sunday.

  • Lane Johnson returned to Eagles practice on Friday. His teammates were grateful to welcome back their ‘cornerstone’

    Lane Johnson returned to Eagles practice on Friday. His teammates were grateful to welcome back their ‘cornerstone’

    Lane Johnson returned to Eagles training camp practice on Friday after he missed the last four sessions with an excused absence that was not injury-related.

    Johnson, the six-time Pro Bowl, two-time All-Pro right tackle, was a limited participant in his first practice back from roughly a weeklong hiatus. He participated in individual drills to start the day, then observed from the side during team drills, as the Eagles are gradually progressing his workload.

    The team has not disclosed the specific reason for Johnson’s absence.

    Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper takes pride in doing the dirty work. Will he be rewarded with a roster spot?

    Before practice, Nick Sirianni expressed a sense of confidence in the 36-year-old Johnson as he returns to an Eagles team that is in the process of learning a new offense orchestrated by Sean Mannion.

    “Lane can pick things up very fast,” the Eagles head coach said. “Phenomenal football player. I’m not concerned there. You get to see a little portion of each day out at practice. But there’s 12 more hours of the day where they’re in walkthroughs, they’re in meetings, and things like that, so there’s so much more going on than some of the things you guys get to see here.”

    Lane Johnson was excused from four practices for undisclosed, non-injury-related reasons. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Even though Johnson did not participate in team drills, his teammates still felt — and appreciated — his presence.

    “He has a calming presence,” Jordan Davis said. “When I see him, I’m like, ‘All right, this is Lane.’ And one day, I’m not going to be able to say that I have him in the locker room. It’s just very good to have him out here. And everybody knows he’s a baller, man. He’s a f— baller. Lane, man, he’s a cornerstone, bro.”

    The Eagles have been forced to replace their cornerstone at right tackle in team drills over the past week. On Friday, third-round rookie Markel Bell commanded those snaps with the starting offense. Bell, who is the tallest player on the team at 6-foot-9, 346 pounds, is relatively new to the position, as he primarily played at left tackle through two seasons of junior college and two seasons at Miami.

    More than a week into Eagles training camp, Jalen Hurts and the new-look offense are ‘calibrating’

    “I think what you see with Markel is just his length and how big he is and how hard he is to get around in the pass rush,” Sirianni said. “Just working on getting on the same page with the combination blocks. There’s so many things that go on there with the offensive line of having to work in tandem.

    “I’ve seen progression there, and that’s what you want with all your players.”

    Davis growing as a pass rusher

    Speaking of progression, the Eagles are looking for Davis to continue to evolve his pass-rush game as he enters Year 5.

    He has made gradual improvement, which Vic Fangio said dates back to the end of the 2024 season. Around that time, the 6-6, 336-pound Davis improved his conditioning, allowing him to move better on the field.

    “He needs to be 6-6 when it’s to his advantage, and he needs to bend his knees and be 6-3 when he needs to be,” Fangio said on Wednesday. “When you’re in better shape, weighing less, that’s easier to do and you can do it for a longer time. That’s what’s made his game take off.”

    Jordan Davis (90) emphasized the need to stay low when rushing the passer. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Davis flashed his progress in practice on Friday, bolting into the backfield in 11-on-11s for a would-be sack of Jalen Hurts. More sacks could be in store for Davis in 2026. When the season begins, he will have the opportunity to build on his career-high 4½ sacks from last season.

    Davis likely couldn’t have fathomed that total during his rookie season, as the run-stuffing defensive tackle didn’t notch a sack all year.

    “Even when we watch our old film from Year 1, Year 2, it’s a crazy experience just to see how far I came,” Davis said. “But I think the beautiful part about this game is that we still have so much further to go. We just keep working at it.

    Eli Stowers opens up about early camp struggles: ‘It’s a mental challenge’

    “I always say Rome isn’t built in a day. You have to keep working at it, and Rome is an empire [that] lasted for a very long time. So we just got to keep building that so it can be sustainable and still be long-lasting.”

    Davis has learned that the low man often wins in the trenches. He credited defensive line coach Clint Hurtt with helping him feel at ease in uncomfortable positions by running drills that utilize a lineman chute, which enforces the importance of keeping a low pad level.

    “When you’re a pass rusher, you always want to be low,” Davis said. “You want to keep your center of gravity low … And I also notice it now when I’m driving and I’m bull rushing. I’m not bull rushing up high. I’m bull rushing more low.

    “Sometimes I feel like I’m about to tilt over, bro. And [when] I feel like I’m about to tilt over, I know I’m at the perfect height.”

  • Mike Gansey still has to ‘pinch myself a little bit’ after landing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in stunning Sixers overhaul

    Mike Gansey still has to ‘pinch myself a little bit’ after landing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in stunning Sixers overhaul

    Jaylen Brown could not hold back the chuckle when asked about the 76ers’ offseason.

    “Um, I think they did a great job,” Brown said at his introductory news conference Thursday afternoon.

    Probably the correct response from Brown with Mike Gansey — the Sixers’ new president of basketball operations who traded for the All-NBA wing in a shocking blockbuster with the Boston Celtics last month — sitting in the front row alongside other front-office personnel and owner Josh Harris. It also is the overwhelming consensus, after the Sixers acquired Brown and then signed all-timer LeBron James to add to the core of All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey, former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, and explosive young guard VJ Edgecombe.

    Jaylen Brown insists ‘winning is the agenda’ as he joins star-studded Sixers

    Brown was quick to point out that the Sixers’ “excellent” on-paper roster does not guarantee they will fulfill their expectations to immediately compete for a championship. A few minutes later, Gansey echoed that sentiment while meeting with local media for the first time since his team landed James.

    But Gansey did concede that he “would have never thought our offseason would turn out like the way it [did].”

    “We’ve got to figure it out and gel,” Gansey added from Francis J. Myers Recreation Center. “But it definitely makes me pinch myself a little bit, like, ‘Man, we really have a lot of talent.’”

    It was difficult to fathom all of this when Gansey — who previously worked his way up to general manager in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office — was first introduced as the Sixers’ new lead executive at the team’s practice facility in early June.

    Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey (left), All-NBA star Jaylen Brown and owner Josh Harris pose for a photo during Brown’s introductory press conference.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The Sixers appeared locked into the max contracts of the aging and oft-injured Embiid and Paul George, with little maneuverability to make sweeping changes to the roster. And back then, it was unclear if James was even considering leaving the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, much less would consider signing a far-below-market veteran’s minimum contract with the Sixers.

    Yet Gansey on Thursday reiterated what he told The Inquirer last month at Las Vegas Summer League, that he and Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talked for “days” (and kept quiet) about a potential deal to swap Brown for George and four draft picks. After that move popped July 1, Gansey believed the Sixers suddenly “had a chance to be in the mix” for James, who on July 24 announced his decision to come to Philly. The Sixers also recently signed veteran 3-and-D wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — a former James teammate with the Lakers — to add more championship experience to a franchise that has not advanced past the playoffs’ second round since 2001 or won a title since 1983.

    “Just having that presence,” Gansey said, “that everyday leadership that we’re going to have is going to be invaluable for everybody.”

    Gansey quipped the Sixers now “kind of have a Big 5” in their starting lineup, plus helpful bench contributors in defensive wing Dean Wade and sharpshooter Anfernee Simons. He compared coach Nick Nurse to “a kid in a candy store” while already thinking about the various lineup configurations. Though the Sixers technically still have one full-time roster spot open, unless they waive reserve forward Jabari Walker (whose contract is partially guaranteed at $250,000 until Jan. 10), they must wait until December to sign another player because they are hard-capped at the first apron. They do have one two-way contract slot remaining, after signing Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert to such deals.

    Throughout this week, Gansey said there were eight players working out at the Sixers’ facility — including a visibly slimmed-down Embiid, who Gansey described as “doing all the right things” and “super motivated.” James and Maxey, who are longtime offseason workout buddies, have been photographed training together in Los Angeles. Brown has been making the rounds in Philly, throwing out the first pitch at Thursday’s Phillies-Nationals game and visiting Eagles training camp Friday. Gansey said he is unsure when James will stop by Camden, though teams typically reconvene after Labor Day for informal pickup games before training camp begins in late September.

    For the Sixers, ego concerns are secondary to Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid’s fit on the court

    That is when the Sixers will begin blending a talented and revamped roster on the floor. But in the aftermath of the Sixers’ stunning offseason, Gansey is metaphorically pinching himself.

    “The vibes are high,” Gansey said. “Everyone’s excited. Once we get together, I’m excited to see what the journey’s going to look like.”

  • What the Union need in their revival of the season is a little luck. Against Cruz Azul, it was nowhere to be found.

    What the Union need in their revival of the season is a little luck. Against Cruz Azul, it was nowhere to be found.

    Jesús Bueno prefers to answer interview questions in his first language of Spanish.

    Still, when it came to what he believed should have been a penalty kick for the Union in the 89th minute of their 1-0 Leagues Cup loss to Liga MX’s Cruz Azul on Thursday, the Venezuelan midfielder was comfortable dipping into his English vocabulary.

    “Clearly [a] penalty,” Bueno said after the match. “Disgusting situation.”

    The situation Bueno references seemed simple. As the Union pressed for an equalizer late Thursday night, Milan Iloski received a ball from Frankie Westfield inside the 18-yard box and tried to center it for a teammate.

    Union drop their opening match of Leagues Cup to Cruz Azul

    Iloski’s back-heeled cross contacted the wrist and lower forearm of Cruz Azul’s Gonzalo Piovi. Play stopped as the ball trickled out of bounds, but as the Union shouted for a handball, referee Juan Gabriel Calderon Pérez awarded a corner instead.

    Play on

    [image or embed]

    — Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd.bsky.social) August 6, 2026 at 10:19 PM

    Brothers Quinn and Cavan Sullivan both stayed mum on the non-penalty post game, but interim head coach Ryan Richter’s summation of the incident was even more straightforward than Bueno’s.

    Did the interim manager think it was a penalty?

    “Yes,” Richter said.

    Simple enough.

    Richter’s side wouldn’t get the benefit of a golden opportunity to equalize. If the Union had converted from the spot, where they are 3-for-4 this season, it would have sent the game to a penalty shootout to decide the winner thanks to the tournament’s “no ties” format.

    Taking the match to a shootout would have secured the Union at least one point in Phase 1 of the Leagues Cup, potentially two had they won in penalties.

    Instead, the Union walked away without any points for a regulation loss, likely quashing their run in the Leagues Cup before the club’s second game. They’ll get back to work quickly as Necaxa, complete with former Union striker Julian Carranza, comes to Subaru Park on Sunday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV, UniMas).

    The Leagues Cup, which features 18 Liga MX teams and 18 qualified teams from MLS, adopted its current format in 2025. After each team plays three Liga MX vs. MLS matchups in Phase 1, the top four teams from each league’s standings advance to a knockout bracket.

    Ryan Richter balances wanting a deep Leagues Cup run for the Union with a packed August

    The Union can earn a maximum of six points from their next two Leagues Cup matches, starting with Necaxa on Sunday. But even if the Union were to win out, it would not ensure that they advance.

    “We obviously know the two games coming up are big,” Cavan Sullivan said. “At the end of the day, it still might not be enough. That’s just the reality of the Leagues Cup. But the Philly mentality is to go out and win no matter what, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

    In 2025, none of the MLS teams with losses in Phase 1 earned enough points to qualify for the knockout rounds.

    Ahead of Thursday’s match, Richter said he planned to approach the tournament with his first team until “it’s not possible.”

    Union interim head coach Ryan Richter shakes hands with Cruz Azul head coach Joel Huiqui before the Leagues Cup match at Subaru Park on Thursday.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer

    Then perhaps having their first match come against Cruz Azul, the tournament’s No. 4 seed and the third-ranked team in the Concacaf Club Ranking Index, was a blessing for the Union.

    The club is not mathematically eliminated from the Cup, but it has slim odds of advancing to the knockout rounds. The remaining Leagues Cup fixtures could be an opportunity for Richter to rotate his squad before the club returns to MLS play, especially considering the Leagues Cup allows for an expanded 30-man roster.

    Cruz Azul set social media ablaze by putting its flag on the Rocky statue before Leagues Cup opener against Union

    “We have to be smart,” Richter said. “If we look at it, and it doesn’t look possible to advance to the next round, then we have to play these games the way we do, try to win and approach them with the right energy and keep building on the positive momentum that we had from the first three league games.

    “We don’t want to lose that base. That’s really important for us, that we don’t just use these two games and throw them to the side … But we also have to be realistic. We have a very busy stretch coming up in the season. We have to make sure that we’re not setting ourselves back by the way we approach these next two games.”

    Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan (6) controls the ball against Cruz Azul at Subaru Park on Thursday.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer

    Sullivan shines

    Despite his age, 16-year old Cavan Sullivan looked at times like the best player on a pitch full of professionals during Thursday’s match.

    Sullivan completed 22 of his 32 passes and was credited with two chance creations by soccer stats platform FotMob.

    He also took two shots, the better of which came in the 59th minute. Iloski played Sullivan through on goal in the left side of the penalty area, but Sullivan’s left-footed, driven shot veered wide of the right post.

    Aside than the unawarded penalty, it was the Union’s best scoring chance of the evening.

    “I want to take responsibility,” Sullivan said. “I think there were two that I missed. I’m not happy about that. They need to be put to bed … In the Leagues Cup, every chance matters. It could affect us in the future. That one, those ones are going to keep me up at night. Can’t dwell on it. I’ve got to move on.”

    Sullivan and the rest of the Union will need to shed Thursday’s loss quickly. Necaxa will come to Subaru Park on Sunday fresh off a 2-0 loss to Chicago Fire FC in its first Leagues Cup match.

    “I think we’ll have to rotate guys,” Sullivan said. “It’s been tough on the bodies. You know that these teams are going to come in strong, and come in with some away fans. The dark arts, they’re going to try and get in your head, little fouls. Just got to deal with it and, of course, try and get those three points.”

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of the Union right here!