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  • 🩅 Talkin’ ’bout practice | Sports Daily Newsletter

    🩅 Talkin’ ’bout practice | Sports Daily Newsletter

    It’s happening, y’all!

    What surely feels like Christmas morning for many in Philly and beyond dawned on Wednesday as the Eagles took the field for the first training camp practices of the 2026 season — and, for Jalen Carter, with a nice pay raise.

    So what did our writers see?

    In short: plenty.

    Plenty of Birds on the field (they’re healthy). Plenty of positional battles (especially on defense). Plenty of new concepts (on offense). And if you want the in-depth version of Wednesday’s key observations, Jeff McLane has you covered.

    — Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ❓While there’s plenty of reason to hope regarding the Sixers and Eagles, is it time to panic about the Phillies? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    Birds in flight

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts fakes a handoff to running back Saquon Barkley during the first day of on Wednesday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Part of Nick Sirianni’s opening message to the team stuck out to quarterback Jalen Hurts. He wrote it down in his notebook, and it underscores his mentality as a new season begins.

    “100% alignment and zero entitlement,” he said Wednesday as the first practices of training camp began.

    So what does that look like, as Hurts embraces his role as a veteran and helps his new teammates get acquainted with the Eagles?

    And while there isn’t a Duolingo course for Sean Mannion’s offense, but Barkley is enjoying the challenge of “learning a new language” as the Birds install the offense.

    Next: The fun continues today at the Jefferson Health Training Complex.

    Dog day doldrums

    Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly returns to the dugout after making a pitching change. The Phillies blew a six-run lead to lose their third straight game on Wednesday in Miami.Rebecca Blackwell

    Bryce Harper’s candid comments about the Phillies’ needs ahead of the trade deadline certainly raised eyebrows on Tuesday night.

    Before Wednesday’s series finale vs. the Miami Marlins, interim manager Don Mattingly responded to his star first baseman, saying, “… players like being GMs and making calls and spending other people’s money, so just let it go at that.”

    And the Phillies’ on-field misfortune continued Wednesday, as they blew a six-run lead en route to an 8-6 loss to the Marlins.

    Next: After an off day Thursday, the Phillies’ road trip continues with a weekend series in Baltimore. The Orioles’ Brandon Young (8-2, 3.13) will start on Friday (7:05 p.m., NBCSP) against a Phillies starter to be determined.

    Max(ey) effort

    LeBron James will wear No. 23 with the Sixers, the team announced Monday.Sixers

    OK, so what was the deal with that asterisk by Tyrese Maxey’s name on the now-infamous white board? Turns out the Sixers point guard had a notable role in helping bring LeBron James to Philly.

    Rich Paul, who’s James’ and Maxey’s agent, offered a glimpse into the decision process that brought the all-time great to the Sixers. He also hinted at James playing beyond that two-year deal, too.

    James jersey sales broke a record, according to Fanatics, and with him officially now in the fold, how do the Sixers stack up within the hierarchy of the Eastern Conference?

    ‘Opening doors’ in lacrosse

    Women’s Lacrosse League players Abby Bosco (left), Katie Detwiler, and McKenzie Blake demonstrate a lacrosse drill for Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Wednesday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    The Philly area is a hotbed for women’s lacrosse. Of the Women’s Lacrosse League’s four teams — the Maryland Charm, California Palms, New York Charging, and Boston Guard — 18 players and two coaches have ties to the region.

    “I think it’s just super crazy growing up in the area,” said Katie Detwiler, a California Palms defender who’s from Devon. “When we were growing up, we didn’t have any of this. We played in college, and then it was on to the real world. So I think it’s really good for them to see what could be possible someday. It’s awesome to see.”

    And on Wednesday, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, the WLL, and local lacrosse players came together to celebrate the league making history in the area when it plays its inaugural championship game in the area next month.

    Next: The inaugural WLL championship is coming to Subaru Park in Chester on Aug. 15 (5 p.m., ESPN).

    Sports snapshot

    On this date

    Mike Schmidt and other Phillies celebrate their World Series triumph on the night of Oct. 21, 1980. Schmidt also was the National League’s most valuable player that season.File photograph

    On this day 31 years ago, two of the Phillies’ all-time greats were enshrined among baseball’s best as Mike Schmidt and Richie Ashburn were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

    An article by the Hall of Fame estimated that 40,000 came out to see Schmidt, a 12-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner, and Ashburn, who hit .308 over his career. Which Phillies might be next?

    Standings, stats, and more

    It’s a bit early for scoreboard watching, but the Phillies’ hold on a wild-card spot has gotten precarious. They’re tied with the Diamondbacks for the final two spots, and the Marlins, Pirates, Nationals, and Padres just two games behind them.

    Here’s a place to access your favorite Philadelphia teams’ statistics, schedules, and standings in real time.

    Mike Sielski’s take

    Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter takes the field during the first day of training camp.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    After Jalen Carter signed his lucrative extension, he met with the media flanked by two important people: security chief Dom (DiSandro) and his mom. Dom and Mom has a nice ring to it. They’re also the two people who’ll be most instrumental in making sure the Eagles get their money’s worth from the 25-year-old defensive tackle.

    Sure, he’s talented. But, as Mike Sielski writes, the Eagles are taking on a bit of risk here in signing Carter to this extension.

    What you’re saying about the Birds

    We asked: Which Eagles player is destined for a big year?

    #33 is going to have an incredible year. Cooper DeJean 2026 Defensive Player of the Year. — Ronald R.

    Jalen Hurts is destined for a big year. Rid of complaining AJ Brown, Jalen will have time and support to learn Sean Manion’s playbook without the pressure to cater to a diva receiver. — Bob C.

    I think Jalen Carter will have a great year as he works extra hard to prove that he is worth that $152 million. Unless he is injured I think he will have an outstanding year. You always have to be wary of these long time extensions due to memories of Carson Wentz and Russel Wilson, [Deshaun] Watson, Jay Cutler and others, but I don’t think Carter will ever fail like any those players. — Everett S.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Ryan Novozinsky, Lochlahn March, Gabriela Carroll, Gina Mizell, Ariel Simpson, Matt Breen, Becca O’Reilly, Mike Sielski, and Jonathan Tannenwald.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Thanks for reading along! Bella will be back in your inboxes tomorrow morning to close out the week. — Maria

  • The Women’s Lacrosse League is preparing to make history in the Philly area. To Mayor Parker, ‘it’s about opening doors.’

    The Women’s Lacrosse League is preparing to make history in the Philly area. To Mayor Parker, ‘it’s about opening doors.’

    The summer of unforgettable sports moments in Philadelphia is far from over, and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker was excited Wednesday for the next event coming to town.

    Parker and local youth lacrosse players gathered at Dock Street South to celebrate the inaugural Women’s Lacrosse League championship, which is Aug. 15 (5 p.m., ESPN) at the Union’s Subaru Park in Chester.

    “For a long time, women’s sports were treated as an afterthought, a smaller version of the real thing,” said Rachael DeCecco, a USA Lacrosse Hall of Famer and Broomall native who’s the senior vice president of the PLL and WLL.

    “Every young girl who’s going to watch this league will understand, without ever having to be told, that this is a real path, a real career, a real sport worth playing at the highest level. And there is no better place to host this historic first-ever WLL championship than right here in Philadelphia.”

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker (center) speaks at an event celebrating the inaugural Women’s Lacrosse League championship coming to the Philly area.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    The Philly area is a hotbed for women’s lacrosse. Of the WLL’s four teams — the Maryland Charm, California Palms, New York Charging, and Boston Guard — 18 players and two coaches have ties to the region.

    Three of those players — California Palms defender Katie Detwiler (Devon, Archbishop Carroll) and the Maryland Charm’s McKenzie Blake (Haddonfield) and Abby Bosco (Penn) attended Wednesday’s event. Also in attendance was Tina Sloan Green, the former Temple women’s lacrosse coach who has been breaking barriers in field hockey and lacrosse since the 1970s.

    Now 82, Green said the formation of the WLL, which is in its second season, is her legacy.

    “I can’t even believe it,” Green said. “I grew up here and was the only Black female playing the sport. So this means so much to me because I know that my grandchildren, and their children, will get opportunities.”

    Tina Sloan Green opened doors in multiple sports. The NCAA is honoring that legacy. | from 2024

    Parker also discussed wanting to create more opportunities in women’s sports. Discussions about hosting the WLL championship, as well as bringing a WNBA team to Philadelphia — which will happen in 2030 — have been on her radar since her days as a City Council member from 2015 to 2022.

    “We’re proving every year that our interests are in building and growing professional women’s sports in the city of Philadelphia. We’re doing it in a tangible way. We’re at the table,” Parker told the crowd. “This championship, to me, is about more than competition. It’s about opening doors. And in a city like Philadelphia, I can’t begin to talk about the importance of Black and brown young women being able to know that this sport, too, is for them.”

    How did the WNBA wind up in Philly? A look at the road to get here and what’s next.

    At the end of her speech, Parker invited the youth lacrosse players in attendance to join her in reciting her signature chant, “one Philly, a united city; one America, a united nation,” before leading an “E-A-G-L-E-S” chant and laughing with the players about spelling it correctly this time.

    One of the young players in the crowd was Shiyann Werts, a lacrosse player and rising junior at Germantown Academy. Werts fell in love with the sport in sixth grade after being introduced to it at the Thomas K. Finletter School, where the Harlem Lacrosse program provides year-round academic and athletic support.

    Since then, she has seen the sport’s popularity grow.

    “It makes me really kind of emotional,” Werts said. “I’ve been seeing all the news on lacrosse, and it’s getting the recognition that I think it deserves. I’m really excited to see what the WLL will bring to that.”

    Here’s how lacrosse became the sport of choice in this North Philly neighborhood

    Werts hopes to play college lacrosse, and the opportunity to play professionally after graduation is becoming a realistic pathway for female athletes who previously had few options to continue competing after their NCAA careers ended.

    “I think it’s just super crazy growing up in the area,” Detwiler said. “When we were growing up, we didn’t have any of this. We played in college, and then it was on to the real world. So I think it’s really good for them to see what could be possible someday. It’s awesome to see.”

    The WLL and the city are working together to ensure the championship reaches all parts of the community. The league is donating 2,500 tickets to nonprofit organizations, youth programs, and community groups.

    Youth lacrosse players listen as Mayor Cherelle L. Parker speaks during a news conference on Wednesday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Ashley Walkowiak, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women, echoed the hopes of the room that the championship is only the beginning of the impact women’s professional sports can have on Philadelphia.

    “Seeing the first WLL championship hosted right here in Pennsylvania is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we invest in expanding opportunities,” Walkowiak said. “Philadelphia has long been a place where history is made, and this championship continues that legacy. But it is more than a game. It’s a celebration of talent, leadership, and the growing momentum around women’s athletics.”

  • Eagles practice observations: Sean Mannion’s offense starts clicking; Jalen Hurts under center; Jalyx Hunt hunts

    Eagles practice observations: Sean Mannion’s offense starts clicking; Jalen Hurts under center; Jalyx Hunt hunts

    The Eagles held their first practice of training camp on Wednesday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here were my observations from Day 1:

    Healthy Birds

    The Eagles announced that outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list just before practice. He apparently strained a pectoral muscle while lifting prior to camp. Greenard isn’t expected to be out long-term, but starting him on PUP allows the team to save a roster spot if he’s going to miss more than a month in the regular season.

    It’s unclear if the injury had anything to do with his recovery from December shoulder surgery. Greenard didn’t practice much in the spring after he was acquired via trade during the draft. He’s learning a new defense, but he’s been around the block a few times and shouldn’t be held back once healthy.

    Jonathan Greenard (right) was present on Wednesday but will remain sidelined indefinitely with a pectoral injury. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The Eagles were otherwise full-go. I don’t recall them being as healthy entering camp in all my years on the beat. Every player passed Tuesday’s conditioning test, as coach Nick Sirianni suggested before practice. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) and several other players who were limited in the spring were back in action.

    Campbell, by the way, switched his jersey number from 30 to 11. That should end all talk of the former Eagles wide receiver who previously wore the double ones. Right?

    Positional battles

    There’s really only one “starting” spot up for grabs and it technically isn’t a full-time job: safety. Cooper DeJean is expected to “start” at safety in base personnel alongside Andrew Mukuba. DeJean was there again on Wednesday. Marcus Epps filled the primary nickel role, however, with a splash of Michael Carter II at times. Those two appear to be the frontrunners. General manager Howie Roseman won’t be shy about trading for an upgrade if needed.

    There are some intriguing competitions further down the depth chart. Jonathan Jones was the first cornerback up when starter Quinyon Mitchell took a breather during team drills. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon were the backup inside linebackers behind Zack Baun and Campbell.

    A handful of receivers will be vying for the snaps that became available when A.J. Brown was finally traded to the Patriots. DeVonta Smith is the bona fide WR1, but new faces like Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown and Lemon, along with returnees like Darius Cooper and Johnny Wilson will be contending for playing time.

    Line ’em up

    The first-unit offensive line is set, but swing tackle along with a few other backup spots are up for grabs. New O-line coach Chris Kuper will work some reserve linemen at various positions to create versatility. Here’s how the units looked on Wednesday:

    A few notes:

    Jordan is new after the Eagles signed the veteran guard at the conclusion of minicamp in June. Bell was back in the lineup after sitting out the last day of minicamp. He and Fred Johnson are presumably battling for the swing tackle role, although Kuper could have both active on game days. Hollin Pierce and Jaeden Roberts were with the third unit at left tackle and left guard, respectively, during the period for developmental players.

    Mannion mirror

    New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion continued to implement many of the concepts we saw from the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay scheme he brought to the Eagles in the spring: a lot of under center sets, play-action and motion. I’d estimate that more than half of the plays came with the quarterbacks lined up under center.

    Jalen Hurts continued to learn the intricacies of the new offense on Wednesday. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Jalen Hurts has improved from under center since entering the NFL, but he hasn’t done much of it, at least compared to rest of the league. There will be more of him turning his back to the defense on play action and naked bootlegs. An early awkward pass across Hurts’ body to Lemon illustrated that there will be some growing pains.

    Hurts to be…

    There will be an adjustment period for all involved, but mostly Hurts. He’s endured other previous changes in play-calling and scheme with varying results. The offense wasn’t sharp during the spring practices open to reporters. That came as little surprise, and neither should struggles during the summer.

    Hurts’ first pass of camp was a wobbler to Wicks that Mitchell nearly intercepted. But he had some strong moments in the later team portions with good ball placement on a toss to Wicks with cornerback Riq Woolen in coverage and a strike to a crossing Smith just over Mitchell.

    The catch of the day came during seven-on-sevens when Hurts hooked up with Cooper. The receiver got behind DeJean out of the slot and made a diving grab over the middle.

    Saquon Barkley’s ability to adapt to the wide-zone blocking scheme will be worth watching. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Run it back

    The Eagles won’t be in full pads until the fifth practice of camp on Tuesday, but they were able to incorporate more of the run game into team drills. Some of the biggest changes on offense will come with the move to more wide-zone blocking. Lane Johnson said the new system is “O-line friendly” and should theoretically place less stress on the group in pass blocking situations.

    Running back Saquon Barkley took the first handoff of camp and ran behind Johnson off tackle. He was met near the line of scrimmage by Baun on his next carry. Backup Tank Bigsby’s first touch came on a rush up the middle after Steen climbed to the second level. Could we see more of Bigsby as the inside complement to Barkley this season?

    Hunting season

    Greenard’s absence pushed Jalyx Hunt into the starting spot at right outside linebacker opposite Nolan Smith Jr. Hunt will likely play as many snaps as the other two this season. There’s an argument to be made that he should get more playing time than Smith. Nevertheless, he took advantage of his opportunities with Greenard out.

    Hunt shot into the backfield unblocked and forced Hurts to check down to Cooper on one play-action pass that came from under center. He blew up tight end Dallas Goedert with an edge rush and Hurts had to hurry a dump to Bigsby that wasn’t caught. And he beat Jordan Mailata on back-to-back rushes — one with an inside move and the other from the outside — that blew up pass plays.

    Dallas Goedert (right) rebounded from an early drop in Wednesday’s practice. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Sloppy go droppy

    Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio enters his third season at the helm with little turnover on his side of the ball. He’s always evolving and will introduce new ideas, but the core of his unit remains intact. The defense should have the upper hand in competitive periods, especially with the offense still ironing out details.

    Mannion’s unit had a couple of false starts from Mailata and Landon Dickerson. Brown lined up illegally at one point. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, fresh off his contract extension, was flagged for offsides at one point. He slipped by Steen for a would-be tackle of Barkley in the backfield earlier in the session.

    Goedert dropped an early pass, but rebounded later on a short crossing route. Hurts and Barkley had a miscommunication on a botched handoff.

    Andy Dalton (14) is vying for the No. 2 quarterback job. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Back it up

    Quarterbacks Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton continued to split second unit snaps, much as they did in the spring. McKee’s first completion during seven-on-sevens went to rookie tight end Eli Stowers. Dalton hit Wilson over the middle with a pass only the 6-foot-6 receiver could reach.

    Trotter had a couple of run stops, one time seemingly filling a gap out of nowhere to stop Bigsby in his tracks. Former Texans running back Dameon Pierce was relatively quiet in the spring, but he had a nice cutback on an inside rush.

    Extra points

    Rookie quarterback Cole Payton had his ups and downs in the spring, but he continued to display a willingness to throw downfield a month later. He ripped a pass to receiver Quez Watkins during seven-on-sevens, and found receiver Britain Covey on a deep corner route. … Second-year defensive tackle Ty Robinson was relegated to snaps during the developmental period. Not a good sign. … Lemon fielded punts behind Covey and Elijah Moore. 
 The Eagles return Thursday for practice and will have a closed-to-reporters walkthrough on Friday.

  • Jalen Hurts has high hopes for the 2026 season. He knows delivering on them requires his teammates sticking together.

    Jalen Hurts has high hopes for the 2026 season. He knows delivering on them requires his teammates sticking together.

    Nick Sirianni opened his team meeting on Tuesday with a message about the importance of the team sticking together and staying aligned, according to Jalen Hurts.

    The Eagles head coach’s words compelled Hurts to jot down a phrase in his notebook, one that resonated with his own philosophy on how he seeks to build relationships with his teammates.

    “100% alignment and zero entitlement,” Hurts recalled on Wednesday.

    The Eagles extended Jalen Carter ‘based on future performance,’ Howie Roseman says

    Hurts is bringing that mantra to life beyond the pages of his notebook. The sixth-year starting quarterback explained he has emphasized that approach ahead of camp with his teammates, a new-look group that is in the process of implementing a fresh offensive scheme under Sean Mannion.

    A new-look group that, as of two months ago, no longer includes A.J. Brown, a former key piece of the Eagles’ passing attack.

    In Hurts’ opening statement before taking questions at his news conference after the first practice of training camp, he outlined his own message of togetherness to his teammates, one that closely aligned with Sirianni’s.

    “I’d say one of my main points coming in, especially talking to my teammates and getting a sense of where we are throughout the summer and where we’re going is just the importance of discipline and unity,” Hurts said. “And I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to carry and protect the intimacy of this team and what we do because it takes all of us, and we know that there are challenges that come throughout a year.”

    Last year’s challenges, particularly on offense, are well-documented. The offense, which finished 23rd in the league in passing yards and 18th in rushing yards, never quite found its identity. Brown went public with his frustrations about the offense and his utilization within it, both in public comments and via social media, and was traded to the New England Patriots six months after the season ended.

    Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon (9) has sought to forge an early bond with quarterback Jalen Hurts. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    New challenges await Hurts, who is tasked with adjusting to yet another offensive play-caller and a new scheme. He has plenty of new faces among his receiving corps, too, in Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown.

    But Hurts isn’t just preaching the importance of togetherness as he helps onboard his new teammates ahead of the new season. He’s living it, too, by spending time away from the facility with members of the offense this summer. Among the players he practiced with this offseason was Lemon, the Eagles’ first-rounder out of USC.

    “I see his heart and I see his hunger,” Hurts said of the rookie receiver.

    Hurts noted that he was playing in the NFL when Lemon was in high school back in 2022. While Hurts is in a self-described “vet role” as he answers Lemon’s questions, he acknowledged that he is also learning the new offense alongside the rookie.

    “We’re both learning something new, onboarding something new, and we want to be able to own it and say it’s ours and we’re growing in that,” Hurts said. “So we’re growing together.”

    Hurts noted the importance of kickstarting that growth in the summer with his receivers, as those offseason practice sessions are a “reflection of what comes in the season.”

    “I think it was really good to have everybody all in on it, going into this offseason, and have everybody expressing and showing that hunger to build and learn each other’s personalities a bit, so we can go out there and thrive on the field,” Hurts said. “So I was definitely excited about that, and I think it’ll pay forward. The work will show.”

    “Jalen is willing and able to do whatever we ask him to do,” running back Saquon Barkley said on Wednesday. Chris Szagola

    Hurts and the rest of the offense had the opportunity to show the fruits of their offseason work on the first day of training camp. While the offense may experience some growing pains in a new scheme, Nick Sirianni said that the “standard remains the standard” as far as his evaluation of his players, Hurts included.

    The offense displayed some of those new wrinkles on Day 1, including the increased frequency of Hurts lining up under center, the emphasis on the play-action passing game, and the utilization of pre-snap motion. Hurts, according to Saquon Barkley, has embraced all of the intricacies of the offense.

    “Jalen is willing and able to do whatever we ask him to do,” Barkley said. “And he has that competitive mindset of just wanting to be great and doing whatever it takes to win. But also always trying to find ways to improve his game. And he’s doing that. It’s Day 1 and we’ve only had OTAs and we’ll all just keep getting better and better.”

    Eagles practice updates: Recap of training camp day one; Lane Johnson praises new offense; first look at top draft pick

    While the scheme may change, Hurts’ approach to training camp remains the same. He said that every summer, he strives to get on the same page with his offensive coordinator and his teammates.

    “I’m always seeking alignment, and I think with different pieces that come and go, it can make that challenging or it can make it easier,” Hurts said.

    Once alignment is achieved, Hurts will aim to make the most of the tools at his disposal, he explained.

    “At the end of the day, the goal is to go out there and win,” Hurts said. “So we’ve got to prepare ourselves to be able to do that.”

  • Phillies blow a six-run lead to get swept out of Miami: ‘We expect better of ourselves’

    Phillies blow a six-run lead to get swept out of Miami: ‘We expect better of ourselves’

    MIAMI — As the offense poured on six runs in the first five innings, it felt like the Phillies were back on track, at least for the moment.

    But it didn’t take long for another of the team’s weaknesses to become magnified.

    The Phillies’ latest pitching collapse led to an 8-6 loss to Miami on Wednesday, squandering a game they had once comfortably led 6-0. The Marlins had started the series on a franchise-record 12-game losing streak, and they ended it by sweeping the Phillies out of South Florida.

    “We’re just not playing complementary baseball,” said Trea Turner. “Feels like when we hit, we don’t pitch as well, and when we pitch well, we don’t hit. It’s just frustrating.”

    Don Mattingly on Bryce Harper’s belief the Phillies need ‘help’ at deadline: ‘Players like being GMs’

    In a pivotal spot in the seventh inning, interim manager Don Mattingly opted to go with righty Seth Johnson, and he struggled to command his pitches. After he left a slider up in the zone for Xavier Edwards, who capitalized with a two-run single, the Marlins had come all the way back to tie it at 6.

    The Phillies have played 29 one-run games — over a quarter of the season so far — and they have taken their toll on the back end of the bullpen. Both Orion Kerkering and JosĂ© Alvarado were unavailable Wednesday after pitching two nights in a row. That left Jonathan Bowlan as the highest-leverage arm available, outside of closer Jhoan Duran.

    When Mattingly went to make a pitching change for starter JesĂșs Luzardo with one out in the seventh, he decided to save Bowlan for the eighth, even though the tying run was already on first.

    “Trying to get a short amount of outs [for Johnson], compared to Bowlan trying to get more,” Mattingly said.

    JesĂșs Luzardo gave up six earned runs in 6⅓ innings against the Marlins on Wednesday.Rebecca Blackwell

    When Bowlan did enter in the eighth, now in a 6-6 game, Miami delivered the knockout punch. Pinch-hitting Griffin Conine — who had walked off the series opener against Duran — sent a two-run homer out of the deepest part of the ballpark.

    The collapse stung all the more because the offense had shown some promising signs early. By the end of the third inning, the Phillies had already matched their hit total of four from the night prior. And unlike in Tuesday’s 1-0 loss, they had some runs to show for it, after Bryson Stott’s double drove in two.

    The Phillies tacked on another run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly, and sparked another rally in the fifth. Turner, who started at designated hitter with Kyle Schwarber unavailable due to a gastrointestinal illness, started things off with a solo homer.

    The Phillies must go through the Dodgers. To do it they’ll need to find a lefty reliever at the trade deadline.

    Stott walked, before Harper tucked an RBI triple just inside the right field foul line. A single from Alec Bohm brought Harper home, but that would prove to be the Phillies’ final hit of the day.

    “We expect better of ourselves,” Turner said.

    Even so, a 6-0 buffer should have been plenty for Luzardo. While the bullpen has been a weakness for the Phillies for most of the season, their top three starters have been relied on to carry the load. And Luzardo was cruising early against his former team, until a lapse in the fifth helped Miami halve the Phillies’ lead.

    Esteury Ruiz hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an RBI groundout. Luzardo also hit Miami’s No. 8 hitter with a pitch, but he was a strike away from getting out of the jam when Heriberto Hernández blasted a two-run homer on a 3-2 changeup elevated in the zone.

    Don Mattingly’s Phillies have lost seven of their last eight games and nine of 12 games since the All-Star break.Rebecca Blackwell

    “My own fault,” Luzardo said. “Lefty on deck, I had a lot of things in my mind. Probably should have thrown something else, or been a little more aggressive with it. And that’s why I was kicking myself afterwards, just knowing who was on deck and just giving in on a 3-2 pitch.”

    He got into more trouble in the seventh. Ruiz started things off again, this time with a leadoff single. He stole second and then advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher J.T. Realmuto.

    The key at-bat came against Miami’s nine-hole hitter, lefty Jakob Marsee. Luzardo jumped ahead in the count 1-2, but ultimately lost the battle by issuing a walk. It turned the lineup back over to Otto Lopez, who singled off a changeup below the zone to score another run and end Luzardo’s day.

    “Frustrating,” Luzardo said. “We knew they were going to come out a little hungry after losing 12 in a row. But I mean, just frustrating the way it happened.”

    With the trade deadline looming, Bryce Harper says Phillies ‘need some help’

    After Miami tied the game, the Phillies offense had no response. They went down in order in the eighth and ninth inning to seal their latest deflating loss.

    This marks the first time the Phillies have been swept in a series since their 10-game losing streak in April, which cost Rob Thomson his job as manager. But this skid feels a little different.

    For one thing, time is running out.

    “Earlier, those things happen, you try to learn from it, and now at this point in the year, you gotta find a way to win ball games,” Turner said. “And it’s kind of go time. So got to figure it out.”

    There surely will be changes to the roster in the coming days as the trade deadline approaches on Monday. But for Mattingly, now is when the true test of his club begins.

    “Now’s the time that we’re going to find out what we’re made of,” Mattingly said. “We’ve been through a struggle. We’ve let everybody stay in the race. So we find out who we are over these next couple of months.”

  • The Sixers now boast LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. How do they stack up in the loaded East?

    The Sixers now boast LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. How do they stack up in the loaded East?

    The 76ers have executed the NBA’s splashiest offseason by signing all-time great LeBron James and trading for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown 
 and still may not be the favorites in the Eastern Conference?

    That is how deep the East has become, at least on paper. It is a counter to the West, which may have the two best long-term teams and superstars in Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

    Rich Paul explains the Tyrese Maxey asterisk and how the Sixers learned LeBron James’ decision

    But 11 East teams seem primed to compete for a top-six seed. That is too many for the play-in tournament, much less the actual playoffs.

    Injuries, in-season moves, and other factors can impact the East landscape from late October through June. But here is where things stand following a wild summer:

    The defending champ

    New York Knicks

    The Knicks deserve this respect after their torrid run to the NBA title last month. And they are running it back with much of their full rotation — including ’Nova Knicks Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart — except backup center Mitchell Robinson. That there has been no repeat NBA champion since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 illustrates the steep challenge now facing the Knicks. But they still belong at the top of this ladder until they are knocked down.

    The challengers

    Sixers

    The Sixers might now boast the NBA’s most talented starting lineup, but how long does it take to gel? Health is always a concern with former MVP Joel Embiid — and, to a lesser extent, James at this point in his career. But the Sixers appear better equipped to withstand that by adding Brown to the dynamic Tyrese Maxey-VJ Edgecombe backcourt.

    Detroit Pistons

    The Pistons also deserve respect as last year’s top playoff seed, while anchored by MVP contender (and still ascending) Cade Cunningham. But losing in the second round of the playoffs demonstrates that steps remain for them to become legitimate contenders.

    LeBron James’ decision to join the Sixers was one of several large dominoes in the Eastern Conference. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    They’re in a contract stalemate with restricted free agent (and Roman Catholic product) Jalen Duren, an All-NBA selection last season who struggled mightily in the playoffs. But they addressed outside shooting concerns by trading for former Sixer Isaiah Joe and also added John Collins.

    Boston Celtics

    Perhaps this is too high for Boston following the Brown trade that netted Paul George. But the Celtics are in a similar spot as last season, just with the now-healthy Jayson Tatum as the unquestioned top offensive option. George is a secondary offensive option, and they also added Robinson to address their center void, which was exposed during their first-round playoff loss to the Sixers.

    Figuring out the post-Brown era is a task for Joe Mazzulla, the reigning NBA Coach of the Year who may have gone too far with an unorthodox starting lineup in Game 7 against the Sixers and overall three-point-heavy scheme.

    Cleveland Cavaliers

    It might be fair to call the Cavaliers a subpar Eastern Conference finals team, given how that series went against the Knicks. Then they missed out on a sentimental second reunion with James, leaving them with a team that boasts an impressive core — All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell and former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley — but feels like it may have run its course.

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    Perhaps Cleveland will now pivot to adding a complementary player such as Jonathan Kuminga, but is that enough to move the needle (or maintain their positioning) in this loading-up East?

    The wild cards

    Indiana Pacers

    Remember them? Assuming Tyrese Haliburton returns to All-NBA form following Achilles surgery, can the Pacers recapture the magic of their 2025 Finals run? Indiana started prepping for the upcoming season by trading for center Ivica Zubac at the February deadline but didn’t add a high draft pick thanks to horrendous lottery luck.

    Toronto Raptors

    If the Kawhi Leonard trade finally goes through, move the Raptors into the challenger tier. Leonard, who would return to Toronto still as one of the NBA’s best two-way wings when healthy, creates a super-fun duo with All-Star Scottie Barnes. The Raptors also still have helpful complementary players such as Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles.

    Miami Heat

    The Heat certainly seem like they’d belong in the challenger tier after trading for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair with All-Star Bam Adebayo. But missing out on a reunion with James leaves Miami with a severe lack of playmaking and overall perimeter punch.

    Atlanta Hawks

    Atlanta was one of the hottest teams during the second half of last season and gave the Knicks their toughest postseason test. The Hawks successfully pivoted from the Trae Young era to building around All-Star Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum.

    Following this summer’s blockbuster trade, Paul George will now shift to the second option in Boston.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    This offseason, they traded for stout perimeter defender Lu Dort to play alongside 2025-26 Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels and drafted intriguing point guard Kingston Flemings.

    Orlando Magic

    Orlando has not changed much besides its coach, with Sean Sweeney taking over after impactful assistant stints with the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks. Two big questions facing this roster: Can Franz Wagner stay healthy, and can Paolo Banchero improve his efficiency?

    Charlotte Hornets

    One of last season’s feel-good stories has already undergone a shakeup by trading LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Hornets still have an exciting young core with Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, but now feel a tick below these other teams after losing in last season’s play-in.

  • The Eagles extended Jalen Carter ‘based on future performance,’ Howie Roseman says

    The Eagles extended Jalen Carter ‘based on future performance,’ Howie Roseman says

    Jordan Davis stood near the back of the media tent Wednesday afternoon with a slight smile on his face. Jalen Carter was sitting at the podium, answering questions a day after the Eagles made him the highest-paid interior defensive lineman in NFL history. Four months earlier, the roles were reversed.

    Carter was inside the auditorium at the Jefferson Health Training Complex when the Eagles held a press conference a few days after signing Davis to a $78 million extension.

    “He told me I was next up and I’m here right now,” Carter said.

    The Eagles invested $230 million this offseason on the former Georgia teammates they drafted in the first round in consecutive seasons, Davis in 2022 and Carter in 2023. There probably was a stretch of time when the idea of both being here together until at least 2029 was wishful thinking. Davis didn’t shed his label as an out-of-shape first-round bust until his breakout 2025 season. And Carter, who was dominant during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run in 2024, took a step back in 2025 while being limited due to shoulder injuries.

    But the Eagles, Howie Roseman said, wanted to make sure the interior defensive line continued to be a strength of their team. It’s a “deficient position,” Roseman said. “It’s hard to find guys like that.”

    General manager Howie Roseman had his eye on the future when he inked Jalen Carter’s extension. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Linebacker Zack Baun and Roseman crossed paths Tuesday after the Eagles and Carter completed their deal. Baun, Roseman said, told the general manager that someone told him after he signed his $51 million deal with the Eagles that “you don’t pay me for what I did, you’re paying me for what I’m going to do.”

    “That’s why we do these deals,” Roseman said Wednesday before the Eagles took the field for their first practice of training camp. “We don’t do anything based on retroactive performance, we’re doing things based on future performance.”

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    The Eagles aren’t concerned about Carter’s shoulders, which required injections so he could finish the 2025 season. While negotiations played out, Carter said he let his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and his mother, Toni Brown, figure out the contract while he focused on his body. He worked closely with Julian Allen at Hybrid Performance in Turnersville to build his strength back. Nick Sirianni credited Carter for coming into camp in “phenomenal shape” while the contract situation loomed over his head in the offseason.

    Roseman disagreed with a Sports Illustrated report that said the Eagles were hesitant to sign Carter when asked about it Wednesday. The Eagles normally like to re-sign players in March and April — Davis signed his deal in March — but called Carter’s situation “unique.” Roseman said the defensive tackle market was “in transition” during that timeline. Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons helped reset the market, and Dexter Lawrence was extended by Cincinnati following his trade.

    The Eagles’ actions show they feel Carter is better than both, and much closer to the player they watched in 2024 and not 2025, when his pressure rate dropped from 8.9% to 7.7%.

    Jalen Carter’s production dipped in 2025, with injury a root cause. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    “This was a unique situation,” Roseman said. “By the same token, getting this done before camp was important for all of us. Good things happen when you get things off your plate and you’re able to focus on football.”

    The six biggest roster battles as Eagles training camp gets underway

    Carter’s tenure with the Eagles has not been without drama. He has been flagged for multiple personal fouls, including an ejection from last season’s opener after Carter was caught spitting at Dak Prescott before the first snap of the game. He has struggled with conditioning issues at times. He also entered the NFL after being booked on reckless driving and racing charges stemming from a 2023 incident that resulted in the deaths of a Georgia football player and staff member.

    “Since Jalen’s been here, he’s put his head down, he’s worked hard, he’s made huge, impact plays for this organization, for this team,” Roseman said. “Like anyone, when you’re 25 years old you’re still growing as a person and a player.”

    Carter called the contract “a reflection of the trust that the coaches, the players, the organization has in me. I’m very thankful for that.”

    He said becoming the highest-paid defensive tackle wasn’t important to the process for him. It was important to stay with the Eagles, he said.

    Carter listed some of the people in the building that helped him reach the new deal; among them was Davis, who hosted Carter on his visit to Georgia and has become “like an older brother to me,” Carter said.

    Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis embrace in March after Davis signed his extension with the Eagles.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Davis said “the sky is the limit” for Carter, and expressed pride in watching Carter grow as a player and person over the last few years.

    “Coming into the league, it’s a learning process,” Davis said. “You have to learn how to be a professional. You have to learn how to navigate things, how to navigate problems that we didn’t have in college, that we didn’t have in high school.”

    They have done it all together, a process that will continue for at least a few more years.

    “It’s a blessing to work with him for a couple more years,” Carter said. “I’m just happy I can stay here and be with the guys that I grew up with.”

  • The Union’s summer overhaul is underway, with Olwethu Makhanya and Philippe Ndinga set to depart

    The Union’s summer overhaul is underway, with Olwethu Makhanya and Philippe Ndinga set to depart

    Olwethu Makhanya has gotten the move from the Union he wanted, and the club has a better return for him than it might have initially gotten.

    The 22-year-old centerback is headed to Rangers of Glasgow, Scotland, for what a source with knowledge of the deal said is a transfer fee of around $4.5 million. There’s also a sell-on clause, so the Union would get a chunk of a future sale if there is one.

    Though the move hasn’t been officially announced, Rangers manager Derek McInnes all but confirmed it on Wednesday when he said, “we’re pretty close to announcing that, so it’s safe to say that one looks good for us.”

    Rangers had scouted Makhanya for a while before making a formal offer. The club had some urgency to get a deal done because Scotland’s Premiership starts its season this weekend — yes, barely two weeks after the World Cup final. Rangers visit Dundee United on Friday (3 p.m., CBS Sports Network, Paramount+) in the league opener.

    “He’s coming from MLS into a different country and style of football, but we believe he has the attributes to cope with that,” McIness said. “Getting this one resolved this week, hopefully with an announcement [Wednesday] or [Thursday], would be a big step and we’d be delighted.”

    Makhanya did not return to the Union after going to the World Cup with South Africa but not playing. Multiple sources said that was because of personal matters, but he also thought he had an agreement with the club to move to Europe if an offer arrived.

    With the World Cup’s afterglow still on him, Danley Jean Jacques resumes his key role for the Union

    There were different portrayals of what that agreement was — as in, whether the Union would take the first deal or the first good deal.

    That ended up costing a team in Belgium understood to be Genk, which offered around $4 million. When the Union said no to the club to which they sold Mark McKenzie nearly six years ago, it clearly ruffled some feathers.

    Olwethu Makhanya’s last game for the Union was May 16.Philadelphia Union

    Now things have cooled down, and the deal with Rangers is done. Makhanya departs having played 53 games for the Union, all since the start of 2025 — and all with Bradley Carnell as manager. Though he was signed in 2023, Makhanya didn’t see the field for the first team until after Jim Curtin was fired at the end of 2024. And he hasn’t since Carnell was fired, coincidentally on the day South Africa announced its World Cup team.

    Makhanya’s case for a sale now was also helped by the fact that his contract is up next year. If the Union were going to sell him (and they certainly hoped to), they had to this summer or this winter, and European teams always are more interested in summer deals. That’s part of why MLS is flipping is calendar next year.

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    On the club side, it definitely helps the Union that Neil Pierre has looked great since coming back from his loan to Denmark’s Lyngby. Pierre isn’t a finished product, but he has shown over the last two games that he’s ready to play in MLS. He’ll presumably stay a starter for as long as Japhet Sery Larsen is out, and we’ll see if the streak goes past that.

    The Union also are heading toward a deal to send outside back Philippe Ndinga on loan to Belgian first-division club Zulte Waregem, with a pre-set option for a purchase price afterward.

    Philippe Ndinga (right) also appears to be on his way out after an underwhelming half-season in Chester.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    It bears repeating that the player who was supposed to be Kai Wagner’s successor leaves having played 310 minutes in eight games, including four starts. Fortunately for the club’s hopes this season, Wagner wanted to come home, so he ended up succeeding himself.

    These are signs of new sporting director Jon Scheer putting his stamp on the organization, two months after Ernst Tanner was pushed out of the role and Scheer had the interim tag removed.

  • Four more years? Agent Rich Paul thinks Sixers will ‘energize’ LeBron and could extend his career

    Four more years? Agent Rich Paul thinks Sixers will ‘energize’ LeBron and could extend his career

    LeBron James signed a two-year contract to end his career with the Sixers, but his agent and longtime friend, Rich Paul, recently suggested that it’s possible James plays for even longer.

    “I think Philadelphia’s going to energize him,” Paul told ESPN. “Maybe we get two [seasons]. Maybe we get four.”

    James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, is currently 41, and will turn 42 on Dec. 30. He will be the oldest active player in the NBA next season, but he’s far from the oldest ever.

    Rich Paul explains the Tyrese Maxey asterisk and how the Sixers learned LeBron James’ decision

    Where does LeBron rank among oldest all-time NBA players?

    James will begin the season as the ninth-oldest player in NBA history. If he completes his two season contract with the Sixers, he would retire as the fourth-oldest player in NBA history.

    The oldest player to ever play an NBA game was Nat Hickey, who played his final game on Jan. 28, 1948 at 45 years, 363 days old.

    Even if James were to play four more seasons — and retire after the 2029-30 season — he still would not claim the top spot, because of his late December birthday. But he could finish second, and would be the oldest of any modern-era NBA player.

    Draymond Green is right about VJ Edgecombe. But he couldn’t be more wrong about LeBron James. | David Murphy

    Have any grandfathers played in the NBA before?

    OK, as far as we know, Bronny James does not have a child, nor is he close to having one any time soon. But, he is 21, so it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that, if James were to play as many as four more NBA seasons, he could become a father at some point during that span — and make LeBron a grandfather.

    So for the purposes of speculation, there has only been one previous player to play in an NBA game while also having a grandchild: Robert Parish, who became a grandfather at age 42 and went on to play another NBA season.

  • Sixers’ LeBron James passes Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani for most jersey sales after switching teams

    Sixers’ LeBron James passes Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani for most jersey sales after switching teams

    LeBron James’ 76ers merch was selling out almost as soon as the 22-time NBA All-Star decided to sign a two-year, $8 million contract with the team.

    After James shocked the sports world, choosing the Sixers over Cleveland and Miami, the future Hall of Famer’s jersey has been the highest-selling of a player joining a new team across all sports — surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s move to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, according to Fanatics.

    The sports merchandise giant also said that within the first 24 hours after news broke, more James Sixers merchandise was sold than the first week after his announcement that he was joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. This should come as no surprise, since roughly two hours after his decision, all first editions of the No. 23 jersey were sold out on the Fanatics website. The company also is selling a signed James trading card by Topps (which it acquired in 2022) and plans to release other items.

    Mitchell & Ness, which is another part of Fanatics’ portfolio, declined to give hard sales numbers on James merch.

    “However, outside of recent marquee events in our Philly market, the launch of the LeBron Witness T-shirt and all Sixers gear was one of our strongest single-day retail performances, exceeding internal expectations compared to event-driven activations like the 250th celebration, FIFA, and MLB All-Star,” said Dexter Childs, Mitchell & Ness’ manager for cultural marketing and partnerships.

    Mitchell & Ness said Thursday that its black T-shirt featuring James and a Sixers logo was back in stock and that it would be dropping more merch next week.

    Fanatics is owned by Michael Rubin, a Lafayette Hill native who previously was part-owner of the Sixers.

    Since Friday, James merchandise has accounted for eight of the top 10 selling products across all sports throughout the Fanatics network of sites, which includes NBAStore.com, SixersShop.com, and Fanatics.com.

    Inquirer staff writer Emily Bloch contributed to this article.