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  • The big offseason questions facing the Phillies: Core’s future, fixing the bullpen, and who’s managing?

    The big offseason questions facing the Phillies: Core’s future, fixing the bullpen, and who’s managing?

    As Bryce Harper came to the plate, with two out in the eighth inning Thursday night and the Phillies trailing by four runs, the Braves prepared their final insult.

    They brought in Chris Sale.

    Sale is Harper’s Kryptonite and has struck him out in 14 of 25 at-bats through the years. This time, the Braves ace and future Hall of Famer slung four hellacious sliders. Harper flailed at three, the last of which wound up in the other batter‘s box and skipped to the backstop.

    Harper looked down and dropped his bat. On television, John Kruk yelled one word: “Run!”

    Will Don Mattingly return? That’s ‘Dave’s decision,’ the first of many facing Dombrowski.

    ”Yeah,” Harper said later. “I didn’t see it.”

    It wasn’t the last image from another early postseason ouster, but it will be the one that lingers the longest. The Phillies have made the playoffs five years in a row for only the second time in their 144-season history, but haven’t won a series since 2023. In fact, they’ve backslid one round every year since their unexpected run to the 2022 World Series.

    Dave Dombrowski has one year left on his contract and is expected to get an extension. If there was even a sliver of doubt, it vanished last Sunday when owner John Middleton said interim manager Don Mattingly’s future is “Dave’s decision.”

    Fixing the roster is up to Dombrowski, too. And neither Harper, who turns 34 in two weeks, nor the rest of the core that has been kept together through it all — Kyle Schwarber (33), Trea Turner (33), Aaron Nola (33), J.T. Realmuto (35), and Zack Wheeler (36) — is getting any younger. Their baseball biological clocks are ticking.

    Derek Hill, Kyle Schwarber, and the Phillies begin “a long offseason” after losing to the Braves in their wild-card series.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    “It’s going to be a long offseason,” Harper said, in the most literal sense.

    Everybody knows what’s coming. Baseball’s owners are pushing for a salary cap, a nonnegotiable issue for the players’ union for decades. The collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, at which time the owners intend to lock out the players, effectively shuttering the sport.

    Five years ago, a 99-day lockout preceded an agreement in mid-March and a slightly delayed 162-game season. This labor fight may last much longer.

    In that case, so will the taste in the Phillies’ mouths, which is more bitter than a case of lemons.

    ‘The game is where it needs to be’: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    For now, there are only questions.

    • Will the Thirtysomethings ever win the World Series that they need to cement their legacies as franchise greats?
    • Will the Phillies keep Turner at shortstop or move him to another position?
    • Amid industrywide speculation that Dombrowski will try again to hire Alex Cora, does he need to make moves that are more drastic than a new manager and the coaching changes that would come with it?
    • Is that even possible with $236.5 million in luxury tax commitments already for 2027?

    “Yeah, I don’t know,” said Harper, never shy about sharing his State of the Phillies thoughts. “I mean, I obviously have trust in the organization and people that are in charge, you know? We’ll see where we go.

    “I’d imagine this team is going to look a lot different next year, with the guys that are kind of leaving this clubhouse. So we’ll see.”

    John Middleton discusses Dave Dombrowski's future with the Phillies
    Video: John Middleton discusses Dave Dombrowski’s future with the Phillies

    There will be opportunities for Dombrowski to find some answers in the next two months. In 2021, a flock of free agents signed before the lockout.

    But there’s a lot of work to be done on a $322 million roster that only narrowly avoided a historic collapse in the last week of the season only to exit the playoffs one round earlier than the 2024 and 2025 runs, which were one round shorter than 2023.

    Let’s dive in:

    Kyle Schwarber (middle) and Trea Turner are part of a veteran core that hasn’t gotten back to the World Series.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Is time up for the Thirtysomethings?

    Dombrowski and his lieutenants push back on the idea of a “championship window,” noting that the Phillies added three rookies — Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, and, later in the season, reliever Alex McFarlane — in meaningful roles.

    Schwarber is clinging to that narrative, too.

    “Maybe I’m just the positive outlook guy, right?” he said, mustering a smile. “But we had a lot of first-year guys here who came in and just got their feet wet, not just in the big leagues but also in the postseason. That experience is huge.”

    From pitching to grilling, ‘Andy’ Painter is (finally) ready to cook for the Phillies

    Painter, in particular, appears poised to fulfill his top-of-the-rotation promise. The Phillies demoted him to triple A with a 7.06 ERA in mid-June. He returned 44 days later, posted a 3.65 ERA in 11 starts, then threw three scoreless innings in relief in Game 2 against the Braves, a performance that Realmuto called “career-altering.”

    Crawford’s impact is less certain. His tendency to hit the ball on the ground and defensive imperfections put him in a center-field platoon with Derek Hill. But context is important: Crawford was among only 10 players this season with at least 400 plate appearances at age 22 or younger. And he impressed teammates and staff with his poise and confidence

    Maybe he develops into an everyday player. Maybe not.

    Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford was among only 10 players this season with at least 400 plate appearances at age 22 or younger.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    McFarlane, a converted starter who throws 100 mph, could be a bullpen fixture. Then again, the Phillies once said the same about the player drafted one round after him in 2022: Orion Kerkering. Once a late-inning mainstay, Kerkering got demoted in triple A in September.

    The Phillies’ previous infusion of youth produced Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh, solid players who remained supporting actors. They need Painter, Crawford, and eventually Aidan Miller (more on him shortly) to be leading men.

    The Zack Wheeler conversation: Why he expected to thrive after surgery, and how much longer he wants to play

    But, mostly, Dombrowski must deepen an organization that lacked a No. 6 starter and had three catchers and only two trustworthy leverage relievers on the playoff roster.

    “When you look at our team, it’s easy to kind of point to us older guys and say that that’s why we succeed,” Schwarber said. “I think the biggest thing is that it takes everyone.“

    The Phillies’ proverbial window often is tied to Wheeler, who is under contract through 2027 and unsure if he will play beyond then. With Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, and Painter under control through at least 2031, the Phillies believe the window can stay open for longer.

    Phillies shortstop Trea Turner has seven years and nearly $191 million left on his contract. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    How do they fix the offense?

    Over the last six years, Dombrowski’s solution to most problems has been to throw money at them.

    That might not be possible now.

    Even if the owners are unsuccessful in getting a salary cap, the penalties for the high-payroll teams almost certainly will be harsher in the next CBA. The Phillies had the fourth-highest luxury-tax payroll this season. After getting taxed $56.06 million last year, their 2026 bill is projected to be $61 million.

    That’s a lot to pay for three postseason games — none at home — and one win.

    Alec Bohm represents changes that might be coming to the Phillies. Who else could be on the way out?

    The Phillies scored three runs or less in 72 games, including the postseason. They were 19th in the majors in runs, 22nd in OPS, and 23rd in on-base percentage. And they were 28th in on-base percentage from the right side of the plate.

    Something needs to change.

    Dombrowski’s impulse may be to sign a free-agent right fielder such as Seiya Suzuki or Randy Arozarena, right-handed hitters who will be 32 on opening day. It will help that $38 million in dead money for released Nick Castellanos and Taijuan Walker finally will be off the books.

    But without knowing the financial rules of the sport, Dombrowski may have to get more creative. Marsh went from an All-Star starter in July to not cracking the Phillies’ lineup against a lefty opener in winner-takes-all Game 3 in Atlanta. His value went through the floor. But if the Phillies can spin him in a trade for a hitter who better fits their lineup (righty-hitting outfielder Jo Adell comes to mind), they should.

    An All-Star starter in July, Brandon Marsh struggled after the break. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Bohm is heading into free agency. The 30-year-old third/first baseman grew up before our eyes after the Phillies drafted him third overall in 2018. He was miscast as a cleanup hitter, but 88 or more RBIs in three of the last four seasons won’t be easy to replace.

    “I would love to be back if they would have me back,” Bohm said, though it’s unlikely after the Phillies dangled him in trade talks in consecutive offseasons.

    With seven years and nearly $191 million left on his contract, Turner isn’t going anywhere — except maybe to a new position. The Phillies will talk internally about a move, maybe to the outfield, which would open shortstop eventually for Miller. But the 22-year-old top prospect missed almost the entire season because of a back condition that necessitated a spinal procedure in June.

    Can Trea Turner rescue his season despite career-worst stats at the plate? His manager and teammates believe so.

    Regardless, Turner understands his role in all this.

    “I’ve got a lot of work to do to kind of just go over everything and figure out as much as I can, find answers, see what I did bad,” Turner said. “But I think this year is the biggest question mark for me offensively in a long time.”

    It’s reasonable to expect a rebound from Turner after the worst season of his career. But it wouldn’t solve all of the Phillies’ problems, either.

    Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has long struggled to solve his bullpen issues.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    How do they fix the bullpen?

    Dombrowski probably is bound for the Hall of Fame, if he ever stops working. But building a bullpen has long been a blind spot.

    To be fair, the Phillies didn’t know Brad Keller would tear a ligament in his elbow three months into a two-year, $22 million contract. But they signed Keller based on one big season with the Cubs. And while Dombrowski won a reliever swap with the Royals to get Jonathan Bowlan for Matt Strahm, the Phillies needed more.

    Instead, they banked on José Alvarado and Kerkering. Neither pitched in the postseason. Dombrowski acquired lefty Brooks Raley and Caleb Kilian at the trade deadline. The former was ineffective; the latter got injured.

    Hayes: Trea Turner is the Phillies’ biggest problem. He knows it: ‘A lot of that is on me.’

    Now, Dombrowski must recast most of the bullpen around closer Jhoan Duran. Alvarado is a free agent and needs a fresh start. Kerkering’s stock plummeted, but it’s in everyone’s interest to move on.

    Dombrowski could throw money at pending free agent Adrian Morejon, although the hard-throwing lefty may be seeking a chance to close after setting up for Mason Miller with the Padres.

    There isn’t much help in the farm system, unless the Phillies turn former first-round pick Gage Wood into a reliever. It wouldn’t be the worst idea. The fiery 22-year-old once was a closer in college at Arkansas.

    Alex Cora was fired as Red Sox manager in April.Jim Davis

    Who will be the manager?

    Absent changes to the core, Dombrowski’s biggest move may be to hire Cora.

    Dombrowski gave Cora his first managerial job nine years ago in Boston, and they won 108 games and World Series with a high-payroll team in their first season together. They’ve remained close, with Cora often calling Dombrowski a “mentor” and Dombrowski comparing Cora to Hall of Fame tacticians Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland.

    Cora turned down Dombrowski’s offer to manage the team in April (while Rob Thomson still had the job). After getting fired days earlier by the Red Sox, Cora preferred to spend the summer at home with his young family while still getting paid.

    Only then did Dombrowski elevate Mattingly from bench coach after firing Thomson. It’s notable that Mattingly’s interim tag wasn’t removed even though the Phillies went 79-55 under his leadership after a 9-19 start.

    One thing is clear: If Cora is ready to get back in the dugout, Dombrowski surely will have him.

    But Cora can’t bat cleanup or get three outs in the eighth inning.

  • Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Rams in Week 4 and a game prediction

    Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Rams in Week 4 and a game prediction

    The Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:

    When the Eagles have the ball: If success on the ground in the first half of the Chicago Bears game didn’t convince Sean Mannion to lean into the run game against the Rams, DeVonta Smith’s absence should only reinforce to him that his best chance of turning the offense around is to feed Saquon Barkley the ball early and often. Yeah, Mannion is going to need Jalen Hurts to check to passes if Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula stacks the box. But you’re cutting into your chances of winning if you’re consistently in third-and-long.

    Saquon Barkley was effective in the first half against the Bears on Monday night. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The Eagles need early down yards. They had some impressive gains on outside-zone runs in Chicago. Left tackle Jordan Mailata was a mauler. Run behind that! Center Drew Kendall and left guard Cam Jurgens were effectively combo blocking and getting to the second level to create lanes for Barkley, too.

    The Rams have a solid run defense, even if they got scorched by the San Francisco 49ers and gave up 174 rushing yards in the opener. They allowed only 2.9 yards a carry in the next two games. Shula has a deep defensive line, but future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald was ruled out Friday and the team will also be without all-world end Myles Garrett for another week.

    It’s an aggressive front that Mannion may be able to exploit with crack blocks and counters. If he can get Barkley to the second level against the likes of linebacker Nate Landman, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, there could be opportunities for explosive runs. The Rams kept Barkley in check last season (18 carries for 46 yards), but he rushed for over 200 yards in each of their meetings in 2024.

    If the Eagles can have even a modicum of success on outside runs, they should be able to incorporate more play-action when Hurts is under center. Mannion and offensive line coach Chris Kuper just need to find a better way to counter blitzes up the “A” gaps in those scenarios. Some of that has to do with blocking assignments and blitz pickup, but we’ve yet to see much of Hurts on naked bootlegs. Get him out of the pocket for layup throws.

    Hurts was great on third down in the first two games, but it was unsustainable and he was crushed under that weight in the second half of the Bears game. This will be the best pass rush the Eagles have yet to face, even without Donald and Garrett. Byron Young is explosive, and defensive tackles Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner can win at the point of attack.

    Smith’s hamstring injury obviously needed to be dealt with now. The Eagles can’t afford for it to get worse and for their No. 1 receiver to miss more than two or three games. They’re hoping it’s just a little short-term pain. Dontayvion Wicks’ emergence as a true No. 2 should lessen the sting. He’s just not of Smith’s caliber. Rookie receiver Makai Lemon, tight end Zach Ertz, and others are going to have to help fill the void.

    Dontayvion Wicks ascends to the de facto No. 1 receiver role with DeVonta Smith out on Sunday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Shula likes to mix up his coverages to keep offenses guessing. Recently acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie will be difficult to throw at, but the Rams are banged up in the secondary. Cornerback Jaylen Watson (shoulder) is out and safety Kam Kinchens (hamstring) and backup slot corner Josh Wallace (shoulder) were also on the injury report this week.

    When the Rams have the ball: Sean McVay is going to want to run the ball early. He’s going to want to stay balanced. And he’s going to want to marry the run with the pass off play action. Kyren Williams is his ace in the backfield, but Blake Corum is a solid No. 2 counterpart. They average 5.6 and 5.3 yards per rush, respectively. McVay still employs a lot of the wide-zone blocking that is central to the Shanahan run scheme. But he’s incorporated more power blocking into his runs in recent seasons. He’s also utilized three-tight end sets more than most play-callers. His run offense is actually more effective running out of “11” and “12” personnel, partly because he has good blocking receivers like Puka Nacua.

    But a collection of versatile tight ends in Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen allows McVay to exploit base defenses through the air despite being in “13” personnel. He will be down at least one tight end though, as Terrance Ferguson (ankle) has been ruled out and Parkinson (knee/shoulder) is also banged up. Will Vic Fangio take the bait and match personnel, which would allow him to keep Cooper DeJean at safety over Michael Carter II? Or will he roll the dice with either nickel safety covering one of the tight ends?

    Riq Woolen (2) is among the players who could use a bounce-back effort on Sunday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Fangio has plenty to clean up after the Bears mess. His defense struggled vs. pre-snap motion and route concepts that forced switch releases and stressed his match coverage. Cornerback Riq Woolen especially had trouble in that regard. The Eagles’ linebackers and safeties were also often sucked in by play action.

    Improving communication is imperative. It will be tested with linebacker Zack Baun (concussion) out. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will take Baun’s place alongside Jihaad Campbell. Fangio sold out to stop the run in Chicago and Bears coach Ben Johnson preyed on that emphasis. He should get back to his preferred light boxes and let interior linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter earn their paychecks. Carter has been playing with a hairline fracture in his right wrist. Davis (calf) and Moro Ojomo (calf/elbow) also popped up on the injury list this week.

    Even if the Eagles can bottle up Williams and Corum, they have quarterback Matthew Stafford and two of the better receivers in Davante Adams and Nacua to contend with. Nacua is expected to play despite a hip injury that kept him out of the last two games. He specializes in contested catches, yards after the catch, and giving defensive backs fits. Adams is still dangerous. He has 18 catches for 358 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. He can beat defenses in man or zone and is one of the best ever in the red zone. Stafford, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, according to Fangio, can make every pass from the pocket. He can throw from multiple arm angles and even toss in a no-looker when needed.

    Jalen Carter (right) will try to get after Rams QB Matthew Stafford on Sunday. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The Eagles have not tackled well. They missed 23 tackles total vs. the Tennessee Titans and Bears. Form matters, but it’s more a byproduct of players being out of position and the unit just not being as cohesive. Fangio still has top-tier corners in Quinyon Mitchell and DeJean. But with the outside corners playing sides this season, McVay could pick on Woolen by often motioning to the right side.

    The 1-2 Rams aren’t perfect, of course. The offensive line is fine, but not impenetrable. Right guard Kevin Dotson is maybe the weakest pass blocking link. Stafford has shown that when pressured he can make mistakes. He’s not going to escape from many ambushes. If edge Jonathan Greenard can make more hay in his second game with the Eagles, it could be the key to unlocking a pass rush that has only three sacks.

    Extra point: Nick Sirianni is 4-0 vs. McVay. It’s certainly a feather in his cap, although he declined to gloat when asked about the record on Friday. There were a lot factors in the four-game winning streak. It’s not just coach vs. coach. But Sirianni has done better in game management situations. McVay may be one of the best offensive play callers in the game, but he turtles up in fourth down situations. He coughed up a 26-7 lead a year ago by getting too conservative and the Eagles won on Davis’ blocked field goal return for a touchdown.

    unCovering the Birds: Communication Breakdown

    The Rams’ special teams units were brutal last season. They may have kept McVay from getting back to another Super Bowl. Perhaps Sunday’s outcome can turn on a kick return here, or a missed field goal there, or a special teams mistake there. The Rams cut punt returner Xavier Smith on Friday. They have candidates to replace him, but no obvious names.

    Either way, I think Sirianni’s Eagles may finally fall to McVay’s Rams. I wouldn’t make a prediction based on the law of averages. Many of the reasons stated above should be ultimately why the Birds fall to 2-2. Can they win? Of course. I just think they still have too many issues to sort out before they can beat a team as talented as the Rams.

    Prediction: Rams, 31-21.

  • Can Bryson Stott save his future with the Phillies after his 3 playoff collapses and 3 seasons of mediocrity?

    Can Bryson Stott save his future with the Phillies after his 3 playoff collapses and 3 seasons of mediocrity?

    Considering the efficiency he has shown at second base, the brilliance he’s shown at third base, his capacity to play shortstop, his durability, his affability, and his age, Bryson Stott surely will be in somebody’s lineup for at least the next five years.

    Should it be the Phillies’ lineup?

    On Thursday, Stott was among the last of the Phillies to shower and dress after the Game 3 wild-card loss in Atlanta ended their season. But then, it’s always more of a challenge to get ready when you’re carrying the weight of personal failure on your shoulders with your future in doubt.

    Hayes: Trea Turner is the Phillies’ biggest problem. He knows it: ‘A lot of that is on me.’

    Stott, who will be 29 on Tuesday, is entering his final season of arbitration and will be a free agent in 2028 (all of this assumes, perhaps naively, that the 2027 season will not be affected by labor strife.)

    He might not be expensive, but, if he continues to sputter, will Stott even be worth the roster spot for a Phillies team already heavily invested in contending for a title for the next five to seven years? As expensive, aging players like Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto and their diminishing contributions are sure to occupy spots in the lineup, can the Phillies afford to carry even one player who isn’t dynamic at the plate?

    Stott’s fun to watch. He is 100% baseball player. His aura is the closest thing the Phillies have had to Chase Utley’s since Ut was traded in 2015, all scruff and gristle muscle and bone and unsettling ferocity, possessed of baseball knowledge beyond his years and baseball instinct beyond his peers.

    While his bat has been inconsistent, Bryson Stott’s defense at second and third base bring value to the Phillies.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Nevertheless, considering Stott’s pedestrian offensive production in the recent regular seasons and his disappearances in the recent playoffs, it’s fair to question whether a player like Stott should be in any lineup intent on winning in October, particularly considering Stott’s last three Octobers.

    Stott is 6-for-37 in the Phillies’ losses in their first-round collapses of 2024, 2025, and 2026. That’s a .162 average, and it has been consistent: He managed just two hits in each of those series. He has no home runs. Two RBIs. Thirteen strikeouts.

    This does not meet expectations.

    Will Don Mattingly return? That’s ‘Dave’s decision,’ the first of many facing Dombrowski

    He was a first-round pick in 2019 who, at one point, was considered an option to lead off a lineup ahead of a batting champion, an MVP, and a home run king. It’s his baseball DNA. Stott hit leadoff at both UNLV and in the minor leagues. In his second big-league season, 2023, Stott batted leadoff 39 times in a lineup that included monied, veteran leadoff hitters Turner, who’d won a batting title, and Kyle Schwarber, who’d led the National League in home runs.

    Stott finished 2023 with a .280 average, 15 home runs, and a brilliant future.

    His future now is clouded.

    Bryson Stott has hit .252 averaged 11 homers and 63 RBIs over the past three seasons.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Since 2023, Stott’s batting average is .252, he has averaged 11.2 home runs, and he hasn’t moved the needle in eons. He has batted leadoff just 48 times.

    He’s the poster child for long, freezing-cold streaks: He hit .216 with a .638 OPS through his first 58 games this season, hit .301 with an .832 OPS in his next 70 games, then reverted to early-season form for the remainder.

    His defense is the only thing that keeps him in the lineup, because, as Donna Summer sang, when he’s bad, he’s so, so bad.

    “I tell the hitting coaches, if I can just hit .230 in my bad months, my overall numbers will look a lot better,” Stott said. At issue: “Trying to find ways to get out of those ruts, those bad months, as fast as possible.”

    Murphy: The same structural failures cost the Phillies again in the playoffs. The onus falls on Dave Dombrowski

    That’s part of any hitter’s maturation. Pitchers find weaknesses and exploit them. The hitter must adjust in kind. Stott presents an intriguing history of weaknesses, though. In 2024, four-seam fastballs ate him up. Last year, sliders and curveballs. This season, curves and split-finger fastballs.

    Stott studies. Maybe too much. That might be the issue with his postseason woes.

    “You look at how a team pitches you all season and what they’re doing, and you plan going into a game,” Stott said. “Then you get to the playoffs and it could be a complete 180.”

    And, after the first time not being served what you thought you’d be served …

    “Your initial thought is, ‘That was one at-bat. They’re gonna go back to what they did for 12 or 13 games.’ But sometimes they don’t,” Stott said. “Then, you’ve got to adjust on the fly. It’s just a giant cat-and-mouse game.”

    Bryson Stott, who will be 29 on Oct. 6, can be a free agent after the 2027 season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    In that metaphor, Stott mostly has been the mouse.

    He pointed to his feeble plate appearance against Braves left-handed reliever Dylan Lee in Game 2. Moments before, Schwarber and Bryce Harper, the former MVP, had homered and tied the game. When Stott came to the plate, the afterglow of those heroics overshadowed how badly Stott was overmatched.

    Lee threw Stott four fastballs that averaged about 94 mph. The first one was high, and he took it for ball one. The next three were in the top of the strike zone: take, foul, whiff, sit.

    The cat ate the mouse.

    “I’ve never faced Dylan Lee that I didn’t see a slider,” Stott said.

    Entering that at-bat Stott was 2-for-4 against Lee, with a hit in each of his previous two plate appearances, but losing this sort of mind game has been typical for him in the last three playoff series.

    The Phillies’ dismal finish was a fitting end to a lackluster season

    “I see sinkers and splitters and changeups from some of these guys all season, then see cutters and four-seamers that I didn’t see in the regular season,” Stott said. “So you want to stick to your plan going up there for that specific event, but sometimes it’s the complete wrong one.”

    Every hitter faces this issue. The hitters who adjust are hitters who keep their spots on competitive teams. Stott has at least one more chance to adjust as a Phillie.

    The hitters who can’t adjust?

    If they aren’t a good fielder, then they start selling real estate.

    If, like Stott, they’re 100% ballplayers, then they become placeholders on noncontenders until there’s no longer a spot on the roster for a light-hitting, 30-something, hard-nosed defensive specialist.

  • New-look Sixers roster should allow Nick Nurse to get into his ‘bag’ on defense

    New-look Sixers roster should allow Nick Nurse to get into his ‘bag’ on defense

    For the first two days of 76ers training camp, coach Nick Nurse was installing defensive concepts. This was especially exciting for Nurse, whose eyes lit up when talking about what this roster allows him to do on that end of the floor.

    “I don’t feel like I’ve been able to get into my bag of defensive stuff nearly as much as I would like to,” Nurse said of his previous years as Sixers coach. “And I think now we’ve got a little bit more depth, size, athleticism. It may take us a minute, but I think I’m most excited about that.”

    A young, inexperienced team might not have the bandwidth to execute multiple coverages like switching one through five, drop coverage, or a high wall without some miscommunication and needing an extra beat to remember which is the current coverage.

    A team lacking size and athleticism limits the kinds of coverages that could be deployed for the sake of ending up in unfavorable mismatches. What the Sixers seem to have is a good mix of that experience, athleticism, and basketball IQ to make it all work.

    Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti have battled since they were teenagers. Now, they are vying to be the Sixers’ backup center

    That they don’t have to just play one way throughout the course of a game, and Nurse can do different things with different lineups and match up better against specific opponents.

    “We have so many defenders and athletes and good players that can do so many different things; we can really go deep inside the playbook and rotations and do things that other teams really don’t have the ability to do,” forward Dean Wade said. “That’s what’s going to separate us on the defensive end, too. We have so many great defenders, great help side defenders and great on-ball defenders.”

    The Sixers were 17th in defensive efficiency a season ago, which speaks, perhaps, to the limited upside of what Nurse could do, especially with Joel Embiid only playing 38 regular-season games. But even when Embiid does take off games to maintain his health, the Sixers have a deeper roster that should still give them flexibility on defense. Wade figures to play a significant part in the team’s defensive success off the bench, while VJ Edgecombe said he will continue to burnish his reputation as a point-of-attack defender after getting “faster and stronger” from where he started a season ago.

    “I’m just trying to make sure I’m in top-tier shape so I can do that,” Edgecombe said. “Obviously, that’s important. The league is full of great guards. And, like you said, that’s important to be that point-of-attack defense because that’s what kind of starts it with most of the possessions. And I want to be able to set that tone for us defensively, and we go from there.”

    Then there’s LeBron James, who still can dial up the intensity defensively when needed. James relayed Monday that Tyrese Maxey previously said Jaylen Brown also was taking on primary defensive responsibilities and trying to set a defensive tone.

    “What’s stood out to me so far is his communication and he’s willing to pick up the ball defensively, kind of just do whatever coach needs him to do right now,” Maxey said.

    Brown mentioned Thursday that he was getting used to the terminology the Sixers use. One thing that might mean a certain coverage when he was in Boston might mean something different with the Sixers.

    Jaylen Brown shares details of his onboarding process — on and off the court — with the Sixers

    “It’s just getting him through it and getting him comfortable,” Nurse said. “I think we’ve covered a lot and probably calmed down on putting more stuff in and really started repping this out, so everybody gets comfortable with what the plays are called.”

    The more Nurse can take out of his “bag,” the more versatility the Sixers can have defensively.

    Up and down the roster, the Sixers have talked about the importance of that side of the ball. Nurse mentioned on Day 1 that James was “extremely loud” on defense, trying to set an example for the rest of the roster, while Brown said, “We’re focused on defense for a couple days, and I like that because that’s where the game is going to be won or lost.”

  • Eagles vs. Rams: A mystifying trend the Birds must fix, and everything else to know ahead of Sunday’s game

    Eagles vs. Rams: A mystifying trend the Birds must fix, and everything else to know ahead of Sunday’s game

    A normal NFL halftime typically lasts between 12 and 14 minutes, give or take, from the final first-half whistle to third-quarter kick.

    For Eagles coaches, it’s a pretty frenetic period. Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion takes an express ride on an elevator down from the coaches’ booth and gets together with his staff. They talk about the looks they’re seeing, the notes they’ve taken.

    “We quickly put together and chart our course for the second half, communicate it with the players, and then we’re out,” Mannion said Thursday.

    Nick Sirianni, who usually is pretty guarded, didn’t want to go into too much detail about the halftime routine when asked about it a day later. But he did mention that the idea is to be making adjustments on the fly between series as the game goes on.

    “That’s so important that they’re going through that process at that time because halftime, there may be certain things that you say, ‘OK, we can’t get that drawn up right,’” he said. “‘Hey, we want to put this in here. Hey, we can’t get that drawn up. Draw it up for halftime. We’ll put it in there.’

    “There are some things that are saved for halftime, but the majority of it is happening within the game.”

    Nick Sirianni and the Eagles are looking to bounce back after their first loss of the season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Regardless of when and how the Eagles are adjusting, whatever is happening at halftime might need a makeover. It’s only been three games, but no one is worse in the third quarter right now than the Eagles, who have eight three-and-outs on 11 third-quarter drives. That’s three more than anyone else in the NFL.

    There have been various reasons for each punt. No series is identical. The Eagles have had negative runs, negative swing passes, penalties, and other detrimental plays. But the play sequencing and planning certainly has contributed. It’s something Mannion, a first-time play caller, said the staff is trying to correct.

    “Certainly, as a staff and as a team, we’re working through getting better there,” Mannion said. “You hate to do a lot of nice things in the first half of some of these games and kind of fall into a rut in the second half.

    “We’re working at that. We’re attacking it each day to be better there coming out of halftime.”

    — @Jeff_Neiburg

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    How to watch Eagles vs. Rams

    The Eagles and Rams kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be aired on Fox29 and called by the network’s top duo of play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Tom Brady. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi are the sideline reporters.

    As usual, Merrill Reese and Mike Quick will have you covered for the local radio broadcast on 94 WIP.

    Looking to watch the game somewhere in the city with fellow Eagles fans? Here’s our latest list of places to watch.

    Final injury report

    DeVonta Smith scored a big fourth-quarter touchdown against the Rams last season, but he won’t be available for Sunday’s game — and likely longer.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Eagles

    Fixing the ugly third-quarter trend won’t get any easier with DeVonta Smith slated to miss Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. He may be out beyond this week, too.

    The Eagles also will be without a key defensive starter in Zack Baun, who remains in the concussion protocol. Those absences mean Dontayvion Wicks is slated to be the No. 1 wide receiver on Sunday while Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the next man up at linebacker.

    Out

    • WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
    • LB Zack Baun (concussion)
    • TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
    • S Marcus Epps (groin)
    • WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
    • T Fred Johnson (knee)

    Rams

    Puka Nacua is on track to the return for the Rams, who, entering Week 3 and dating back to when he was drafted in 2023, were averaging 6.1 yards per play with Nacua on the field, compared to 5.1 yards when he’s off the field. But the big news of the day Friday came when Sean McVay ruled Aaron Donald (back) out.

    Donald came out of retirement and rejoined the team after training camp. His absence means Los Angeles is without two of the better defensive front-seven players in the NFL in Donald and Myles Garrett, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury.

    Out

    • DT Aaron Donald (back)
    • TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle)
    • CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder)

    Questionable

    • TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder)
    • OLB Josaiah Stewart (groin)

    Storylines to watch

    Smith’s absence is a big blow to the Eagles. In previous seasons, they have withstood the loss of Smith or A.J. Brown knowing the other would be out there. Can Wicks provide the same comfort? We’ll find out Sunday, and maybe next week in London, too.

    “Being me,” Wicks said Thursday when asked what gives him confidence he can thrive in a larger role. “I already had that confidence. Been had it.”

    The team’s best pass catcher being out comes at a pivotal time for an offense that needs to start putting things together. The Eagles haven’t successfully married their run and pass games the way they said they wanted to. The running game showed some signs of life in the first half on Monday night, and the Eagles will hope to build off of that Sunday.

    Our Eagles Week 4 preview show

    What went wrong Monday, and what can we expect Sunday vs. the Rams? Plus, what are the biggest concerns so far for the Eagles? I broke it down with my colleague Olivia Reiner earlier this week in our latest Gameday Central pregame show.

    Be sure to check out the latest episode of unCovering the Birds, including a fresh mailbag. And after the game, Ryan Novozinsky will be live from the press box breaking down the action.

    Latest Week 4 odds

    The Eagles are a home underdog for the first time since 2023. They were 10-1 when they hosted the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13 of the 2023 season. A 42-19 beat down at Lincoln Financial Field started a late-season collapse.

    Check out this week’s odds and props here.

    Eagles-Rams predictions

    Jordan Davis and the Eagles blocked a last-second field goal attempt last season to complete their comeback win against the Rams.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    A clean sweep, all by double digits. That means the Eagles probably win by two scores, right?

    Check out the reasoning behind our picks and McLane’s keys to the game. As for the rest of the country, here’s a look at the national media predictions for Sunday.

    One number to know

    32.9% — That’s DeVonta Smith’s target share through three games. Brandon Graham, now away from football and in the podcasting world, got some traction last week after the Eagles’ Week 2 win when he said he thought Jalen Hurts was playing freely and not having to force the ball to certain players.

    Maybe he meant the way the offense is designed gives Hurts more answers, or maybe he was referring to Hurts not having to force the ball to A.J. Brown. Either way, the numbers tell a different story. If Smith’s target share number holds up, he would have the highest single-season target share of any Eagles player since at least 2000, according to Next Gen Stats.

    Smith is slated to miss this week’s game and possibly next week’s in London. Goedert still isn’t back from injury. Hurts is going to have to put his trust in others.

    There are other numbers worth paying attention to this week, too.

    What the Eagles are saying

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 in Nashville, Tenn.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    “Who are we?”

    Well, that’s kind of existential, Jalen.

    But it’s the question the quarterback said he posed to the locker room in the aftermath of their 27-7 loss on Monday night.

    “Ask yourself that question because that’s a choice you can make, and being deliberate and intentional on how we move forward, so we can continue to improve,” Hurts said.

    Here’s more on Hurts challenging his teammates to look inward.

    What the Rams are saying

    “Humility is one play away if you’re sleeping on somebody, so we don’t take anybody lightly at the end of the day,” Davante Adams said.

    The Rams are road favorites Sunday afternoon in Philly, but they know wins don’t come easy in the NFL.

    Rams QB Matthew Stafford on the Eagles: “They’re always a tough out, especially at their place.”

    It won’t be snowing this time, though.

    McVay gets to coach against one of his former quarterbacks, too, in Mannion.

    What else we’re reading and watching

    Thanks for reading. The weekly Eagles newsletter will be back again next Saturday sent to your inbox all the way from London, where the Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5.

  • Eagles vs. Rams predictions: Rounding up experts’ predictions ahead of a Week 4 showdown at the Linc

    Eagles vs. Rams predictions: Rounding up experts’ predictions ahead of a Week 4 showdown at the Linc

    The Eagles don’t have it easy after their first loss of the season. Up next, they’ll face the Los Angeles Rams, whose 1-2 record isn’t reflective of their strength.

    The Birds’ first loss came in prime time against the Bears on Monday Night Football, during which the offense put up just seven points. The Rams endured a Denver Broncos’ comeback on Sunday night for their second loss of the 2026 season.

    Inquirer writers’ predictions for Eagles vs. Rams

    The Eagles, however, will be without No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith, while the Rams are getting a star wideout back in Puka Nacua.

    Let’s take a look at who the media is picking:

    Inquirer predictions

    The Inquirer’s beat reporters had full faith in the Eagles last week, but after their loss to the Bears, our writers don’t have much confidence in the Birds anymore.

    Jeff Neiburg has the Rams winning, 30-20, as his concerns about the defense have grown following the Eagles’ first loss of the year.

    Ryan Novozinsky, meanwhile, is picking Los Angeles because of the Eagles’ wide receiver situation. With Smith unlikely to play, things look a bit bleak for the Birds’ passing game.

    National media predictions

    NFL.com: The Rams edged out the Eagles for the majority this week by the NFL.com analysts. Brooke Cersosimo and Gennaro Filice are the two picking the Birds; Filice cited Rams coach Sean McVay’s poor record all-time against them as a reason for his decision.

    ESPN.com: All of ESPN’s experts picked the Rams over the Eagles.

    The Athletic: Chad Graff is the lone reporter picking the Eagles over the Rams, with his six colleagues backing Los Angeles on the road.

    CBS Sports: This seven-person panel had one more Eagles selection than the Athletic’s, with Pete Prisco and Jamey Eisenberg picking the Birds to win at home.

    USA Today: All six reporters picked Los Angeles to win. “Both teams have reason to be irritated. I give Los Angeles the edge, helped by an extra day of rest and Matthew Stafford’s ability to attack a Philadelphia defense that gave [Case] Keenum room to operate,” Adam Kaufman wrote.

    What should the Eagles do about their backup QB situation?
    Video: What should the Eagles do about their backup QB situation?

    Sports Illustrated: Senior editor Mitch Goldich is the only expert backing the Eagles.

    Bleacher Report: Once again, only one expert has picked the Eagles. Brent Sobleski wrote, “Don’t count these Eagles out. Despite Philadelphia looking like the bad version from last season while playing the Case Keenum-led Bears, Nick Sirianni’s group knows how to respond. The team has gone through stretches of stagnation before and tended to bounce back.”

    Pro Football Talk: Mike Florio has the Rams winning, 30-20. “Last year, a wild play on a game-winning field-goal attempt by the Rams gave the Eagles a win. This year, the Rams will make sure to not let it be that close,” he wrote.

    Sporting News: Bill Bender also has Los Angeles taking home a win, 28-24.

    What to know about tailgating changes coming for Eagles home games

    Local media predictions

    Philly Voice: Jimmy Kempski picked the visiting team, writing that “the Eagles have looked sloppy, disorganized, and they have surprisingly been beaten in the trenches through the first three weeks of the season.”

    Bleeding Green Nation: The staff is split on who’s winning Sunday, with three writers taking the Eagles and the other three picking the Rams.

    Delaware Online: Out of the 11 reporters making picks, eight backed the Rams.

    Turf Show Times: Steven Ridings has Los Angeles winning a close one.

  • Northwestern runs freely over Penn State, which remains winless in Big Ten play

    Northwestern runs freely over Penn State, which remains winless in Big Ten play

    EVANSTON, Ill. — That’s one way to open an $875 million stadium.

    Northwestern’s first game in its new Ryan Field couldn’t have gone much better, as it beat Penn State, 34-13, thanks to incredible performances from running backs Joseph Himon II and Caleb Komolafe.

    The Nittany Lions’ run game recorded just 48 yards, and quarterback Rocco Becht struggled against another Big Ten opponent. The Wildcats have now beaten Penn State in back-to-back seasons.

    “I want to give Northwestern a ton of credit because they played the game, the style of game, that obviously we would like to play,” coach Matt Campbell said. “They really beat us where it was really hard to find the rhythm on both sides of the football. They controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”

    Running amok

    After Penn State (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) found some momentum and got on the board — on an 8-yard touchdown run by Carson Hansen with 10 minutes, 39 seconds left in the second quarter to cut Penn State’s deficit to 10-7 — Northwestern’s first play on its next drive was a 36-yard rush. Two plays later, the Wildcats (3-1, 1-1) scored on a 38-yard rushing touchdown by Himon.

    At one point, Himon was averaging 30.7 yards per carry, and, by the end, Northwestern averaged 7.5 yards per attempt.

    Part of that rushing success was because of ineffective tackling by the Nittany Lions — notably linebacker Kooper Ebel, who had multiple missed tackles that allowed the Wildcats to get past the first-down marker.

    “There were a lot of missed tackles [Friday night], and however that happened and why that happened, we’re going to have to evaluate and have a better answer as we come back next week,” Campbell said. “I think that the thing from my end of it is that part is frustrating because we tackled really well in the first four games of the season.”

    Additionally, Northwestern had nine runs of 15-plus yards and finished with 413 rushing yards after recording just 32 against Indiana last weekend.

    On top of all the yardage, all four of Northwestern’s touchdowns came on the ground. Quarterback Aidan Chiles had one, a 2-yard run in the first quarter, while Himon and Komolafe scored the other three in the second and third.

    Komolafe had 188 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, while Himon finished with 10 carries for 162 yards and two scores.

    Northwestern running back Joseph Himon II (6) recorded 162 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns.Melissa Tamez

    Becht’s struggles continue

    Becht had his best start to a season during Penn State’s first three games. But like the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, the Iowa State transfer looked like a shell of himself against Northwestern.

    The senior had multiple throws behind the sticks on third downs and some questionable keepers en route to 224 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

    In two Big Ten games this year, Becht has one passing touchdown after having nine in during the nonconference slate. He has had multiple passes get deflected or tipped in both those games, two of which have led to interceptions.

    “He’s played Iowa for three years straight, so the Big Ten is not a problem,” wide receiver Chase Sowell said. “I know what he’s capable of, and I know how much he cares about us, and I know how much he cares about this place.”

    Penn State held players-only meeting to get ‘on the same page’ after its loss to Wisconsin

    With his team down, 31-7 in the fourth quarter, Becht connected with Sowell on a 16-yard touchdown, but he also missed multiple big opportunities. That includes when he overthrew a likely touchdown to Zay Robinson and didn’t see a wide-open Sowell in the second quarter and later threw it over tight end Andrew Rappleyea’s head on a third down. Sowell was the Nittany Lions’ leading receiver with five catches for 68 yards.

    Up next

    Penn State returns home for its annual White Out game seeking its first conference win of the season. The Nittany Lions will face Southern Cal on Oct. 10 (7:30 p.m., NBC10).

  • The U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry returns to center stage in Saturday’s friendly

    The U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry returns to center stage in Saturday’s friendly

    TEMPE, Ariz. — It’s understandable that the U.S. men’s soccer team had other things to think about for a while as it built toward the privilege of a World Cup on home soil.

    Now that the summer has passed, the program can turn its attention back to things it traditionally has focused on.

    The Americans will return to the Concacaf Nations League in next month’s quarterfinals and hope to reach March’s final four. Next summer brings the biennial Gold Cup, the official crowning of the continent’s top team.

    Along with renewing old acquaintances, the U.S. is returning to tournaments it failed to win last year. The Nations League was an especially bad failure: losses to Panama in the semifinals and Canada in the third-place game led to manager Mauricio Pochettino tearing down a complacent squad.

    Mauricio Pochettino (right) during Friday’s U.S. practice in Phoenix.Jonathan Tannenwald

    But before those competitions, there will be what Pochettino likes to call “nonofficial” matchups with the U.S.’s two biggest rivals: Mexico on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz. (10 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62), and Canada on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn. (8 p.m., TNT, Universo).

    The first matchup is the bigger of the two, with all due respect to the Canucks and fiery Wisconsin-born manager Jesse Marsch. Even he knows that U.S.-Mexico is the continent’s most famous clash.

    Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield savor ‘a pinch-me moment’ with their USMNT debuts

    El Tri is also the most common opponent the U.S. has faced, with 92 previous meetings dating back to 1934. But it’s been 15 months since the last meeting, matching the longest gap in a decade and a half.

    The absence hasn’t really made hearts grow fonder. It has been evident, though, since a new generation of American players is set for an initiation.

    Cavan Sullivan (center) could be in line for his first game against Mexico with the senior U.S. national team.Jonathan Tannenwald

    “Every young player that’s coming to camp has watched these games growing up, I’m sure of it,” said veteran midfielder Tyler Adams, who this week regained the U.S. team’s captaincy. “They understand what these games are like and what they need to do to be able to have an impact on it. But at the same time, it’s an opportunity for them to get thrown into the deep end as well and really get their feet wet.”

    That will include facing a pro-Mexico crowd, as typically is the case when the teams meet in friendlies. Over 60,000 tickets have been sold at the 63,400-seat State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.

    A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S. Soccer

    “It’s about [helping] to build our character, if we have some adversity — for that group, it’s going to be good,” Pochettino said. “I celebrate this, to have this type of game to play in a difficult atmosphere, and I think that for sure is going to help for the future.”

    Right-flank playmaker Sergiño Dest was introduced to the rivalry in a 2019 friendly in which the U.S. was blown out in the Meadowlands. Two years later, he helped the Americans win an epic Nations League final, the first of three straight titles in the tournament.

    “These games, I feel like it’s the real culture and the real passion of football,” he said. “Playing with America against Mexico is one of the best games here, and it’s going to be a tough game.”

    Mexico snapped the U.S.’s streak last year, though the Americans did it to themselves just as much. Four months later, El Tri won the Gold Cup final against an American squad that lacked many top players but was full of controversy: Christian Pulisic’s withdrawal, the Club World Cup running consecutively, and Pochettino’s benchings.

    Union alum Auston Trusty embraces being a USMNT role model for Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre

    Since then, Mexico has stood alone atop the podium, owning all five Concacaf men’s titles: the Nations League, the Gold Cup, and the under-20, under-17, and under-15 championships.

    Adams admitted that the team hasn’t talked about the big picture much, as there’s enough on the collective plate during this busy window of friendlies. But he said it is worth discussing.

    Tyler Adams (third from right) with his teammates at Friday’s practice.Jonathan Tannenwald

    “Football swings back and forth and [has] different momentum, and you go through phases and rebuilding periods and all these different periods — but that doesn’t take away from the rivalry of what this game is and how important it is for us to win,” Adams said. “We obviously want it to swing back in our favor, but that starts without performance. We know that if we perform at a high level, and we do the things that we’re supposed to in the right way, that we obviously can, but it’s a difficult game, and we need to make sure that we go out there and compete.”

    So while Saturday’s game is just a friendly, it’s a chance to make an opening statement in the 2030 World Cup cycle.

    For Cavan Sullivan, ‘the dream is reality’ in a successful USMNT debut

    And if there’s a little brimstone along the way, it will be nothing new.

    “There was a glimpse of the fire that teams like that can bring at the end of the Chile game,” left back Antonee Robinson said, referring to a benches-clearing brawl on Thursday that sparked when La Roja’s Leandro Hernández prodded U.S. goalkeeper Brian Schwake after he had claimed the ball. “So we’ve just been saying to the young boys that you’re going to expect that and a lot more when we play against Mexico.”

  • The Eagles and Fanatics help Make-A-Wish dreams come true: ‘That [didn’t] even feel real’

    The Eagles and Fanatics help Make-A-Wish dreams come true: ‘That [didn’t] even feel real’

    After practice on Friday, Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata had some wishes to grant.

    After having a catch with the kids in attendance via the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he arranged them into a circle to play a quick game called claps, which he typically plays with other members of the offensive line. Mailata explained the rules: toss the ball to anyone in the circle, but you have to clap before you catch it.

    Eventually, each player was eliminated until Mailata was the last one standing — that is until Jordan Davis entered the game, dethroning Mailata in front of everyone.

    “He beat me at my own game,” Mailata said.

    This was just one part of an already busy day for Dylan Hynum, 11; Sam Sweeten, 18; Evan Weiner, 16; Abdul-Sami Amedu, 19; Jemma Kearney, 15; and Dylan Parsons, 16.

    Their schedule featured a $200 shopping spree at Mitchell & Ness, a tour of Lincoln Financial Field, and a meet-and-greet with Eagles players. They also got to sign a one-day contract with the team with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman in attendance.

    One-woman band Honest2Betsy is bringing her ‘artsy-fartsy’ side to Eagles game day

    One-day contract

    Dylan Hynum approached the podium where Roseman stood. There was a football card with Hynum’s photo and a one-day contract to join the team on the desk.

    Hynum signed the contract and took his first few photos as an official player.

    “See you out there on Sunday,” Roseman said. “Whatever you need for good luck, bring it.”

    Dylan Parsons (left) signed a one-day contract with the Howie Roseman’s Eagles on Friday.Philadelphia Eagles

    Hynum then returned to the conference room with the rest of his new teammates, marveling at the Dunkin’ goodie bags that greeted them when they first entered the room. The bags included bucket hats, glasses, socks, tumblers, koozies, and Boston cream doughnuts with their faces stamped across the top.

    But the fun didn’t stop there. After signing their contracts, the kids made their way toward the front entrance of the Jefferson Health Training Complex, where they signed their very first autographs.

    Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean signs autographs for Abdul-Sami Amedu and Dylan Parsons on Friday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Tour of Lincoln Financial Field

    The festivities continued at Lincoln Financial Field, where the families were led through a tour around the stadium as the crew prepared for a home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (1 p.m., Fox29).

    They were taken to several areas, including the news conference room where Amedu recreated Jalen Hurts’ famous line, “So that’s what y’all wanted to see, huh?”

    Then they were brought into the locker room, where they were greeted by Swoop and they found custom Eagles jerseys with their names on the back hanging from their lockers.

    The kids were taken onto the field in style with their new gear as they practiced their very own tunnel walk. Lights flashed, music played, and they made their way onto the field just as the Eagles would on game day.

    Meeting the players

    “You’re my favorite player of all time, I swear to you,” Weiner said. “I’m not even joking.”

    After posing for a photo with Jalen Hurts, Weiner kept his composure and used the time to praise the quarterback. But as soon as Hurts left, Weiner let out a big breath and put his hands on his knees.

    “Oh my God, that [didn’t] even feel real,” Weiner said.

    Once practice wrapped, the team made its way over to the kids, and players posed for photos, signed autographs, and engaged in fun conversations — including video game talk. Davis encouraged the kids to start playing Elden Ring, and Fred Johnson asked whether they knew what an Easy-Bake Oven was.

    Parsons, a New Jersey native, only needed a few words to describe the day: “It was amazing.”

    Parsons, who was most excited to see Barkley, wore a smile on his face for most of the day. He immediately put on his Dunkin’ sunglasses and tossed on his custom No. 26 jersey on top of his Barkley threads in the locker room.

    “This is amazing,” Dylan’s mom, Kari Parsons, said. “It’s really awesome to see everything that everyone has put into them.”

    Dylan’s dad, Joshua Parsons, added: “We never expected this at all, and then, out of the blue, we got contacted. And it’s just amazing to see the amount of effort they put into it and everything they do for the kids to make it special for them.”

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts receives a portrait drawing from a Make-A-Wish recipient during a meet-and-greet on Friday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Attending Sunday’s game

    The families also will attend Sunday’s game against the Rams. But first, Fanatics and Make-A-Wish surprised them with a $200 shopping spree at Mitchell & Ness to get them fitted up ahead of game day. Mitchell & Ness is owned by Fanatics, which has partnered with Make-A-Wish since October 2023.

    What to know about changes to tailgating at Eagles games

    Each kid will receive pregame field passes on Sunday and will have a special experience built around their wish.

    Parsons will be a water boy. Weiner will shadow the team photographer. Amedu will get another tour of the stadium. Hynum will participate in the field flag experience. Sweeten, who is interested in being a sports broadcaster, will visit the Merrill Reese and Mike Quick radio booth, the broadcast booth with Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt, and the stadium control booth. Kearney will be on the field for pregame activities.

  • Organizers hope to make Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic more inclusive with a sensory center

    Organizers hope to make Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic more inclusive with a sensory center

    ALLENTOWN — When Ernie Els was living in London, his son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism at 3½ years old. The former world No. 1 golfer and Hall of Famer realized that many services his son needed were inaccessible to him in London, so he decided to relocate his family to South Florida

    His son’s diagnosis sparked the idea for Els for Autism, which was founded in 2009. The foundation works to support the growth and learning of individuals with autism, along with their parents and caregivers, so they can live a fulfilling life.

    And EY, one of Els’ sponsors, hopes to make golf more accessible to neurodivergent fans at this weekend’s Jefferson Health Lehigh Valley Classic via the EY Sensory Center by Jefferson Health.

    “There was a day when if you were different, you had to learn to accommodate to the world and now what we’re seeing much more is that the world is seeing that they also have a responsibility to the individual,” said Wendy Ross, the director of the center for autism and neurodiversity at Jefferson Health. “That’s an important statement for golf because it looks like it’s an individual sport, but it really is a team effort.

    “If you just look at it superficially, you’ve got a lone golfer. But in reality, they have a team around them. They have a caddie, they have a coach, they have a place to play. This is a good metaphor for the work we are trying to do.”

    A boy plays at the EY Sensory Center at the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic in Allentown.Courtesy of Wendy Ross

    The center, designed by Ross, is near the ninth green at Lehigh Country Club, where fans can catch some of the action while taking a break from the crowds.

    “Not that the golf course is so loud, but the noises that happen are sudden and unexpected,” Ross said. “Autistic individuals and people with neurodivergence sometimes can get overwhelmed, and so they need a place to kind of cool off and reset. Sometimes they have sensory-seeking desires, and sometimes they are sensory avoidant, so we have a number of items that are both.”

    Ross said that it may be challenging for a neurodivergent individual to experience a golf tournament for the first time because of the etiquette of watching the sport in person.

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    There is a sensory room at Lincoln Financial Field where people with autism, PTSD, Down syndrome, and other sensory processing needs can watch the game on a TV. The vibes at the PGA Tour Champions event aren’t quite the same as the Linc on an Eagles game day, and tournament director Tommy Sullivan said organizers intentionally put their sensory center outside, right near the action.

    “You still can watch the golf right there,” Sullivan said. “You’re not taken away from the event. You’re still a part of the event, but it’s a nice, quiet space to decompress, so that was important to us.”

    The EY Sensory Center is near the ninth green at the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic.Courtesy of Wendy Ross

    Proceeds from the tournament will go to three charities, one of which is the Eagles Autism Foundation.

    The center is the first on-course sensory zone at a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. It also is providing sensory bags to its visitors that include noise-reducing headphones, a fidget toy, and sunglasses.

    As Els made his birdie putt on the ninth green on Friday during his first-round 1-over 71, he walked past the EY Sensory Center and smiled. Els currently is tied for 49th, while co-leaders Y.E. Yang, Richard Green, and Robert Karlsson are 6-under after each shooting a 64.

    “We’re trying to make this tournament something that the whole community wants to be a part of, not just for the people that take golf seriously,” Sullivan said.