Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers insisted Wednesday he was "definitely playing" in Sunday's game at the 4-5 Minnesota Vikings despite the mystery toe injury that he picked up before last Sunday's win over the Seattle Seahawks that kept him out of practice earlier in the midweek.
No worries, Green Bay fans, as the reigning Most Valuable Player is staying true to his word ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Rodgers practiced Friday and is on track to start for the 8-2 Packers at Minnesota.
"He was limited today," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of his QB1. "He looked good throwing the football. I'm confident that he'll be in a good place on Sunday."
All that remains known about Rodgers' issue is that he suffered the setback while isolating away from the team after he tested positive for COVID-19 as an unvaccinated player and missed what became a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 7. He cleared health and safety protocols last Saturday but did so carrying the toe injury that left him with no game-status designation against Seattle.
Rodgers completed 23-of-37 passes for 292 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in his return from his coronavirus-related absence. One wonders if the 37-year-old will look more like a future Hall of Famer this weekend.
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A new mock draft has the Tennessee Titans taking a quarterback, but it's not Miami's Cam Ward. In his latest mock draft, Pro Football Focus' John Kosko had the Titans trade the No. 1 overall pick to the New York Giants and move to No. 3, selecting Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart (6-foot-2, 223 pounds). Tennessee also acquired the No. 65 pick, a 2026 first-rounder and a 2026 third-rounder in the proposed trade. "The Titans profit from the Giants' desperation and take Dart while gaining multiple picks to build out their team over the next two years," wrote Kosko. "With the best data profile of any quarterback in this class, Dart has the arm talent, accuracy and athleticism to become a franchise NFL QB." PFF credited Dart with the second-most deep completions (37 in 13 games) in the FBS in 2024. A deep completion is a pass that travels at least 20 yards through the air past the line of scrimmage. However, taking Dart with a top-three pick could still be a reach for the Titans. On his QB board, ESPN's Jordan Reid projected Dart as a mid-to-late Day 2 pick. "Can he continue to adapt to performing multistep progressions?" wrote Reid. "He has shown progress at the Senior Bowl and combine. Dart's development will hinge on that continuing, along with how he adjusts to being in a huddle and relaying plays in that setting, which he wasn't asked to do at Ole Miss." Acquiring multiple picks in a trade could benefit the Titans, who went 3-14 in 2024. Despite that, taking Dart with a top-three pick would be a considerable gamble for Tennessee. That's why the franchise may keep the No. 1 pick and take Ward (6-foot-2, 219 pounds) instead. In a Monday interview with "The Dan Patrick Show," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said the Titans seem "pretty comfortable" with Ward, who led the FBS in TD passes (39 in 13 starts) in 2024.
At the trade deadline, the Ottawa Senators made a big move by acquiring Dylan Cozens. They managed to get him for just Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker, and so far, it looks like a great deal for them. Cozens is producing, and the Senators are winning since his arrival. However, many Montreal Canadiens fans had hoped that Cozens would land in Montreal, especially after Kirby Dach's injury. He would have been an excellent second-line center behind Nick Suzuki. But according to Mathias Brunet (BPM Sports), Kent Hughes inquired, but the price demanded by the Buffalo Sabres was outrageous. Buffalo's asking price was Cole Caufield or Juraj Slafkovsky. Kent Hughes rightfully refused to trade Cole Caufield or Juraj Slafkovsky in exchange for young center Dylan Cozens The Sabres didn't want picks or prospects; they wanted an established player, just like how the Sens gave up Norris. And even though Cozens was struggling in Buffalo, that didn't change his price. The case can be made that it was a smart move for the Canadiens to refuse the offer. Yes, Cozens would have brought great balance to the top six, but trading Caufield or Slafkovsky is too risky. They are two of the most beloved players in the city, and more importantly, the team's top offensive contributors. What this shows is that if the Canadiens want to add a real second-line center this summer, it's going to cost a lot. This won't happen with a B-level prospect and a second-round pick. A significant piece will have to be sacrificed.
The next time Denny Hamlin walks into a casino, they may be calling him “Denny Hamwin.” Known for its glitzy casinos and the roar of engines at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sin City became a backdrop of unexpected fortune for NASCAR star Denny Hamlin this past weekend. Ahead of the Pennzoil 400, Hamlin found himself on a winning streak. Not on the track, but on the casino floor. On Friday night, Hamlin, in town for the NASCAR Cup Series, hit the jackpot at a Las Vegas casino, pocketing an impressive $126,150 from a single slot machine spin. The 44-year-old driver was caught on camera celebrating his incredible luck at a BUFFALO video slot machine. Hamlin’s initial bet of $300 multiplied by 420 times, bringing him the first big haul of his casino adventure. He told FOX Sports that his buddy plays all of the time and he gave up his hot seat for him. You can hear in the video that he posted, he gives his friend Pete some love. And man, was it ever hot, because after the six-figure win, Hamlin wasn’t done. Hamlin Hits 3 Casino Jackpots in Las Vegas The Chesterfield, Virginia native was on a roll, ignoring the old adage to quit while ahead. By Saturday night, Hamlin’s luck hadn’t run dry. He struck it rich again, scoring $85,825. He didn’t waste time sharing a screenshot of his second windfall on social media. As luck would have hit, he hit another slot machine jackpot about 30 minutes later for $65,300. There’s also a shot of him throwing up his hands in wonderment. I don’t think even he knew what to say after win number three. In total, Hamlin left the casino more than $200,000 richer over two nights. Hamlin Not So Lucky at The Las Vegas Motor Speedway Despite his on-point performance with the slots, Hamlin couldn’t quite replicate that luck on the asphalt of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Race day wasn’t kind to Hamlin. Despite a weekend filled with slot machine success, he faced challenges on the track. He received a penalty for speeding on pit road, which sent him to the back of the field. Ultimately, he finished in 25th place, a result that shifted him five spots down to 12th in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series standings. Who is Denny Hamlin? Denny Hamlin is a well-recognized name in the world of NASCAR. He has established himself as one of the top competitors in the NASCAR Cup Series. Driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin has notched numerous wins and accolades throughout his racing career. Known for his skillful driving and strategic mind on the track, Hamlin has continuously been a formidable presence in the racing community. His career is marked by resilience and a knack for high-stakes competition, whether behind the wheel or at a casino.
Former Oilers forward Warren Foegele appeared in a recent interview where he heavily leaned into the rivalry with his former team, going as far as to say he hates the Edmonton Oilers. Foegele is one of a few former Oilers having a career year this season, and a player that Edmonton may be missing now. With the Los Angeles Kings, Foegele has been a great fit. Former Oilers forward says he hates his former team in new interview While playing up to the rivalry in a new video, Foegele said he now fully hates the Edmonton Oilers. He's clearly keeping it light and joking about the rivalry, but usually players don't take it as far as hate. "I don't know, I'm part of it, like I hate them too. I hate the Oilers too, so it's just part of the game." - Warren Foegele Later on in the interview, Foegele did lighten up and show some love to his former teammates in Edmonton. In a hilarious moment, the Kings interviewer showed Foegele a picture of him scoring against the Oilers, and in the background, Evan Bouchard can be seen smiling for one of his best friends. "That's a great picture. That's me scoring against the Oilers. "That's probably one of my best friends, Evan Bouchard, and he is caught smiling at me scoring! That's a good friend, for sure." - Warren Foegele Warren Foegele thriving with more opportunity on the Los Angeles Kings The 28-year-old forward seems to be settling in nicely both on and off the ice on his new team. After a career season in Edmonton last year, Foegele signed with the Kings for $3.5M per year and immediately posted even better numbers — currently with 19 goals and 37 points in 65 games. It's fun to see Foegele joking around with the rivalry between the Oilers and Kings, two teams that could once again meet in the playoffs. Judging by his comments here, Foegele may be one player uniquely motivated to beat Edmonton.
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