Author: Staff Reports

On a week when the Union should be preparing for a crucial Eastern Conference semifinal against New York City FC on Sunday (7:55 p.m., Apple TV, MLS Season Pass), the prevailing news is drama of a different kind.

On Tuesday, the Guardian unveiled a monthslong report revealing alleged misconduct by the Union’s sporting director, Ernst Tanner, who is considered the mastermind of the team’s prominence in Major League Soccer over the last few seasons.

According to the report, Tanner is accused in a series of incidents involving racism, sexism, and homophobia directed toward people around American soccer. On Wednesday, we heard the latest from the stance of MLS, the club, and even Tanner himself, via his legal team after he was put on “administrative leave.”

The situation puts the Union in a bind: The technical staff is focused on advancing to next week’s conference final, while the front office seeks to distance itself from serious allegations against the guy in charge of its future.

It’s what we’re leading off your Thursday with, one expected to remain cloudy, but peaking into the 50s today.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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

❓Is there a sports scandal you won’t soon forget? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Hurts, on Hurts

We all know the Eagles quarterback is good for a great quote or two, but what does he have to say about himself when asked? In a moment in which pundits once again are starting to doubt Jalen Hurts, here’s a snippet of what he said, gathered by Inquirer reporter Olivia Reiner:

“I guess I get a lot of attention when things are going well and when things are not going so well,” Hurts said. “So I never run away from holding myself accountable and I think that’s exactly what I’ve taken the approach of doing. Even when I look at this last game, I take great pride in what we do on offense. I take great pride in how we go out there and play as a team and what our flow is.

“So we obviously got work to do, and I think that obviously starts with me. That’s always my approach. That’s always me looking internally first in everything that we do. And in due time, rising above.”

According to Hurts, scrutiny is par for the course. But he doesn’t plan on caving in to the rumors.

What can George give the Sixers?

Paul George wasted no time getting in on the action in his first game of the 2025-26 season. Just 36 seconds into regulation Monday, George picked up a block against James Harden and turned a quick give-and-go with Tyrese Maxey into a catch-and-shoot three-pointer. Of course, the rest of George’s night wasn’t quite as smooth.

It’s tough to draw too many sweeping conclusions from George’s season debut. But The Inquirer takes a closer look at how his return could help the Sixers improve at both ends while lightening the load on Maxey. We look at what George can give to the Sixers — and what might be a thing of the past.

The Sixers could not overcome a third-quarter surge by the Raptors in a 121-112 loss to Toronto. Tyrese Maxey paced the Sixers with 24 points, but the team committed a season-high 21 turnovers that led to 31 Raptors points.

Maddon talks Phillies

Kyle Schwarber spent much of his first five major league seasons trying to get things right against lefties.

Joe Maddon watched the struggle up close as manager of the Cubs.

Schwarber became a complete hitter in four seasons with the Phillies — and put himself in position to cash in this offseason in free agency. As Schwarber’s market develops, Maddon sat down with Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss the slugger’s maturation as a hitter.

Get your Eagles fix!

Get up to speed before kickoff as the Inquirer’s Olivia Reiner and Jeff McLane break down everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. Watch here.

On this date

Nov. 20, 1997: Flyers great Eric Lindros is alleged to have bitten San Jose Sharks defenseman Marty McSorley. However, two days later, the NHL cleared Lindros of any wrongdoing, despite video appearing to show Lindros in full bite mode.

Standings, stats, and more

Want to see the full breakdown of last night’s Sixers game against the Toronto Raptors? Here’s a place to access your favorite Philadelphia teams’ statistics, schedules, and standings in real time.

David Murphy’s take …

The most important variable in any negotiation is what the other side thinks you are willing to pay. Right now, the other 29 teams in Major League Baseball have every reason to think the Phillies aren’t willing to pay Nick Castellanos anything. — The latest from Inquirer columnist David Murphy on the upside of Castellanos’ situation for the Phillies.

What you’re saying about Temple football

We asked: Can K.C. Keeler bring success back to Temple in football?

Success for Temple football is fielding a competitive team capable of earning a bid for a Bowl Game. Following four years of three-win seasons, KC [Keeler] has worked miracles on North Broad this season. He brought in 46 new players and totally revamped the culture. The team believes they can win and are on the brink of potentially qualifying for a bowl bid. Choosing a successful head coach who is committed to Temple, not the next job, is a big win for the Owls. Now, we need fans in the stands when Penn State visits next September. — Bob C.

Yes. They were competitive in the conference this year in his first year at Temple. He knows the area, he can recruit, he can coach and the American conference is not impossible to win (see Army and Navy this year and last). — Richard V.

Short answer on KC Keeler NO. Temple is not a football school. They should forget football and put all their money and efforts into becoming a big-name basketball school. Lifetime, the Owls are 499-622-52. They have played nine Bowl Games and won three. From 1887 to 2025, Penn State has had 16 coaches. From 1894 to 2025, Temple has had 34. They have played in multiple conferences and were expelled from the Big East in 2019 for a lack of commitment. Their greatest years were the Pop Warner era that ended in 1938 when I was born. Wayne Harden and Matt Rhule also had success there, but very limited success since then. —Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jonathan Tannenwald, Kerith Gabriel, Olivia Reiner, Keith Pompey, Scott Lauber, David Murphy, and Neil Pane.

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.

Hey, thanks for allowing us to get your days started — or just to feel better informed. Bella returns to your inbox tomorrow to get you ready for the weekend. — Kerith

There is one thing Eagles fans want to know: How long is Lane Johnson going to be out?

It’s a relevant question when you consider that the Eagles have a 12-23 record in games Johnson hasn’t started since the beginning of the 2016 season. And he won’t be starting this week after league sources confirmed to The Inquirer that Johnson suffered a Lisfranc sprain in his foot on Sunday night.

The injury in the middle of his foot is named after a Frenchman who was a field surgeon under Napoleon, which is your fun fact of the day. Anyway, the All-Pro tackle is awaiting results from X-rays to determine whether he needs surgery, which probably would end his season. Johnson is likely to miss at least 4-6 weeks with a sprain.

His replacement at right tackle, Fred Johnson, has filled in well when Lane Johnson has missed time, but he is not an All-Pro. Several Eagles have had Lisfranc injuries in the past, including Nakobe Dean in 2023. The linebacker needed surgery and it ended his season. Here’s more to know about Lisfranc injuries.

A.J. Brown famously called the Eagles offense “a [bleep] show” last week, and the attack is not likely to get any better with the news about Johnson, Marcus Hayes writes.

The worries about the offense will continue, but it is important to remember that the defending Super Bowl champions are 8-2. Nick Sirianni continues to be second-guessed, Jeff McLane writes, but all he does is stack up wins.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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

❓Can the Eagles make up for the loss of Lane Johnson? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

George makes debut

The 76ers’ season began with questions about the health of Paul George and Joel Embiid. The answer came quickly on Embiid, who has averaged 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while playing limited minutes.

George had to wait longer to return as he recovered from offseason surgery on his left knee. The official word that the former All-Star forward would play Monday came moments before the Sixers’ home game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers have waited months to reach full strength. And while Embiid now has pain in his right knee, this is the closest the Sixers have come this season.

George scored nine points in his return as the Sixers rallied to beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 110-108. Tyrese Maxey led the way with 39 points.

Nori speeding into 2026

Dante Nori, the Phillies’ first-round pick in 2024, rose through three levels of the minor leagues in his first full season of professional baseball, which concluded this month at the Arizona Fall League. An adjustment and a new bat made a big difference for the speedy outfielder, who hopes to start 2026 in double A.

But before beginning his next minor league assignment, Nori has his eyes fixed on another objective: playing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy.

He’s a Hokie now

About five weeks after James Franklin lost his job at Penn State, he landed another one at Virginia Tech. Franklin finalized a deal Monday to become head football coach of the Hokies, who are 3-7 and have not won an ACC title since 2010. The good news for Penn State? His buyout with the Nittany Lions, once valued at $49 million, reportedly will be reduced to $9 million.

Penn State ended a six-game losing streak on Saturday and interim coach Terry Smith is hoping the Nittany Lions can win two more and become bowl eligible.

Speaking of bowl eligibility, Temple can get there with one more win. Tulane offers a tough test in the Owls’ home finale on Saturday.

Offensive Bump?

The Flyers could use an offensive bump as they are averaging the fourth-fewest goals in the NHL (2.61). Enter … Alex Bump?

Bump, one of the team’s top prospects, is lighting up the American Hockey League with 13 points in 15 games, and 10 points in his last seven games. Could a call-up be on the not-so-distant horizon? Jackie Spiegel thinks so.

The Flyers made a move Monday, swapping AHL defensemen. Here’s what the Flyers are getting in Maxence Guenette.

Sports snapshot

• Tough test: The U.S. men’s national team closes its year by facing South American superpower Uruguay tonight in Tampa, Fla.

🧠 Trivia time

Which former Eagles offensive tackle is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) Jon Runyan

B) Tra Thomas

C) Jerry Sisemore

D) Bob Brown

What you’re saying about the Eagles

We asked: How can the Eagles offense get going? Among your responses:

How about if Hurts starts running again? Not saying a lot of runs — we can’t afford to have Jalen hurt — but how about a few designed run plays??? They were so successful in getting the run game moving last year and would spring Barkley when opposing defenses had to bring a safety down to cover one of them. — Lynda M.

Stop running Barkley directly into the line. — John B.

I’ve been saying this from day one. The offensive coordinator has not a clue on how to manage a game. But how can you fire someone when you are 8-2? You can’t! The QB1 overthrows his wide-open receivers by at least 10 yards in fear of throwing a interception. We lost three opportunities for a first down at fourth and one when the offensive line jumped offsides. But we’re 8-2! One thing I notice is the defense keeps talking to each other after each play. Not so much the offense if ever. — Ronald R.

We desperately lack creativity in our offense. Our inability to get the ball to our wide receivers is inexplicable. You just can’t run a play and hope someone gets open, you have to scheme them open. Misdirection, motion, quick hitters will get the defense to back off and open up some running lanes for Saquon and Tank. — Bill B.

Hurts needs to pretend he is Josh Allen and learn to be consistent. We need to see that Super Bowl winning QB again. The offensive line is also not what we saw in that SB victory. Injuries of course, but they really need to notch it up. They are not providing the openings for Barkley they did last year. The receivers are outstanding, but Patullo has to come up with better game plans and Hurts has to execute much better. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Marcus Hayes, Jeff McLane, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Jack Vita, Devin Jackson, Greg Finberg, Ryan Mack, 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.

That wraps up your Tuesday newsletter. Thanks for reading. Bella will be in charge of Sports Daily on Wednesday. — Jim

The Eagles picked the perfect way to head into the bye week, unleashing a running attack that looked a lot like the one from the Super Bowl season. Saquon Barkley ran for 150 yards, Tank Bigsby added 104 more, and the Birds flattened a Giants team that had manhandled them two weeks ago.

“I think the O-line did a really good job of dominating up front,” Barkley said after the 38-20 victory. “Creating space for us. It’s cool to see Tank get out there and make some big plays. I’ve never been part of a game, I don’t think so, of having two 100-yard backs. So it was great to see him go out there and make plays, especially to see him finish the game for us.”

Barkley added: “For sure, we definitely saw how they celebrated when they beat us last time.” It is never wise to poke the bear, but it is especially unwise to poke the bear when you know you will be seeing the bear again in 17 days, David Murphy writes.

The Eagles head for a week off with a 6-2 record, but games against the Packers and Lions await after that. At least the offense finally seems to be rolling under coordinator Kevin Patullo, Marcus Hayes writes.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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

❓What should the Eagles work on improving during their bye week? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Getting physical

The Giants were the more physical team when they battered the Eagles, 34-17, on Oct. 9. The Birds made sure that did not happen again on their home turf. They sacked Jaxson Dart five times Sunday as the defensive line came through with an especially strong game.

“We were more physical than them today,” linebacker Zack Baun said. “That was the mentality we wanted to come out with. We came out with it and we sustained it throughout the whole game.”

Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who was held out of the first game vs. the Giants, picked up his first sack of the season. Outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt brought energy off the edge from the jump, Jeff McLane writes in his grades on the game.

The game was not the smoothest on the officiating end, and Fox’s broadcast crew made note of a few blown calls.

More coverage from Sunday’s Eagles win can be found here.

A dramatic playoff win

The Union saw a 2-0 lead against the Chicago Fire disappear in short order Sunday night. Luckily for them, they had Andre Blake in goal. When the 2-2 game went to penalty kicks, Blake stopped a shot by the Fire’s Jack Elliott, then got a break when Joel Waterman’s shot bounced off the top of the goal. Penalty-kick goals by Frankie Westfield, Milan Iloski, Tai Baribo, and Jesús Bueno lifted the Union to a playoff-opening victory at Subaru Park.

The Union’s principal owner, Jay Sugarman, says, “Our goal right now is to win a Cup.”

Back on track

Like many of his Sixers teammates, Andre Drummond had a lost season in 2024-25. The 32-year-old center is fully recovered from a turf toe injury now, though. Drummond pulled in 13 rebounds in 16 minutes of action Saturday night as the Sixers improved to 2-0 by beating the Charlotte Hornets.

“That’s what I’ve been paid for my entire career,” Drummond said. “It doesn’t take much for me to get to that point where I want to get every rebound.”

Rookie VJ Edgecombe is off to a flying start for the Sixers, and back home in the Bahamas, his friends and former coaches are following every move.

Edgecombe already has made an impression on Joel Embiid, who says: “Whether shots are going in or not, [he] always plays the right way, makes the right plays.”

The Sixers struggled to stop the Hornets’ dribble penetration, something Nick Nurse is sure to address in practice this week.

Getting his chance

Former Spring-Ford High star Matt Zollers got an opportunity to play Saturday after Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula went down with a dislocated left ankle. Zollers completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in a 17-10 loss to No. 10 Vanderbilt.

Evan Simon completed 24 of 35 passes for 265 yards and five touchdowns as Temple outlasted host Tulsa, 38-37, in overtime.

Luke Colella scored two TDs in Villanova’s 29-16 win against Albany.

Penn suffered its first Ivy League loss as Yale prevailed, 35-13.

Penn State is still looking for its first Big Ten victory with a trip to No. 1 Ohio State on tap this Saturday.

Sports snapshot

• He’s on a roll: Trevor Zegras scored twice, then added a goal in the shootout as the Flyers beat the Islanders.

On this date

Oct. 27, 2008: The Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays battled to a 2-2 tie in Game 5 of the World Series before a storm prompted a rain delay that lasted two days. The game resumed on Oct. 29, when Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske to seal a 4-3 victory, clinching the second world championship in Phillies history.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Marcus Hayes, David Murphy, Jackie Spiegel, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, Jonathan Tannenwald, Owen Hewitt, Colin Schofield, Dylan Johnson, and Sean McKeown.

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.

Have a great Monday. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim

Today, we’re switching it up.

Instead of harping on one of the five major sports in town, we’re focusing on high school level for a story of how sports saved one man, not once — but twice.

Roman Catholic head football coach Rick Prete has found joy through football. It guided him after his return from Iraq in 2009, where he served as an Army infantryman. Now, it’s healing the wounds he suffered just last year after losing his daughter in an auto accident.

But this story isn’t about how football offers an escape; it’s about how the sport has shaped Prete into a rock for the rest of his family, both immediate and the boys who give their all for him on the gridiron.

Inquirer writer Alex Coffey delivers this fantastic story for your reading pleasure. We’ll caution that it’s a deep read, so get your coffee and get settled in.

That cup of Joe serves a dual purpose as it’ll hopefully warm you up, as temperatures are only supposed to creep into the high 50s across the region today.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

Editor’s note: We’re sending this morning’s Sports Daily a little late after contending with some technical challenges. We apologize for the delay.

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

❓Do you have or know a coach who was an inspiration? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Edgecombe’s big debut

The Sixers started their season off with a bang, beating the Celtics in Boston, 117-116, behind big games from Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

The Sixers appear to have a dynamic duo in the backcourt as Maxey and Edgecombe combined to produce 74 points in the season-opening win, but Joel Embiid was limited to just four points on 1-of-9 shooting.

“I’m good,” Embiid said after the game. “You know, it’s going to take a while, obviously, being on a minute restriction, playing shorter stints, it’s harder to kind of get into a rhythm. But I got to figure it out. That’s the way they got it set up.”

Edgecombe’s debut was historic. His 14 points in the opening quarter set an NBA record for the most points in the first quarter of an NBA debut, surpassing LeBron James’ 12 points in 2003. It also set a Sixers franchise record for points scored in an NBA debut.

Up next: The Sixers will host the Charlotte Hornets for their home opener on Saturday (7:30 p.m., NBCSP).

Bad things come in threes

As the Eagles kicked off preparations for the New York Giants at home this Sunday (1 p.m., Fox 29), they were noticeably down a few starters, most notably A.J. Brown.

Brown, who was left out of Wednesday’s practice, stood on the sideline in a sweatshirt alongside Dom DiSandro during the brief portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday. The reason why the Eagles target receiver is being sidelined was unknown until it was revealed he’s suffering from a hamstring injury.

He’s one of three starters listed as Cam Jurgens (knee) and Adoree’ Jackson (concussion) were also inactive participants. Olivia Reiner has more on Brown and what happens next.

What we’re …

🏀 Wondering: How Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey is (mentally) preparing for the 2025-26 season.

📚 Reading: How Sam Coffey added honorary Philadelphian to her role as U.S. women’s national soccer team midfielder.

😲 Taking in: What Sixers legend Allen Iverson had to say on the latest edition of New Heights.

🏈 Learning: That on the same day he guided Temple to its most wins in quite some time, K.C. Keeler earned his 275th win in college football.

🗣️ Reviewing: What national media pundits are saying about the Sixers.

‘Tipp’ of the iceberg

Owen Tippett’s talent has never been up for debate. The 26-year-old winger combines breathtaking speed, a heavy shot, and tremendous power all into a 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame.

But while Tippett has established himself as a solid NHL player and has hinted at an even higher ceiling since being acquired for Claude Giroux in 2022, he has yet to take the step that many expected, frustrating at times with his inconsistency.

That might be changing, as the power forward is off to a scintillating start with five goals in six games under Rick Tocchet. Tippett has been a tempo setter on the ice for the Flyers this season, but as Jackie Spiegel writes, that’s not the only place where he’s taken on added responsibility this season.

Phillies’ infield outlook for 2026

While the Phillies are poised for some roster changes in 2026, at the moment, it doesn’t seem like those will occur in the infield.

The Phillies’ outfield has been a revolving door for the past few seasons, but the infield continues to run it back. And according to Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, that seems to be the plan again. At least, for now.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t questions for that group — and the prospects who could be part of the future — going into 2026.

Let’s talk ball

Basketball is back. The Sixers are back. That means Gina Mizell and Keith Pompey breakdown what to expect this season — from roster shakeups to playoff hopes — on Gameday Central, your courtside seat to all things Sixers. Watch here.

On this date

Oct. 23, 1964: Philly boxing legend Joe Frazier won the Olympic heavyweight gold medal at the Summer Games in Tokyo following a defeat of German boxer Hans Huber.

David Murphy’s take

“The Sixers have figured out the key to a stress-free life. You can’t let anybody down if they don’t have any expectations.” Read more from David Murphy right here.

What you’re saying about the Sixers

We asked: Can the Sixers be successful without Embiid and/or George playing every game?

It’s sad, but … given past performances, the poor souls will again probably spend more time playing in the sick bay over in [Camden, New] Jersey than any moments on the court at Wells Fargo. Best we focus on building a new team by 2030 when B-ball is expected to return in Philly. — John B.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Alex Coffey, Jeff Neiburg, David Murphy, Gina Mizell, Keith Pompey, Lochlahn March, Gabriela Carroll, Ariel Simpson, Jonathan Tannenwald, and Colin Schofield.

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.

Have a great day, Philly. We’re back tomorrow to get you ready for the weekend. — Kerith

As the Dodgers prepare to open defense of their World Series title on Friday against the Blue Jays, Phillies fans are forced to look ahead to next season. (Unless they want to see more of the all-time greatness that is Shohei Ohtani, who is certainly worth watching.)

There will be changes next season, for sure. Nick Castellanos is not expected to be back, and there’s a chance the Phillies could have an entirely new outfield. Alec Bohm is sure to hear more trade rumors. Also, it is unlikely that the team will bring back both Kyle Schwarber and Ranger Suárez, two free agents.

So who will stay and who will be gone by the time the Phillies open the 2026 season on March 26 against the Texas Rangers? Phillies beat writers Scott Lauber and Lochlahn March have made their decisions and now it’s time to make your picks. Join us for a round of Stay or Go. Finding it hard to decide? We’ll show you how other Inquirer readers have voted so far and what we think the team will do.

(To those Sports Daily readers who thought Rob Thomson should move on: The Phillies brass voted Stay on that one, as you know.)

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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

❓Should the Phillies follow through on an Alec Bohm trade this offseason? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

A dodging Dart

Mobile quarterbacks have given the Eagles problems this season. Patrick Mahomes scrambled for 66 yards against them in September and even Carson Wentz escaped for 28 yards on two scrambles on Sunday. Which brings us to Jaxson Dart. The Giants rookie scrambled five times for 42 yards and a touchdown in a 34-17 upset of the Birds on Oct. 9 and now the Eagles get to face him again.

Jalen Carter will be back in lineup Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field after he sat out the last meeting with the Giants, which should help. But the Eagles simply have to tackle better, writes Olivia Reiner, who examines other keys to the game as well. The Birds might have something cooking with play-action passes, but they need to keep Giants edge rusher Brian Burns in check.

Some help at edge rusher will be coming down the road for the Eagles with the addition of Brandon Graham. The veteran defensive end will come out of retirement to rejoin the team, league sources told The Inquirer.

The Eagles opened as seven-point favorites against the Giants.

In case you missed it, Saquon Barkley and the running game stayed stuck in the mud, but Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, and A.J. Brown made sure that didn’t matter, Jeff McLane writes.

A changed Embiid?

Joel Embiid has been the focal point of the Sixers’ offense for years, but the big man was singing a different tune after his preseason debut on Friday. “I’m here to help,” Embiid said after he finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and three steals against the Timberwolves. “According to a lot of your peers [in the media], I’m not even a top-100 basketball player in the league. So I guess I’ve just got to fit in and see where I can help the team win basketball games. So, if that’s playing defense and stretching the floor, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Embiid, 31, has had two knee surgeries in the last 14 months, so maybe a different approach makes sense, Keith Pompey writes.

The Sixers seem to be getting healthier heading into the season opener Wednesday at Boston. Nearly every player on the roster practiced Monday, including Embiid and Paul George.

Goals aplenty

Owen Tippett and Tyson Foerster each scored two goals in the Flyers’ 5-2 victory over the Kraken, handing Seattle its first regulation loss of the season.

Coach Rick Tocchet gave Egor Zamula another chance to play against the Kraken.

‘The real deal’

Villanova offered a sneak peek at new coach Kevin Willard’s Wildcats in a 70-51 exhibition win against Virginia Commonwealth. VCU coach Phil Martelli Jr., a guy with some Big 5 chops, was impressed.

“That Lewis kid is the real deal,” Martelli said of freshman guard Acaden Lewis, who scored 15 points. “He’s going to be a problem for a lot of people.”

Sports snapshot

• Women’s World Cup: The U.S. launched a bid for the 2031 edition along with Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Philadelphia is in the mix as a host city.
• Turning a corner: “We’re a good football team,” Temple coach K.C. Keeler says, and now the Owls believe it.
• Season over: Cheltenham High’s football season is canceled amid an investigation into hazing.

🧠 Trivia time

Who is the Phillies’ career leader in postseason RBIs with 33? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

A) Shane Victorino

B) Ryan Howard

C) Bryce Harper

D) Chase Utley

What you’re saying about Brandon Graham

We asked: Do you think Brandon Graham should come out of retirement and join the Eagles? Among your responses:

No Brandon, don’t do it. You’re enjoying retirement and have several opportunities you’re capitalizing on. Not worth the risk of another injury. You had your time, did a great job, enjoy retirement. — Tom G.

Hard NO! Graham is an Eagles Legand who is now past his prime and was holding on faintly to make the team in the last 3 years. His health, wealth and mental capacity is in a good place. Sometimes players don’t know how to walk away and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Take the blessings you have been given and use your talents to help others throughout the community in other tangible ways. Good luck in your retirement! — William M.

Brandon Graham one of our most popular Eagles ever and 37 years old probably should not, but if the team and the medical team think he is physically fit to do so and he is truly committed then OK. Vic’s defense that is certainly not the one that made Mahomes look like a high school QB could probably use him. — Everett S.

I do not. I miss his spirit with the team, but he has had more than his share of injuries and is probably not in shape for football. He needs to enjoy his retirement in one piece. — Kathy T.

Absolutely! He and JK were invaluable in the locker room as well as on the field. — Ray G.

Yes — Richard V., Glenn P.

No — Bob L.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, Jeff McLane, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Ariel Simpson, Jonathan Tannenwald, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Dylan Johnson, Colin Schofield, and Kristen A. Graham.

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.

How many of our readers got the Dodge Dart reference? That’s all for today in Sports Daily. Thank you for reading. Bella will be at the newsletter controls on Wednesday. — Jim