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  • Sixers takeaways: A bad matchup, Joel Embiid’s mounting turnovers, and more from loss to Cavaliers

    Sixers takeaways: A bad matchup, Joel Embiid’s mounting turnovers, and more from loss to Cavaliers

    The Cleveland Cavaliers are a bad matchup for the 76ers.

    Joel Embiid is trending in the right direction, showing glimpses of his former dominant self. However, the 2023 MVP and seven-time All-Star must take better care of the ball.

    And the Sixers can’t kick the injury bug.

    Sixers mailbag: Will Joel Embiid make the All-Star Game? Will Jared McCain be here after the trade deadline?

    Those things stood out in Wednesday’s 133-107 loss to the Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Bad matchup

    The Sixers (22-17) have a Big Three in Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, along with a stellar rookie in VJ Edgecombe. But the Cavs (23-19) are blessed with two lethal scorers in guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, and defensive-minded 7-footers Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

    That’s a tough combination for the Sixers, who have lost two straight and five of their last six meetings against Cleveland.

    Mitchell had a game-high 35 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists while being a game-best plus-29 in 33 minutes, 18 seconds. He also torched the Sixers for 46 points on Nov. 5. Garland had 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting along with three rebounds and seven assists before exiting the game with a right foot injury in the third quarter.

    The Sixers’ Paul George (left) goes up for a shot while being defended by Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen on Wednesday night.

    Mobley added 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting to go with six assists and game-highs of 13 rebounds and four blocks, while Allen had 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting to go with five rebounds and two assists.

    The Cavs had six double-figure scorers, held a 52-42 rebounding advantage, and led by as many as 30 points. Their 41 assists were the most allowed by the Sixers this season.

    Cleveland also held Maxey to 14 points on 5-for-16 shooting. The All-NBA caliber point guard missed six of his eight three-point attempts and was a game-worst minus-22 in 31 minutes, 11 seconds. With the game out of reach, Maxey sat out the fourth quarter.

    The Cavs are a tough matchup for Philly due to their towering frontcourt and elite defense, anchored by Mobley. Mitchell’s ability to take over a game also keeps the Sixers on their heels. And when you focus on stopping him, Garland usually takes advantage.

    Sixers’ Dominick Barlow leaves Cavaliers game with back contusion

    If there’s a knock on Cleveland, it’s the team’s lack of consistency. But the Cavs usually come to play against the Sixers.

    The Sixers will get an opportunity for revenge when the teams meet again here on Friday night.

    “They are a good team,” George said. “They’ve been together for a while. They’re a challenge with their size and their guard play. They’re a tough team.

    “So absolutely [excited] to get a chance to play them again. It’s a test for us. And you know, see how we respond.”

    Embiid’s high turnovers

    Embiid averaged 28.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks in his last 11 games entering Wednesday. The 7-2 center then finished with 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting to go with four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in just 24:57.

    The 10th-year veteran is moving better than at the start of the season. He is, once again, attacking the rim, jumping more, and providing a stronger defensive presence. But if there’s been a weakness, it’s been his turnovers.

    Embiid had six turnovers on Wednesday, two nights after finishing with seven against the Toronto Raptors. He has 25 turnovers in the last five games.

    On Wednesday, Embiid had four of his turnovers in the first quarter, which contributed to the Sixers’ slow start.

    “Obviously, I turned the ball over a few times, and then we just weren’t locked in from the start,” he said. “But yeah, obviously I had, like, five turnovers in that first quarter. So yeah, that’s on me.”

    Another injury

    Just when it appeared the Sixers were over the injury bug, Dominick Barlow suffered a game-ending back contusion in the third quarter.

    The power forward had to be helped to the locker room after awkwardly falling when his shot was blocked by Mobley 1:11 into the second half.

    Sixers appreciate two-game sets, a scheduling quirk that offers ‘small preview’ of playoffs

    Coach Nick Nurse said Barlow’s X-ray was negative.

    “The next thing,” Nurse added, “would lead to an MRI [Thursday], probably, just to make sure.”

    But Wednesday’s game began as just the fifth time this season in which all of the Sixers’ key players were available.

    And that was only because Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford returned from lengthy injuries on Jan. 7. Before that night, the Sixers hadn’t had all of their players available since December 2023.

    The Sixers’ Dominick Barlow left Wednesday’s game with a back contusion.

    “Yeah, it is [tough], you know,” George said. “But I think the beauty of it all is we’ve done and dealt with it so much over a two-year span that I think for this group, nothing seems to surprise us in that way. We have to be ready. The next guy has to be ready, and so all we can do is try to continue to move to get a better team and hold it down until Dom comes back.”

    Barlow had two points on 1-for-3 shooting and two rebounds in 8:04 of playing time before suffering the injury.

    Donovan Mitchell scores 35 as Cavs blow out the Sixers, 133-107

    Barlow, a fourth-year veteran on a two-way contract, entered Wednesday’s game averaging career highs of 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.

    He was the glue guy while starting alongside George, Embiid, Maxey, and Edgecombe.

    “Dom is a big piece for us … It’s another gut punch, man, that somebody else goes down,” George said. “Soon as we finally start to get healthy, and there’s some consistency with the starting group. It’ll be another starting group come Friday. So, that has been a challenge.”

  • Dan Vladař injured, Flyers’ skid reaches four after 5-2 loss to Sabres

    Dan Vladař injured, Flyers’ skid reaches four after 5-2 loss to Sabres

    BUFFALO ― They say when it rains, it pours.

    And while it was raining and sleeting outside the KeyBank Center in Western New York for most of the game, it was stormy inside for the Flyers, too.

    Handed a 5-2 loss by the Buffalo Sabres, extending their losing streak to a season-high four games, the Flyers also lost two key players in the process — although Jamie Drysdale returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury.

    Rasmus Ristolainen didn’t even make it onto the ice for warmups. The defenseman was a full participant and was on the point for one of the power-play units during morning skate, but did not dress for the game. He is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

    Jamie Drysdale returns but Flyers lose Rasmus Ristolainen before Sabres game to an upper-body injury

    Goalie Dan Vladař got the start but did not return after the first period with an undisclosed injury. According to the Flyers, he will be re-evaluated after the game. Coach Rick Tocchet did not have an update when he spoke postgame.

    On the first Sabres goal in the first period, during a power play, it appeared that Vladař moved awkwardly when he wasn’t sure where a missed shot by Josh Doan went. He was slow to get up and was able to reset, but Rasmus Dahlin beat him from the point with Jason Zucker setting a screen.

    It was just the second shot of the game for the Sabres. Buffalo then scored on its fourth shot. Mattias Samuelsson, the son of former Flyers defenseman Kjell Samuelsson, made it 2-0 with a sweeping snap shot from the inside of the right circle. The goal came after Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras had a two-on-one but lost the puck in the neutral zone to Doan.

    “I think right from the start, I think we maybe respected them a bit too much,” forward Owen Tippett said. “Few of those guys, you kind of have to play hard and take their time and space away. I think some penalties crept in that might have ended up hurting us, too. But, yeah, at the end of the day, I think we just need to be ready to play right from the start.”

    Vladař allowed two goals on five shots. Sam Ersson entered at the start of the second period and allowed two goals on six shots in the middle frame.

    Buffalo’s Jack Quinn made it 3-0 when he was left alone in front as the Flyers’ defense collapsed. Ryan McLeod got the puck behind the net and fed the open Quinn for a quick shot past Ersson.

    Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson replaced Dan Vladar in the second period and allowed two goals.

    The Sabres’ power play, which entered the game ranked 22nd in the NHL and had one goal in the last 21 opportunities dating back to Dec. 21, got its second on the man advantage off the stick of Dahlin, too.

    Dahlin got the puck above the circles, walked down, and sent a wrister past Ersson with Zucker atop the crease again. The Flyers’ penalty kill fell into the box setup, which allowed Dahlin the time and space to skate down the middle to make it 4-1.

    “Yeah, just really disappointed, like, I’m pretty disappointed,” said Tocchet. “I’m a PK guy, and the reads that we gave them weren’t good. They’re just unacceptable for me, so we’re going to have to tidy that up.”

    The penalty kill went 4-for-6. The Flyers’ power play had chances, too, but only capitalized on one of five opportunities.

    Philly got an early power play when Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen wrapped his arms around Christian Dvorak as he tried to corral the puck and do a wraparound. But the Flyers’ power play is struggling, and entered the night 31st in the NHL (15.3%).

    Q&A: President Keith Jones on the Flyers’ timeline, playoff hopes, and Matvei Michkov’s development

    On the first power play, they did have two shot attempts, with Zegras’ shot forcing Luokkonen to stop it. A positive was that it looked better than Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning when it went 0-for-2 with two shot attempts, zero shots on goal, and an icing.

    After going 0-for-3, the power play finally cashed in with Zegras scoring — albeit off his skate in the third period. With the Sabres focusing on the other side of the ice, the forward crashed the net with Konecny’s pass going off his skate and past Luukkonen.

    The goal, to make it 4-2, was Zegras’ 18th of the year and seventh on the power play. Konecny now has 39 points in 44 games.

    In the second period, Tippett got the Flyers on the board to make it 3-1 with a pull-and-shoot.

    The forward started the play when he deflected a pass by Dahlin near his own blue line that was intended for Tage Thompson diagonally at the Flyers’ blue line. The puck bounced to Noah Cates, who sent it up to Tippett, and he used Samuelsson as a screen.

    Flyers right wing Owen Tippett scored his 15th goal of the season against the Sabres on Wednesday night.

    The goal is Tippett’s sixth in the past 12 games. Postgame, he gave Nikita Grebenkin — who was on his line for the first time this season — credit for driving through the defense and creating a bit of a distraction on his goal.

    “I think if you have that guy going to the net, it kind of switches things up,” Tippett said. “At that point, you just want to try and create as much as you can and try and impact the game and crawl back. So, yeah, obviously, whenever I have a chance, I’m going to try and shoot. But that one worked out being a good opportunity.”

    It’s hard to gauge when things went off the rails, as the Flyers put up shots quickly. And things would have probably gone differently if Luukkonen hadn’t committed highway robbery on Grebenkin 6 minutes, 5 seconds into the game.

    Tippett drew the attention of the Sabres’ goalie and sent a backhand pass over to a wide-open Grebenkin at the right post. A left-handed shot, Grebenkin attempted a shot off the pass, but Luukkonen flashed the leather and stole a sure goal.

    Rick Tocchet wants the scuffling Flyers to simplify: ‘We’re going to have to really dummy it down a little bit’

    The Flyers had a six-on-four power play chance with 2:15 left in the game with Ersson pulled, but were unable to score. McLeod added a short-handed empty-net goal.

    “I don’t know,” Zegras said when asked what went wrong. “I just think maybe we’ve got to get like, our spark, our mojo back a little bit. We just got to, I guess, reboot our brains a little bit, and know that it’s a hard league, and that you’re going to go through these tough stretches, and that’s part of it.

    “And we’re a pretty young team, and I know we have played well up to this point, but we haven’t really accomplished a whole lot. Got to keep the foot on the pedal and just keep going.”

    Breakaways

    The Flyers had 22 shots on goal and allowed 14. … Noah Juulsen had a shot go off the post with 9:58 left in the third period. … Forward Denver Barkey was a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career.

    Up next

    The Flyers get right back to it on Thursday in Pittsburgh, facing the Penguins (7 p.m., ESPN), who have lost three straight.

  • Donovan Mitchell scores 35 as Cavs blow out the Sixers, 133-107

    Donovan Mitchell scores 35 as Cavs blow out the Sixers, 133-107

    Donovan Mitchell had 35 points and nine assists, Darius Garland scored 20 points before leaving with an injured foot and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the 76ers 133-107 on Wednesday night.

    Garland was ruled out for the game late in the third quarter when he hurt his right foot diving for a loose ball. Garland already had surgery in June on the injured left big toe that hampered him during Cleveland’s exit from the playoffs last season.

    The All-Star guard averaged 17.9 points after a slow start this season as he recovered from surgery. Garland continued his recent hot streak and shot 8-for-13 against the Sixers.

    Sixers’ Dominick Barlow leaves Cavaliers game with back contusion

    Joel Embiid scored 20 points and hit a three-pointer that helped him reach 13,000 career points, the seventh player in team history to hit that mark.

    Paul George had 17 points for the Sixers in the opener of a two-game series.

    Sixers fans booed the team off the court in the third quarter headed into a timeout and trailing 75-53.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid (center) scored his 13,000th point against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

    Tyrese Maxey and Quintin Grimes hit a pair of threes during a 10-0 run and Embiid — who just earlier landed his 7-foot-2 frame on two rows of unsuspecting fans when he dove for a loose ball — buried a three of his own that made it 79-66.

    The good times were short-lived, and fans headed for the exits as the Cavs stretched the lead to 22 midway through the fourth.

    Sixers forward Dominick Barlow needed help up from the court and into the locker room after his legs gave out on him and he landed hard on his back and head on a driving layup attempt. He suffered a back contusion.

    Sixers appreciate two-game sets, a scheduling quirk that offers ‘small preview’ of playoffs

    De’Andre Hunter hit early threes that stretched Cleveland’s lead to 30-14 and 60-47 headed into halftime. Hunter and Evan Mobley both scored 17 points. Mobley grabbed 13 rebounds.

    The teams play again Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena (7 p.m., ESPN).

  • Sixers’ Dominick Barlow leaves Cavaliers game with back contusion

    Sixers’ Dominick Barlow leaves Cavaliers game with back contusion

    Dominick Barlow had to be helped to the locker room after awkwardly falling when his shot was blocked by Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Evan Mobley, 1 minute, 11 seconds into the second half.

    The 76ers’ forward was diagnosed with a back contusion and did not return.

    He had two points on 1-for-3 shooting and two rebounds in 8:04 of playing time before suffering the injury. The team would suffer a major loss if he were forced to miss considerable time. He has been the Sixers’ glue guy in the starting lineup while grabbing rebounds and playing solid defense.

    Sixers appreciate two-game sets, a scheduling quirk that offers ‘small preview’ of playoffs

    Barlow also missed nine games earlier this season with a right-elbow laceration.

    The fourth-year veteran, who’s on a two-way contract, entered Wednesday’s game averaging career highs of 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.

  • Sixers appreciate two-game sets, a scheduling quirk that offers ‘small preview’ of playoffs

    Sixers appreciate two-game sets, a scheduling quirk that offers ‘small preview’ of playoffs

    When the 76ers blew two late leads Sunday in their 116-115 overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors, they didn’t have to wait long to get revenge.

    The teams met the next night, on the same floor, with the Sixers beating the Raptors, 115-102.

    Then on Wednesday, the Sixers hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first of a pair of home games at Xfinity Mobile Arena. They will square off again on Friday.

    Inside Sixers: Kyle Lowry’s Toronto curtain call, Joel Embiid’s All-Star push and more from a 2-1 road trip

    These quick two-game series are part of a scheduling change the NBA implemented several seasons ago that has teams periodically playing consecutive games against the same opponent in the same location to reduce travel.

    “It kind of gives you a small preview of what the playoffs look like, having to beat a team and go out and do it again the next night or whenever you play,” Sixers power forward Dominick Barlow said Wednesday after shootaround.

    Coach Nick Nurse added that it does keep you on the same team for a few days in a row.

    “So it gives you a chance to maybe look at your team a little more in depth over those days,” he said, “because you’re not sprinting to the next prep session or whatever as much.”

    Sixers forward Dominick Barlow is a fan of the two-game series.

    Nurse is fine with this format. It’s something he experienced frequently while coaching in the NBA G League.

    Barlow feels this forces players to be ready, physically and mentally.

    “You play a team twice, they are going to know your tendencies a little bit better,” he said. “They have a scouting report. So I think it’s good.”

    Home sweet home

    The two games against Cleveland begin a six-game homestand for the Sixers. In all, they’ll play nine of their next 10 games at home.

    They’ll have a back-to-back against the Indiana Pacers (Monday) and Phoenix Suns (Tuesday) before entertaining the Houston Rockets on Jan. 22 and the New York Knicks on Jan. 24. After traveling to Charlotte to face the Hornets on Jan. 26, the Sixers will entertain the Milwaukee Bucks the next night before closing out the month with home games against the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 29 and the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 31.

    “I like it,” Barlow said of this stretch of home games. Playing at Xfinity Mobile Arena “kind of reminds me of playing outside as a kid. … The crowd, they are just passionate, and they care. If you are not playing well, they’ll let you know. If you are playing well and doing what you are supposed to do, they love you. That’s what I grew up on. So I like it.”

    He is also excited to be home after playing eight of the last 10 games on the road. It gives him a chance to go home after the game instead of traveling to a new city and checking into hotel rooms.

    “It’s probably good for everybody,” he said.

    Bunched-up standings

    The Sixers headed into Wednesday’s game with a 22-16 record and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. They were a half-game behind the fourth-place Raptors (24-17), 1½ games behind third-place Boston Celtics, and 2½ games behind the second-place New York Knicks. However, the Sixers were only 1½ games ahead of the seventh-place Cavs (22-19).

    “I try to look at it just from a competitive standpoint,” Barlow said of keeping up with the standings. “But I try not to get too wrapped up in it, because we’ve got to control what we can control. When you look at that sometimes, you start to worry about when other teams are losing. We’ve got to worry about us winning.”

  • U.S. set to suspend visa processing for dozens of countries months from the World Cup, including Brazil

    U.S. set to suspend visa processing for dozens of countries months from the World Cup, including Brazil

    Editor’s note: Updated to reflect that the ban, for now, does not affect travel or business visas.

    The State Department will suspend processing visas for people from dozens of countries, according to a person familiar with the matter, in what marks one of the Trump administration’s most extreme moves in its immigration crackdown.

    A department memo says the US is freezing visa processing indefinitely for 75 countries, including Brazil and Nigeria, according to the person, who asked not to be identified discussing a document that hasn’t been made public. Citizens from some of the included countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia already have little chance of getting a visa. But the move will be a shock for people coming from other nations on the list.

    Fox News Digital reported the move earlier Wednesday. The move shuts the door to new travelers to the US for more than a third of the world’s nearly 200 countries, upending work and vacation plans. It comes about five months before the US co-hosts the World Cup, when hundreds of thousands of overseas visitors are expected.

    According to the U.S. Department of State, the ban will not affect tourist or business visas, which are classified as non-immigrant visas.

    The move comes after Trump threatened further visa restrictions after an Afghan national shot two National Guard troops in Washington late last year. He’s also moved to end deportation protections for Somalis amid a broader deportation push in Minnesota, home to thousands of people from the country.

    “The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement Wednesday.

    According to the Fox report, consular officers have been directed to refuse visa applications until screening and vetting procedures are reassessed. The pause goes into effect Jan. 21, it said.

    The Trump administration had already imposed far stricter rules on top of a visa-screening process that has for years been among the most stringent in the world. Last year, the administration ordered officers to scrutinize applicants’ social-media profiles for signs of anti-US views.

  • Jamie Drysdale returns but Flyers lose Rasmus Ristolainen before Sabres game to an upper-body injury

    Jamie Drysdale returns but Flyers lose Rasmus Ristolainen before Sabres game to an upper-body injury

    BUFFALO ― Jamie Drysdale is back. But Rasmus Ristolainen is out.

    Drysdale was activated off injured reserve after morning skate Wednesday and is back in the lineup. He suffered an upper-body injury in the Flyers’ win on Jan. 6 against his former team, the Anaheim Ducks, after absorbing a high hit well away from the puck by forward Ross Johnston.

    Without him in the lineup, the Flyers lost three straight, including two in a row to the Tampa Bay Lightning, in which they were outscored by 12-3. Getting the fleet-of-foot defenseman, who is having a breakout year on the defensive side of the puck, back in the lineup is a big lift.

    Q&A: President Keith Jones on the Flyers’ timeline, playoff hopes, and Matvei Michkov’s development

    “Oh, man, he has such an impact on our back end. He plays with speed. He helps our offense, so it’ll be good to have him back,” said forward Travis Konecny, who added he is good to go after dealing with his own ailments, including an upper-body injury, a lower-body injury, and a good slash to the leg on Monday.

    But now they have to get back on track without Ristolainen, who was not on the ice for warmups before the Flyers faced the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. The team announced he is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He was a full participant at morning skate and was on the point for one of the power-play units.

    It’s another unfortunate setback for the 31-year-old blueliner. He returned to the Flyers lineup on Dec. 16 in Montreal after missing the start of the season and the end of last season after undergoing surgery on a right triceps tendon rupture in late March. It followed a pair of procedures in 2024, which also repaired a ruptured triceps tendon. Flyers general manager Danny Brière said last April that the injury was similar, although he wouldn’t confirm whether he suffered a torn tendon again.

    In 13 games this season, Ristolainen has three assists and a plus-minus of minus-3 while averaging 20 minutes, 59 seconds a game.

    Before the announcement, Rick Tocchet was planning on shaking up his defensive pairings because, “I think during the season maybe things get stale [so] you want to move it around stuff,“ he said.

    Ristolainen would have been paired alongside Travis Sanheim and Drysdale with his good buddy Cam York. The other pairing would have been Nick Seeler and Emil Andrae. Instead, York and Sanheim remain together, Drysdale is back with Andrae, and Seeler will skate with Noah Juulsen.

    Jamie Drysdale (left) and Cam York are close friends and will get a chance Wednesday to be paired together.

    Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale lands on injured reserve; Travis Konecny and Bobby Brink are day-to-day

    Barkey sits

    Although Bobby Brink was not on the ice for morning skate and is expected to miss his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury, Denver Barkey will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday.

    “He just played junior last year, so I think it’s important that he gets a little bit of a break,” Tocchet said. “I told him work out this morning, and go watch the game up top [in the press box]. I think that’s important for young guys to go watch, it slows the game down up top.”

    “I think it’s important that even the young guys go up there and just take a look at it. Well, it looks easy up top. It looks a lot slower,” Tocchet said.

    “Obviously, on the ice, it’s different. But you can learn from up top. I think it’s important that he does that. I’ll go the next day [and say], ‘What did you see?’ It’s almost like a homework assignment. … He’s a pretty smart kid. … That’s why he was drafted, for his hockey IQ.”

    Rick Tocchet thinks rookie Denver Barkey can benefit from a break and watching the game from up in the press box.

    Barkey has one goal and three points across 11 games since being called up and recording two assists in his NHL debut on Dec. 20. He has struggled the last two games and had the puck stolen by Brayden Point ahead of Nikita Kucherov’s first goal on Saturday and Nick Paul’s goal later in the game.

    Breakaways

    Dan Vladař (16-7-4, 907 save percentage) will start in goal. He is 2-1-1 with a .902 save percentage in four career games against Buffalo.

    Flyers prospect Carter Amico leaves Boston University, will play in the USHL
  • Jason Kelce clarifies Kevin Patullo comments, reacts to his removal, says Eagles need a ‘proven’ replacement

    Jason Kelce clarifies Kevin Patullo comments, reacts to his removal, says Eagles need a ‘proven’ replacement

    In the latest episode of New Heights, former Eagles center Jason Kelce laid out his reaction to what he called a “very frustrating game and season” for Philadelphia.

    A shaky 2025 campaign for the Eagles offense ended with Kevin Patullo’s removal as offensive coordinator on Tuesday. Kelce used Wednesday’s podcast episode to clarify some of the comments he made earlier in the week while speaking in his analyst role on Monday Night Football. On the broadcast, he defended Patullo as “a great coach” while anticipating his dismissal.

    Here’s what you missed from this week’s New Heights …

    Replacing Patullo

    Kelce, who spent 13 seasons with the Eagles, played under Patullo after he became the team’s passing game coordinator in 2021. A year after Kelce’s retirement in 2024, Patullo was promoted to offensive coordinator for this season.

    “The expectations [for the offense] should be much higher than what they put out this season,” Kelce said. “I know I made some comments on Monday Night Football, and I do love Kevin Patullo. I’m not trying to absolve him of blame. … The offense wasn’t up to the task this year. It regressed. The main reason it regressed was the run game, and the offensive line’s inability to stay healthy, and to open up holes.”

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    While removing Patullo as coordinator was one of the franchise’s first moves after Sunday’s 23-19 playoff loss to the 49ers, Kelce suggested that players should also take accountability for the disappointing finale.

    “It’s one of the highest-paid offenses in the NFL, and they were mediocre across the board,” Kelce said, echoing some of his comments from Monday. “The bottom line is this offense didn’t live up to what it should have. Patullo, as the offensive coordinator, bears responsibility, and so do the players. …

    “I don’t think it’s ever fair to just throw it on one guy. Jalen [Hurts] said it after the game: Right now isn’t the time to put it on any one person.”

    Former Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo talks with quarterback Jalen Hurts (left) and wide receiver A.J. Brown during Sunday’s wild-card loss to the 49ers.

    Without naming any names, Kelce also recommended that the Eagles look to more experienced coaching candidates to replace Patullo.

    “It would probably behoove the Eagles to bring in somebody with a fresh perspective on where it’s at currently,” Kelce said. “When you’re in it, you’re thinking about how you’ve had success in the past. When you bring in somebody else, we can bring in some fresh ideas and find ways to maximize things.

    “I don’t think it needs to be anything that drastic. We probably want somebody who’s been proven offensively as a successful coach, and he could come in and look at things under a new lens with a lot of similar pieces.”

    The two seasons the Eagles went to the Super Bowl under Nick Sirianni, they had offensive coordinators with experience at the position: Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore, both of whom were hired as head coaches the following year.

    After embarrassing Kevin Patullo pile-on, Eagles must make Mike McDaniel their main OC target | David Murphy

    Credit to the defense

    One of few positive reflections Kelce had on the Eagles’ season was on their sturdy defense, offering praise for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

    “Defensively, they played great,” Kelce said. “In [the wild-card] game, they want some plays back, but they overcame so much. If you look at the difference between their pay, I think it’s the lowest-paid defense in the NFL, and their production, it is absolutely insane.

    “Vic Fangio and the entire staff of the defense has done a phenomenal job.”

    Viral 11-year-old Eagles fan Sam Salvo wanted Kevin Patullo flipping burgers. Now he says ‘it worked.’

    ‘No Dumb Questions’

    Also on the podcast, Jason and Travis Kelce announced their upcoming book, No Dumb Questions. It will be the brothers’ first published book, coming out on June 2. They also announced new New Heights merchandise, an Amazon shop called the Kelce Clubhouse, and more.

  • Sizing up Temple’s most impactful departures and arrivals in football’s transfer portal

    Sizing up Temple’s most impactful departures and arrivals in football’s transfer portal

    As college football has evolved with Name, Image, and Likeness, the transfer portal has moved to the forefront of the offseason for teams. It allows teams to rebuild rosters quickly by filling needs for college players who are looking for a fresh start.

    Temple has taken advantage of the portal to refresh its team in recent years, rostering at least 30 transfers in each of the last three seasons. Some of those transfers gained significant roles and became critical players.

    However, the transfer portal also gave former Owls the chance to leave the program and play elsewhere. Temple lost important transfers, including a few who turned into NFL players.

    Let’s break down some of the most impactful players to transfer in and out of Temple in the last few years.

    Transferred in

    Evan Simon
    Temple quarterback Evan Simon moves out of the pocket against Navy on Oct. 11, 2025.

    Simon spent the last two seasons at quarterback and helped lead the Owls to their best season in half a decade.

    The Lancaster County native spent the first four years of his career at Rutgers, where he threw five touchdowns and seven interceptions. Simon entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season and landed at Temple to compete for the starting job.

    Simon lost the job to Forrest Brock out of training camp, but he took over in Week 3 of the 2024 season and never looked back. He started the final nine games and passed for 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Simon chose to return to Temple in 2025 and put together an even better season.

    Evan Simon became a true starting QB in his final year of college, and it’s a year he won’t forget.

    After beating out Oregon State transfer Gevani McCoy in training camp, Simon led Temple to a 5-7 record, its most wins since 2019. He passed for 2,097 yards and 25 touchdowns, the most in a season in Temple history, and had two interceptions. He also tied the program record for passing touchdowns in a game with six against UMass on Aug. 30.

    Simon leaves the Owls eighth in passing yards in program history with 4,129, and tied for fifth in career touchdowns with 40.

    Rock Ya-Sin
    Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown attempts to catch the ball against coverage by Detroit’s Rock Ya-Sin on Nov. 16.

    Ya-Sin joined Temple as a transfer cornerback in 2018 before NIL changed how players and programs view the portal.

    He spent his first three years at FCS Presbyterian College in South Carolina but chose to transfer after the program announced it would move down to Division II. Ya-Sin played one season at Temple, but he made his mark.

    Ya-Sin earned a prestigious single-digit jersey number before the season. He racked up 47 tackles, two interceptions, and a team-high 12 pass breakups as the Owls finished 8-4.

    Rock Ya-Sin showed Temple that he could hit the ground running

    The Indianapolis Colts selected him 34th overall in the 2019 NFL draft. Ya-Sin has played for five teams in seven seasons in the NFL, most recently with the Detroit Lions in 2025, when he had 47 tackles and nine passes defended.

    Maddux Trujillo
    Temple kicker Maddux Trujillo during the Owls’ pro day on March 27, 2025.

    While few positives emerged from Temple’s 2024 season, in which Stan Drayton was fired, Trujillo was one of the bright spots.

    Trujillo spent three years at FCS Austin Peay, where he made 38 field goals. He transferred to Temple and took over as its main placekicker.

    He made 16 of his 22 field goal attempts and converted all 21 point-after attempts. Trujillo made headlines in Temple’s 45-29 win against Utah State on Sept. 21, 2024, when he made a 64-yard field, the longest ever at Lincoln Financial Field. He made five field goals from 50 yards or longer.

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    Trujillo went undrafted in 2025 but latched on with the Colts to compete for their starting kicker spot. He lost the job to Spencer Shrader and was later cut from the team.

    He spent the 2025 season as a free agent and most recently signed a reserve/futures contract with the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 6.

    Dante Wright
    Temple receiver Dante Wright against Army on Sept. 26, 2024.

    Wright was a productive wide receiver from 2019-22 at Colorado State before transferring to Temple for the 2023 season. He became an impactful weapon in the passing game during his two years with the Owls.

    He had 39 catches for 507 yards and four touchdowns during his first year with the program in 2023, then became the go-to receiver in 2024.

    Wright hauled in 61 catches for 792 yards and six touchdowns. He went undrafted in 2025 but earned an invitation to the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie minicamp. Wright did not stick with the Chiefs and was a free agent this season.

    Transferred out

    Ray Davis
    Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis runs the ball against the New England Patriots.

    Davis joined Temple as a running back out of Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J., and showed immediate promise as a freshman in 2019. Then known as Re’Mahn Davis, he rushed for 936 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 181 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He had more than 100 rushing yards in three games and appeared to be a building block for the Owls.

    However, he played just four games in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, when he rushed for 323 yards on 78 carries. Davis entered the transfer portal following the season and joined Vanderbilt.

    Davis played three games in 2021 before truly breaking out for the Commodores in 2022. He had 1,042 rushing yards and five touchdowns, adding three more on receptions. Davis entered the portal again after the 2022 season and went to Kentucky for his final year.

    Former Temple running back Ray Davis hopes to grow into a larger role with the Buffalo Bills

    He had his best season with the Wildcats, compiling 1,129 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, and seven receiving touchdowns. His 21 total touchdowns were the most in a season in Kentucky history and he earned first-team All-SEC honors.

    The Bills selected Davis in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. He earned a first-team All-Pro selection this season as a kick returner.

    Arnold Ebiketie
    Atlanta Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie sacks Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett on Dec. 21.

    Ebiketie played defensive end for Temple from 2017-20, serving as a rotational player for his first three seasons before breaking out in 2020.

    He recorded 42 tackles, 8½ tackles for losses, four sacks, and three forced fumbles. Ebiketie earned second-team all-American Athletic Conference honors and decided to enter the portal for his redshirt senior season.

    Ebiketie had a standout year at Penn State, racking up 17 tackles for losses and 9½ sacks. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media. The Atlanta Falcons drafted him in the second round in 2022 and he has recorded 16½ sacks in four NFL seasons.

    Kobe Wilson
    SMU linebacker Kobe Wilson makes a tackle against Temple, his former team, on Oct. 20, 2023.

    Wilson joined Temple in 2020 as a linebacker out of Parkview High School in Georgia, and he spent three seasons with the Owls.

    Wilson became a regular contributor on defense, totaling 124 tackles and 11½ tackles for losses. He entered the portal after the 2022 season and landed at Southern Methodist, Temple’s conference foe at the time.

    He turned into one of the Mustangs’ top players over two seasons. In 2023, Wilson had 80 tackles and an interception. He had 117 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions in the next season. He earned second-team All-AAC honors in 2024 for an SMU team that appeared in the College Football Playoff. Wilson did not receive an NFL opportunity in 2025.

    Christian Braswell
    Jaguars cornerback Christian Braswell tackles Detroit’s Trinity Benson during a preseason game on Aug. 19, 2023.

    Braswell was a rotational cornerback from 2018-20 at Temple, where he recorded 61 tackles, three interceptions, and 16 passes defended. The Washington native entered the portal after the 2020 season and committed to Rutgers.

    He did not see game action in 2021, but the next season, Braswell had five starts and recorded three interceptions and 37 passes defended, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from Pro Football Focus.

    The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Braswell in the sixth round of the 2023 draft and he played in all 17 games this season.

  • Reports: Ex-Phillie Ranger Suárez agrees to $130 million contract with Red Sox

    Reports: Ex-Phillie Ranger Suárez agrees to $130 million contract with Red Sox

    For the first time since he was a teenager, Ranger Suárez is not a Phillie.

    The left-hander agreed to a five-year, $130 million contract with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, according to multiple reports, including the New York Post.

    The Phillies signed Suárez out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old, and he developed into an All-Star and key member of their starting rotation, known for his unflappable nature on the mound. In 2022, he threw the pitch that clinched the Phillies’ National League pennant. Suárez, 30, owns a 1.48 career postseason ERA.

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    Despite a fastball that averaged just 90.5 mph in 2025, Suárez was extremely effective at limiting hard contact, with just a 5.5% barrel rate and a 31.3% hard-hit rate.

    However, with Andrew Painter expected to compete for a rotation spot in 2026 and Suárez primed for a payday as one of the top lefties on the market, a reunion with the Phillies always seemed unlikely.

    Suárez also has past injury concerns. His 157⅓ innings in 2025 were a career high after he started the season on the injured list with back stiffness.

    Jesús Luzardo ‘really interested’ in a contract extension with the Phillies

    Now he’ll head to the American League East. The Red Sox pivoted to improving their rotation after third baseman Alex Bregman signed a five-year deal with the Chicago Cubs.

    Since Suárez declined the Phillies’ qualifying offer, they will receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round in the 2026 draft.

    Fellow left-hander Jesús Luzardo is entering his final year of team control in 2026. During an appearance this week on Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, Luzardo said he would be “really interested in” a contract extension with the Phillies.