What’s it like to be an executive at baseball’s winter meetings? Jim Duquette, a former general manager with the Mets and Orioles and now the host of a show on MLB Network Radio, puts us in the rooms where everything happens. He also discusses the Phillies’ offseason, including the chances that Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto return in free agency. It’s all on “Phillies Extra,” the baseball podcast from The Philadelphia Inquirer. Watch here.
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Winter meetings preview: The outlook for Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, a potential trade, and more
As free agents, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto are entitled to shop around for the best offers.
The Phillies have given them space.
“It’s really more their process than it is ours at this time in the sense that they set the time frame,” Dave Dombrowski said. “They know we have interest, and then it’s up to them to kind of say, ‘OK, we’re ready to move forward,’ or not, whenever that ends up happening.”
That was three weeks ago. Schwarber and Realmuto have had five weeks to browse the market. By now, they have a decent idea of what’s there for them beyond the Delaware Valley. The Phillies probably do, too.
And with the baseball world set to gather again Sunday night in Orlando for the three-day winter meetings, it might finally be time for all parties to circle back to one another. In the shadow of the Magic Kingdom, of all places, the fantasyland of rumors about which teams are curious about which players will give way to a better sense of reality about whether Schwarber and Realmuto will return or move on.
The Phillies haven’t hidden their strong desire to keep both. Even though Schwarber will be 33 and Realmuto 35, and they’re central to a team that made the playoffs four years in a row but stubbed its toe in October, Dombrowski described them as “very important” and said they “mean a lot to the organization.”
With the exception of Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, owner John Middleton hasn’t lost out on a free agent that he’s wanted since the “stupid money” winter of 2018-19. And free agents have wanted to play in Philly over the last half-decade because of the culture set by Schwarber, Realmuto, et al.
No wonder most of the industry expects Schwarber and Realmuto to find their way back to the corner of Pattison and Darien.
Phillies owner John Middleton hasn’t been outbid for many free agents over the last half-decade. But even if it feels like almost a fait accompli, the mission for their agents is to get offers that will at least drive up the price. Maybe they’ve done that. Maybe not.
Schwarber’s market is especially fascinating because it lacks most of the high-payroll teams. The Dodgers’ designated hitter is Shohei Ohtani, only the best player on the planet. The Yankees (Giancarlo Stanton) and Astros (Yordan Alvarez) are set at DH, too. George Springer had a career renaissance as a DH for the Blue Jays, who are in on seemingly every marquee free agent except Schwarber. The Cubs appear to be focused on pitching.
The Red Sox want to add a middle-of-the-order bat, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said last month, and Alex Cora loved managing Schwarber in 2021. But given their lineup’s lefty lean and Fenway Park’s dimensions, righty-hitting Pete Alonso or Alex Bregman might be better fits. And Boston doesn’t spend money like it once did, either.
The Reds’ interest in bringing Schwarber home to southwest Ohio is real, multiple sources confirmed this week. It makes sense for a young team that is rich in starting pitching but lacking power and veteran leadership. Asked in July about the prospect of being courted by his childhood team, Schwarber said this: “I think it’d be awesome.”
But the Reds intend to keep their payroll in the $120 million range, president of baseball operations Nick Krall told reporters last month, leaving them with about $20 million to spend for 2026. Schwarber figures to cost at least $30 million per year.
And even if they had the cash, spending big for free agents isn’t in the Reds’ organizational DNA. They’ve done only two nine-figure contracts in their history, and Joey Votto and Homer Bailey were extensions. Their largest free-agent contracts: Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos, both four years, $64 million.
That leaves, well, who? Various reports have linked Schwarber to the Giants and Pirates (seriously).
The Mets are “in the mix” for Schwarber, at least according to an ESPN.com report. It’s plausible as a backup plan if New York doesn’t re-sign Alonso, although president of baseball operations David Stearns emphasized run prevention as the team’s chief offseason focus. Schwarber doesn’t help there.
But the best way for Schwarber’s agents to hike the price on the Phillies might be to claim interest from the rival Mets, owned by Steve Cohen, the wealthiest man in baseball. And the Mets could attempt to gain leverage over Alonso by suggesting they’d pivot to Schwarber.
In any case, the Phillies remain the favorite in the Schwarber derby.
“You have the owner who wants him, you have Dave Dombrowski who wants him, you have the coaching staff, you have [manager] Rob Thomson, you have a fan base — everybody involved here wants [him] to be back, including Kyle — so what does it come down to?” hitting coach Kevin Long, who is close with Schwarber, said on The Inquirer’s Phillies Extra podcast. “What’s his market value, and are we willing to give him his market value? And I think the answer is yes to that.
“I think it would be devastating to this organization and this fan base and everybody involved if he wasn’t a Phillie.”
The last five weeks have been about establishing market value for Schwarber and Realmuto. Next week might finally mark the Phillies’ chance to meet it.
A few other thoughts leading into the winter meetings:
Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is once again a candidate to be traded in the offseason. Trading places
Two of the most intriguing offseason moves so far were one-for-one trades of major leaguers.
The Orioles swapped four years of control over gifted but often-injured pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for walk-year outfielder Taylor Ward. Then, the Mets dealt popular outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien in a change-the-mix move.
And there’s more to come.
‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Kevin Long on how it would be ‘devastating’ if Kyle Schwarber leaves, and moreAcross the sport, the trade market is hyperactive, multiple team officials said this week, perhaps because some clubs are wary of signing free agents to multiyear contracts amid labor uncertainty beyond 2026.
Once again, Alec Bohm‘s name will come up in the Phillies’ conversations. But they couldn’t agree on his value in trade talks last winter, and it figures to be even lower now that the third baseman is one season from free agency.
Lefty reliever Matt Strahm could be another potential chip, especially after Dombrowski volunteered in an end-of-year news conference that the veteran declined to do pitcher fielding drills before the postseason.
Rivals believe the Phillies prefer trading from their major league roster rather than the farm system after moving teenage shortstop Starlyn Caba (for Jesús Luzardo) and catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel (for Jhoan Duran) within the last calendar year. Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, and Justin Crawford are thought to be largely off limits, with Painter and Crawford ticketed for the opening-day roster and Miller close behind.
As long as the Phillies cling to that trio, it’s difficult to see them matching up with the Diamondbacks for second baseman Ketel Marte, the Red Sox for outfielder Jarren Duran, or especially the Twins for center fielder Byron Buxton, if Buxton decides to waive his no-trade clause.
But maybe there’s a trade to be made for someone like Astros center fielder Jake Meyers, a solid defender who batted .292 with a 103 OPS-plus this season and is reportedly available.
Jesús Luzardo had a big season for the Phillies after being acquired in a trade last December. Making a pitch
A year ago, the Phillies weren’t focused on starting pitching at the winter meetings. But they traded for Luzardo a few weeks later, and it wound up as their best offseason move.
Just something to keep in mind.
Because although the rotation remains the strength of the roster even amid the expected departure of free agent Ranger Suárez, there are questions. Aaron Nola is coming off an injury-interrupted season in which he posted a 6.01 ERA. Painter’s prospect shine isn’t quite as luminescent after he struggled in triple A.
Oh, and although Zack Wheeler is close to throwing a ball again, a source said this week, the recovery from thoracic outlet decompression surgery isn’t always a linear process.
Bryce Harper, Phillie for life? Scott Boras insists the star and the team are still on the same pageAnd Dombrowski, who values starting pitching as much as any executive in the sport, recently noted the drop-off after Cristopher Sánchez, Luzardo, Wheeler, Nola, Taijuan Walker, and Painter.
“We don’t have a lot of starting pitching depth, so that’s something that we have to be cognizant of,” he said. “It’s not our highest priority, but I can’t say that we wouldn’t [add another starter]. That doesn’t necessarily mean top of the market, but where does that fit in? Because you never have enough starting pitching.”
After making a bid for Yamamoto two years ago, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Phillies show interest in Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai. Or maybe they will be opportunistic in the trade market again.
One other bit of winter-meetings business: The Phillies are still looking for a bench coach. Don Mattingly remains a leading candidate, if he’s interested in returning to the dugout after leaving the Blue Jays’ staff after the World Series.
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Flyers host fourth annual Casino Night at Vie: ‘It’s a great night for a good cause’
Guests surrounded the roulette tables, lined up their chips, and prepared for a night of giving back at the fourth annual Flyers Casino Night. Each year the fundraiser invites fans to interact with players as they participate in casino-style games, making it a team-favorite event.
“It’s a great night for a good cause,” said goaltender Samuel Ersson. “It’s one of those nights you always look forward to and circle on your calendar. So it’s nice to finally be here.”
Similar to last year’s Casino Night, the event featured a silent auction that included signed memorabilia from a number of different Philly athlete of all sports — including a pair of signed Allen Iverson Reeboks — as well as trips to destination vacation spots such as Italy, Mexico, and Croatia, and plenty of signed Flyers merch.
All proceeds from the event go toward Flyers Charities, to support their mission of “creating strong communities by eliminating financial barriers and reviving play spaces to grow the game of hockey and aiding local families affected by cancer throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.”
According to Blair Listino, the president of Flyers Charities, the event continues to grow each year — adding more sponsors and even more fan activations, including a new venue, a new area for guests to get live watercolor portraits, and a spot to make their own Boxbar charm bracelets.
“Every year we try to be a little bit creative about different prizes,” said Listino, who is also CFO of Comcast Spectacor and the Flyers’ alternate governor. “And every year there’s a lot of new faces. We have a lot of new sponsors and I think it’s really exciting. It’s just showing that this event has been growing every single year and more people want to get involved.”
Jamie Drysdale shows off his new suit on the red carpet. Vie, located on Broad Street, rolled out the red carpet and players dressed to impress as they prepared to interact with fans. Flyers centers Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras arrived in Christian Dior and Ferragamo dress shoes, respectively. Meanwhile, 23-year-old defenseman Jamie Drysdale made a last-minute trip to State & Liberty on Walnut Street.
“Well, I didn’t have a black suit,” Drysdale said. “And I figured Casino Night you kind of need a darker suit — navy, black. So, I went out and got this yesterday.”
Although each player had a different red carpet look, they each shared the same answer when asked what they were looking forward to the most from the night: celebrating a good cause with fans.
“It’s awesome,” said forward Owen Tippett. “The fan interaction is a lot of fun. You get to meet all the fans that come out and support us, as well as mingle around and play games.”
Last season, through fundraising events like their Casino Night, Flyers Carnival, and Gritty 5K, Flyers Charities raised over $1.5 million.
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9 NFL draft targets for the Eagles on college football’s conference championship weekend
The Eagles currently sit at 8-4 entering Week 14 and if the season ended today, would slot into the No. 22 spot in the 2026 NFL draft.
They have aspirations to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but it’s never too early to look ahead at the next crop of draft prospects. And with a few position groups needing an upgrade or depth added, the Eagles should be keeping an eye to the future for the next crop of NFL stars.
Here are nine players the Eagles should be watching during conference championship weekend:
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
Pound-for-pound, there may not be a more explosive and physically imposing player than Reese in this draft class. Reese, a 6-foot-4, 243-pound linebacker, is a budding star with endless potential to play several roles for an NFL defense.
His closing speed, ability to rush the passer as a blitzer, along with his block-shedding strength, make him a unique player who can play at the line of scrimmage and in the middle of a defense. In his first year as a starter, he has 61 tackles (10 for loss), 6½ sacks, two pass deflections, and 23 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
He is projected as a top-five pick and might end up well out of the Eagles’ range, barring a move up. But Reese could end up in the division with the Giants or Commanders, and projects as a player who will be making plays on Sundays next year.
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
Most people who have watched Ohio State over the last two seasons know his name. Downs is the younger brother of Colts wide receiver Josh Downs and is already the higher-profile player of the pair. Caleb Downs is instinctual, savvy, and always around the ball, making tackles against the run and taking away passes over the middle of the field.
Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates against Michigan last Saturday. Because he’s a safety, Downs, who is listed at 6-0, 205 pounds, won’t be valued highly in the first round of the NFL draft. But he provides three-level support, has ball production to match (six interceptions, 18 passes defended in three years), and has shown the ability to cover tight ends and slot receivers.
Corner may be a more pressing need for the Eagles currently, but Downs is an impressive player who raises the floor of a defense. He did so at Alabama (where Downs began his career in 2023) and now at Ohio State.
Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
While all eyes will be on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, projected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 draft, the Eagles should be keeping an eye on left tackle Smith, who has allowed just one sack and six quarterback pressures this year.
Smith, who is listed at 6-5, 313 pounds, is a composed hand striker who has showcased strong grip strength as a pass blocker and can anchor down against power rushers. He also works to get his hands inside the body of defensive linemen and once he has them in his grips, they can rarely escape.
He has a tough assignment matching up against Ohio State’s defensive line, led by Kenyatta Jackson, who has 10 sacks this season. But Smith rarely gets beat in pass protection, and while his run blocking can continue to improve, he’s shown potential as a starter-level offensive lineman.
D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana
Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)
Ponds, the standout Indiana defensive back who followed head coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison to the Hoosiers, is undersized at 5-9, 173 pounds, but he more than makes up for it with his play.
Teams are not throwing his way as often this season, but he still attacks the football with ferocity and is physical at the catch point. He will have a tough task this weekend containing Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, both first-round caliber receivers. But if he has a strong game, he could quiet the size concerns that teams may have about him.
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)
There aren’t many players built like Proctor, who is 6-7, 366 pounds, and has the athleticism to catch a pass in space. The Alabama left tackle is a physical presence as a run blocker and overwhelms pass rushers with his size in pass protection.
There has been week-to-week inconsistency with his game, though. He struggles with his balance at times, and he doesn’t possess elite foot quickness, though he makes up for it with his frame and power.
Proctor’s evaluation will be interesting to watch because some teams may prefer to keep him at tackle, while others may move him to guard to take advantage of his run blocking ability. Still, Proctor is a strong prospect at a position that is top-heavy and lacks quality depth. He should be of interest to the Eagles, whether they view him as a guard or tackle.
Keon Sabb, S, Alabama
Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)
The Glassboro native Sabb, who was teammates with current Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell at IMG Academy and Alabama, has had a strong year after his 2024 season was cut short with a foot injury. He picked up where he left off last season, tallying 40 tackles (2.5 for loss), one interception, and three pass deflections.
Sabb has positional flexibility, having played some nickel at both Michigan and Alabama. He excels most in taking away routes over the middle of the field and closing on passes from safety depth. With the Eagles’ struggles in the secondary, his addition could not only provide depth but also flexibility to play multiple spots.
Georgia tight end Oscar Delp (4) has not been one of college football’s most productive players but plays an increasingly critical position. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)
The production isn’t eye-popping for Delp, who has just 17 catches and one touchdown in 2025, but the Georgia tight end’s talent is displayed in small bursts, and it’s easy to project him to outproduce his college stats in the NFL.
The 6-5, 245-pound player is a vertical threat as a pass catcher and likely won’t be a do-it-all tight end because he’s not a consistent blocker yet. But when the Bulldogs feature him in the passing game, he makes teams pay after the catch. Of his 235 receiving yards this season, 135 have come on yards after catch, according to PFF.
With the struggles the Eagles have experienced at the tight end position and an aging Dallas Goedert, it may be time to invest in a tight end via the draft. Delp brings more receiving upside but would be a nice addition to the Eagles’ tight end room.
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Texas Tech vs. BYU, Saturday (noon, 6abc)
Though he’s an undersized pass rusher, Bailey, who transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford, leads college football in pressures (70) and sacks (12½) in 2025. Possessing a quick first step, Bailey is a speed rusher who can generate immediate wins against opposing tackles on the outside track and has a speed-to-power pass rush move that is difficult to stop.
His run defense must improve, but Bailey generated pressure on true pass sets 41.8% of the time, per PFF. In a class without many top-end edge rushers, Bailey will likely be drafted early and can make an instant impact on third downs at the NFL level.
Chandler Rivers, DB, Duke
Virginia vs. Duke, Saturday (8 p.m., 6abc)
After a breakout season as a junior in 2024, Duke hybrid defensive back Rivers has continued his strong play, collecting two interceptions, eight passes defended, and one forced fumble in 12 games this season. He has aligned as both an outside corner and nickel, and has even taken snaps at safety this season.
The alluring part of his game is his coverage from multiple spots. He covers ground much better in zone coverage with his eyes reading the quarterback, is physical at the catch point, a willing tackler, and gets his hands on the football (seven interceptions, 29 passes defended in his career).
Per PFF, he has taken 530 snaps at outside corner and 148 at nickel. He projects best as a nickel since he stands at 5-10, 185 pounds, but he’s a playmaker who brings value at multiple spots in a secondary.
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Eagles vs. Chargers predictions: Our writers pick a winner for Week 14
The Eagles bring their two-game losing streak with them to sunny California for a Monday Night Football showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
It’s a matchup of 8-4 teams jockeying for playoff positioning in their respective conferences.
Who has the edge? Here’s how our writers see it …
Jeff Neiburg
No Jalen Carter against a team with one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, with the Eagles coming off a game in which they allowed 281 yards on the ground. The Eagles’ offense hasn’t produced more than 21 points in their last four games. The maligned offensive coordinator’s house was vandalized.
All signs point to a Chargers win and the continuation of an Eagles collapse that has people pointing to 2023 for a comparison, right?
The oddsmakers don’t seem to agree. The Eagles are a 2½-point favorite, according to ESPN Bet as of Thursday evening. And that feels about right.
Justin Herbert is wearing a cast on his left hand, and the Chargers have a passing attack that should play into the Eagles’ hands, as long as they’re able to stop the run and get Herbert into third-and-longs. That may seem like a big ask without Carter, and it is, but the Eagles have had a solid enough run defense for most of the season to think Vic Fangio and Co. will make sure the last performance was just a one-game blip.
The Chargers do have a good defense, particularly their pass defense. But they did give up 30 first downs and 35 points to the Jaguars just a few weeks ago, a game that included Jacksonville rushing for 192 yards.
I keep thinking each game is a get-right game for the Eagles, and while I’m not sure the offense necessarily breaks out Monday night, I expect the Eagles to do enough to win the game, especially given the potential limitations facing Herbert.
Prediction: Eagles 23, Chargers 20
Olivia Reiner
Something about this game is giving Bears 2.0 vibes.
Like the Bears, the Chargers are a team with a strong record against a favorable schedule, leaving some room for doubt about the legitimacy of their success this season.
But unlike the Bears, the Chargers are arguably more well-rounded on both sides of the ball. Herbert is one of the league’s best passers, ranking in the top five in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns since he entered the league in 2020. When Herbert is incapacitated, like he was last week with his fractured nonthrowing hand, the Chargers’ run game compensated with nearly 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The Chargers are at a disadvantage on the offensive line, as evidenced by Herbert’s third-most sacks in the league this season (38). But the Eagles will be missing one of their top defenders in Carter (shoulders), giving the Chargers a break on the interior. If Herbert is limited by his injury, the Chargers are going to want to run the ball again, and the Carter-less Eagles can’t afford a repeat of the D’Andre Swift-Kyle Monangai experience.
Darius Slay won’t report to the Bills as he contemplates retirement. Is he an option for the Eagles?Meanwhile, Hurts and the Eagles offense are set to face one of the best passing defenses in the league in the Chargers, who have only given up 168 yards through the air per game (No. 2 in the NFL).
The Eagles cannot afford to fall behind the sticks in this game due to penalties or negative plays. The Chargers will make them pay — they have 16 sacks on third down this season, which is tied for the third most in the league. The Eagles, conversely, have converted just 34.5% of their third downs, which ranks 28th.
On one hand, I find it hard to believe that this Eagles team, with all of its talent, will lose three straight games for the first time since 2023. On the other, these matchups aren’t exactly favorable for the Eagles, even with an injured Herbert factored into the equation.
Prediction: Chargers 27, Eagles 24
Matt Breen
Omarion Hampton is trending to play Monday night, giving the Chargers a two-headed rushing attack against the Eagles. Does that remind you of anything? The Eagles failed to stop the run on Black Friday as Swift and Monangai combined for 255 yards. Expect the Chargers to attack the same way, especially as Herbert is expected to play a week after surgery on his nonthrowing hand. Hampton and Kimani Vidal, who has been excellent since Hampton went on injured reserve, will be even more of a challenge thanks to the absence of Carter.
Just one team has gained more than 100 yards on the ground against the Chargers over the last five weeks so it’s hard to see this being the week that the Eagles finally get Saquon Barkley going. The best route to beat them could be through the air as Geno Smith had his highest completion percentage (78.3) of the season last week but the Chargers still won by 17. But it’s hard to express much confidence in the Birds’ aerial attack after Black Friday. This seems like a tough spot.
Prediction: Chargers 27, Eagles 17
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VJ Edgecombe might not be a Sixer without Buddy Hield. And the first NBA matchup between Bahamian ‘brothers’ was a thriller
Inside the 76ers’ celebratory postgame locker room late Thursday, VJ Edgecombe received a phone call from Buddy Hield.
That would not normally occur between two players who had just faced off in a wild thriller. But it is not hyperbole to conclude that Edgecombe may never have made his game-winning plays against the Golden State Warriors — a steal, then a go-ahead putback in the final 8.2 seconds of a night that swung from Sixers blowout, to disastrous collapse, to chaotic 99-98 victory — without attending Hield’s basketball camps in their native Bahamas as a teenager.
Thursday’s crazy finish capped the first night that Hield, a respected 10-year sharpshooter, and Edgecombe, an electric two-way rookie, shared the floor as NBA peers. Edgecombe finished with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals; Hield with 14 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. And as the postgame hubbub continued to swirl around them, Edgecombe and Hield met at center court to exchange jerseys.
“I love Buddy with all my heart,” Edgecombe later told The Inquirer. “ … He always had faith in me, and always was teaching me little points about the game.”
Good friends VJ Edgecombe of the Sixers and Buddy Hield of the Warriors play against each other on Thursday. This Sixers-Warriors matchup was coincidentally full of reunions. Hield played 32 games for the Sixers after being acquired at the 2024 trade deadline. Tyrese Maxey’s game-saving block after Edgecombe’s bucket came against former teammate De’Anthony Melton, who spent a couple hours at Maxey’s home Wednesday to catch up as friends before making his season debut following knee surgery. Seth Curry and Al Horford are also former Sixers, and received drastically different receptions from the home crowd. So is Jimmy Butler, who sat out Thursday’s game with a knee injury.
But none of those players’ ties boast the roots of Edgecombe and Hield, who both described their relationship as little brother-big brother.
Edgecombe first attended Hield’s camp as a 13-year-old, aka the “smallest kid there” among a group of mostly high school juniors and seniors. But Hield immediately noticed Edgecombe’s skill and eagerness to be good. Then, Edgecombe hit a growth spurt and added muscle to his frame.
“The next year, I see him on the rim dunking on people,” Hield recalled to The Inquirer before Thursday’s game. “I was like, ‘Oh, [expletive]. He’s going to be really good.’”
Throughout the years, Hield kept in touch with Edgecombe to “[make] sure I was always good,” the rookie said. Hield would emphasize staying confident and working hard.
Then, Edgecombe and Hield became Bahamas teammates for the 2024 Olympics Qualifiers. On a roster that also included fellow Sixer Eric Gordon and Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton, Edgecombe provided “an aggressive downhill energy that we didn’t have,” Hield said. The team would allow a pre-college Edgecombe to run pick-and-roll after pick-and-roll, trusting that he would either draw a foul while attacking the basket or kick out to an open Hield at the three-point arc.
Golden State’s Buddy Hield (left) and the Sixers’ VJ Edgecombe exchanged jerseys after the Warriors played the Sixers on Thursday night. Edgecombe’s performance in that high-pressure environment, while playing against grown men, helped ignite his ascension to coveted NBA Draft prospect. Then came his successful season at Baylor, an impressive pre-draft process, and becoming the Sixers’ pick at No. 3 overall.
“I was like, ‘Man, I watched this kid grow up,’” Hield said. “That’s kind of dope, you know what I mean?”
Through the first quarter of the regular season, Edgecombe has been one of the league’s top rookies.
He scored 34 points in a historic NBA debut. He has been an impact player on both ends of the floor for a 12-9 Sixers team that is now guard-heavy and stressing a fast-paced style. He regularly ignites the crowd with his high-flying athleticism. He entered Thursday averaging 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in 17 games, before some recent limitations due to a calf issue.
Before Thursday’s matchup, a grinning Hield vowed he would “go at [Edgecombe] and test that water.” But other than a 27-second stretch to close the first quarter, they were never on the floor at the same time until that wild final frame. They approached each other when they came back to the court following the quarter break. Edgecombe trash-talked Hield’s “fake defense,” before playfully shoving him to create space to receive the inbound pass.
And though Edgecombe struggled for much of Thursday’s game, coach Nick Nurse put the rookie back in for crunch time. Edgecombe has already earned the Sixers’ trust with his knack for clutch plays.
So while preparing for a defensive possession with his team trailing, 98-97, with 10.1 seconds remaining, Edgecombe knew the Warriors were out of timeouts. He tried to read Pat Spencer’s eyes, because “people tend to telegraph their passes a lot.”
VJ Edgecombe did not have the best game of his rookie season against Buddy Hield (left) and the Warriors, but continued to make a substantial impact. “He had to throw the ball somewhere,” Edgecombe said. “Everyone was just in that one little spot, and I just dove on the ball, to be honest.”
That gave the Sixers an opportunity for a final-possession shot, with Edgecombe making the inbound pass. His plan was to “give the ball to Tyrese, and get out of the way.” But when Maxey’s fadeaway jumper was tipped by Melton and began to fall well short of the rim, Edgecombe darted in to secure the putback.
Then Edgecombe sprinted the opposite direction as Melton attempted his own breakaway game-winner, and flexed after Maxey swatted the ball away.
“It’s what he does,” Maxey said of Edgecombe. “ … Whatever it takes for us to win the game, I know he’s going to make a play.”
Hield, meanwhile, had already entered the day proud that Edgecombe had become the latest Bahamian who, by making the NBA, could take care of his family and bring joy to his community and home country.
But after that wild finish — which capped the first time Edgecombe and Hield shared the floor as NBA peers — Hield needed to call his little brother.
“It brings more life to the youth, to uplift them,” Hield said of Edgecombe’s success. “For them to be like, ‘Yo, VJ did it. I can do it, too.’ They’re trying to write their stories, too.
“So I just hope he keeps on inspiring young kids, like I did for him.”
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World Cup 2026 draw: U.S. finds out most of its opponents, countries that might play in Philly, Trump gets a medal
- What you should know
- FIFA held its 2026 World Cup draw Friday, and the United States will face Paraguay and Australia in the tournament’s group stage.
- Six final countries, including the third U.S. opponent, will be determined by two tournaments in March, ballooning the tournament to 48 teams for the first time.
- Brazil, Germany, France, England, and Norway are among the teams that could play in Philadelphia. The full schedule will be released Saturday.
- Weather, tournament expansion, and more were among the topics tackled ahead of Friday’s FIFA World Cup draw.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 2:24pm
U.S. knows two of its three World Cup opponents
President Donald Trump smiles after drawing USA’s name Friday.
The U.S. men’s soccer team will open its 2026 World Cup group stage run against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, Calif.
That will mean a meeting right out of the gate with a team the Americans just beat last month, 2-1, at Subaru Park in Chester.
The game will be played on the second day of the tournament, with co-host Mexico playing the opener against South Africa on June 11 at Mexico City’s fabled Estadio Azteca.
The Americans’ second group game will be against Australia in Seattle on June 19. That will also be a rematch of a recent game, a 2-1 U.S. win in suburban Denver in October.
Their group stage finale will be back in suburban Los Angeles against the winner of a four-team qualifying playoff between Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo. The playoff will take place in March.
Turkey will be favored on paper. If that’s the matchup, it would be another rematch, this one a 2-1 U.S. loss this past June, with an understrength American squad on the field.
Here’s the U.S. men’s soccer team 2026 World Cup group schedule:
- June 12: vs. Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif.
- June 19: vs. Australia in Seattle
- June 25: vs. UEFA playoff winner in Inglewood, Calif.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 2:13pm
Full 2026 World Cup draw
The opening game for the U.S. is on June 12 in Los Angeles against Paraguay. Games to be played in Philadelphia will involve teams from groups C, E, I, and L.
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// Timestamp 12/05/25 1:56pm
A look at the first 24 teams in the World Cup
As the first 24 teams were named in Friday’s World Cup draw, a few surprises and early looks at who could be coming to Philly next summer.
For Philly, Brazil and Morocco were drawn in Group C with those two opening against each other. In Group E, Germany and Ecuador are the early entrants, France and Senegal are in Group I and England-Croatia in Group L.
The eye openers are a rematch between Mexico and South Africa, the opening match 2010 FIFA World Cup. Also, Spain will open its campaign in group H against Uruguay, and an England-Croatia rematch from the 2018 World Cup semifinal.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 1:50pm
U.S. will face Paraguay in first World Cup game
The USA opener is vs. Paraguay June 12 in Inglewood, Calif. The teams just met at Subaru Park last month, a 2-1 U.S. victory.
Mexico-South Africa will be the tournament’s opening game in Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca – 16 years after the nations met in the 2010 opener in South Africa.
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Halfway through the draw, some big games
Blockbusters so far: Brazil-Morocco, Netherlands-Japan, Spain-Uruguay, England-Croatia
Germany-Ecuador will be an upset pick.
USA-Australia will be the group stage finale.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 1:40pm
Australia to face the U.S. in Group D
Australia ended up in Group D, where it will face the United States during the first round of the 2026 World Cup.
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Drawings for top World Cup teams
Here are the 2026 World Cup draws for the Pot 1 teams:
- Group A: Mexico
- Group B: Canada
- Group C: Brazil
- Group D: USA
- Gropu E: Germany
- Group F: Netherlands
- Group G: Belgium
- Group H: Spain
- Group I: France
- Group J: Argentina
- Group K: Portugal
- Group L: England
// Pinned
// Timestamp 12/05/25 2:16pm
Here are the nations that could be headed to Philly
Philly will host six World Cup games at Lincoln Financial Field.
Philly now knows the potential games headed here next summer as the potential nations in Groups C, E, I and L.
They are:
Group C: Brazil, Morocco Haiti, Scotland
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Playoff No. 2, Norway
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
The final nation is Group I will be determined by a FIFA Playoff qualifier between Iraq, Bolivia and Suriname in March.
Kevin Hart, who ended the event on stage with Heidi Klum, Rio Ferdinand and other celebrities, said, “I know my guys back in Philadelphia are happy who could be coming to Philly next summer.”
He’d be correct.
The specific games will be set Saturday. Here’s a rundown of the World Cup games that will be played at the Linc:
- Sunday, June 14: Group E
- Friday, June 19: Group C
- Monday, June 22: Group I
- Thursday, June 25: Group E
- Saturday, June 27: Group L
- Saturday, July 4: Round of 16
// Timestamp 12/05/25 12:55pm
Host countries draw first, but we already knew the results
President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney holds their countries’ name during the draw.
As co-hosts, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada were pre-set into the group places they were drawn into among the 48 slots. The U.S. is D1, Mexico is A1, and Canada is C1.
We also already knew the dates and locations of those teams’ group games, though we don’t know the opponents yet.
The U.S. will play on June 12 in Inglewood, Calif., June 19 in Seattle, and June 25 back in Inglewood. Mexico will play on June 11, the tournament’s opening day, at Mexico City’s legendary Estadio Azteca – the site of the 1970 and 1986 finals — then in Guadalajara on June 18 and June 24 back in Mexico City. Canada will play June 12 in Toronto, then June 18 and 24 in in Vancouver.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 12:49pm
Fans in Philly excited for the World Cup
The Philly Sports Guy Jamie Pagliei, takes a selfie with Gritty at the FIFA World Cup drawing at Stateside Live! Friday.
Almost three hours from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where the World Cup draw is hosted, Philadelphia sports fans gathered together as they waited in anticipation to learn the fates of their favorite teams — including Union season ticket holders Donna and Gary Brown.
“I’ve only been able to see the World Cup one other time and that was when we lived in Orlando and it was amazing,” Gary said. “But again, it’s our hometown now and our hometown team, so it just makes it even more special that it’s going to be here. It’s Philadelphia, it’s the workplace of our country, national team. … And it’s our country’s 250th birthday.”
// Timestamp 12/05/25 12:43pm
Drawing out the World Cup draw
If it feels to you that the draw is, to put it one way, drawn out… you aren’t alone. But it’s nothing new. World Cup draws have been spectacles for decades.
It was true the first time the United States hosted a men’s World Cup, the 1994 edition, and it remains true now. You don’t have to like it, and rest assured plenty of people with in the soccer world don’t. But it is what it is, and it won’t change any time soon.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 12:37pm
Trump awarded first-ever FIFA peace prize
President Donald Trump is awarded the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw.
President Donald Trump was awarded the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw Friday.
“This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said during a brief speech.
FIFA said the award would be given to individuals who, through their unwavering commitment and their special actions, have helped to unite people all over the world.
Trump called the award “one of the great honors of his life,” as he went on to tout that peace accords he’s helped brokered in the Middle East, Africa and between Israel and Hamas has “saved millions and millions of lives.”
He then described his excitement for the World Cup coming to the United States, saying tickets — which are approaching 2 million sold, according to FIFA — were selling in record numbers, though there wasn’t data readily available to confirm that claim. Trump then quickly caught himself during his talk about tickets, stating that: “not to bring that up, because don’t want to bring a thing like that up, right now.”
World Cup tickets, and their exorbitant prices due to dynamic pricing models, have been major topics of discussion as well, given the confusing method for entering presales via lotteries.
FIFA has one more presale in which the lottery to enter is scheduled to open after Friday’s draw, before opening remaining tickets to the public early next year.
The announcement came about a month after Trump failed to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which he claimed he deserved. It was announced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, whom has developed a close relationship with Trump ahead of the World Cup.
“The FIFA Peace Prize is awarded annually,” Infantino said of the award, which was being given for the first time.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 12:19pm
‘The eyes of the world are going to be on Philly’
Governor Josh Shapiro attending the FIFA Philly draw at Stateside Live! in Philadelphia Friday.
Friday morning at Stateside Live! felt like a fever dream for Philadelphia sports fans as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stood above guests on the second floor surrounded by Phang, Gritty, Swoop, and the Phanatic as they prepared for the Philadelphia Soccer 2026 World Cup draw watch party.
“We won this bid to host the FIFA World Cup next year because we’ve got the greatest fans on the face of the earth,” Shapiro said.
“The eyes of the world are going to be on Philly next year when we celebrate USA 250,” Shapiro added. “FIFA World Cup is gonna be great. And let’s pray for a USA-Mexico matchup on July 4th right here in the Philly.”
Unfortunately for Shapiro, the odds of that happening are slim to none.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 12:04pm
Inside the Kennedy Center, elected officials mix with former players
Spectators gather for the 2026 World Cup draw inside the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Hello from inside the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall, a legendary space in the most-famous performing arts venue in America’s capital city. Just 15 of the over 900 credentialed media have seats in the hall for the World Cup draw, and I’m lucky to be one of them.
I must admit it’s a bit of a surreal feeling for me. I grew up in D.C. (sorry to anyone who thought I was a Philly native), and attended lots of concerts and musicals in this very space. To see it converted for a World Cup draw is a strange sight — and all the stranger by the inevitable politics surrounding this day.
While walking over from the media work area, I saw a lot of familiar faces: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Soccer Federation president Cindy Cone, sporting director Matt Crocker, former president Sunil Gulati, and MLS commissioner Don Garber.
Murphy is here on behalf of the New York/New Jersey local hosting committee, and there’s a slew of former U.S. players here either in the official delegation or as media. At a quick glance around, I saw Delran’s Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Julie Ertz, Cobi Jones, Marcelo Balboa, and former Union centerback Oguchi Oneywu — now in the official world as U.S. Soccer’s deputy sporting director.
Plus, of course, famous soccer figures from all over the world, who were inevitably stopped all over for autographs. And in the hall, there was a brief moment of applause — though only scattered — when President Donald Trump walked in.
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Meet the World Cup mascots
The World Cup mascots pose on the red carpet.
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Trump, other dignitaries arrive for World Cup draw
President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrive at the Kennedy Center.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana.
Former Brazil players Kaka (left) and Ronaldo.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 10:55am
Trump still ‘talking to FIFA’ about moving World Cup cities, White House official says
President Donald Trump holds the World Cup trophy alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
President Donald Trump, who will attend Friday’s World Cup draw, continues to speak with FIFA about moving games out of cities controlled by Democrats, a White House official said on Fox News Friday.
“President Trump is very concerned about some of these blue cities’ high crime rates, and he’s talking to FIFA,” said Monica Crowley, White House chief of protocol, adding “no decisions have been made.”
Trump made similar threats in September about removing games from cities run by Democrats. Trump has cited crime, but crime rates are down in most cities, including Philadelphia, where violence in the city has dropped to near-historic lows.
“If any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup, or for the Olympics, but for the World Cup in particular, because they’re playing in so many cities, we won’t allow it to go,” Trump said. “We’ll move it around a little bit. But I hope that’s not going to happen.”
It would ultimately be FIFA’s decision to move games, a logistical challenge considering planning for the 2026 World Cup has been going on for years. FIFA president Gianni Infantino hasn’t indicated any potential moves, but has suggested he would consider shifting games from host cities if Trump made demands.
“I don’t think you can have this problem, but we’re going to move the event to someplace where it’s going to be appreciated and safe,” Infantino said in the White House last month when put on the spot by Trump.
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We won’t know who’s playing in Philly until tomorrow. Here’s why.
Chelsea and Flamengo fans during a FIFA Club World Cup match at the Linc in June.
FIFA’s decision to extend its draw over two days always felt by design.
On Friday, ahead of the World Cup draw that begins at noon, an official said that doing so was nothing more than trying to make the draw “into an event.”
Historically, FIFA would announce the venue pairings before the draw, so you’d know where teams would be after they fell into group pairings. For example, the nation slotted into Group A1 would play A4 making it easy to know where those nations would be playing even during the draw.
Friday’s presentation will only place nations into groups, with Saturday at noon the reveal of where those host nations will be.
“It’s to allow for greater discussion to take place on the exact locations,” said Brian Swanson, FIFA’s director of media relations. “In some parts of the world [where we’ve hosted previous World Cup draws], kickoff times are the big story in other parts [like the U.S.], we’re just looking to generate a bit of buzz.
“Historically, we just published a PDF of that information, but it’s 2025, so we thought let’s make it into something more fun.”
There are some who beg to differ.
“I mean let’s just get it over with,” a FIFA volunteer who overheard the conversation said. “Like I get why their doing this but the suspense, to me, isn’t necessary. Also, I’m Tunisian, I don’t want to wait a day to see who we play.”
// Timestamp 12/05/25 9:56am
Leave your Yetis at the door
A trash can overflows with discarded items not allowed into Friday’s World Cup draw.
With heads of state from all three host nations scheduled to take in today’s FIFA World Cup draw, U.S. Secret Service is taking no chances with what is being allowed inside the Kennedy Center.
But what’s making its way into the trash cans outside is pretty hilarious. From Yeti coffee canisters valued at $30 on up to vape pens and cartridges, all had to get tossed before entering. One FIFA official joked to the Inquirer that he’d planned to collect it all and start a resale store.
Upsetting at least the media on hand is that at a briefing yesterday, FIFA relayed that bringing in canisters for water and coffee would be an approved item.
Sike.
But what’s even more confusing are the workers, guests and media from around the world who thought they’d be able to enter today’s event with pocket knives, pointers and even a Phillips head screwdriver, as observed outside one of the trash cans.
The draw kicks off at noon, but the early festivities have been the Secret Service members turned TSA, navigating what guests and media are trying to bring inside.
// Timestamp 12/05/25 9:21am
Can I still buy World Cup tickets after the draw?
Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney (right) holds a novelty World Cup ticket alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Yes. Fans interested in buying tickets for World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field can enter ticket lotteries for individual group-stage games via FIFA’s random selection draw.
The lotteries will begin accepting entries on Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. and close at the same time on Jan. 13.
After the random selection draw phase of ticket sales has finished, any remaining inventory will be released on a first-come, first-served basis closer to the beginning of the tournament. Single-match and multimatch hospitality packages are also available through FIFA.
FIFA’s first-come, first-served phase will be the last opportunity for fans to buy tickets directly through FIFA. After that, tickets will be available only through resale on the secondary market.
— Owen Hewitt
// Timestamp 12/05/25 8:26am
Tight security as Trump, other dignitaries expected to attend today’s World Cup draw
Snow falls in Washington, D.C. ahead of the 2026 World Cup Draw.
It was snowing as the sun rose over the nation’s capital Friday, a rare sight in December. The rest of the scene around the Kennedy Center was one this town is used to: rows of giant black SUVs for dignitaries, and fences lining many blocks of sidewalks.
I got to the security checkpoint just after 8 a.m., and there were already long lines to get in and many nearby streets were closed.
The checkpoint, by the way, was up the street near the Watergate hotel — made famous by former President Richard Nixon’s scandal in the 1970s. There have been plenty of jokes about that this week among the international media who’ve come to town.
But the security operation is no joke. It’s always been the way things work when the president — whoever the president is — wants to show up at a big sports event in D.C.
Even with that, a World Cup draw is different from other spectacles.
Today, the Kennedy Center will host dignitaries from the 42 national teams qualified for the World Cup so far, plus some from teams in the final qualifying playoffs; over 900 credentialed media members, spread across the Center’s many halls; and the tournament cohosts’ heads of state — U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
It will be tight and tense inside, and some FIFA officials will no doubt wonder if they should have stood firm on having the draw in Las Vegas, where they wanted to have it until Trump said otherwise.
Then again, the snow was enough proof of that.
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Watch and stream today’s World Cup draw
The World Cup draw, which will determine the groups for the round-robin stage of the tournament, will take place today at noon.
The event will be hosted by the Kennedy Center in Washington and broadcast live on Fox. Coverage of the draw will begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.
FIFA’s event is expected to last about an hour and a half, with the draw itself accounting for about 45 minutes of that time.
The draw will also stream live on FIFA’s website and its YouTube channel.
— Owen Hewitt, Rob Tornoe
// Timestamp 12/05/25 7:47am
How does today’s World Cup draw work?
Qualified nations have been divided into four pots based on their FIFA World Rankings positions. Pot 1 contains the nine best-qualified teams in the rankings, as well as the three cohosts.
The host nations have already been assigned to groups — Mexico will be in Group A, Canada will be in Group B, and the U.S. will be in Group D. The remaining teams will be assigned to the other nine groups, one team per group.
After all the teams in Pot 1 have been drawn, the draw will move to Pot 2, selecting one team for each of the 12 groups. The process will repeat with Pot 3 and Pot 4, resulting in 12 groups of four teams.
During the tournament, the top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout rounds. The top eight third-place finishers in the 12 groups will also advance, completing the Round of 32.
Though the draw determines tournament groups, FIFA is also looking ahead to the knockout rounds. FIFA will structure the knockout bracket so that the top four teams in its rankings — Spain, Argentina, France, and England — will not meet before the tournament semifinal, provided that they each finish first in their respective groups. It is the first time the World Cup will use a tennis-style bracket for knockouts.
Here’s a complete look at the pots that will be used Friday:
- Pot 1: Canada (B1), Mexico (A1), U.S. (D1), Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
- Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
- Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
— Owen Hewitt
// Timestamp 12/05/25 7:40am
What countries have qualified for the World Cup?
U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese dives for a save during practice last month.
42 countries have already qualified for next year’s World Cup, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will be included in today’s draw.
There are six spots remaining – four for the top teams in the European Federation’s 16-team playoff, and two for the top two finishers in FIFA’s intercontinental playoff tournament. Both take place in March.
Since those have not been determined yet, those six teams will be represented by placeholders in today’s draw.
Here are the countries that have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup:
- Cohosts: Canada, Mexico, United States
- Asian Football Confederation (AFC): Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
- Confederation of African Football (CAF): Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
- Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf): Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
- South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
- Oceania Football Confederation (OFC): New Zealand
- Union of European Football Associations (UEFA): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Which teams will play in Philly?
Lincoln Financial Field will hose six 2026 World Cup games.
We won’t know which counties will play in Philadelphia until Saturday, when FIFA releases its official schedule. But we’ll get a sense who might travel here.
Philadelphia will host six World Cup games at Lincoln Financial Field – five in the group stage, and one in the Round of 16. So we know counties ending up in Groups C, E, I, and L will play at the Linc (which unfortunately means no Team USA games during the group stage, since the U.S. has already been assigned Group D).
Here are the World Cup games scheduled to be played in Philly:
- Sunday, June 14: Group E
- Friday, June 19: Group C
- Monday, June 22: Group I
- Thursday, June 25: Group E
- Saturday, June 27: Group L
- Saturday, July 4: Round of 16
// Timestamp 12/05/25 7:35am
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The Big Picture: Flyers bounce back, Eagles fall again, Joel Embiid makes moves, and the week’s best sports photos
Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors pick the best Philly sports images from the last seven days. This week, we’ve got Trevor Zegras and the Flyers taking some hits, Nick Sirianni and the Eagles getting dealt a Black Friday loss, and Joel Embiid making moves — both on and off the court. …
Flyers forward Trevor Zegras lays on the ice after being boarded by Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin in the second period. Zegras scored one of the Flyers’ five goals in Thursday’s win over the Sabres. 
Flyers right wing Bobby Brink gets hit by the puck as he tries to settle in behind Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and set a screen on goaltender Tristan Jarry. The 5-1 loss on Monday ended the team’s three-game winning streak. 
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reacts as he walks off the field after his team’s Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears. The 24-15 loss was the Eagles’ second straight and their fourth in their last eight games. 
A.J. Brown had his best statistical game of the season against the Bears, and has three touchdowns in the Eagles’ last two games — but the Birds are 0-2 in those games. 
The Eagles allowed 281 rushing yards against Chicago, their ninth-highest total in team history. 
First-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has been the target of much of the criticism around the Eagles, with some crossing the line and vandalizing his N.J. home. 
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has thrown for over 500 combined yards in the last two games, both losses for the Birds. 
Sunday’s double overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks was the first time all season that Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey shared the floor. 
Joel Embiid drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss. 
Joel Embiid signs autographs for Quentin Zheng, 10, left, and Mason Zheng, 9, center, during a release event for the Sixers center’s first signature shoe from Skechers, the SKX JE1, at Lapstone & Hammer on Wednesday. -
Jalen Hurts running more might be the best thing for the Eagles. Is it also hazardous to his career?
For one play during an otherwise dismal Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears, Jalen Hurts gave the Eagles’ offense a jolt. The ball never even left his control.
Rather, he tucked it into the crook of his left arm and dashed through a lane created on the left side of the offensive line by a pulling Cam Jurgens and Jordan Mailata. With neither linebacker in the picture — one was picked up by Jurgens on a blitz and the other ran with Saquon Barkley as he motioned out wide before the snap — Hurts dashed upfield unabated for 23 yards, the Eagles’ most explosive rushing play of the day.
It set up A.J. Brown’s 33-yard touchdown reception on the ensuing play, capping off the Eagles’ longest drive of the afternoon: 92net yards.
It was also like seeing a unicorn.
Designed runs have become rarities for Hurts in his fifth season as the Eagles’ starting quarterback. After averaging 3.6 designed runs per game in his first four seasons as the starter, Hurts has dropped to 1.1 designed runs per game in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. Hurts has gone without a single designed run in six of this season’s 12 games.
On one hand, that drop-off should come as a surprise, seeing as Hurts once proclaimed himself a “triple threat” capable of dissecting defenses with his arm, his legs, and his mind. Among quarterbacks from 2021-2025, only Lamar Jackson boasts more rushing yards (3,531) than Hurts (3,108).
On the other, though, there is plenty of precedent for quarterbacks who rush less as they progress in their careers, either by choice or by physical limitation. Those examples include Hurts’ contemporaries such as Jackson (6.6 designed attempts per game before Year 5; 4.0 after) and Josh Allen (2.0; 1.6).
As evidenced by that 23-yard run on Friday, the 27-year-old Hurts can still burn defenders on the ground. His ability to serve as a run threat has historically forced opponents to defend all 11 players on the field, creating more opportunities in the run game as a whole.
Could the Eagles lean into the quarterback run game as one fix to help revitalize Kevin Patullo’s floundering offense that is running out of time to achieve consistency?
Hurts was asked after the Bears loss whether he would do anything different during the extended break before the Chargers game to help improve the offense. He was then asked whether he needed to use his legs more to fuel that improvement.
Flashing a slight smile, Hurts offered the same three-word answer to both questions.
“I’ll be working,” he said.
Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo must consider the risk to Jalen Hurts when the quarterback carries the football. Why is Hurts rushing less?
Hurts is a full-time quarterback, part-time philosopher. His penchant for dropping philosophical sayings at the podium has become part of his brand, according to Mailata.
One of the sayings that Hurts helped popularize, “Keep the main thing the main thing,” offers a window into his approach. Winning, regardless of how it looks, is the most important facet of the game. Everything else is secondary.
So, when asked the week before the Bears game if he was open to more designed runs, Hurts emphasized that he is “open to doing whatever it takes to win.” Similarly, days later after the loss, Nick Sirianni seemed to refute the notion that Hurts wanted to run less this season by suggesting self-preservation is a factor in the decision to call fewer designed runs.
“We’re always thinking about how to protect Jalen and make sure that he is healthy for the long haul,” Sirianni explained.
It isn’t hard to fathom why the Eagles would want to protect their investment. Hurts is the highest-paid player on the team at $51 million on an average annual basis. As the offensive player with the ball in his hands on every down, he’s arguably the team’s most important player, too.
But Hurts has injured himself both in and out of the pocket throughout his NFL career, which has caused him to miss games. In 2021, he sprained his ankle when he was sacked in the Week 12 loss to the New York Giants. The injury forced him to sit out the following week’s game against the New York Jets and required offseason surgery.
Nick Sirianni reiterates Eagles are ‘evaluating everything,’ but Kevin Patullo will still call playsHis other two serious injuries occurred on designed runs. Hurts sprained his throwing shoulder in 2022 after getting tackled on a 3-yard zone-read keeper in Week 15 against the Chicago Bears. Hurts had plenty of wear-and-tear in that game, running the ball on 17 occasions on a frigid day at Soldier Field. While he finished (and won) that contest, he missed the next two.
Hurts also suffered a concussion in Week 16 in 2024 against the Washington Commanders on a play very similar to his 23-yard gain on Black Friday. After Hurts exited in the first quarter, the Eagles went on to lose their first game in roughly three months. He missed the final two games of the regular season in concussion protocol, though he likely wouldn’t have played in the season finale against the Giants anyway.
But the lack of carries for Hurts isn’t always in the Eagles’ control. Sometimes, that can be dictated by the defense.
While the Eagles run fewer run-pass options (7.4 per game, per Pro Football Reference) than they did in the past — especially compared to 2022, when they led the league with 10.9 — it was a substantial part of the game plan in the Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos. More often than not, though, Hurts opted to throw. Sirianni explained in the aftermath that on those plays, “when you have that ability to get that to a playmaker in the flat, you take it.”
At the time, that game marked Hurts’ lowest rushing total of his career as the starter (one scramble, one kneel-down for a total of three yards).
“Sometimes when you’re calling those plays, he can run it, Saquon can run it, or we can throw it, so it’s kind of a three-way monster right there,” Patullo said. “It’s kind of a dealer’s choice, so it is just kind of a different kind of style, and it worked in that moment.”
Lamar Jackson remains elusive, but has spent time in 2025 battling a myriad of injuries. Hurts isn’t alone
Hurts is far from the only quarterback who has experienced a dip in runs as he has progressed in his career. Jackson is perhaps the best case study among active quarterbacks this season in his seventh full year as the Baltimore Ravens’ starting quarterback.
Jackson, 28, is averaging 4.7 carries per game, according to PFF (2.1 designed runs, 2.6 scrambles). He had already been on a downward trajectory after his first few seasons in the league, but this year is a new low for the two-time MVP quarterback.
Injuries have held Jackson back this year. He missed three games from Weeks 5-8 with a hamstring issue. He’s been active since Week 9, but over the past month, he has dealt with injuries to his knee, toe, and now his ankle. He has not participated in a full week of practice in a month.
Carson Wentz, the Eagles’ starter from 2016-20, was heralded for his athleticism, especially in 2017 when he was briefly the Eagles’ leading rusher through the first two weeks of the season. His asset became an issue, though, when he scrambled his way into an ACL tear later that season, marking the beginning of the end of his Eagles tenure. While his play style didn’t change upon his return in 2018, his efficacy deteriorated.
Donovan McNabb was celebrated as a runner early in his career but evolved into one of the NFL’s top pocket passers. But injuries — and the threat of incurring them — aren’t the only factors at hand when it comes to the frequency of the quarterback run game. Donovan McNabb experienced a shift in his playing style throughout his 11-year tenure with the Eagles from 1999-2009. After posting 5.2 carries per game in his first four years as the full-time starter, McNabb averaged 2.9 over his final six in Philadelphia.
McNabb came up in an era when the “dual-threat” label on Black quarterbacks often came with racist undertones. Regardless of his detractors, McNabb’s emphasis on the passing game seemed to be more of a personal preference.
Even early in his career, before he leaned more into the passing game with the arrival of Terrell Owens in 2004, McNabb responded “no” when asked if he enjoys running.
“When I hear ‘running quarterback,’ that sort of upsets me,” McNabb said in 2000. “That takes away from my drop-back ability, my play-action ability and my ability to get the ball downfield. Any time that you talk about how athletic a quarterback is, and you continue to talk about his running ability, you sort of forget about him passing the ball.”
McNabb and Hurts aren’t one-for-one comparisons from a rushing perspective. McNabb was more of a scrambler, while Hurts has demonstrated a proficiency both in scrambles and designed runs. As passers, McNabb is arguably the best in franchise history. Hurts has had excellent games — including both Super Bowl performances — but is still working to find a sense of consistency in the passing game this season.
Jalen Hurts could help free things up for Saquon Barkley … and vice versa. Uptick on the way?
Can the Eagles achieve some sort of middle ground, aiming to protect their quarterback while also injecting life into a listless offense, specifically the run game?
It’s been a tough season for Barkley and the Eagles’ rushing attack as a whole. The 2024 offensive player of the year has averaged 3.7 yards per attempt, a decrease of more than two full yards per carry from last season. His run blockers haven’t been doing him any favors, leaving him with 2.3 yards before contact per attempt (down from 3.8 last year).
Hurts could help through the use of his legs, according to Dan Orlovsky, the former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst. Orlovsky said he expects to see more designed runs for Hurts in the last five games of the season. That increase is imperative if the offense wants to continue to live out of the shotgun, he explained.
According to Next Gen Stats, approximately 70% of the Eagles’ offensive plays occur when Hurts is lined up in the shotgun. That alignment can make a run game too predictable if the quarterback isn’t a threat on the ground, too.
“If you don’t, there’s really no reason for you to be in the shotgun, because the defense can see constantly what’s going on in the run,” Orlovsky said. “So their lack of running the quarterback this year … defenses fly to Saquon a lot more. They’re much less disciplined. They can constantly see the football. Those giveaways with Saquon’s alignment of what kind of run and when they’re running. And a lot of times, there’s 3 yards that aren’t taken advantage of from the quarterback run. So it’s had a negative impact on their ability to run the football.”
The Eagles broke that tendency briefly against the Bears. Hurts opted to keep the ball on a zone-read play that gained 3 yards. He read the unblocked defensive end who began to crash down hard on Barkley before pulling the ball and turning upfield. Instead of a handoff to Barkley for likely no gain or negative yards, Hurts created a positive play.
According to Smael Mondon, the Eagles’ fifth-round linebacker out of Georgia, an offense that runs out of the shotgun and boasts a quarterback who poses a threat on the ground “opens up the menu a lot.”
“If you don’t really have a running quarterback, like he’s not really a threat in the run game, then the menu kind of simplifies for what set you see in the backfield for what runs you could get,” Mondon said. “But if you got a quarterback that can run, then that menu of options of plays they could run kind of opens up even more. So it’s more things you’ve got to potentially have to defend. So it’s more stuff for a defense to think about.”
A quarterback run threat can also help with the offense’s “numbers disadvantage,” as backup Tanner McKee puts it. On a typical run play in which the quarterback hands the ball off to the running back, the offense has nine players that can block for the ball carrier. The defense has 11 who can tackle, putting the offense at a mathematical disadvantage.
There are different ways for quarterbacks to “get your block,” according to McKee, and keep defenses honest, including the use of play action and bootlegs. But a quarterback who keeps the ball for himself gains an actual blocker in the running back, minimizing the numbers disadvantage and, in theory, giving the offense a chance to rack up extra yardage.
Jalen Hurts vowed “I’ll be working” when asked about his methods to help fix the offense in the lead-up to the Chargers game. An extra blocker means two extra gaps — the space between each blocker — for a linebacker like Mondon to fill.
“It just kind of makes it harder,” Mondon said. “Everybody has to fit perfect with QB designed runs, just ‘cause they’ve got that extra hat and extra two gaps in the game.”
Time is running out for the offense to hit its stride before heading into the playoffs. Still, Sirianni expressed an understanding that there’s a fine balance between keeping Hurts healthy and doing what it takes to win.
“You’re always thinking first about what the players do well, especially with your quarterback, how do you make sure that you’re keeping them safe on those?” Sirianni said. “Even when you think about those, there are quarterback runs you can run that are a little [safer] than another quarterback run. But it’s still football and you still [face] a risk with every snap that you take, and that’s on a drop back, too.
“But again, you look at the defenses, how you want to attack, you look at what you do well, how to protect the guys, and you’re just looking for the best way to go about that. I don’t think anybody wants to come out of a game with Jalen having 15 carries, designed carries. But again, we’re looking at everything, and we’ll see how that looks going forward.”
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The WNBA’s rapid growth means a rise in gambling, and it’s affecting the players
Growing up in a family of six in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., former Villanova women’s basketball star Maddy Siegrist said the closest thing she witnessed to a sports bet was when the Super Bowl rolled around. And even then, it was friendly wagers.
“It just wasn’t a thing in our house,” said Siegrist, who now plays for the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. “I didn’t grow up with people who bet. Plus, there were no apps or anything. I knew people that did boxes on the Super Bowl. That was the extent of my knowledge.”
Maddy Siegrist didn’t grow up around sports betting, but it’s now inextricably tied to her profession. Since Siegrist went pro in 2023, however, legalized sports betting has infiltrated virtually every corner of sports. Siegrist said the WNBA benefits from the sports gambling population laying bets on games. That translates to more eyes watching women’s professional basketball, which generates a bigger fan base, which spurs continued growth of the sport and its brand.
But Siegrist, 25, is quick to point out a darker side to the sports-gambling intersection, “one of the rougher parts that people don’t think about,” she said.
Public vitriol directed at athletes is nothing new. But add the sports gambling component and a bettor’s ability to wager on virtually any aspect of a game or performance at the click of an app, and the result can be toxic. Often, negative fan reaction is the result of a losing bet, and social media has exacerbated the issue.
“Any pro athlete will kind of give you the same [story]: These are people betting from their house that you’re going to go under [a projected stat total] or your team’s going to win,” Siegrist said. “With the world of social media, just how much hate people get is truly amazing. I’m not a super controversial player. I don’t have the spotlight like some of my other teammates. But if you have a bad game or a good game, you can get anywhere from 50 to 100 [direct messages] or comments on your social media that are crazy.”
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, a teammate of Maddy Siegrist, is one of the WNBA’s brightest young stars. Betting burden
No longer are the WNBA and college women’s basketball considered unattractive markets for sports gamblers. Players like Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, Siegrist’s teammate on the Wings, are among the stars generating buzz, and, by extension, causing a spike in gambling activity on the sport.
Female athletes, professional and amateur, shoulder many challenges beyond maintaining elite performance on the court or field. That includes playing in the age of the ever-growing legalized sports betting industry — especially the proliferation of multimillion-dollar business partnerships between pro sports leagues like the WNBA and gaming companies like BetMGM.
And sports remain corrupted by the underworld of illegal gambling, where pro athletes can turn to a side hustle to try to score millions illicitly. The recent unsealing of the federal indictments that involve illegal gambling schemes, the NBA, and purported organized crime members is one such example, and Siegrist said she had followed those recent announcements.
While the WNBA and the players’ union continue collective bargaining negotiations, there are developments regarding salary structure in the league’s latest proposal. The changes could temper a longstanding gripe by professional women’s basketball players: that their compensation is not commensurate with the gargantuan salaries made by male pro hoops players — as they shoulder the shared burden of scrutiny from bettors and fans alike.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the league’s latest proposal includes language that defines a maximum salary structure with a guaranteed $1 million base for 2026 and projected revenue sharing pushing total earnings for max-salary players to more than $1.2 million. This follows an agreement to extend the current labor agreement to Jan. 9
The average player’s salary is projected to exceed $500,000 in 2026, while the minimum salary is projected to be more than $225,000 — up from approximately $102,000 and $66,000, respectively, in 2025.
Institutional support
Once the WNBA season starts, Siegrist said she drastically reduces her social media use to keep her mind clear of clutter and keep the focus on basketball.
“You have to take it for what it is. Obviously, social media helps you build your brand, stay connected,” she said. “From that perspective, it’s great. It’s really allowed athletes to monetize off of themselves, and it gives fans a unique perspective into seeing these people’s lives, which I think is great.
“Twitter [now known as X] is the worst. I definitely try to not go on at all during the season. … Sometimes I like to scroll on TikTok, take my mind off stuff. But I don’t ‘like’ anything that has to do with the WNBA on TikTok. I think for me, it’s definitely a balance.”
The WNBA has taken steps to combat hate and negative fan behavior directed at the league’s players and personnel. Earlier this year, the league launched the “No Space for Hate” initiative, a “multidimensional platform designed to combat hate and promote respect across all WNBA spaces — from online discourse to in-arena behavior.”
One of the campaign’s goals is the use of artificial intelligence to safeguard the players’ and teams’ social media pages and to automatically detect, report, and delete hate speech and harassment.
“As interest in sports betting grows around the WNBA, we are taking clear, concrete steps to protect players and safeguard the integrity of the game. Player safety remains our highest priority,” the WNBA said in a statement. “We’ve enhanced security, expanded monitoring of online threats, and increased fan education. We are also working closely with our gaming partners to monitor betting activity and ensure our systems protect the game. These safeguards are constantly being reviewed and strengthened to ensure we keep the players safe and our game secure.”
Around the time the WNBA launched “No Space for Hate,” sportsbook behemoth BetMGM announced its partnership with the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces. BetMGM also is an authorized gaming partner with the league.
Even while injured, Caitlin Clark (right), here with another former top overall pick in Aliyah Boston, generates a ton of buzz around the WNBA. “The NBA and WNBA are very different in terms of scale and seasonality — the NBA is a much bigger league, but both have shown strong year-over-year growth,” said BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini. “The WNBA benefits from its summer schedule when there’s less competition for attention, and star power like Caitlin Clark has driven a major uptick in engagement. Even after Clark’s injury this [2025] season, handle remained well above pre-Clark levels, which speaks to the league’s momentum.”
Cipollini said BetMGM — and the gaming industry as a whole — is committed to sports integrity.
“That includes athlete harassment, and we’re working with the leagues on this issue from several angles,” he said.
Historical perspective
During his 42 years (1978-2020) as head coach of the Villanova women’s basketball team, Harry Perretta said gambling on women’s college basketball was never an issue for him and his players, simply because the interest wasn’t there. Of course, the bulk of Perretta’s Villanova coaching career unfolded before the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that legalized sports betting state to state.
“I guess you always might have bookies on campus. But I used to tell [players], ‘You really don’t want to get involved,’” said Perretta, 70. “People who get themselves in trouble are people who make bets without putting money down. Next thing you know, they’re behind the eight ball.”
There was that 1998 ’Nova-UConn women’s game, though. Nykesha Sales was on the cusp of becoming Connecticut’s career scoring leader before she sustained a devastating Achilles injury. But before UConn’s game against Villanova, Perretta and longtime UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma agreed to let Sales score an uncontested basket after tipoff to reach the milestone. Villanova then was allowed to score its uncontested basket, before the “real” game began. Then-Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese also had agreed to the gesture.
“We let Sales score a basket, and I checked to see if there was an over/under on that game,” Perretta said. “I checked out of curiosity. When we let her score the two [points], and then Connecticut let us score two, I didn’t want anybody saying something crazy. There was no betting on that game, but I checked. That did go through my mind when that whole sequence occurred.”
In the final two years of Perretta’s Villanova tenure — during which he coached Siegrist, Perretta said he started to see a lot more betting lines on women’s college basketball games, particularly around the start of the NCAA Tournament. The dual salvos of legalized sports betting and amateur athletes securing name, image, and likeness deals had reshaped the sports landscape.
Siegrist — who married Perretta’s son Stephen, a Drexel assistant women’s basketball coach, in late October — said that going back to her ’Nova playing days, players were consistently educated on the dangers of associating with any illegal gambling operation or people within that culture.
“I have it ingrained from college and the NCAA, ‘No gambling ever, or else you’re not going to be able to play.’ I’ve tried to keep that mentality,” Siegrist said.
The bigger challenge, she said, is now balancing her career in the online sports wagering fishbowl.
“People are crazy. They’ll post something from five years ago and comment a hundred times, ‘You suck.’ It’s a pain to go through and delete it all,” Siegrist said. “The Wings pay a company to manage social media, the outside comments, and take them down right away if they’re threatening or hate[-related]. We’re going to see more and more of that, which I think is great.
“These leagues and organizations are just trying to protect their players. At the end of the day, everyone is just trying to play the game they love to the best of their abilities. When you try and focus on that, these are all ways to keep the main thing the main thing.”