Mariners To Limit Yusei Kikuchi's Innings In First Season

The Seattle Mariners plan to limit starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi's innings in his first year in the big leagues in order to acclimate him from the Japanese routine of starting every six to seven days. The M's still want him to make 30-plus starts, but he'll go shorter every five starts or so. It shouldn't […]

Dan Quinn To Take Over Defensive-Coordinator Duties

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn will take over the defensive-coordinator duties in 2019 after the team fired defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel this week. Quinn also took over play-calling duties on defense in the final quarter of the 2016 season when the Falcons made their Super Bowl run. Atlanta's D was ravaged by injuries to […]

David Robertson Agrees With Phillies

Free-agent relief pitcher David Robertson agreed to a two-year deal that will guarantee him at least $23 million with the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. He will make $10 million this year, $11 million in 2020 and has a $12 million club option ($2 million buyout) for the 2021 season. Robertson went 8-3 with a 3.23 […]

Ryan Grant Won't Play Against Texans

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich officially ruled out wide receiver Ryan Grant (toe) for the wild-card game on Saturday against the Texans. It doesn't mean much for those in fantasy, as Grant hadn't caught more than two passes since Oct. 4 against the Patriots, and he scored his only touchdown of the year on […]

T.Y. Hilton Not Practicing Thursday

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (ankle) is missing practice again on Thursday. Hilton has rarely practiced in the last month but he will play in the wild-card game on Saturday against the Texans. The 29-year-old has owned the Texans in his career and had nine catches on 12 targets for 199 yards against them […]

Keke Coutee Will Be Game-Time Decision

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said that rookie wide receiver Keke Coutee (hamstring) "has a shot" to play in the wild-card game against the Colts on Saturday, but he will be a game-time decision. Coutee has been bothered by hamstring issues off and on all year and missed the final five games of the […]

Melvin Gordon Practicing In Full, Austin Ekeler Limited

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (ankle) is practicing in full on Wednesday, while backup Austin Ekeler (groin) was limited. Ekeler is dealing with a new injury after returning in Week 17, but both backs should be ready to go for the wild-card game against the Ravens on Sunday. Gordon hasn't looked like himself […]

Chicago Wideouts Should Play This Weekend

Chicago Bears wide receivers Allen Robinson (ribs), Taylor Gabriel (ribs) and Anthony Miller (shoulder) all practiced in full on Wednesday. Robinson sat out in Week 17 and Miller was forced from the game, but it looks like the team's top three wideouts will be available in the wild-card game against the Eagles on Sunday. Chicago […]

No Timetable For Yoenis Cespedes' Return

New York Mets special assistant Omar Minaya said there is no timetable for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (heels) in 2019. "If he gives us anything this year, that is great, we're happy for that," Minaya said. A top-shelf outfielder when healthy, Cespedes just hasn't been able to stay on the field for long stretches of time […]

No Decision Made On Hunter Henry's Availability

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said a decision has not been made on whether tight end Hunter Henry (knee) will play in the wild-card game against the Ravens on Sunday. If Henry does play, he will be on a pitch count after not playing at all in 2018. That means that even if […]

T.Y. Hilton Missing Practice Wednesday

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (ankle) is missing practice for a second straight day on Wednesday. Hilton rarely practiced in the final weeks of the regular season but never missed a game and was able to produce on the field. He has a history of lighting up the Texans and is fully expected to […]

Steelers Fed Up With Antonio Brown?

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is likely to be dealt this offseason, in the opinion of NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala. Head coach Mike Tomlin said there is "certainly" a point when talent isn't worth the headache, and the Steelers may have reached that point with the talented yet diva-like wideout. Multiple teammates are done […]

Phillies To Meet With Bryce Harper

The Philadelphia Phillies remain interested in free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper as they negotiate with free-agent shortstop Manny Machado. A person close to Harper says that the Phillies have a face-to-face meeting with Harper in "the next week or so" in Harper's hometown of Las Vegas. Philadelphia met with Harper's representatives in Vegas as the winter […]

Eli Manning's Future Up In The Air

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman isn't necessarily committed to keeping quarterback Eli Manning as the starter in 2019. "I'm committed to making the best decision in the interest of the Giants. We’re in the evaluation process. I know you want answers now," Gettleman said. Manning turns 38 on Thursday and is clearly fading […]

Giants Won't Trade Odell Beckham Jr.

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said the team has no plans to trade wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the offseason. “We didn’t sign him to trade him," Gettleman said. OBJ missed the final four games of the season due to a quadriceps injury, but he still managed to go over the 1,000-yard […]

Troy Tulowitzki Agrees With Yankees

The New York Yankees agreed with free-agent shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on an agreement for the league minimum on Tuesday, according to league sources. The Blue Jays will pay the remainder of his $20 million salary for 2019 after releasing him last month. Tulo missed all of 2018 after multiple surgeries on his heels and played […]

Lions, Jim Bob Cooter Part Ways

The Detroit Lions and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter mutually agreed to part ways on Tuesday, according to a source. The Lions finished the year ranked 24th in yards per game (327.3), 20th in passing yards per game (223.5), 23rd in rushing yards per game (103.8) and 25th in points per game (20.3). Cooter wasn't […]

Keke Coutee Practices In Full

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Keke Coutee (hamstring) practiced in full on Wednesday for the first time since he aggravated his hamstring against the Titans back on Nov. 26. Coutee has missed the last five games and has played in only six contests all year. He has a chance to return for the wild-card matchup […]

Steelers Highly Unlikely To Trade Antonio Brown

Although Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown caused another headache for the organization when he got into a dustup with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger before practice last Wednesday which led to him being inactive in Week 17, the Steelers are unlikely to trade Brown, at least before June 1. Pittsburgh would absorb a $21.12 million dead-money […]

T.Y. Hilton, Ryan Grant Miss Practice

Indianapolis Colts wide receivers T.Y. Hilton (ankle), Ryan Grant (toe) and Zach Pascal (knee) were all estimated to sit out of the walkthrough practice on Tuesday. All three should be able to play in the wild-card game against the Texans on Saturday. Hilton hasn't practiced much of all to close out the season but he […]

Antonio Brown Requesting Trade

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has requested a trade, according to a source. It's unlikely the Steelers owners will accommodate his wishes, but Brown has issues with head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Brown reportedly had an incident with Big Ben before practice last Wednesday, decided not to show up the rest […]

Keke Coutee Has Shot To Play In Wild-Card Game

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said that rookie wide receiver Keke Coutee (hamstring) has a shot to play in the wild-card game this Saturday against the Colts. “Definitely, I think he’s trending that way," O'Brien said. "I think there’s a shot. We have to see how he looks in practice on a day-to-day basis, […]

Yusei Kikuchi In Agreement With Mariners

Updating a previous report, Japanese left-handed starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi is in agreement on an undisclosed deal with the Seattle Mariners, according to sources. Kikuchi is expected to have a rotation spot in a pitcher-friendly park in his first year in the States. The 27-year-old doesn't come with a lot of fanfare but posted a […]

Mariners Close To Agreement With Yusei Kikuchi

The Seattle Mariners are apparently nearing a deal with Japanese left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi on Monday night, according to league sources. He must sign a deal with a club before the posting deadline on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Kikuchi had a 3.08 ERA with 153 strikeouts and 45 walks in 163 2/3 innings in his last […]

Kerryon Johnson Says His Knee Is Fine

Detroit Lions rookie running back Kerryon Johnson (knee) was conservatively shut down before the regular season ended, but he said his knee is in good shape on Monday and said he probably would've been able to play in the playoffs. Prior to Johnson's injury on Nov. 18, he was trending toward a 1,000-yard season but […]

Todd Gurley Expected To Play In Divisional Round

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that he expects running back Todd Gurley (knee) to play in the divisional round on Jan. 12. “I think it’s been making good progress. He’s feeling good,” McVay told reporters. “He came in today and everything was positive with what we’re getting from [senior director of sports […]

Cardinals Fire Byron Leftwich, Al Holcomb

The Arizona Cardinals fired interim offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and defensive coordinator Al Holcomb on Monday, according to a source. Leftwich took over midseason after the team fired Mike McCoy, and the Cardinals finished dead last in yards per game (241.6), dead last in passing yards per game (157.7), dead last in rushing yards per […]

Antonio Brown's Week 17 Absence Wasn't Injury-Related

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown's Week 17 absence against the Bengals had nothing to do with his knee injury, but instead he was inactive because he elected to sit out of practice all last week after an unspecified dispute with a teammate. Brown became disgusted at one of his teammates and threw a football […]

LeSean McCoy To Return In 2019

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said that running back LeSean McCoy is in the team's plans for 2019, the final year of his contract. 2018 was the worst season of McCoy's career, as he rushed for just 514 yards (3.2 yards per carry) and three touchdowns on 161 attempts. He also had 34 catches […]

Dan Quinn, Falcons Overhaul Coaching Staff

The Atlanta Falcons fired offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel and special teams coach Keith Armstrong on Monday, according to sources. The Falcons were a huge disappointment on both sides of the ball in 2018. The issues on defense were mainly due to key injuries early in the season. The offense underachieved under […]