FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and the NFL:
1. High five: The Patriots didn't play the majority of their starters in the preseason opener against t… [+10157 chars]

From Kyle Williams to K.J. Britt, here are the players whose performances should have them ascending the Patriots' ranks.

ESPN

Five Patriots who stood out in their first preseason game - espn.com

Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders badly overthrew his intended receiver on an interception against the Bears on Saturday, but he said the important thing was how he read the defense.
Sanders spotte… [+953 chars]

"Any decision I make, I know is the right decision, I just didn't execute the decision, but the right decision was made," Sanders said.

NBCSports.com

Shedeur Sanders on interception: I made the right read, right decision, just didn’t execute - nbcsports.com

Islam Makhachev (29-1 MMA) has successfully defended his UFC welterweight championship, defeating Irelands Ian Machado Garry (17-2 MMA) via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) while also setting… [+2586 chars]

Islam Makhachev records 17th UFC victory in a row in his welterweight title defeat of Ian Machado Garry.

Al Jazeera English

UFC 330: Makhachev secures record-setting win against Machado Garry - aljazeera.com

MASON, Ohio (AP) Novak Djokovics stay at the Cincinnati Open was a short one. It also might be his last.
The 24-time major champion fell to Thiago Agustin Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday in a matc… [+2420 chars]

Novak Djokovic’s stay at the Cincinnati Open was a short one. The 24-time major champion fell to Thiago Agustin Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday in a match that took 2 hours, 44 minutes in hot and humid conditions. A 25-year-old from Argentina, Tirante is ra…

Associated Press

Novak Djokovic ousted from Cincinnati Open in his first match since Wimbledon - AP News

Dallas Cowboys
Six takeaways from Cowboys preseason opener: Defense shows reason for confidence
SEATTLEFootball is (kind of) back!
The Dallas Cowboys kicked off their three-game preseason slate wi… [+6627 chars]

Preseason christens new stars each year, and the Dallas Cowboys may have fallen into one with undrafted rookie wide receiver Camden Brown in a win in Seattle.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Six takeaways from Cowboys preseason opener: Defense shows reason for confidence - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Aug 16, 2026, 12:36 AM ET
IRVINE, Calif. -- Lani Pallister of Australia stunned Katie Ledecky with her first international loss in the 800-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships on Saturda… [+5157 chars]

Lani Pallister of Australia stunned Katie Ledecky with her first international loss in the 800-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships.

Pallister hands Ledecky her first international 800 free loss - ESPN

Good players that are getting healthy is a good sign, Tracy said before the Red Sox 4-0 victory over the Pirates. Obviously weve still got to get them through the rehab outings. Its a combination of,… [+4097 chars]

“Good players that are getting healthy is a good sign,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy.

The Boston Globe

Could help be on the way? Trevor Story, Roman Anthony, Isiah Kiner-Falefa to begin minor league rehabs. - The Boston Globe

Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was lined up to take the ball in the final matchup of a three-game set against the Red Sox on Sunday. Instead, it’ll be a bullpen game for Pittsburgh. Manager Don Kel… [+3266 chars]

The Pirates are pushing back Paul Skenes after a discouraging outing earlier this week.

MLB Trade Rumors

Pirates Push Back Paul Skenes’ Next Start - MLB Trade Rumors

Mackenzie Dern impressively defended her strawweight title for the first time at UFC 330.
The BJJ specialist outslugged Virna Jandiroba to claim the vacant 115lb belt at UFC 321 in October 2025.
Gi… [+1450 chars]

Mackenzie Dern and Gillain Robertson fought for the strawweight title in the UFC 330 co-main event on Saturday night.

Bloody Elbow

Mackenzie Dern vs Gillian Robertson result: 115lb champ retains belt with dominant win at UFC 330 - Bloody Elbow

The Baltimore Ravens earned a 24-7 win in their 2026 preseason opener, securing a wire-to-wire victory in Jesse Minters head coaching debut.
Here is the Baltimore Beatdown staffs reaction to the win… [+1874 chars]

Baltimore Beatdown

Beatdown Roundtable: Reactions to the Ravens’ preseason win over the Eagles - Baltimore Beatdown

The NFL preseason is barely underway, and it didn't take long to be gifted what sure looks like the premier meme of the 2026 season.
And we have Michael Penix Jr. to thank for it.
The Atlanta Falco… [+1604 chars]

Michael Penix Jr.'s bewildered sideline reaction pointing at Tua Tagovailoa during the Falcons' preseason opener is already going viral as a meme.

Fox News

Michael Penix Jr and Tua Tagovailoa have already given us a potential 'Meme of the Year' contender - foxnews.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne both used their Hall of Fame speeches to serve as a love letter to basketball.
The sport has given so much to them, culminating with ensh… [+4075 chars]

Elena Delle Donne and Candace Parker’s WNBA career were intertwined with so many great moments. Now they are forever bonded being enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class Saturday night. They were joined by the 19…

Delle Donne and Parker inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in the 2026 class - AP News

This offseason, it became increasingly clear that the Lakers and Dodgers were morphing into one brain trust. As more and more front office executives jumped from the baseball team to the purple and g… [+2038 chars]

Despite the recent sale, the overlap of front offices between the Lakers and Dodgers will continue…for now.

Silver Screen and Roll 

‘Dodgerizing’ of Lakers to continue until sale official - Silver Screen and Roll

MassLive.com

Red Sox reactions: Three-run ninth secures another shutout win behind Sonny Gray - MassLive.com

The Baltimore Ravens got their first action of the 2026 season on Saturday night with a preseason matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The result of the game a 24-7 Ravens win matters a lot less … [+3845 chars]

Which Baltimore Ravens saw their stock rise or fall (or both!) in their preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles?

Ravens Stock Report: Rookie pass-catchers thrive, specialists struggle - Baltimore Beatdown

Edson Barboza called time on his epic MMA career after losing at UFC 330.
The Brazilian knockout artist fought Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson, and Justin Gaethje during his peak years. 
Sadly, … [+1555 chars]

Edson Barboza called time on his career after a 4th straight loss. #UFC330

Beloved KO artist cries hysterically as he retires in Joe Rogan interview after UFC 330 beating - Bloody Elbow

Follow baseball results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for BlueClaws vs. Cyclones at Maimonides Park

Milb.com

Gameday: BlueClaws 0, Cyclones 1 Final Score (08/15/2026) - MLB.com

The Detroit Lions returned to practice after their Thursday night preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. But on Saturday, it was a short, unpadded practice. Still, the intensity was up pret… [+7220 chars]

Breaking down the Detroit Lions’ 12th training camp practice.

Prideofdetroit.com

Lions training camp notes: Offense thrives in end-of-game scenarios - Pride Of Detroit

The New England Patriots first preseason game is in the books, but training camp rolls on. On Saturday, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel returned to the fields behind Gillette Stadium for a tickete… [+3747 chars]

Who caught our eye during the Patriots’ practice on Saturday, for better or worse.