Latest news with #ACL
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots' Stefon Diggs $63.5M Deal Named One of NFL's Riskiest Offseason Moves
Patriots' Stefon Diggs $63.5M Deal Named One of NFL's Riskiest Offseason Moves originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Making splash signings and bringing in seasoned vets was a cornerstone of the New England Patriots' early offseason strategy this year. Under new leadership, the Patriots roster has been transformed from one of the NFL's worst to one of the league's best. Advertisement However, that transformation has not come without criticism, at least for one free agent signing that is now being deemed as one of the NFL's "riskiest" this year. According to Kristopher Knox at Bleach Report, New England's decision to bring in Stefon Diggs as their No. 1 receiver on a three-year, $63.5 million deal, is "questionable" to say the least. "If Diggs cannot regain his Pro Bowl form, he could become a pricey bust for the Patriots," Knox said. "New England isn't expected to be playoff-relevant in 2025—which may be why it needed to spend so lavishly to attract an aging, injured receiver. New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) has the ball sail past his grip during minicamp at Gillette Canha-Imagn Images Diggs, at 31-years-old, is returning from a torn ACL and is now about 10 months into his recovery. The star receiver fully participated in OTAs and mandatory minicamp, but Knox questions is even questioning his ability pre-injury. Advertisement "Diggs' production tapered a bit at the end of the 2023 season, and he looked a lot more like a No. 2 receiver with the Houston Texans in 2024 before the ACL tear," Knox said. Knox did have one silver lining for Patriots fans who may be frustrated to hear concerns over the Diggs signing: second-year quarterback Drake Maye needs as much help as he can get early in his career. Having a veteran receiver could be very beneficial to Maye, even if Diggs' production is not as good as years past. Related: Patriots Are 'Light Years Better' Heading Into 2025 NFL Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
City docs debate new ligament op method
Kolkata: A 31-year-old man underwent arthroscopic ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction using a biological augmentation implant, combined with the patient's own tendon graft. Doctors at Woodlands Hospital said this was the first case of a biological implant being used in such a surgery in Bengal. They said recovery takes about three months, compared to the conventional procedure where recovery could take a year. The ACL is a ligament in the knee that helps stabilise the joint by preventing the shin bone from sliding too far forward relative to the thigh bone. "This biological implant promotes faster graft healing and bone integration. While it is a boost for athletes, where long lay-offs often mean muscle loss and mental strain, it can be used on others with ligament tears," said orthopaedic surgeon Arnab Karmakar, who performed the procedure on Thursday. Debraj Das, who had the surgery, is not a professional athlete, but he regularly swims and goes on hikes. He was discharged on Friday. While a section of doctors are sceptical about this new device, which came to India about six months ago, it has been used in the US for a few years now. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo "There is not much data available on this device in India, and hence, it will be difficult to assess its merit over conventional reconstruction," said an orthopaedic surgeon from a Kolkata hospital. Karmakar said the bio-absorbable material in the device does not cause allergic reaction as it mimics collagen tissues, which get absorbed and convert into ligament. "The biggest disadvantage is the cost. In the past three to four months, I have used it on around seven patients, including athletes in Odisha," said arthroscopy surgeon Sarthak Patnaik, founder of Sports Science of India, the first sports medicine centre in Odisha.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Which new Bears veteran will make the biggest impact in 2025?
The Chicago Bears welcomed plenty of new faces to the roster this offseason, be it through free agency, trade or the NFL draft in new head coach Ben Johnson's first season. There were some key veteran additions made by general manager Ryan Poles, including the acquisitions of All-Pro guard Joe Thuney and guard Jonah Jackson via trade, as well as center Drew Dalman, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency. With that in mind, our Bears Wire staff is sharing their thoughts on which veteran newcomer is poised to have the biggest impact in 2025, and there are no shortage of options. Alyssa Barbieri: LG Joe Thuney The Bears made several impactful additions this offseason, most notably along the offensive line with guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, as well as center Drew Dalman. But when looking at those newcomers, Thuney has the potential to have the biggest impact given his resume and proven production. He's coming off an All-Pro season where he even kicked out to left tackle, but he thrived at left guard protecting Patrick Mahomes. Now, Thuney brings that experience, production and leadership to a revamped Chicago offensive line that will be crucial to quarterback Caleb Williams' success. And if rookie Ozzy Trapilo wins the starting left tackle job, Thuney will be even more crucial for Trapilo as he acclimates to the pro game. When push comes to shove, the Bears will only go as far as Williams takes them. And Williams will only go as far as his offensive line allows. Brendan Sugrue: DT Grady Jarrett With how much the Bears have retooled their offensive and defensive lines, there isn't a wrong answer to this question. Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson should all have a big impact on the offensive line this year. But I'm going with Grady Jarrett, who provides much-needed leadership for the defensive front. Jarrett may be on the downswing of his career, but having a full year removed from his torn ACL should allow for a bounce-back season, even though his 2024 campaign was solid. His 30 solo tackles and nine tackles for loss would have led all Bears defensive interior linemen last year. Jarrett still has enough left in the tank, and his presence should elevate the rest of the defensive line. Outside of his performance on the field, Jarrett is a true leader in the locker room, something the Bears were missing on the defensive line last year. His ability to lead and take young players such as Gervon Dexter and Shemar Turner under his wing shouldn't go unnoticed. Jarrett is someone who can provide a spark on and off the field that the Bears haven't seen from the position since Akiem Hicks. Mike Pendleton: LG Joe Thuney Protecting Caleb Williams is of the utmost importance, but more than that, Thuney is the most accomplished veteran the Bears acquired this offseason. While getting the offensive line performance to be better than the disaster they were last year will be a big key, but being able to establish a relationship with Caleb Williams and teach him along the way could be critical for the offense. Thuney also provides veteran leadership, multiple Super Bowl championships, and experience that is hard to match in the NFL. His talent is undeniable, but so is his leadership, and he should quickly help establish a winning attitude and positive culture inside the locker room. Ben Johnson and the offensive coaching staff may get all the attention for their work with Caleb Williams, but Joe Thuney could be one of the biggest mentors for the young quarterback looking to take the next step in his career. Vincent Parise: C Drew Dalman Developing Caleb Williams in Year 2 is the most important thing for the Chicago Bears. That is why their offensive line getting some upgrades was the biggest need of the offseason. For that reason, you could have chosen any of Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson or Joe Thuney as the veteran addition who will make the most impact. Drew Dalman gets the tiebreaker for being a center. It's been a very long time since Chicago has had a good center, and Dalman would love to change that narrative. Being the guy who directly hands the ball to Williams and plays a key role in protecting him, it is easy to understand his importance. If Dalman stays healthy and plays the style that earned him the contract, the Bears will see a major upgrade from what they've had. Having a great center will stabilize the line as a whole, which already looks much better than it's been. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
USC women's basketball's Kennedy Smith named to Team USA AmeriCup roster
Beginning next week, the 2025 Women's AmeriCup basketball tournament will take place in Santiago, Chile. On Thursday, Team USA released its roster for the tournament. Making the team was USC rising sophomore Kennedy Smith. Smith is coming off an impressive true freshman season at USC. On the year, she averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 2.0 assists per contest. 'Kennedy. Smith,' USC head women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb wrote on social media following the announcement. 'So dang proud. Great roster.' The AmeriCup tournament will run from June 28 through July 6. The U.S. teams consists of the top women's college basketball players in the country. (WNBA players are not able to participate due to it taking place in the middle of their season.) Were she healthy, USC's Juju Watkins would have likely been the headliner of the team. With Watkins currently recovering from the ACL tear she suffered during the NCAA Tournament, Smith is the only Trojan headed to Santiago.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
2026 NFL draft highlight: Cade Klubnik, Jeremiyah Love and the best names to know by position
NFL (via Getty Images) Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love lead the list of early 2026 NFL draft projections, with experts pointing out position-by-position stars consisting of the cream of the crop at wide receiver, offensive tackle, and edge rusher. Ten months away from the draft, early assessments provide an initial look at the players making some noise, as well as those going under the radar or mired in uncertainty brought about by injury or inconsistency. Cade Klubnik leads quarterbacks in early 2026 NFL draft expectations Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik sits atop both Matt Miller's and Jordan Reid's early QB lists, positioning himself as the leader after showing maturity and composure in big spots last year. Experts agree that Klubnik enters the season as the most NFL-ready under-center prospect, although competition is fierce. Behind Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), and LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) are vying for upper-tier status. Penn State's Drew Allar is still a divisive prospect; his phenomenal size and arm talent are on display, but his decision-making inconsistency renders him a red-flag pick. In Miller's words, Allar might go from QB1 to a Day 3 dart based on his play in 2025 Why Cade Klubnik is the No. 1 QB in 2025 😤 Jeremiyah Love leads a rich and varied running back class At running back, Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love gets early top-drawer billing for his mix of balance, speed, and vision. He is ranked second by Miller behind Texas's CJ Baxter and Oregon's Makhi Hughes. Reid's top five includes Nicholas Singleton (Penn State) and Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest). CJ Baxter's ranking comes with a warning sign—he comes off an ACL tear and will split the backfield with Quintrevion Wisner. Wisner's 1,000-yard season puts pressure on Baxter to rebound as an upper-tier rusher. Jaydn Ott, who moved to Oklahoma after a season derailed by injuries at Cal, is a bounce-back candidate to watch. Wide receiver class features Ja'Kobi Lane and Antonio Williams as early risers USC's Ja'Kobi Lane and Clemson's Antonio Williams head a talented but untested wide receiver class. Lane heads Reid's list, though Miller prefers Williams, with Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson and Georgia Tech's Eric Singleton Jr. closely behind. Lane, though big-bodied and productive in the red zone (12 TDs), requires more consistent yardage production to seal WR1 status. Elijah Sarratt of Indiana is emerging as a dark horse, especially after quarterback Fernando Mendoza transferred in. Sarratt's 987 yards last season hint at serious upside, particularly in contested catch scenarios. Key names dominate offensive line and defensive front rankings On the line, Francis Mauigoa of Miami and Spencer Fano of Utah anchor the offensive tackle rankings, showcasing immense upside in both pass protection and run blocking. Alabama's Kadyn Proctor remains a physical marvel but lacks consistent execution, a trait scouts will scrutinize in 2025. Defensively, T.J. Parker of Clemson and Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami lead the class of edge rushers. Peter Woods of Clemson is atop interior defensive linemen, followed closely by Tim Keenan III of Alabama and Penn State's Zane Durant. Caleb Banks of Florida is a name to keep in mind after he closed out last season strong. Safety and cornerback classes driven by up-and-coming stars and return from injury Caleb Downs of Ohio State and Kamari Ramsey of USC headline a strong safety contingent, with Oregon's Dillon Thieneman not much further behind. At cornerback, Tennessee's Jermod McCoy impressed observers with four interceptions, but a torn ACL obscures his 2025 prospects. Southern Miss's Josh Moten, who previously played at Texas A&M and Marshall, has come on as a possible breakout player because of his elite ball skills, but with reservations regarding his size. Also read: Shedeur Sanders shocks everyone at Browns camp after being ignored in NFL Draft It's still early in the cycle, but there are already multiple players angling to become first-rounders and others with make-or-break seasons approaching. Cade Klubnik, Jeremiyah Love, and Peter Woods have certainly raised the bar, though, as the 2026 NFL draft class is still wide open, with depth at almost every position. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
