Latest news with #Jefferson
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sky sign Sevgi Uzun to rest-of-season contract as injuries pile up
The Chicago Sky have an injury problem. This week, the front office finally took steps toward relieving the problem by waiving Moriah Jefferson and signing Turkish guard Sevgi Uzun. Additions to the injury report piled up throughout the last week, culminating in a dismal availability report for Sunday's game at the United Center. Angel Reese is expected to return from a back injury Tuesday against the Washington Mystics, but the rest of the roster is still mostly battered from a grueling season. Ariel Atkins is no closer to returning after suffering a leg injury shortly before the All-Star break. Michaela Onyenwere is attempting to play through a leg injury and Hailey Van Lith has been in and out with an ankle injury. And all of these absences are predicated on the season-ending injury suffered by starting point guard Courtney Vandersloot in June, a loss that deeply impacted the depth of the Sky roster. Jefferson has never been healthy since joining the Sky at the 2024 All-Star break. She appeared in only five games this season and managed to play more than eight minutes in a game only once. The guard tallied a total of 159 minutes for the Sky over two half-seasons. General manager Jeff Pagliocca previously told the Tribune that the Sky planned to maintain Jefferson's contract for two reasons — primarily in the hopes that the guard would return to full health, but additionally to provide time to scout and recruit players who were competing in EuroBasket. Although the Sky did ultimately replace Jefferson with a European player, this is more of a stopgap solution for the team than a major swing on an international star, such as the New York Liberty made in acquiring Emma Meesseman last week. A 27-year-old veteran of the Turkish SuperLeague, Uzun will offer another option at the point guard position, which the Sky had previously been filling by committee with help from Van Lith and shooting guard Rachel Banham. Uzun did not submit herself to the WNBA draft during her early years of eligibility, making her debut in the league last season with the Dallas Wings. She averaged 4.4 points, 3 assists and 0.9 steals per game with the Wings while starting in 19 of her 40 appearances. Uzun started the 2025 WNBA season on a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury, where she worked her way onto the main roster for seven games before being waived to participate in EuroBasket with the Turkish national team. While Uzun's addition will accommodate the severe loss of depth in the Sky roster due to injury, the front office still faces a growing list of needs heading into the Aug. 7 trade deadline and a pivotal offseason.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Are Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson the top NFL QBs? A look at the new Madden 99 club
In what's become an annual conversation piece around this time of year, EA Sports released the latest class of the Madden 99 Club. The Madden 99 Club is a group of players who earn the exclusive '99' rating in the video game. Since 2002, 99 is the highest rating a player can achieve (there were a few 100s awarded by the game in its earlier days). Here's the 99 Club Class of Madden NFL 26: For five of the seven players, it's their first time receiving the honor. It's the second time for Garrett, who also received the top rating in Madden NFL 23, and the second time for Jefferson, who was part of the club in Madden NFL 24. Introducing your official #Madden26 99 Club Class! Sundays Start Early! 7 Days Early Access Begins 8/7*. 🔗: | #Madden26Ratings — Madden NFL 26 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 28, 2025 One distinction for this year's class is that there is no carryover from the previous year. For context, this is the first time since Madden NFL 2002 that there was not at least one member carried over from the last iteration of the game. Through the years, some dominant runs by individual players have helped keep that streak alive. Advertisement No player in the league received a 99 rating in Madden NFL 2001. However, from Madden NFL 2002 through Madden NFL 06, Ray Lewis received a 99 rating for five consecutive years. From Madden NFL 06 through Madden NFL 11, Peyton Manning carried a 99 rating for six straight years, until he missed a full season due to injury. Darrelle Revis had three consecutive top-rated years from Madden NFL 11 through Madden NFL 13. Calvin Johnson carried the torch from Madden NFL 13 through Madden NFL 15. J.J. Watt went four straight years, from Madden NFL 14 through Madden NFL 17. Then came the longest stretch in the history of the game, when Aaron Donald received a 99 rating every year from Madden NFL 18 through Madden NFL 24 (Von Miller helped keep the streak alive of having at least one player carry over by appearing at the top in Madden NFL 17 and Madden NFL 18, before Donald took off). Last year's class of the 99 Club featured Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, 49ers tackle Trent Williams and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Hill dropping out is not a surprise. Although the receiver is supremely talented, he had a down year in 2024. After consecutive years of over 1,700 yards receiving, Hill had just 959 yards receiving in 17 games last season. His six touchdown receptions also were tied for the lowest in his career, which first occurred in his rookie season in 2016. Despite playing in 16 games, Kelce had 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Both figures are the lowest of his career, not counting his rookie season in 2013, in which he only played one snap. Injuries hurt the cases of both 49ers stars on last year's list. McCaffrey played just four games in 2024 while Williams played in 10. Advertisement That leads us to Mahomes, who is widely regarded as the best quarterback in the NFL. Mahomes received a 99 rating in four of the last five Madden NFL games before this year, missing the cut only in Madden NFL 23, where he had a 95 rating. That ensuing season, Mahomes threw for a career-high 5,250 yards, 41 touchdowns, claimed league MVP honors and led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory over the Eagles. Now, coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, Mahomes drops from the top rating while two quarterbacks, Allen and Jackson, get their first-ever 99 rating. In last year's NFL Top 100 list, which the players vote on, Jackson was the top-ranked quarterback at No. 2 overall, while Mahomes came just behind at No. 4 overall. In 2020, Jackson was the top overall player on the NFL's Top 100 list, while Mahomes was No. 4. Mahomes has been the top player on the list twice, in 2021 and 2023. So, this isn't foreign territory for Mahomes, especially as it relates to coming behind Jackson in a league-wide ranking. Jackson and Allen being the highest-rated quarterbacks in the game this year is well-deserved and shouldn't come as a surprise after the two had a tight race for league MVP honors last season, which Allen narrowly won. However, Mahomes' ability to perform in the most significant moments is indisputable, as evidenced by his dominance in the AFC. Even in a down year in 2024 as a full-season starter, Mahomes' 3,928 passing yards were the lowest of his career, and his 26 touchdown passes were tied for the lowest of his career. However, Mahomes led his team to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs beat Allen's Bills in the AFC Championship Game, after the Bills defeated Jackson's Ravens in the round before. The year before, Mahomes beat Allen's Bills in the divisional round before taking care of Jackson's Ravens in the conference championship. Overall, Mahomes' presence has given the Chiefs a stranglehold on the AFC, a conference that also features Allen, Jackson and Joe Burrow. Aside from a one-year Burrow cameo in the Super Bowl, it's been Mahomes on the biggest stage for more than half a decade.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson joins exclusive club for Madden 26
The Madden video game has become a staple and one of the most culturally significant video games in the industry's history. So many others have come and gone, but the game that dons the name of the legendary coach and broadcaster remains the king of the sports video game mountain. Now, a fun aspect of the game that has become a special time for fans and players alike is when the game unveils its highest-rated players. The highest rating a player can achieve is 99 overall, the same applies to their traits. In one instance, Devin Hester earned a 100 speed rating, but other than that, no one has touched the triple digits, so 99 overall remains an achievement each player in the NFL holds dear. For Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, he is a member of the 99 club for the third time in his career. Jefferson is joined by Lane Johnson, Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley, Josh Allen, Ja'Marr Chase, and Myles Garrett. While Jefferson may be missing time during training camp and the preseason, he is at least making his impact felt on video game players on the virtual field.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring) to miss some practice time
Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson will miss time in training camp as he deals with a left hamstring strain, coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Friday. Jefferson did not practice Friday after leaving Thursday's practice about a third of the way through the session, telling reporters he felt "tightness" in both legs. He cited his experience from the 2023 season when he missed seven games with a torn right hamstring as a reason to be cautious. The four-time Pro Bowler and 2022 Offensive Player of the Year was sent for an MRI exam after Thursday's practice and was diagnosed with what O'Connell called a "very mild" strain in his left hamstring, notably not the same spot as the 2023 injury. "The best thing is, we avoided anything serious. I see no concerns in regards to the opener," O'Connell said Friday. "I have no worry at all that we'll be able to get Justin ready to go for the regular season." O'Connell said Jefferson will be reevaluated next week. After leading the NFL in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) in 2022, Jefferson reached the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season in 2023 despite the hamstring injury. He started 17 games last season, notching 1,533 yards on 103 catches to go with 10 TD receptions. Drafted in the first round (22nd overall) in 2020, Jefferson has 495 catches for 7,432 yards and 40 touchdowns in 77 career games (74 starts). His career average of 96.5 receiving yards per game is the highest in NFL history. The Vikings open the season against the host Chicago Bears on Monday, Sept. 8. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
New York Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Justin Jefferson suffers hamstring strain in potential Vikings training camp concern
Justin Jefferson left practice Thursday with a left hamstring strain, but the injury may not be anything to worry about. An MRI revealed a 'mild strain' in the Vikings' star wide receiver's left hamstring after he removed himself from training camp and is expected to be re-evaluated next week, according to ESPN. Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell said he doesn't anticipate it being long before Jefferson is back between the lines. Advertisement Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) takes part in drills during the team's NFL football training camp Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Eagan, Minn. AP 'The best thing is we avoided anything serious,' O'Connell said. 'I see no concerns in regards to [Week 1] and have no worry at all that we'll be able to get Justin ready to go for the regular season.' Jefferson echoed the same sentiment, saying after the workout that he pulled himself off the field out of precaution. Advertisement 'With the past recent injuries and the stuff that I had gone through before, just taking precautions and understanding that it's the second day of camp — not the 30th,' Jefferson said. 'Just making sure that I'm fully healthy and I'm good to go, especially when the season starts.' Jefferson is working with new quarterback J.J. McCarthy in camp after 2024 starter Sam Darnold jumped ship for Seattle in free agency. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) walks across the field during an NFL football team practice Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Eagan, Minn. AP O'Connell added that he has 'no worries about [Jefferson's absence] having an overall impact or effect on that dynamic or anything with our offense.' Advertisement '… I think those guys have already developed a rapport,' O'Connell said of Jefferson and McCarthy. Jefferson, 26, missed seven games in 2023 with a hamstring injury. The four-time Pro Bowler is coming off one of the best seasons of his young career, catching 103 passes for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns.
