AC Milan and United States star Christian Pulisic is headed back to Italy after international duty with a hamstring injury, and although the U.S. winger still has to be fully evaluated by his club, reports say he could be sidelined for nearly a month.

That would mean Pulisic would not only miss Sunday’s match against Fiorentina but also Serie A matches against Pisa, Atalanta, Roma and Parma as the friendly matches played by the U.S. could cost Milan dearly.

Despite the reports, a source told ESPN that Pulisic’s return flight to Milan had been delayed and that he was still in the United States, adding that no scans had been done yet to determine the extent of his injury.

Pulisic has been Milan’s best player by far this season, with six goals and two assists in seven matches before a rare missed penalty in a goalless draw against Juventus before the international break.

Pulisic, 27, was slowed by a right ankle injury last week and only entered Friday’s 1-1 draw against Ecuador in the 73rd minute. Despite that — and the matches only being friendlies — he started Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Australia but was forced off after 26 minutes with an apparent hamstring injury.

After the match, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino suggested the change in climate and altitude between the team’s first game in Austin and the game against Australia in Denver as a possible contributing factor to Pulisic’s injury.

“I think it’s a thing that is a massive risk. I don’t want to say that Christian or if it’s something because, but I think it was really tough for the player,” Pochettino said. “We know to prepare the game and then to play. We got really sad about this [Pulisic] situation because I think it is difficult.

“I think the [temperature] difference [between Austin and Colorado] and that can affect your body and everything. That is difficult. But yes, that is a thing that we need to fix for the future when we come from Europe because [the altitude] can affect [things].”

The Rossoneri will hope to have him back at least for the derby match against Inter Milan on Nov. 23 — after the next international break.

Milan is third in Serie A, two points below AS Roma and defending champion Napoli.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story. ESPN writer Jeff Carlisle was also a contributor.

With the New Orleans Saints struggling at 1-5 to start the NFL season, trade rumors have been swirling in the “Big Easy” around its stars, especially running back Alvin Kamara. 

Kamara has said it before, but he’ll say it again: he wants to stay put in New Orleans. 

“I think I’ve been vocal enough. I don’t want to go anywhere. I’ve said it countless times. I think everybody knows that – y’all know that, the fan base knows that,” he said, via ESPN. 

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There was a report from NFL Network that said Saints general manager Mickey Loomis approached Kamara after he received interest from other teams about trading for the veteran back. The report added that Loomis asked Kamara if there was anywhere he wanted to go. 

That’s news to Kamara and Loomis, according to No. 41. 

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“We talked about [the report] and we was looking at each other like the Spider-Man meme. ‘Did you say something? Did I say something?’” Kamara said, laughing. “…At the end of the day, it’s business.”

Kamara knows how cold the NFL can be, but while he may not have the upper-hand with something like a no-trade clause, the nine-year vet does have an ace up his sleeve: retirement. 

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 28, 2025.  (Mark Konezny/Imagn Images)

“If I was a GM, I guess I would go to the player and be like, ‘Hey, we’re trading you. Just to let you know.’ If Mickey comes down and says that, then I’ll go drink a piña colada somewhere,” Kamara told reporters.

Kamara, who is set to turn 30 next July, is no stranger to trade rumors. Last summer, he was focused on getting a new contract from the Saints, and he never wavered from wanting to remain in place. The Saints, who took him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, eventually gave him an extension during the regular season in 2024 that keeps him in place through the 2026 campaign. 

“I want to be a Saint for a long time, for as long as my career goes,” Kamara said last season. “That’s all I’m looking for, really.” 

Kamara isn’t the only Saints player teams have reportedly checked in on. Wide receiver Chris Olave is also someone who could be moved by the deadline. 

Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints looks on before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sept. 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)

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Through six games this season, Kamara has rushed for 314 yards on 83 carries and a touchdown, while hauling in 22 passes from Spencer Rattler for 122 yards.

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CINCINNATI — Ten days ago, Joe Flacco didn’t know whether he’d get to experience again what he felt Thursday night.

Last week, Flacco was a quarterback who had been benched in his 18th NFL season. On Thursday night, he celebrated another comeback win in the AFC North.

Nine days after his trade to the Cincinnati Bengals, he led his new club to a 33-31 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium. Needing points on the final drive to win, Flacco propelled the offense down the field, with kicker Evan McPherson‘s 36-yard field goal with seven seconds left sealing the victory.

Flacco acknowledged the uncertainty he had felt about getting back to the position he was in Thursday night.

“It felt like I might not, to be honest with you,” Flacco said. “It’s pretty special.”

In the second game following his trade from the Cleveland Browns, the 40-year-old helped Cincinnati snap a four-game losing streak. He was 31-of-47 passing for 342 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was the first win for the Bengals (3-4) since starting quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in Week 2.

Burrow watched from the sideline with a walking boot on his left foot as Flacco made plays in the closing minutes to prevent Cincinnati from a devastating collapse. The Bengals trailed by a point after leading for the bulk of the contest when Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers with 2:21 left.

But in his 23rd regular-season game against the Steelers (4-2), Flacco delivered. With Cincinnati on the cusp of field goal range, he hit wide receiver Tee Higgins for a 28-yard completion down the left sideline that made McPherson’s kick a relatively easy one.

McPherson is among those who have enjoyed having the veteran quarterback on their team.

“I love his attitude and what he brings to the team,” said McPherson, who now has eight career tying or go-ahead kicks in the final two minutes of a regular-season contest. “He’s done a really good job connecting with guys on a really short notice.”

Flacco did most of his connecting with Higgins and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase against the Steelers. Chase set a franchise record with 16 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown. It was his ninth game with more than 150 receiving yards, passing Jerry Rice for the second most in the first five seasons of an NFL career.

Chase again praised the franchise’s decision to acquire Flacco to be the starting quarterback.

“It’s honestly good having him here for us,” Chase said. “Organization made a big jump on him. We believed in him. We got him. He came in, doing his thing and showing off for us.”

Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Flacco’s experience was crucial in a game that Cincinnati “needed to have.” And the veteran almost made it look effortless.

“It’s easy for him,” Taylor said. “And it’s not, because he’s putting in the work. He’s so experienced in this situation. You gain a lot of confidence from that because he goes out there [and] it’s not too big.”

Last week, Flacco was going down Interstate 75, talking to Taylor on the phone as the coach started explaining as much of the playbook as quickly as possible. Despite his experience, Flacco wanted to make sure he didn’t waste an opportunity.

On Thursday night, Flacco talked about the relief his family probably felt to see him complete another game. In his postgame news conference, Flacco said he was eager to hear how that relief morphed into excitement.

“I can’t wait to talk to my wife tonight and just hear it in her voice and all those things,” Flacco said. “Talking to [family] reminds you of how special this is.”