Sports
Sources: QB Watson set for Browns return in ’26
Though quarterback Deshaun Watson is unlikely to play this season, the Cleveland Browns are planning to have him on their roster next season, league sources told ESPN.
The Browns opened the practice window on Watson on Wednesday, but they did so in order to give him his first practices this season so that he would not be away from football until next spring.
Their plan still is to get an extended look at both of their rookie quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Sanders will start his third NFL game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, and Gabriel played throughout the first half of the season. In a perfect world, the Browns rookies will play out this season and get as many reps as possible.
Cleveland’s goal always has been to get an extended look at its quarterbacks to see what it has, especially ahead of the 2026 NFL draft in which it is currently scheduled to have two first-round picks.
There are varied reasons the team expects Watson back next season, with money being a factor. Moving on from him would be costly, as the Browns would incur a dead salary cap charge of close to $135 million if they released him before June 1 and a $53 million cap charge if he were designated a post-June 1 cap casualty.
The record for dead cap money is the Denver Broncos with Russell Wilson at $85 million that was split into $53 million and $32 million charges over two years. Cutting ties with Watson could cost Cleveland substantially more.
As it is, Watson has a salary cap charge of $81.7 million in 2026, which will be highest number in NFL history.
The Browns believe Watson has contributed to their quarterback room and provided a veteran presence that has had value for their rookie quarterbacks. That’s another reason he was back at practice last week and is expected back with the team next season.
Sports
Transfer rumors, news: Saudi league eyes Salah, Vinícius Jr. plus 50 more
The Saudi Pro League has big plans to sign Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid‘s Vinícius Júnior, while Arsenal and Chelsea have held talks about a potential move for Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
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TRANSFERS TO WATCH
TRENDING RUMORS
– The Saudi Pro League (SPL) wants to focus on signing Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior this summer, according to The Daily Telegraph. Meanwhile, TalkSPORT claims they have plans to bring in 50 “peak-age foreign players” and a host of older players as well. The report names Salah and Vinicius Jr. as well as Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, and Manchester United midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. Al Ittihad could be one club in particular that is set for a major revamp with star players N’Golo Kanté, Fabinho and Karim Benzema potentially leaving.
– Arsenal and Chelsea have held talks about a potential move for Atletico Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, according to TEAMtalk, with the 25-year-old growing increasingly frustrated by life at the Metropolitano Stadium. Alvarez’s preferred option would be to join Barcelona, and the Catalan club admire him, but their financial situation would complicate any potential deal. Paris Saint-Germain also like the Argentina international and are aware of his situation, while if Alvarez were to consider a move to the Premier League it would only be for a club based in London.
– Chelsea are considering a move to sign Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz on loan for the rest of the season, says The Athletic. Luiz, 27, is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest and, despite not being a regular starter at the City Ground, the Brazil international is viewed as a player who can add quality and depth to the Chelsea midfield. Luiz’s loan at Forest includes a conditional obligation to sign him permanently based on a set number of appearances and a €30 million option if that number isn’t hit.
– Following Manchester United’s announcement that Casemiro will leave Old Trafford when his contract expires this summer, The Daily Mail has reported that LA Galaxy is one of the clubs to have shown an interest in signing the midfielder. The 33-year-old reportedly has interest from the Saudi Pro League, Brazilian Serie A and MLS, but his preference is to remain in Brazil, according to ESPN Brasil. Sources have also told ESPN that Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace‘s Adam Wharton and Brighton & Hove Albion‘s Carlos Baleba are three of United’s options to replace him.
– Liverpool see Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as an option for the summer transfer window if he becomes available, according to The Daily Mail. The 21-year-old could be the Eagles’ next big departure, after captain Marc Guéhi‘s £20 million move to Manchester City and the fact sources have told ESPN that star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta wants to leave. Even so, Liverpool will face competition from Real Madrid, Man United and a host of other top clubs for Wharton and will have to meet a valuation of around £80 million.
DONE DEALS
To follow…
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OTHER RUMORS
– Corinthians defender Iago Machado, 16, is being tracked by Arsenal. (Globo)
– A final decision regarding Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee is expected soon, with Roma among the clubs still wanting to sign the 24-year-old on loan. (Florian Plettenberg)
– Internazionale see Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario as the perfect replacement for Yann Sommer. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Fenerbahce have given the green light for Juventus to sign Youssef En-Nesyri on loan with an option to make the deal permanent. The package is worth €25 million plus bonuses and Juve are now in advanced talks with the striker. (Nicolo Schira)
– Juve haven’t given up on Jean-Philippe Mateta but have informed Crystal Palace that they won’t offer above €33 million for the striker. The proposal is a loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent if they qualify for the Champions League. (Nicolo Schira)
– PSV Eindhoven are reluctant to let winger Ivan Perisic join Internazionale, but the Nerazzurri‘s chances of completing a deal could improve if PSV don’t reach the Champions League playoffs. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Roma have made an offer to sign Al Shabab winger Yannick Carrasco on loan with an option to make the deal permanent. The 32-year-old would like to return to Europe but his wages could be an issue. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Bayer Leverkusen want to replace goalkeeper Mark Flekken, and the options being considered are Manchester City pair James Trafford and Stefan Ortega, plus Chelsea’s Filip Jorgensen. (Kicker)
– Crvena Zvezda midfielder Vasilije Kostov, 17, is being tracked by Arsenal in addition to receiving interest from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. (Mirror)
– Barcelona have finalized a deal for 18-year-old Al Ahly striker Hamza Abdelkarim, with it being a loan with the option to sign him for up to €3m while that figure could rise to €5m due to performance-related bonuses. (Mundo Deportivo)
– Juventus view Sevilla full back Juanlu Sanchez as a back-up to Pierre Kalulu if the club are open to a loan with an option to make the deal permanent. (Sky Sports Italia)
– Toulouse have rejected Wolfsburg’s raised offer of €23 million to sign defender Charlie Cresswell as they want over €30 million. (Athletic)
– Roma, Nice and Marseille have asked for information about 18-year-old Chelsea full back Genesis Antwi. (TEAMtalk)
– Nottingham Forest have agreed a loan deal with Napoli for 6-foot-7 striker Lorenzo Lucca, which includes an option to make the deal permanent for around €40m. (Athletic)
– Cruzeiro winger Kaua Prates, 17, has reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund. (Nicolo Schira)
Sports
Urban Meyer tabs Rutgers as next program to match Indiana’s improbable CFP run
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Indiana football claimed the school’s first-ever national championship earlier this week. The Hoosiers’ stunning rise has sparked questions about which program could be next.
Urban Meyer, who coached Florida and Ohio State to national championships, made his pick. The college football studio analyst believes Rutgers could be the next program to take the sport by storm, saying the Scarlet Knights are in prime position to become the “next Indiana.”
“Give me three programs that could be the next Indiana, meaning teams that are used to losing, have really bad records and can somehow rise from the ashes to become national champion,” Meyer said on “3 and Out,” a podcast Meyer co-hosts alongside Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram II and Rob Stone.
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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) reacts with the trophy after the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
The Hoosiers’ rise from college football’s most loss-laden program to dominance started last season, when Curt Cignetti arrived in Bloomington and coached Indiana to its first playoff appearance.
Indiana was defeated in the first round by last year’s eventual national champion runner-up Notre Dame. But the latest edition of the playoffs was a much different story. Indiana dominated Alabama in the Rose Bowl before soundly defeating Oregon in the semifinals.
The Hoosiers then outlasted Miami in this past Monday’s title game to secure a 16-0 record and claim the national championship trophy.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights football helmets sit on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Oct, 7, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports)
Meyer worked with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano at Ohio State, with the current Rutgers head coach serving as the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator for three seasons. In addition to the Scarlet Knights, Meyer also named Rice and Wake Forest as programs that could go from among the worst teams to the best.
INDIANA’S CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: A HISTORIC RUN BY THE NUMBERS
“I have no idea about Rice, no idea about Wake, but I’m going to throw them out there because if Indiana can, they can,” Meyer added. “But I will say Rutgers because Greg Schiano — who I’m biased; he’s a great friend and a great football coach — he had him in the top five in the country at one point in (2006).”

Urban Meyer on the sidelines prior to the 2025 Peach Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff between the Oregon Ducks and the Indiana Hoosiers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)
Rutgers got off to a 9-0 start in the 2006 season and surged to No. 7 in the AP Top 25. After winning the Texas Bowl, the Scarlet Knights finished the season ranked No. 12.
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Rutgers ended its most recent season with a 5-7 record. The school’s 708 defeats currently rank third on college football’s all-time list. Despite recent success, Indiana still leads college football’s all-time losses list. Rutgers is scheduled to play Indiana in 2026.
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” he said on Wednesday’s edition of his Triple Option podcast.
Sports
ACC men, UConn women among hoops games affected by storm
College basketball games across a wide swath of the country are being reshuffled because of an approaching major winter storm.
The storm that meteorologists say could rival the damage of a major hurricane is expected to bring snow, ice and frigid temperatures from New Mexico to New England starting Friday. Forecasters warn that the weather system could bring catastrophic damage, widespread power outages and bitter cold.
The ACC moved up the start times for three men’s basketball games Saturday: Wake Forest at Duke, North Carolina at Virginia, and Virginia Tech at Louisville.
The No. 1 UConn women’s basketball team’s game at Seton Hall was moved up from Sunday to Saturday. Cincinnati shifted its women’s basketball game to a noon start Saturday against Arizona State.
The number of states where college games were being adjusted showed the large path of the approaching storm. The forecast comes exactly a year after another storm forced postponements across U.S. sports.
The Sun Belt Conference preemptively shook up its women’s basketball schedule, moving around the start times on several games from Thursday through Saturday. The American Athletic Conference also adjusted its weekend men’s and women’s basketball schedules, moving some games up to Friday.
North Carolina Central postponed two men’s and two women’s basketball games scheduled to be played from Thursday through Monday in Durham, North Carolina.
Appalachian State moved up its men’s basketball home game with Louisiana-Lafayette to Thursday morning and Marshall made its home game against Louisiana-Monroe a noon Thursday tipoff.
Middle Tennessee State men’s basketball moved its Conference USA showdown with Jacksonville State from Saturday to Friday evening.
Tennessee’s swim meet at Georgia and the USC Upstate women’s basketball game at Longwood were pushed to Friday from Saturday because of the forecast.
Among other women’s basketball games moved up several hours Saturday included No. 20 Princeton at Brown and North Florida at Eastern Kentucky, along with men’s games involving Towson at North Carolina A&T and Texas State at James Madison.
Rice adjusted tipoff times for its men’s and women’s basketball home games this weekend. The Rice men’s home game against Tulsa originally scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. has been changed to Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Also, the Rice women’s game against Tulane originally scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. has been moved up an hour to 1.
Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers canceled their annual Fan Fest event scheduled for Saturday because of the weather forecast for frozen precipitation in north Texas and “in the interest of safety for players, fans, and employees.”
In the NBA, Saturday’s game between the Wizards and Hornets in Charlotte was moved up to 12 p.m. due to the impending weather.
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