PHOENIX — Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas suffered an apparent shoulder injury during Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Finals on Friday at Mortgage Market Arena.

Thomas left the game with 9.2 seconds remaining in the first half after a collision with Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd. Thomas and Loyd bumped shoulders on a screen, which sent the Phoenix forward to the floor. While on the court, Thomas was writhing back and forth in apparent pain, grabbing her shoulder, before teammates and Mercury staff rushed to her side.

Thomas started the second half with a taped right shoulder. She is averaging 16.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists in the postseason. She was named first-team All-WNBA earlier Friday.

While she was down, the call on Loyd was reviewed for a possible flagrant foul. After review, the call on the floor stood as a common foul, and Thomas headed to the locker room with the Mercury staff. The injury is notable as Thomas has torn labrums in both shoulders and has never had them fixed.

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski named Sanders QB2, backing up starter Dillon Gabriel.
Sanders’ step up comes on the heels of Joe Flacco’s trade to the Cincinnati Bengals.
There was some speculation Bailey Zappe, not Sanders, would be named the backup for this weekend. That turned out not to be the case.

It truly might be only a matter of time for Shedeur Sanders.

On Friday, Oct. 10, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski named Sanders QB2, backing up starter Dillon Gabriel as the Browns get set to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6.

Sanders’ step up comes on the heels of Joe Flacco’s trade to the Cincinnati Bengals. Flacco, who was named starter this season, took snaps for four games before being benched in favor of Gabriel, the team’s 2025 third-round pick.

‘I’m always thinking about our players and what’s best for our players,’ Stefanski said Friday. ‘I want to make sure when it comes to young football players, particularly at the quarterback position, you are intentional about your decision making. And that’s really all it is.’

There was some speculation that Bailey Zappe, not Sanders, would be named the backup for this weekend. That turned out not to be the case with the Sanders promotion.

The Browns QB room has been in a state of flux since the preseason. Sanders was originally QB4 behind Flacco, Gabriel and Kenny Pickett. Pickett was traded to the Raiders ahead of the regular season, easing the path for Sanders’ ascent.

The Browns are searching for their second win of the season and travel to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh in Week 6 for the tilt.

Browns QB depth chart

Here’s how the passers in Cleveland’s QB room line up:

Dillon Gabriel
Shedeur Sanders
Bailey Zappe (practice squad)
Deshaun Watson (injured)

Sanders now rests comfortably in the QB2 spot behind third-round pick Dillon Gabriel.

The Browns also might see the return of Deshaun Watson this season, who was seen working out at the Browns practice facility earlier this week.

PHOENIX ― The Phoenix Mercury will be without forward Satou Sabally when Game 4 of the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces tips off on Friday at Mortgage Market Center (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Sabally has been ruled out after being diagnosed with a concussion after hitting her head on Kierstan Bell’s knee while trying to corral an offensive rebound in the waning minutes of Game 3. Sabally spent several moments down on the court before being helped to her feet and back to the locker room. The Mercury, who are down 0-3 to the Aces, have an even steeper climb without the forward. However, they remain focused on what’s in front of them.

‘We’re still playing for something,’ Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbets said.

‘Unfortunately, we’ve kind of been through this early in the year. We’ve had different people step up at different times. Rotation’s gonna look a little bit different, but we’ve got people who have been on the side, waiting for an opportunity. You’re just not gonna replace Satou [Sabally] with one person. We’re gonna have to do it collectively.’

Tibbets says the team is taking the WNBA Finals one game at a time and liked the energy heading into Game 4. He said they will remain a group that fights and will keep competing. The Phoenix head coach did not reveal who would replace Sabally in the lineup, but said, ‘We’re gonna have to get into the bench more.’

Over the last several days, the team reached out to Sabally and tried to visit her in the hospital, but under the guidance of her medical staff, visitors and screen time has been limited. Tibbets confirmed Sabally is home and disappointed she can’t continue to compete with her team, but understands this is the best course of action given her injury. When USA TODAY spoke with players from the Mercury, they understood what they must do in her absence.

‘We’ve missed one or more of our big three. We’ve always risen to the occasion. We’ve always stepped up,’ guard Sami Whitcomb said. ‘Our season’s on the line, so there’s no better opportunity for us to come together and rise to the challenge. I’m sure you’ll see people stepping up in ways that maybe they haven’t yet in this series. So as much as you never wanna lose someone ― someone that plays such a large role ― that’s sports sometimes. You adjust.’

Veteran forward DeWanna Bonner stated the obvious: Phoenix has been behind in the win column all playoffs, but they can’t continue to do that against Las Vegas’ many weapons. Bonner says the team has been trying to ‘crack the code’ to get a win and build some confidence. She said despite the pressure on them to win on Friday, they aren’t overwhelmed.

‘When one man goes down, the other one just has to step up. All hands on deck. We have nothing to lose,’ Bonner said. ‘So, we’re going to come out and play hard and keep playing the way we know how to play. Definitely gonna miss Satou [Sabally] and her scoring, her lift, her rebounding everything, [but it’s] the next man up. We’re gonna continue to compete for this championship.’

Phoenix maintains it will ‘chip away’ at the path to a championship one play at a time and ‘throw it up again’ and get to the next matchup when Game 4 begins. The message, Bonner said, has been simple: ‘Don’t panic. We’ve seen crazier things. It’s the playoffs, so it’s always a chance to come back.’Starting guard Monique Akoa Makani was a bit more vulnerable with USA TODAY, sharing that despite Sabally’s injury not changing the Mercury’s preparation, it’s always tough to see a teammate struggling. Akoa Makani says Phoenix has tried to stay focused and will do its best to honor Sabally by putting it all on the line Friday.

‘It has never been a question of quitting or feeling sorry for ourselves,’ Akoa Makani said. ‘We know that some of the teams, especially on the NBA side, have been in this position before. We said we’re going to do one win (in a row) four times.’

The school provided the contract to USA TODAY Sports on Friday, Oct. 10, one day after USA TODAY Sports reported on Smith’s employment status.

The contract — which all parties signed in the past 24 hours, per university spokesperson Daniel Pittman — shows Smith will make $850,000 from Ohio this season, including a $50,000 retention payment he would receive if he remains the Bobcats’ coach on Dec. 31, 2025, the final day of the parties’ contract year.

His base salary is $615,000, although he “may receive an annual increase … in accordance with University raise pool guidelines.” He is getting $135,000 in “supplemental compensation,” as consideration for “increased duties, including, but not limited to, external promotion, marketing, development, and communications”. He also can annually receive a $50,000 retention payment for being the school’s head coach as of June 30.

Smith began the season with the possibility of getting a maximum of $660,750 in performance-incentive bonuses, according to the contract. He already has secured a $15,000 bonus, as he can get that amount if the team wins a regular season game against a Power Four conference opponent. The Bobcats defeated West Virginia, 17-10, on Sept. 6 in Athens, Ohio. They also lost at Rutgers, 34-31, and lost at Ohio State, 37-9.

According to documents and correspondence USA TODAY Sports previously had received from the school, Smith’s compensation was to have an average annual value of $850,000 per year from Dec. 17, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2029. Those documents did not say what Smith was to be paid for this, or any other year of his employment. In addition, they said Smith will have performance incentives, but they “will be negotiated between the parties, the terms of which will be comparable with other Mid-American Conference institutions.”

Smith’s bonus maximum for this season ranks sixth among the 12 MAC coaches for whom USA Today Sports could determine that amount as part of its annual survey of major-college football head coaches’ pay.

As of Dec. 1, 2025, if Ohio fires Smith without cause, it would owe him $2,511,250 — that’s 100% of the base salary remaining on the contract. He would owe (or would to cause a third party to pay) the same amount if he leaves on Dec. 1, 2025. 

Central Michigan, another MAC school is still working with coach Matt Drinkall under a “letter of agreement” that leaves details about incentives and an annual retention bonus undetermined. But the letter of agreement states it is “a fully binding contract, and shall remain valid, enforceable, and fully binding until the Long Form Agreement is fully executed by both parties.”

San Francisco earned a thrilling Week 5 ‘Thursday Night Football’ win over the Los Angeles Rams behind a career night from backup quarterback Mac Jones.

The 49ers and their fans have to hope he’s able to go at least one more time.

Starting quarterback Brock Purdy will not play the 49ers’ Week 6 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per multiple reports. The 49ers’ franchise quarterback is still sidelined with a toe injury first suffered in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Jones is dealing with oblique and knee injuries as well and is questionable for the team’s Week 6 road game.

Jones has gone undefeated as a starter for San Francisco this season with wins over the Saints, Cardinals and Rams. His efforts have helped the 49ers keep atop the NFC West standings at 4-1 despite injuries on both sides of the ball.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was also ruled out for Sunday’s game. With the team still waiting for tight end George Kittle’s return from injured reserve, San Francisco has relied on veterans like Kendrick Bourne to pick up the slack.

San Francisco still hasn’t placed Purdy on IR, which would require that he be out for at least four weeks. That could be a good sign he’ll be back in the lineup sooner than later after a one-off in Week 4 against Jacksonville.

49ers QB depth chart

Brock Purdy (injured)
Mac Jones
Adrian Martinez (practice squad)

Jones’ questionable status means there is a chance Martinez makes his 49ers debut Sunday in Tampa. The former undrafted free agent quarterback won MVP honors in the United Football League (UFL) in 2024 for the Birmingham Stallions. He was cut from the New York Jets’ practice squad at the end of training camp and signed with the 49ers in late August.

The Baltimore Ravens suffered one of the most lopsided defeats in recent team history in Week 5: a 44-10 loss to the visiting Houston Texans.

They may have another tough matchup at home this week to bear without their star quarterback.

Lamar Jackson will not play in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, per multiple reports. He did not practice all week and wasn’t likely to play Sunday at home due to his hamstring injury and the team will once again start backup Cooper Rush.

Jackson initially suffered this hamstring injury during Week 4 in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Rush finished out that game and started last week against the Texans.

Rush completed 14 of 20 passes against Houston for 179 yards and had three interceptions. It was just the second time the career backup had thrown three interceptions; the first came back in October 2022. He and the rest of the Ravens’ offense will face a Rams defense that’s tied for ninth in turnovers this season, with seven.

Here’s what we know about Jackson’s potential return and the rest of the quarterback options for Baltimore.

When will Lamar Jackson return?

There’s no set timetable for Jackson’s return to the field for the Ravens, but his initial diagnosis was two to three weeks on the sideline. The team did not place him on injured reserve (IR), which would’ve required at least four weeks out of the lineup. That means he’ll likely be back sooner than four weeks from the initial injury.

Baltimore has its bye week after Sunday’s game against the Rams. Jackson could return to the lineup after that for Baltimore’s Week 8 matchup at home versus the Chicago Bears.

Ravens QB depth chart

Lamar Jackson (injured)
Cooper Rush
Tyler Huntley

Rush will make his second start of the season Sunday. Last year he went 4-4 as a starter for the Dallas Cowboys after starter Dak Prescott’s injury.

Huntley returned to the Ravens from the Cleveland Browns after training camp cuts and will likely be activated from the practice squad on Sunday to serve as the backup.

Only two teams are on bye this week – the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans – but the impact is still being felt. With injuries piling up across all positions, many fantasy football managers will be searching the free-agent pool for a streamer to get them through Week 6.

Most of the top options are usually scooped up during weekly waiver runs, but that’s not always the case. Some players fly under the radar, whether it’s because of name recognition, lack of long-term value or a poor matchup on paper. If you’re streaming, you don’t care about any of that. You just want production.

To help, here are 10 players and one defense you can stream to win Week 6.

*Streamers are players who are rostered in 50% or fewer of Yahoo! leagues.

Fantasy football streamers for Week 6

Quarterbacks

Brock Purdy and Lamar Jackson remain out, and now Kyler Murray could join them after missing practice all week with a foot injury.

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

It hasn’t been a pretty season for Young, but if there’s any team that can make a quarterback look good, it’s the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys are allowing the second-most passing yards per game and have given up the second-most passing touchdowns. That makes them the worst fantasy defense against opposing quarterbacks.

Young should also get some help with Jalen Coker and Ja’Tavion Sanders expected to return from injury.

Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

Jones has played well filling in for Purdy, finishing as a QB1 in two of his three starts.

This week he faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who just allowed Sam Darnold to throw for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Tampa Bay, on the season, has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, making this a favorable matchup on the slate for Jones.

Running backs

Adding to the laundry list of injured running backs this season is Omarion Hampton.

Hassan Haskins, Los Angeles Chargers

Speaking of Hampton, Haskins is likely the next man up for the Chargers, and he gets a strong matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Streamer of the week in Week 5, Rico Dowdle, just gashed the Dolphins defense for 206 yards and a touchdown. Don’t expect Haskins to reach that level, as it was an outlier performance.

Haskins will also split work with Kimani Vidal, but this matchup should be enough for him to be a worthwhile streamer even in a 60/40 split.

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers

Haskins’ backfield mate for Week 6 is rostered in even fewer leagues than Haskins.

The matchup is favorable, and even if Haskins is the primary back, there should be enough opportunities for Vidal to produce against the weak Dolphins defense. Greg Roman, the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, confirmed that both backs will factor in significantly.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints

It happened: Miller out-carried Alvin Kamara. That is not something anyone would have expected before the season, but here we are.

The matchup is tough against the New England Patriots run defense, which allows the fourth-fewest points to opposing running backs. However, volume is the key when looking for streamers, and Miller has it.

Wide receivers

Last week’s streamer, Darius Slayton, landed on the injury list with a hamstring issue. The 49ers receivers are still questionable to play, and now Chris Godwin is trending toward missing the game.

Kendrick Bourne, San Francisco 49ers

Bourne had a strong Week 5, catching 10 passes for 142 yards. Don’t expect a repeat performance, but he should see plenty of targets again with Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall likely to miss time.

Even if one of those two returns, Bourne remains a viable option against the Buccaneers, who have allowed plenty of production to opposing receivers this season.

Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos

The Broncos and Franklin face the New York Jets in Week 6. The matchup looks worse on paper than it actually is, at least for everybody not named Courtland Sutton.

Sutton will likely be shadowed by Sauce Gardner, leaving the rest of the Broncos receivers to go against the Jets secondary that struggle.

The Jets rank 26th against WR2s and 29th against WR3s according to DVOA. That is excellent news for Franklin, who functions as the No. 2 receiver.

Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With Chris Godwin back on the injury list, Shepard should see a major increase in usage. In Week 3, when Godwin was inactive and Mike Evans was injured early, Shepard posted a 4-catch, 80-yard performance.

As a bonus, if Godwin misses, Tez Johnson could be a deeper league dart throw after a solid Week 5 showing.

Tight ends

Favorite streamer of the year Brenton Strange is now on IR, but other options are emerging.

Mason Taylor, New York Jets

What does Taylor need to do to be rostered in more leagues? Over the last three games, he has 25 targets and 18 receptions.

The matchup against the Broncos is not ideal, but few tight ends see this kind of usage. His 25 targets rank third behind only Jake Ferguson and Trey McBride, while 18 receptions rank second behind Ferguson. That is strong company.

AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks

Barner has been a touchdown machine this season, already scoring four times. Last week he upped his game, catching all seven of his targets.

Don’t expect that usage again, as his previous season high was three targets. Still, it is hard to ignore the red-zone role he is seeing.

Defense

This is another tough week for streaming defenses with top defenses all having great matchups. Of course, those defenses are highly rostered.

Washington Commanders

The Commanders have issues on defense, particularly in the secondary. Still, they remain a top-10 fantasy defense thanks to having the third-most sacks in the league.

The Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams have only allowed seven sacks in four games this season. However, as noted by A.J. Applegarth on The F6P Hour Podcast, Williams has been sacked six times in two games, both against top-10 teams in total sacks. Facing the Commanders, expect a few more, making them a strong streaming defense.