Milroe, a third-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 NFL Draft, noted he plans to use a VR headset to help prepare him for NFL competition. He is hoping to improve his processing speed and ability to go through progressions as he gets acclimated to the NFL.

‘My new head coach [Mike Macdonald], we talked about doing that,’ Milroe said of using a VR headset, per Cameron Van Til of Seattle Sports. ‘And so from now until game one, I’m going to utilize that.’

Milroe won’t be the first quarterback to use virtual reality to help him at the NFL level. Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels notably used the technology during his rookie season in 2024, with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury referring to it as ‘a flight simulator for QBs,’ according to CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson.

Daniels enjoyed one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history amid his use of VR. He went 12-5 in the regular season while completing 69% of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions before leading Washington on an improbable run to the NFC championship game.

Milroe is unlikely to be provided the same opportunity to prove himself on the field as Daniels, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Alabama product was viewed as a raw prospect who would need time to develop at the NFL level.

Milroe figures to get just that playing behind the veteran duo of Sam Darnold and Drew Lock. He will be using that time not only to experiment with VR but also to tinker with his mechanics in the hopes of improving his inconsistent accuracy

‘The biggest thing is everything works from the ground up at the quarterback position,’ Milroe said. ‘It’s understanding the lower-half mechanics of how I operate. Every quarterback is different, and so … it’s understanding how to distribute my body when it comes to the lower-half mechanics. That’s been a focus for us.

‘It’s all about being an efficient passer. And so the more you work, the more you understand your body, you’re going to be more of an efficient passer. So that’s something that we continue to work on.’

Moore will miss Week 3-4 of the college football season against Central Michigan and Nebraska and will be unable to participate in team activities in the week’s leadup to the game. The suspension being for Weeks 3 and 4 allows him to coach the Wolverines’ season opener against New Mexico, before traveling for one of the top nonconference matchups of 2025 when they face Oklahoma on the road in Week 2.

The second-year head coach will also receive additional recruiting penalties, according to the report. The NCAA could still issue more punishments, however, and a final resolution of the matter is expected before the end of the season.

Moore was the offensive coordinator at Michigan under then-head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2023 when allegations of illegal scouting led by Connor Stalions arose. Stalions, who’s no longer with the program and then served in a support staff role, received video from friends and family of opponents’ signs during games.

Moore allegedly deleted 52 text messages with Stalions at the time of the uncovering, which notes his tie to the sign-stealing scandal. In a 2024 Notice of Allegations from the NCAA, Michigan received 11 violations, six of those being the highest levied by the NCAA at Level 1.

ESPN reported the texts were discovered from ‘device imaging’ and Moore subsequently ‘produced them to enforcement staff.’ He is accused of a Level 2 violation, according to the report.

Harbaugh served a three-game suspension in 2023, the year Michigan won the national championship, as part of the sign-steal scandal. He was able to coach in practice before the games, however, whereas Moore can’t.

Moore served a one-game suspension as part of separate NCAA violations in Michigan’s 2023 season opener against East Carolina. He also served as interim head coach in 2023 during Harbaugh’s suspension, leading the Wolverines to wins over Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State.

Moore will still have the chance to coach against his alma mater, Oklahoma, in Norman next season, despite the suspension.

More often than not, a surprise team will seduce and then disappoint fans the next season, its breakout success something of a mirage.

Yet what the Detroit Tigers are building seems very, very real.

The Tigers aren’t just building upon their surprise playoff spot, wild-card upset and trip to the Division Series. No, that would be selling the best team in the American League a little too short. Detroit is off to a 22-13 start, best in the AL, and their plus-63 run differential is tops in the major leagues.

With that, they’ve zoomed to fourth in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings, likely their highest position since a couple fellows named Max and Justin were pitching for them.

This prosperity is built on some compelling turnarounds: Former No. 1 overall picks Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson are playing up to their potential, with Mize – No. 1 overall in 2018 – posting a 2.70 ERA and winning five of his six starts. Torkelson, their 1/1 in 2020, has already equaled his 10-homer output from 2024 and has an .889 OPS.

Meanwhile, veteran Javy Baez, whose $140 million contract looked like dead weight, is having a fine rebirth as a center fielder, batting .309 with an .829 OPS and equaling defensive stalwarts like Byron Buxton and Tyrone Taylor with three outs above average in center.

While the expected three-team race in the AL Central looks like a reality, the Tigers’ pace-setting creates an early expectation that for the second consecutive year, multiple playoff berths will come out of the once-moribund division.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

First career win for Rōki Sasaki, who’s suddenly their No. 2 starter.

2. New York Mets (-)

Injuries starting to accrue: A.J. Minter out several months, Jesse Winker hurts an oblique.

3. San Diego Padres (+2)

On a five-game streak just in time for Jackson Merrill’s return.

4. Detroit Tigers (+3)

Will take AL’s best record into Denver for three against historically bad Rockies.

5. San Francisco Giants (-2)

Wilmer Flores’ 31 RBI tied for second in NL.

6. Chicago Cubs (-)

They’ve scored 25 more runs than any other team, which is kinda the point of this thing.

7. New York Yankees (-3)

Carlos Carrasco and Will Warren went from rotation depth to regulars, with predictable results.

8. Seattle Mariners (+2)

Can this suddenly productive offense camouflage loss of Logan Gilbert to flexor strain?

9. Philadelphia Phillies (-)

Ranger Suárez gives up seven earned runs in season debut.

10. Cleveland Guardians (+2)

Only club in our top 10 with a negative run differential.

11. Boston Red Sox (-3)

Just brutal to lose Triston Casas for the season with gruesome patella injury.

12. Cincinnati Reds (+1)

Reliever Alexis Díaz, a 2023 All-Star, sent to minor leagues.

13. Houston Astros (+1)

Lance McCullers Jr., making first start since 2022 World Series, ‘pretty proud of myself getting back.’

14. Texas Rangers (-3)

Swoon results in firing of ‘offensive coordinator’ Donnie Ecker. Is Mike McCarthy hiring?

15. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

Eesh: Corbin Burnes to miss a start with shoulder inflammation.

16. Kansas City Royals (+3)

Hit two weeks’ worth of home runs in one afternoon.

17. Tampa Bay Rays (-)

Until further notice, this is a Chandler Simpson appreciation space.

18. Toronto Blue Jays (-2)

Have hit the fewest home runs (23) in majors.

19. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)

Will this be remembered as the weekend the Cubs left them behind for good?

20. Atlanta Braves (-)

Have lost 11 of 16 against clubs with winning records.

21. Washington Nationals (-)

James Wood pushes OPS to .926.

22. St. Louis Cardinals (-)

Alec Burleson hits first home run since Aug. 17.

23. Baltimore Orioles (-)

Kyle Gibson giving up nearly a home run per inning through two starts.

24. Athletics (+1)

They return to Yolo County three games over .500 after 4-2 trip.

25. Minnesota Twins (+1)

Won their second series at Fenway Park since 2014.

26. Los Angeles Angels (-2)

That’s 15 losses in 19 games and it’s once again time to prepare for the draft and trade deadline.

27. Miami Marlins (-)

Kyle Stowers’ .928 OPS trails only Tucker (.976), Schwarber (.955) in OPS by Kyles.

28. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)

A grim start from Paul Skenes, followed by a workmanlike sweep by the Padres.

29. Chicago White Sox (-)

They’ve now won two whole series this year after taking a pair from Houston.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

Current pace: 127 losses, with Tigers coming to town.

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In case you missed it during all of the hoopla that was last weekend’s draft, the NFL announced that the 2025 schedule would be released on May 14.

Soon, you’ll know your weekly appointment viewing of ‘Thursday Night Football’ games, ‘Sunday Night Football’ games, ‘Monday Night Football’ games and good old-fashioned Sunday afternoon games.

Here’s what we know …

As defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles will host the NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, Sept. 4.
There will be three games on Thanksgiving Day. As per tradition, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will host games.
There will be one game on Black Friday.
There will be three games on Christmas Day. Two will air on Netflix, and the night game on Amazon.
There will be a record seven International Series games: Three in London (the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets are the designated home teams), one game in Berlin (the Indianapolis Colts are the designated home team), one game in São Paulo, Brazil (the Los Angeles Chargers are the designated home team), one game in Madrid, Spain (the Miami Dolphins are the designated home team) and one game in Dublin, Ireland (the Pittsburgh Steelers are the designated home team).
The playoffs will start on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.
Super Bowl 60 will be held on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The ideal opponent for the Eagles’ season-opening game is a popular topic of discussion at this time of year, and Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz ranked the candidates:

5. Denver Broncos: Denver showed in last season’s wild-card flameout against the Buffalo Bills that it’s not ready to run with the league’s top contenders just yet.

2. Los Angeles Rams: A rematch of last season’s NFC divisional playoff tilt feels like the first legitimate contender for the opener slot on this list.

1. Detroit Lions: Pitting these teams against one another to kick off 2025 would be a fitting way to show fans what they missed when the Lions were knocked out in the divisional round last season.

NFL news, notes and analysis

➤ 2027 NFL Draft to D.C.: A formal announcement is expected Monday.

➤ Power rankings: How did the draft impact the league’s hierarchy? Take a look!

➤ Phil Simms won’t let Abdul Carter wear No. 11: The Giants’ Super Bowl-winning quarterback was ‘outvoted by family,’ meaning the team’s first-round pick now has been rebuffed by two team legends.

➤ Commanders announce deal for new stadium in DC: The team formally announced its intentions to build a new stadium on the site of old RFK Stadium in the District of Columbia.

➤ Jordan Travis retires due to leg injury: Travis’ decision comes after he spent his rookie season recovering from a catastrophic left leg injury he suffered during his final college game at Florida State.

➤ What is going on with Bill Belichick? When Belichick was coaching the New England Patriots, he was one of the game’s most controlling people (‘We’re on to Cincinnati.’). Now? This Belichick is almost recognizable.

Belichick’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson | Belichick through the years

Vibes check

Justin Jefferson: F1 driver Oscar Piastri hit the griddy after winning Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix, keeping his word after meeting the Minnesota Vikings’ star receiver.

Jalen Ramsey: Could the seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback be in store for a reunion with the Rams?

Rookie minicamps: Most NFL teams will host draft choices and undrafted free agents later this week, including getting a first look at No. 1 pick Cam Ward in a Tennessee Titans uniform.

Jordon Hudson: Bill Belichick’s girlfriend is just the latest in a long line of significant others, parents, siblings, friends and hangers on who’ve had outsized roles and influence in the careers of sports figures. Even Charles Barkley is concerned.

NFL classics: Straight from the YouTube algorithm

This is where we reprise some NFL lore and recall classic, memorable moments from yesteryear.

Last weekend, Cam Ward became the 37th quarterback to be taken with the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL draft. Some – John Elway, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning – have become among the greatest to ever play the position. Others – JaMarcus Russell, Terry Baker – were total busts in the NFL.

Then there’s Jeff George.

35 years ago, the Indianapolis Colts selected George with the No. 1 pick in the 1990 draft. He might be one of the most polarizing players ever selected atop the draft. He played for five different teams over 12 NFL seasons, throwing for a career-high 4,143 yards in 1995 and leading the league (3,917 yards) in 1997. His 27,602 career passing yards ranks just behind Joe Namath (27,602), and ahead of notable Hall of Famers such as Bob Griese, Bart Starr, Norm Van Brocklin and Roger Staubach (of course, it should be noted each of whom played in a less passer-friendly era than George).

The quarterback with a rocket arm had moments of brilliance and moments of buffoonery.

The Los Angeles Rams quarterback agreed to a new deal at the NFL combine that would keep him in the City of Angels, but terms were never finalized.

On Monday, those details started to come to light.

Stafford inked a deal that will keep him with the Rams next season and beyond, putting an end to all the trade talk that dominated the conversation earlier in the offseason. The trade interest appeared to come mainly from the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants.

During the combine, it was reported that Tom Brady, part-owner of the Raiders, was recruiting Stafford to join the silver-and-black.

Stafford was reportedly seeking $50 million a year, according to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, but ultimately settled for less.

The Rams have largely rebuilt their roster by hitting on their limited draft picks in the post-Super Bowl 56-winning years. They came within a few plays of knocking off the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles in the divisional round on a snowy day in Philadelphia.

Now they keep Stafford in the fold to make another run in 2025. Here’s how much it’ll cost the Rams to keep the quarterback in town.

Matthew Stafford contract details

Stafford agreed to a two-year, $84 million deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It represents an increase from the two-year, $58 million he had left on the previous contract.

The quarterback is set to earn $44 million this season. He’s already been paid $4 million and the remaining $40 million is fully guaranteed.

Stafford would earn $40 million next season if he remains on the Rams’ roster at the start of free agency.

With the new deal, Stafford is the NFL’s 15th highest-paid quarterback in terms of average annual value (AAV), according to OverTheCap.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Multiple Olympic swimming champion Gary Hall Jr. received replicas of his 10 Olympic medals on Monday after the originals were destroyed during the Los Angeles wildfires in January.

The medals were presented to him by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach during a ceremony at the Games ruling body’s headquarters in Lausanne.

‘Thank you for the medals,’ Hall Jr. said in a brief speech. ‘Never before have 10 Olympic medals been replaced. Probably because no one has lost 10 medals before. I will do a better job at taking care of these.

‘The realization through this process that outweighs any sense of loss is this word of solidarity and what it means which cannot be taken away.’

Hall represented the United States at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics, winning five gold, three silver and two bronze medals in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens.

The 50-year-old was forced to leave the medals behind at his Pacific Palisades home during the fires which tore through the Los Angeles area.

‘When we were reading your tragic story of losing your house and all your possessions and all your worldly properties, this was going straight to our heart,’ Bach said.

Coach Steve: What the brash ex-swimmer learned about his career when he lost everything

The wildfires killed at least 29 people and destroyed large sections of the Altadena and Pacific Palisades neighbourhoods in Los Angeles, displacing tens of thousands of people.

It is estimated to be the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history.

Los Angeles will host the next summer Olympics in 2028.