Rookie wide receivers Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith have formed a strong bond as new Los Angeles Chargers teammates.
The Chargers’ receiving corps also includes veterans Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey, alongside second-year player Quentin Johnston.
Los Angeles will face the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs in their season opener in São Paulo, Brazil.

Rookie wide receivers Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith have developed a college-like friendship on and off the field in their first season as Los Angeles Chargers teammates.

“Whenever training camp started we were sharing a hotel room together, and kind of just felt like college. Having that guy you would always go to lunch together, just doing things together. He’s been my guy since day one,” Harris said to USA TODAY Sports. “We constantly just been bouncing ideas off each other, just talking about everything that we go through and just keeping each other uplifted. That’s another thing that we’ve been doing, constantly pushing each other to get better each and every day.’

The feeling is mutual for Lambert-Smith.

“That’s my guy. We talk every day,” Lambert-Smith said of Harris. “I feel like we’re gonna continue to build that bond as well as the other guys in the room, the QBs and everybody. It’s definitely been great having him around and we’re gonna continue to grow together.”

The two are part of a receiving corps that features Keenan Allen, who returned to the Chargers this offseason, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.

“I’m super glad to have a teammate like that,” Harris said of Lambert-Smith. “I can’t wait to see what the season has in store for us.”

What’s in store for Harris, Lambert-Smith and the Chargers first is the Kansas City Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil. The Chiefs have had a reign over the AFC West, winning the division for nine-straight years. Kansas City’s currently riding a seven-game winning streak against the Chargers. Los Angeles has been held under 20 points versus the Chiefs in their last four meetings.

The Chargers offense was subpar during Jim Harbaugh’s first season at the helm. The team ranked 20th in total offense, 17th in rushing and had the NFL’s 19th ranked passing attack. Furthermore, Justin Herbert averaged a career-low 227 passing yards per game.

Harbaugh and the Chargers responded by selecting four skill position players on offense in the 2025 NFL draft, including running back Omarion Hampton and Harris with their first two picks.

“For me, it meant a lot,” Harris said of the Chargers drafting him in the second round. “It really just proves how much a team wanted me, and that’s all the Chargers showed me, is how much they wanted me. All I really want to do is go out there and prove my worth to them, and that’s not just to the owners and to the GM, but also to my teammates. I want to show them that and to go out there and play at a high level. I also want to prove it to myself that I can play at this league. I could play at this level, and play with the guys in this league. That’s something I want to go out there and prove.”

Hampton is expected to start against Kansas City. Harris and Lambert-Smith both figure to have big roles in Year 1.

“They’ve made a bunch of plays. We’re asking them to do a lot. We’re asking those guys to fill in and play multiple positions and they’ve done a good job of picking up the offense,” Herbert said of the rookie receivers. “They just go out there and make plays and continue to get two feet inbounds and adapt to the NFL. It’s been really fun to see.”

Harris, Lambert-Smith and Hampton are three of the 21 new players on the Chargers active roster this season. The new-look Chargers are set to have an early measuring-stick game against Kansas City. Harbaugh’s 5-0 in season openers in his NFL head coaching career. The Chiefs have won seven in a row against Los Angeles. One streak is bound to end Friday night (unless there’s a tie).

But the Chiefs are going into the matchup as the favorite, and they are the front runner to win the division title again.

Kansas City’s built a winning tradition, winning three of the past six Super Bowls. The Chargers, a franchise that’s never won a Super Bowl, aspires to get there. And they acquired new pieces on offense to help their quest.

“The Super Bowl. We’re going for the Super Bowl,” Harbaugh said. “That’s our goal and we’re gonna do it or die trying.”

NEW YORK — In most instances, whether in team or an individual sport, whenever you pit a 22-year-old in peak physical condition against a 38-year-old who may or may not be on his last legs, the results tend to favor the younger athlete.

Because Father Time has laid down the hammer on other athletes approaching four decades in age many instances before, with the notable exceptions of LeBron James and Tom Brady, and most recently at the US Open, the incomparable Venus Williams, ordinary athletes tend to call it a day when their skills have diminished to the point where it’s no longer feasible to watch them compete.

But Novak Djokovic is no ordinary athlete.

And what he is doing at this stage in his career is borderline absurd.

He is the oldest player ever to reach all four Grand Slam semifinals in a single year, and tennis’ version of Gumby is aiming for his 25th Grand Slam champion and his first since winning at Flushing Meadows in 2023, the last of his four victories here.

Leading up to Friday’s star-studded semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, Djokovic’s aching body has felt the impact, especially this year.

He had to retire in the Australian Open semifinals due to a left leg muscle tear. At the French Open, the same leg gave him issues against Jannik Sinner, and at Wimbledon, it was his groin that gave him fits. He lost all three Grand Slams this year in the semifinal round.

But Djokovic acknowledges the task before him as he prepares for his 53rd Grand Slam semifinal, and the two days off after dispatching Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals will do him some good.

Against Fritz, Djokovic at times was breathing heavily and even slumping over with his hands on his knees after chasing down some of Fritz’s strong forehand rallies.

‘It’s not going to get easier; I tell you that,’ Djokovic said. ‘I’m going to try to take one day at a time, really take care of my body, try to relax and recover. The next couple of days is really key for me to really get my body in shape and ready to battle five sets if it’s needed.

‘I just would really love that, would love to be fit enough to play—and to play potentially five sets with Carlos. I know that my best tennis is going to be required, but I’d rise to the occasion.’

Alcaraz’s motivation against Djokovic, who has spent a record 428 weeks ranked No. 1, is simple.

‘I know he’s hungry. I know his ambition for more. I know I played a lot of times against him. I really want revenge,’ Alcaraz said. ‘That’s obvious.’

Djokovic has the upper hand in their head-to-head battle, 5-3, against Alcaraz, having emerged victorious in four sets at the Australian Open quarterfinals and the epic gold medal match at the Paris Olympics last summer.

Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion, has lost only twice since April and hasn’t dropped a set in the tournament. He spent less than two hours on the court in his dismantling of Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals.

The key to his success has been his serve. Alcaraz has won 99% of his service games and 84% of his first serves, putting his opponents at an immediate disadvantage. Alcaraz scoring with his second serve is even better, winning at a 68% clip, far and away the tournament’s best, with 33% of those being unreturned.

‘I’ve been improving myself a lot, and just every practice, every match I’ve been trying to feel more comfortable with the movement, with hitting good serves, and the percentage as well for me, it’s really important,’ he said.

Alcaraz has said that he lost his focus when Djokovic was injured at the Australian Open and that he learned from the experience. However, the psychological aspect of the game will likely come into play, and whoever is mentally the toughest might emerge victorious.

Another accolade is at stake for Alcaraz; by winning the US Open, he will reclaim the No. 1 spot in the ATP Rankings, but in the meantime, he will spend some time on the links with fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia in between the highly anticipated match.

‘I started to play at the beginning of 2020. I just feel really peaceful when I go out and playing some golf on the golf course,’ said Alcaraz, a five-time Grand Slam champion. ‘For me, it’s a privilege to have time to play some golf, to be honest.’

That peace and quiet reserved for the golf course will come to a quick end at what’s expected to be a rowdy Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd on Friday afternoon, where two of the sport’s greatest battle in what’s expected to be another instant classic.

With Caitlin Clark out for the season, the Indiana Fever have a better idea of what depth they will have available for the rest of the season.

Coach Stephanie White and the Fever have tried to make the most of an injury-riddled season. 

Despite all the injuries, four players have still managed to play every game this season.

White praised the leadership and effort of Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard and Kelsey Mitchell for managing to start in all 41 games for Indiana this season. Lexie Hull has also been among that group, starting 23 of the 41 games she’s played in this season.

‘They have the experience and have really held this group together,” White said. “They’ve been able to play with all different kinds of lineups and players. They’ve got to continue to take it to another level. 

“We don’t want or need anyone to play outside of themselves necessarily, but understanding how to communicate and bring the new players along who haven’t been in our system long is important. They’ve been great leaders in that way.’

Clark has missed 28 games this season, including the last 19 due to injury, but she is not the only player to miss time for the Fever in 2025.

In addition to Clark missing significant time, the Fever had some bad luck with keeping the guard position healthy.

In early August, the Fever lost backup point guards Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson to season-ending injuries.

The Fever signed guard Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract on Aug. 10 to help fill the void.

Sims, a former standout at Baylor, was the second overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft by the Tulsa Shock – now the Dallas Wings.

She has started seven of the nine games she’s played in for the Fever, averaging 10 points, 3.9 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 26.8 minutes. Sims signed three seven-day contracts for the Fever before she was signed for the remainder of the season.

Guard Sophie Cunningham was also among the Fever players to be ruled out for the season in recent weeks after suffering a torn MCL in her right knee during a game on Aug. 17.

Cunningham underwent surgery and is expected back in time for the start of the 2026 season. Guard Shey Peddy was added to a seven-day hardship contract in place of Cunningham.

Forward Chloe Bibby was also shut down for the season due to knee swelling.

“Her knee just swelled up, and we have not been able to get the swelling reduced,” White said about Bibby’s injury. “She just didn’t get any relief when trying to rehab it.”

Indiana Fever roster

Guard Kelsey Mitchell
Guard Odyssey Sims
Guard Aari McDonald
Guard Bree Hall
Guard Shey Peddy
Forward Natasha Howard
Center-forward Aliyah Boston
Guard Sophie Cunningham
Guard Lexie Hull
Center-forward Brianna Turner
Forward-center Damiris Dantas
Forward-center Makayla Timpson
Guard Caitlin Clark
Guard Aerial Powers
Guard Sydney Colson
Forward Chloe Bibby

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 in the NFL season opener.
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting before the first play from scrimmage.
The game was delayed for over an hour due to lightning in the area.

PHILADELPHIA − What a start to the 2025 NFL season.

Thursday night’s meeting between the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial field included the unveiling of a championship banner, ejection of a Pro Bowler for spitting before the first play from scrimmage and a weather delay of more than an hour that pushed the final result into Friday morning. It didn’t include one of the league’s biggest stars, the Cowboys star stripped from Micah Parsons after he was shockingly traded to the Green Bay Packers last week.

As for that aforementioned result? The Eagles prevailed 24-20 in what morphed into a surprisingly tight result, Philadelphia entering the game favored by more than a touchdown.

It’s merely the first of the league’s 272 regular-season games. But one this unique and anticipated deserves its own breakdown of winners and losers, so here we go:

WINNERS

Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott

Despite quarterbacking two of the league’s most prominent teams, this duo has largely been out of the headlines in recent months. Hurts, by nature, is a say less, do more kind of guy − and the Super Bowl 59 MVP delivered plenty, efficient through the air while running for a pair of scores. The summer’s Parsons saga in Dallas largely overshadowed Prescott’s return from a serious hamstring injury that cost him the final nine games of the 2024 season. But he appeared comfortably in command of a Dallas offense that had little trouble moving the ball on a Philly defense that ranked as the league’s best in 2024 … albeit with DT Jalen Carter on the field (more on him later). And while you could ding Prescott for failing to come up with a key sequence in the fourth quarter, the guys who are supposed to be making plays for him … didn’t. It’s just one game obviously, but always a good sign when your passer is in postseason-adjacent form in Week 1.

Cowboys run game

Ranked 27th a year ago, when Dallas averaged 100.3 yards on the ground per game, it showed encouraging signs of life Thursday with 119 yards and 5.4 a clip. Recently signed Javonte Williams rushed for multiple TDs for only the second time in his five-year career. RB Miles Sanders’ third-quarter fumble was a killer, though.

Mother Nature

And you thought football was an all-weather sport. A lightning strike proximal to Lincoln Financial Field with 4:44 to play in the third quarter delayed the game for 63 minutes. Notably, no points were scored after the stoppage. Coincidentally, when the Eagles last opened an NFL season seven years ago following their win in Super Bowl 52, the start of their Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons was delayed for almost an hour by severe weather. Even crazier? When the Cowboys were in Pennsylvania a year ago, albeit in Pittsburgh, the kickoff of their Week 5 game against the Steelers was pushed to nearly 10 p.m. ET by inclement weather.

Boyz II Men

Philly guys singing the national anthem – as only then can? And repping Eagles legends Brian Dawkins, Jerome Brown and Reggie White? Perfection.

LOSERS

Jalen Carter

The Eagles’ best defensive player didn’t last even one snap, ejected a following the kickoff for spitting on Prescott’s jersey as Dallas huddled during an injury timeout. Carter was summarily escorted off the field by Eagles security chief ‘Big Dom’ DiSandro. Whatever advantage Philly had by not having to face Parsons was at least largely offset by losing the anchor of a unit that lost several players from its front seven during free agency along with the retirement of DE Brandon Graham. It’s also worth wondering if Carter might miss more time if the league decides a further suspension is warranted.

Cowboys run defense

As well as Dallas moved the ball on the ground, it got plowed on the other side of the ball − and that’s got to be concerning to owner Jerry Jones given his avowed desire to stop the run was allegedly part of his rationale for trading Parsons in return for DT Kenny Clark and two first-rounders. The Eagles piled up 158 yards and all three of their TDs on the ground.

Georgia Bulldogs

Carter wasn’t the only ‘Dawg to have a rough night. Eagles GM Howie Roseman famously collects football players from Athens and has eight former UGA players on the expanded roster, including six active on the 53-man unit. And, make no mistake, the championship DNA definitely carried over, evidenced by the Georgia guys’ impact on Philly’s charge to the Super Bowl 59 crown. But not only was Carter kicked out Thursday night, OLB Nolan Smith incurred a pair of 15-yard penalties for taunting and roughing. DT Jordan Davis and CB Kelee Ringo had negligible impacts, and OLB Azeez Ojulari wasn’t active.

DUDE Wipes

The newly announced ‘presenting sponsor’ of the ‘Tush Push’ … didn’t get much to present Thursday night. The Eagles didn’t use the play until the fourth quarter and didn’t need it to get into the end zone.

Mazi Smith

The Dallas defensive tackle, a first-round pick in 2023, was inactive − basically a healthy scratch. Pretty damning development given Jones’ newfound obsession with stopping the run in the aftermath of the Parsons trade. Said NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth during the broadcast: ‘That’s as close to being cut as you can be’ … and don’t be surprised if that’s a fate Smith, who made very little impact during his first two seasons, is facing soon enough.

A.J. Brown

Philly’s star receiver with just one catch? Gotta wonder how healthy his hamstring actually is, though Eagles coach Nick Sirianni credited Dallas’ defense and the game’s flow for limiting Brown’s stat line. Still, Brown’s 8-yard grab inside the final two minutes helped the Eagles salt away the win.

CeeDee Lamb

Unlike Brown’s, his fantasy owners will be fairly pleased after Dallas’ top pass catcher reeled in seven balls for 110 yards. But his multiple drops Thursday really cost Prescott and the Cowboys.

Jerry Jones

After taking quite a few Ls from his fans for his handling of Parsons’ contract negotiations before throwing in the towel, the last thing Jones needed was to take another one in a game his team could have stolen in rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s debut.

Dak Prescott had missed the final nine games of the 2024 season with a right hamstring avulsion.
Dak Prescott finished 21-for-34 with 188 passing yards and no touchdowns in the 2025 season opener.
A couple late drops by CeeDee Lamb thwarted a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the Cowboys.

PHILADELPHIA — Dak Prescott’s first game in 10 months ended in disappointment.

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who missed the final nine games of the 2024 season with a right hamstring avulsion, mounted a fourth-quarter comeback attempt but didn’t receive much help from his favorite target, wideout CeeDee Lamb. A pair of Prescott passes hit Lamb’s hands on downfield attempts, but Lamb could not complete either catch, and the Eagles drained the clock in a 24-20 victory for the defending Super Bowl champions in the opening game of the 2025 NFL season. 

Prescott finished 21-for-34 with 188 passing yards, 127 of which came in the first half. Lamb had 110 of those yards on seven catches (13 targets). Prescott led four straight scoring drives in the first half, but the Cowboys scored zero points in the final 30 minutes. A one-hour, three-minute lightning delay did not help in matters of momentum. In the second half, he had six completions for 34 yards until his team’s final drive; Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell bailed him out by dropping what would have been a game-ending interception. 

Prescott rebounded by making a tough throw to George Pickens on third down for a 15-yard gain to keep Dallas’ comeback hopes alive. He delivered a beautiful deep ball to Lamb that the receiver inexplicably dropped and would have been a massive gain into Eagles territory. Prescott’s last-ditch effort to find Lamb on the team’s final play out of what felt like the fastest two-minute warning ever, was too far from Lamb’s reach, even though Lamb laid out for the ball but once again could not bring it in. 

The pair were paid by the Cowboys’ front office prior to last season with lucrative contract extensions.  

The game had barely started before Prescott found himself at the center of controversy. Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter was ejected after the opening kickoff for spitting at Prescott, although Prescott appeared to have spit first, albeit not directly at any person.

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You know about the drops. Maybe you saw them. Maybe you only heard about them. They will be talked about and talked about and then talked about some more. You know about those. But did you know what Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb actually said about them?

That is the most crucial part of the Lamb drops story. Philadelphia beat Dallas, 24-20, to open the season with a crucial win. For Dallas, all that will be talked about for the next few days (and beyond) are the drops. Lamb had three (a fourth was a tough catch) and according to ESPN he has 35 total drops since entering the NFL in 2020, most in the league. The network also said it’s his second career game with three drops.

“The guys that had a chance to make those plays, will make those plays,’ said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones after the game.

“Don’t worry about CeeDee Lamb,’ said Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer. ‘CeeDee’s going to be fine. What a great player. Again, this was a team defeat and we own that. We understand where we can go as a football team. We understand. I love the competition. I thought guys competed their butts off. I thought that was great, but we’re all about winning and we didn’t win tonight and therefore it’s not good enough.”

Then came the quote from Lamb. ‘That’s terrible. I can’t point the finger at anybody else. I take full accountability and everything else that comes with it,’ Lamb said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. ‘As a player, I train for moments like that and the ball to come my way. I need to catch the damn ball.’

Lamb added that if you didn’t think he’ll come back from this moment, you’re wrong.

Lamb had 7 catches for 110 yards.

And he’s right. We’ll see Lamb be Lamb again.

The 2025 NFL season got off to an explosive – and wet – start.

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles managed to score on every possession in the first half, but before either team took a snap from scrimmage, Jalen Carter was ejected.

As the Cowboys offense and the Eagles defense took the field following the opening kickoff, Carter approached Dallas QB Dak Prescott and spat on the quarterback.

Carter’s absence was noticeable in the first half as Cowboys running back Javonte Williams managed to rush for two touchdowns.

Some NFL fans are wondering if Carter will be suspended for his actions. Here’s a look back at similar situations in NFL history.

Will Jalen Carter be suspended?

Based on previous instances where a player spat on another, it’s unlikely that Carter will be suspended.

History suggests that Carter is unlikely to be suspended.

In 2020, then-Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marcus Peters was fined for spitting on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry, but not suspended.

In 2006, Terrell Owens faced a similar situation and was fined but not suspended for his actions when he spat on Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall. Owens was fined $35,000 for spitting, but wasn’t ejected from the game because the officials were unaware that the incident had occurred.

Additionally, the late Sean Taylor had a similar experience in Washington; he received a fine of $17,000 but was not suspended.

It’s important to note that the latter two situations are nearly decades-old. This offseason, the league discussed the importance of ‘respect for the opponent,’ which is a point of emphasis for officials this season.

Still, a precedent for a suspension for spitting does not exist.

Given NFL history surrounding spitting punishments, Eagles fans should expect Carter to be available for the Super Bowl rematch in Week 2 when the Eagles travel to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition: Your complete guide to NFL Week 1.

The Indiana Fever’s season is on the line.

The Fever (21-20) host the Chicago Sky on Friday in a game that has major playoff implications for Indiana. The Fever have dropped four of their last six games, including back-to-back losses to the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday, Aug. 31 and Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, Sept. 2. As a result, Indiana has slid into the eighth and final playoff spot.

The Fever only have a 1 1/2-game advantage over the ninth-place Los Angeles Sparks (19-20) with three games remaining in the regular season. (The Sparks have four games.) If the Fever and the Sparks were to finish with the same record, the Sparks hold the tiebreaker after taking the regular-season series, 3-1.

All-Star guard Caitlin Clark (right groin) announced Thursday she is done for the year. Clark is the fifth Indiana player to be ruled out for the season joining Chloe Bibby, Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald.

Fever guard Lexie Hull said all the Fever can do at this point is ‘focus on the win on Friday.’ Kelsey Mitchell added, ‘All we can do is control what we can control and that is Friday. … I believe in every person in that locker room. I believe in our coaching staff and I think Friday is the most important to us.’

Following Friday’s matchup, the Fever will face the Washington Mystics (Sept. 7) and close the season out against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (Sept. 9).

The Sky have been eliminated from playoff contention, but can play spoiler. Sky forward Angel Reese, who was assessed her eighth technical foul on Wednesday, will be suspended for the game unless the foul is rescinded. She leads the league in double-doubles (22), averaging 14.6 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this year.

Friday’s matchup will mark the fifth meeting of the season between the Sky and Fever. Indiana leads the series 4-0 and is going for the regular-season sweep. Here’s everything you need to know about Friday’s game:

What time is Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky?

The Indiana Fever host the Chicago Sky at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) on Friday, Sept. 5, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be broadcast nationally on ION.

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky: TV, stream

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT)
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
TV channel: ION
Streaming: Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

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