Sports Digest.

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy gets "banged up" in preseason loss; Nick Chubb retires

The Vikings lost their preseason game Saturday, and the score matters less than the health of J.J. McCarthy. The young quarterback started, absorbed a rough first quarter, got "banged up," and exited after 18 snaps — ...

Quick Hits

  • Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy lasted just 18 snaps in Saturday's preseason loss after getting "banged up" during a rough first quarter — and per ESPN, he was supposed to play more.
  • Nick Chubb, one of the NFL's best running backs of the 2020s, announced his retirement after eight seasons, with repeated lower-body injuries cutting his career short.
  • Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan is joining the Denver Nuggets on a one-year, $3.9 million deal — a bargain price to pair him with star Nikola Jokić.
  • Bittersweet Saturday for the Dodgers: Tarik Skubal struck out 11 in his first win as a Dodger, but All-Star outfielder Andy Pages broke his hand.
  • Cleveland's quarterback competition got messy: both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders threw interceptions, with a starter decision reportedly just days away.

Minnesota Teams

The Vikings lost their preseason game Saturday, and the score matters less than the health of J.J. McCarthy. The young quarterback started, absorbed a rough first quarter, got "banged up," and exited after 18 snaps — ESPN reports he would have kept playing if not for the knocks, though the recap doesn't specify how serious anything is. Reminder: preseason games are exhibitions that don't count toward standings, so the loss itself is no big deal — but with the real season around the corner, McCarthy's health is the story to watch. Otherwise a quiet weekend on the local front, though Gophers fans can circle the calendar: college football kicks off in about a week.

NFL

Nick Chubb retires. The four-time Pro Bowl running back, among the most dynamic of his era, called it a career after eight seasons — a knee injury and other lower-body issues ultimately did in a player Browns fans adored.

A 69-yard field goal that doesn't count. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker drilled a booming 69-yarder — longer than the NFL record — but because it happened in a preseason game, it won't appear in the record book. Bragging rights only.

Off-field news: Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman was arrested on family violence charges stemming from a June incident in Georgia, per CBS Sports. He's entering his sixth season in Baltimore.

The Browns' QB mess deepens. In the battle to start, rookie Shedeur Sanders was decent in his start while veteran Deshaun Watson struggled — and both threw interceptions. CBS reports coach Todd Monken plans to name a starter in the coming days.

Preseason roundup: Denver's Bo Nix shined, Geno Smith looked sharp in his return to New York, and 49ers rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling continued what CBS calls a historic preseason. Betting markets are already live for Week 1 of the regular season — SportsLine's model currently likes the Eagles and Jaguars.

NBA

DeMar DeRozan to Denver. The six-time All-Star agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Nuggets, per ESPN. CBS notes the fit alongside Jokić as Denver — coming off a first-round playoff exit — tries to keep pace in a loaded Western Conference.

WNBA players are enjoying their new money. With the league's new labor deal dramatically raising salaries, ESPN chronicled how players are spending it: custom statues, Porsches, watches, and — the smart ones — investments and real estate.

MLB

The Dodgers won big but lost a bat. Newly arrived Tarik Skubal — a two-time Cy Young Award winner (given to the league's best pitcher) — dug L.A. a 3-0 hole in the first inning Saturday, then settled in and struck out 11 for his first Dodger win. The bummer: All-Star Andy Pages, the team's best right-handed hitter this season, broke his hand — a real blow as the Dodgers chase a third straight World Series title.

Also on the diamond: the Yankees and Blue Jays met Saturday in a key AL East matchup.

College Sports

The eligibility saga rolls on. In plain terms: the NCAA and the courts are fighting over whether seniors from the Class of 2022 — who've used up their normal eligibility — can play extra seasons. The latest twist saw former Missouri star Mark Mitchell granted a fifth year by a judge and promptly commit to Kentucky. CBS says the legal chaos is "just getting started," and ESPN has a full explainer if you want to go deeper.

Football is (almost) back. With the season about a week away, ESPN dropped its preseason top 25 — with big questions about whether Indiana can repeat its breakout, and whether Texas or Notre Dame takes the next step — plus way-too-early bowl projections. CBS ranked all 138 major-college rosters by experience and flagged Penn State and BYU among the best win-total bets.

Other Sports

Premier League soccer returned. Arsenal, the defending champions, opened their title defense with a dominant win over newly promoted Coventry City behind goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United are among the chasers.

Fight weekend: UFC held a card in Sacramento headlined by middleweights Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues (streaming on Paramount+), and boxers Rolly Romero and Teofimo Lopez squared off Saturday night in Las Vegas. In UFC gossip: Max Holloway brushed off Conor McGregor's comments following McGregor's injury at UFC 329, saying he didn't understand what McGregor was talking about and that "he looked old." Also, Noche UFC's main event got a shake-up — Yair Rodriguez is out, with Jose Delgado stepping in against Jean Silva.

Sources