Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will miss the entire 2026 NFL season after being placed on the reserve list with a long-standing neck issue.
The 26-year-old has not taken to the field since October 2024.
He sustained the severe injury while attempting to tackle Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, which led to a brief hospitalisation.
Recovery timeline remains uncertain
This marks the second consecutive year the Ohio franchise has moved the defender to the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Doubts over his immediate playing future had already been raised earlier this year.
“I wasn’t overly optimistic,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry admitted at the NFL combine in February when discussing the linebacker’s availability for the 2026 campaign.
From Pro Bowl peak to academic pursuits
The former Notre Dame standout had established himself as a premier talent prior to his prolonged absence.
He earned his first Pro Bowl selection during a stellar 2023 campaign, registering a career-high 101 tackles.
That exceptional form prompted Cleveland to reward him with a three-year contract extension worth up to $39m (£30.8m) in August 2024.
Focusing on life off the pitch
With his professional sporting career temporarily on hold, the American is shifting his attention to the classroom.
He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School this autumn.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill insists his side must defeat Rangers in Sunday’s final Old Firm derby of the season to keep their Scottish Premiership title hopes alive.
The Bhoys currently trail league leaders Hearts by three points with only three matches remaining.
Defeat to their fiercest rivals at Parkhead would effectively end any realistic chance of retaining the championship.
Rangers saw their own title aspirations extinguished following consecutive defeats to Motherwell and Hearts.
However, the visitors still have plenty to play for as they chase a second-place finish and a coveted Champions League qualifying spot.
O’Neill prepares for potential farewell
The upcoming fixture is widely expected to be the Northern Irishman’s final Glasgow derby.
He is determined to end his third managerial spell at the club on a triumphant note.
“At home, we have to try and get on the front foot as early as possible and try and win the game.”
The veteran coach believes his squad still has the momentum needed to catch the pacesetters.
“We still feel the title is in our own grasp at this minute. We’ve got some goals to try and make up, but that’s a long way off.”
He also acknowledged that the away side will be desperate to bounce back from recent disappointments.
“I’ll expect a strong, strong reaction from Rangers. We’ve got to be strong ourselves and hopefully we can do that.”
Röhl demands pride and passion
Danny Röhl has yet to defeat his Celtic counterpart in league action this season.
Despite drawing their previous Premiership encounter and suffering two cup exits, the German tactician remains optimistic.
He recently dismissed speculation linking him with a move to the Bundesliga, reiterating his absolute commitment to the Ibrox club.
“Nobody needs extra motivation to go in this game.”
“We want to make our supporters and fans proud and that means we have to deliver on Sunday.”
The Gers did emerge victorious during their last visit to Glasgow’s East End, recovering from a first-half deficit to secure a vital 3-1 win.
Röhl highlighted that impressive comeback as proof of his squad’s resilience when faced with severe adversity.
“We showed we can do that. That’s when we really felt the belief that even when things don’t go right in a game we can turn them in the right direction.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot admits that finishing the campaign with three consecutive victories will not alter the overwhelmingly negative perception of their disappointing Premier League title defence.
The reigning champions experienced a severe mid-season collapse that abruptly ended their hopes of retaining the domestic trophy.
Despite a recent stumble against Manchester United, the Merseyside club remains on course to secure vital Champions League qualification.
They face a challenging run-in against three top-half teams, beginning with a crucial fixture against out-of-form Chelsea.
Focusing on a positive finish
The Dutchman acknowledges that a strong finish will do little to silence the mounting criticism surrounding his second year in charge.
“This season has been gone in a way that even if we have three wins and positive performances, I don’t think anyone will be positive about the season,” said Slot.
The head coach is relying on the impending return of several key personnel to boost squad morale in the final weeks.
“We are trying to do it in the best possible way, performance-wise,” he added.
“Three wins won’t silence the criticism. Therefore we need to have a much longer run of result and performances.”
Transfer struggles and summer plans
The Anfield outfit invested heavily following their title victory, securing high-profile targets including Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz for over £400m.
However, several of these marquee arrivals have struggled significantly with both form and fitness throughout a grueling campaign.
The former Feyenoord boss maintains that his team’s underlying performances warranted a much higher points tally than they ultimately achieved.
“We haven’t had a very good season in the Premier League but we’ve played better and not got the points we should have,” he explained.
Looking ahead to the upcoming window, the 46-year-old confirmed that further modifications are inevitable to rebuild the squad.
“There will be a bit of transition this summer but not as drastic as last summer.”
Atletico Madrid are in advanced talks to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes in a deal worth approximately £39m.
The Spanish giants are closing in on an agreement for the 23-year-old ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
Discussions between the two clubs have progressed significantly, with the proposed fee expected to quickly secure the Brazilian’s signature.
Gomes transfer impacts Manchester United
This impending move to the Spanish capital could have a significant ripple effect across the wider European market.
Diego Simeone’s side had previously agreed verbal terms with Atalanta standout Ederson, a player also heavily monitored by Manchester United.
However, acquiring the Wolves enforcer means Los Rojiblancos are highly unlikely to pursue the Serie A star any further.
This sudden shift clears a potential path for the Old Trafford hierarchy to intensify their pursuit of the coveted midfielder.
Wolves face urgent midfield rebuild
Losing the combative South American will leave a noticeable tactical void at Molineux next season.
Manager Gary O’Neil will need to identify suitable reinforcements rapidly to maintain his team’s competitiveness in the Premier League.
The substantial financial package will at least provide the West Midlands outfit with crucial funds to reinvest directly into their squad.
Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has praised Luis Diaz following the winger’s spectacular debut season at Bayern Munich.
The Colombian international has been a revelation since swapping Anfield for the Bundesliga last summer.
The 29-year-old has amassed a staggering 26 goals and 21 assists in just 48 appearances for the German giants this campaign.
This prolific return represents a significant step up from his goalscoring rate on Merseyside, prompting questions over Liverpool’s decision to sanction the sale.
Thiago backs Bayern swoop
Thiago shared a dressing room with the lightning-fast forward between January 2022 and his own retirement in the summer of 2024.
The current Barcelona assistant manager believes the Bavarians made a shrewd investment in his former colleague.
“They’re having a spectacular season. I think they made the right call signing Luis,” Thiago told Sky Sport Deutschland.
“I know him from Liverpool. He’s a fantastic player and person. And Vinnie [Kompany] is doing a great job as coach.”
Slot defends sustainability model
Diaz previously won the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups during a three-and-a-half-year stint in England.
He was also a pivotal figure in Arne Slot’s title-winning squad in 2025 before the lucrative transfer was completed.
Speaking earlier this year, the Dutch manager defended the club’s pragmatic approach to offloading prime assets.
“If this club gets an offer like that for a 28-year-old, then this club, because it is built on sustainability, chooses to sell a player.”
Arne Slot
Slot added that the attacker’s success in Germany was “not a surprise” to him or the Merseyside hierarchy.
Contrasting fortunes on the pitch
Vincent Kompany’s side have already wrapped up the Bundesliga title with matches to spare.
The Munich outfit will also face Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final, though they suffered elimination in the Champions League semi-finals.
Back in England, the Reds are expected to enter the market for wide players during the upcoming transfer window.
With Mohamed Salah poised to depart Anfield at the end of the current campaign, finding reinforcements down the flanks will be a key priority.
Crystal Palace have approached Frank Lampard about becoming their new manager just days after the 47-year-old led Coventry City to the Championship title.
The south London club are actively searching for a replacement for outgoing head coach Oliver Glasner.
Lampard successfully ended a 25-year top-flight absence for the Sky Blues this season.
However, the former Chelsea and Everton boss is now seriously considering his managerial options following the Selhurst Park approach.
Uncertainty at Coventry
Despite securing automatic promotion, doubts persist over Coventry’s ability to retain their title-winning manager.
Owner Doug King has openly acknowledged the club may struggle to compete financially against established elite teams.
The former England midfielder has exactly 12 months remaining on his current contract in the Midlands.
While an improved deal will be offered, King is reportedly unwilling to block a move if a Premier League rival swoops.
Rival interest and Palace rebuild
Fulham are also monitoring the situation as they await a decision on Marco Silva’s contract extension.
A switch to the capital would offer the opportunity to inherit a highly successful squad from the departing Austrian tactician.
Palace lifted the FA Cup last season and face Rayo Vallecano in the Europa Conference League final later this month.
The Eagles spent £78m in January to secure Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Strand Larsen, reinvesting funds after losing star duo Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi.
Caitlin Clark has declared herself fully fit for the 2026 WNBA season after overcoming a series of demoralising injuries to win MVP honours with Team USA.
The former Iowa standout made her first meaningful competitive appearance in eight months during a FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.
Coming off the bench in the opening fixture, the 2024 Rookie of the Year immediately showcased her trademark passing and long-range shooting ability.
She recorded 17 points and 12 assists in her first game back before ultimately securing the tournament’s most valuable player award.
Overcoming a demoralising year
The prolific scorer endured a deeply frustrating 2025 campaign that was severely derailed by multiple soft tissue setbacks.
After initially suffering a left quad sprain early in the season, the guard subsequently sustained groin injuries and a bone bruise on her left ankle.
These persistent physical issues forced her to miss the WNBA All-Star Game in her home city of Indianapolis and ruled her out for the remainder of the season.
Prior to these professional setbacks, the elite playmaker had famously never missed a single fixture during an astonishing 139-game collegiate career.
‘An incredibly isolating thing’
“I put together a pretty incredible stretch of never missing a game,” Clark said.
“The fact is when you’re a professional athlete, it’s going to come at some point.”
“It’s honestly taught me more than I probably ever learned over the course of my career.”
“Being hurt is an incredibly isolating thing, and you don’t really understand it until you go through it.”
Indiana Fever executives relieved
Indiana Fever general manager Amber Cox travelled to San Juan specifically to monitor her franchise player’s highly anticipated return to the hardwood.
The executive observed the point guard average 11.6 points and 6.4 assists over five international appearances.
“I had so much excitement and anticipation to see her back on the floor, and to see her deliver at such a high level and casually walk away with the MVP,” Cox told US media.
“That’s when we all felt great about the fact that she was fully back.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will assess the fitness of midfielder Rodri ahead of Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Brentford following a recent groin injury.
Guardiola plays down midfield absence
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was forced off with a groin problem during an April victory over Arsenal and subsequently missed Monday’s chaotic 3-3 draw against Everton.
That result on Merseyside leaves the reigning champions trailing league leaders Arsenal by five points with a vital game in hand.
However, the manager insisted the defensive collapse at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was not entirely due to missing his talismanic anchor.
“It doesn’t depend on him. We gave the goals away but not because Rodri was not there.”
Pep Guardiola
A season disrupted by setbacks
The Spain captain has endured a frustrating campaign, initially missing significant time with a severe knee injury before suffering subsequent hamstring and groin issues.
Despite returning to make 35 appearances for club and country, the former Atletico Madrid man remains less than fully match sharp.
“We have survived without him for many, many months. He still doesn’t feel completely comfortable. He will be ready when he is fit – we will see on Friday afternoon or on Saturday.”
Pep Guardiola
Data highlights undeniable influence
Despite the manager’s public stance, statistics clearly demonstrate the profound impact the 29-year-old has on his team’s success.
Since arriving in Manchester in August 2019, the club boasts a significantly higher win percentage and dictates greater possession when their midfield maestro is deployed.
His commanding presence provides vital defensive protection, a structural quality that was sorely lacking during the recent second-half capitulation against the Toffees.