Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is doubtful for Sunday night’s game at Denver but could return as soon as next week against the Eagles, has been dealing with mainly a groin injury that has impacted his explosiveness, per league sources. Functinally, Nacua can play, but he has not felt like he can play with the same explosiveness he has had in the past. The Rams still view it as a short-term injury and think he’ll be back sooner rather than later. The organization does not believe surgery in this situation will be needed, but it’s also not entirely off the table if Nacua doesn’t show signs of improvement. Still, nobody is thinking that will be the direction this situation goes, and Nacua could be back next week.

Is it possible the Green Bay Packers just ... suck?

Graziano: Sense is that Brock Bowers (knee) is more likely than not to play in Week 3.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Is it possible that Justin Herbert just ... isn't that good anymore?

After undergoing a meniscus trim Tuesday, the Raiders believe there’s a realistic chance Brock Bowers will miss only one game and return for Week 2 at the Los Angeles Chargers, per sources. Team will see how he’s feeling this week, but a potential return next week is within the realm of possibility.

How do the Dodgers carry an unlimited payroll? Filings uncovered by @NickNemo17 show roughly $1.45 billion in debt for American Media Productions, the entity behind SportsNet LA and the Dodgers' 25-year, $8.35 billion Charter deal, sitting on the balance sheets of 5 life insurance companies tied to or controlled by the Dodgers' own ownership group. i.e. the Dodgers get a sweetheart deal on their TV rights from a media company their owners co-own, financed by insurance companies those same owners control. Because ownership sits on both sides, as borrower and lender, the setup functions as a closed loop: -When RSNs hit turbulence, banks enforce covenants or force restructuring. Here the lenders are insurers the owners manage, so the capital stays patient and cash flow to the team never gets choked. -MLB taxes net local revenue at 34% but allows deductions for debt service and interest tied to running the network. Carrying $1.45 billion in media debt on AMP's balance sheet generates interest expense that shrinks reportable net TV income and the resulting revenue-sharing bill. Then there's the payroll itself. Over $1 billion of it is deferred, owed to 9 players through 2047. Pushing that cash out frees up money today, some of which is going toward servicing that same debt, and kicks the actual bill to a stretch of decades many of today's owners won't be around for. LA built a (seemingly illegal) structure that captures its own interest yield, shelters TV income from league revenue sharing, and helps fund payroll dominance in the process.

Three big holes in this cover: 1) Torey said he was “physically fine” 2) The Restricted List is not for injuries 3) Arenado got an MRI in Boston The media needs to ask about all three today. We’re nice again not getting that truth from the team.

Wayne Randazzo sounds off on the Angels broadcast about MLB contenders, including the Brewers, letting the Dodgers land Tarik Skubal in a trade with the Tigers. "How does this happen?... It feels like that's a deal other teams could have made." ⚾️🎙️ #MLB

Hey Dodger haters: what were they supposed to do? Not try their hardest to three-peat? Not take advantage of having the best farm system in the bigs? Apologize for having one of the best organizations in all of sports? Just stop. #dodgers