Jaguars make deal with Saints ahead of NFL trade deadline
Jaguars make another defensive move after acquiring safety Jessie Bates from Atlanta.
Latest blog entries from Atlanta teams across every league
Jaguars make another defensive move after acquiring safety Jessie Bates from Atlanta.
The Falcons’ gamble on 42‑year‑old veteran kicker Nick Folk is backfiring. After a 72.2% conversion rate—five misses in nine games and his first sub‑40‑yard miss since 2017—Folk is posting his worst numbers since 2009. The article argues the team should have pursued a younger, long‑term solution instead of a short‑term fix, especially as Atlanta rebuilds, highlighted by the recent trade of Jessie Bates III. With eight games left, the Falcons could use the period as a tryout for emerging kickers.
Joe Burrow's 34-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid lifts his MVP odds above Josh Allen, according to BetOnline. Burrow completed 24 of 29 passes for two TDs, raising his season stats to a 74% completion rate, 2,386 yards and 23 touchdowns, and becoming the first NFL player to post four straight games with four TD passes and a 70% completion mark. The Bengals (6-2) tie the Steelers for the AFC North lead and aim to extend their four‑game streak when they host Pittsburgh on Nov. 15.
The Atlanta Braves are circling veteran right‑hander Sonny Gray as a potential partner for ace Chris Sale, creating a "1‑2 old man's punch" in the rotation. Gray, 37, posted an 18‑5 record with a 2.72 ERA for the Boston Red Sox in 2026 and entered free agency after declining his 2027 option. Sale continues to dominate with a 14‑9 record, 2.16 ERA and 200 strikeouts. With MLB free agency in full swing and a possible lockout looming after the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, the Braves hope to lock down Gray quickly to add stability before offseason negotiations disrupt the market.
Fox 4 sideline reporter Taylor Burr turned heads at Arrowhead Stadium, posting a photo of her black leather motorcycle jacket, wide‑leg jeans and gold‑buckle belt that went viral during the Chiefs‑Jets game. While Burr’s outfit stole social‑media spotlight, the Chiefs snapped a two‑game skid with a 35‑12 win, as Patrick Mahomes threw for 242 yards and two TDs despite an elbow strain, and Kenneth Walker added 102 rushing yards plus two receiving TDs. The victory sets Kansas City up for a cautious approach ahead of their next matchup with the Falcons.
The Lakers head to Atlanta on Monday night (7 p.m. ET) after a 9‑2 start highlighted by a 43‑point effort from Austin Reaves in a win over Detroit. Luka Doncic, who missed that game with back tightness, is cleared for the Hawks matchup, while Reaves is listed as questionable due to illness and Quentin Grimes sits out with a finger sprain. The Hawks, riding four straight victories, will test the Lakers' momentum against wing defender Dyson Daniels. Injury updates and the upcoming schedule are the key takeaways.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić is off the injury report for Monday's game against the Atlanta Hawks after missing Sunday's win against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday because of lower back tightness.
The Jacksonville Jaguars boost their Super Bowl chances by trading for three-time Second‑Team All‑Pro safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons, sending a 2027 second‑round and a 2028 fifth‑round pick. With Bates, the Jaguars' odds jump to +950, the fourth‑best in the NFL behind the 49ers (+550), Bills (+650) and Bears (+850). Jacksonville sits 6‑2, fresh off a 33‑10 win over Baltimore, ranking second in points allowed (15.1) and first in turnover ratio (+9), though their pass defense is 22nd. Bates brings 28 career interceptions and could be re‑signed before hitting free agency.
The Lakers extend their early‑season surge to 5‑0 with a 121‑116 win over the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 6, despite Luka Dončić’s injury. Austin Reaves fuels the victory with 43 points and just one turnover, helping LA post a 127.4 offensive rating against Detroit’s third‑ranked defense. Coach JJ Redick praises the team’s poise, especially in the final quarter when the Lakers outscored the Pistons 33‑0 to seal the game. The win moves Los Angeles to 9‑2 and sets up a showdown with the 7‑4 Atlanta Hawks on Monday, with hopes of Dončić returning.
Luka Doncic clears the injury report and is set to suit up for the Lakers at State Farm Arena on Monday, Nov. 9. The 40.1‑point scorer returns as Los Angeles, now 9‑2 and five games on a winning streak, faces an Atlanta Hawks team that’s 7‑4 but missing five rotation players. The Lakers lead the Pacific Division, averaging 121.9 points on 50.5% shooting, while the Hawks, atop the Southeast, rely on a 31.5‑assist, fast‑pace style. Key battles will be Doncic’s offense against a shorthanded Hawks frontcourt and Walker Kessler’s rebounding versus Atlanta’s depleted interior.
The Bengals' 34-17 victory over the Falcons in Madrid underscores three key takeaways. First, Cincinnati’s offense is now the league’s most potent, averaging 30 points per game with Joe Burrow throwing three TDs, running for another, and staying sack‑free. Second, star receiver Ja’Marr Chase rebounds dramatically, posting back‑to‑back 140‑plus‑yard games after a slow start. Third, the defense, while occasionally lagging early, shows resilience by limiting opponents—holding Bijan Robinson to just 58 yards after an explosive opening. These trends suggest a hot offensive trio and a defense that can tighten up when needed.
Despite Ronald Acuña Jr.'s rough 2026 postseason—hitting just .125 with a .425 OPS in seven games and seeing the Braves fall to the Dodgers in the NLDS—rumors of an offseason trade are unfounded. MLB Network's Jon Morosi says the Braves have no interest in moving Acuña, who is entering the final guaranteed year of his deal with a club option for 2028. While his overall season was uneven, he rebounded in September, posting a .287 average with seven homers and 19 RBIs to help Atlanta clinch the NL East. Expect Acuña to wear the Braves uniform in 2027.
While Doncic didn't suit up in the Lakers' previous game, he could be saving his energy for the team that traded him away on draft night.
At Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, the New York Jets grapple with edge‑rusher Will McDonald IV’s formal trade request after seeing his snap count dip to under 45% in the 3‑4 scheme; the team has declined offers despite activating his 2027 fifth‑year option. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars bolster their defense by acquiring All‑Pro safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons for a 2027 second‑rounder and a 2028 fifth‑rounder, with Atlanta covering most of Bates’s $6.5 million 2026 salary. The Jaguars, 6‑2 and AFC South leaders, add depth after Eric Murray’s IR placement, while the Falcons shed salary ahead of a rebuild.
Manuel Turizo headlined the halftime show of the Week 9 NFL International Game in Madrid, where the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 at the Santiago Bernabéu. While his Latin medley (including “La Bachata” and “El Merengue”) entertained some, Turizo sparked outrage by repeatedly grabbing his crotch, prompting a flood of critical tweets that accused the NFL of poor act vetting and family‑unfriendly content. The controversy adds to the buzz surrounding the record‑seven halftime performances scheduled for the 2026 NFL International Games.
The Atlanta Braves face a crucial offseason dilemma over their starting rotation as they aim to stay World Series‑ready for 2027. While the 2026 staff posted a solid 3.76 ERA (6th best) and 839.1 innings, injuries and the inevitable aging of ace Chris Sale (38) raise concerns. Sale delivered a 2.36 ERA and 15.9 fWAR over three years, but the club still needs reliable backs‑up after Bryce Elder’s knee surgery and Grant Holmes’s UCL rehab. General manager Alex Anthopoulos has emphasized adding a playoff‑caliber starter, whether via free agency or trade, to replace the uncertain in‑house options and provide the continuity the Braves lack. The article evaluates about a dozen potential candidates and weighs the risk of continued injury‑plagued rotations.
Despite a disappointing 2023 season and lingering injury concerns, MLB insiders say trading Ronald Acuña Jr. this offseason is “highly unlikely.” Both Jon Heyman and Jon Morosi note that the Braves, coming off a 94‑win NL East title and still in championship mode, have no incentive to move their star, especially with a guaranteed year left on his contract and a 2028 club option. The article argues that a rebuild is the only scenario that would justify a deal, but Atlanta’s recent playoff success suggests they’ll keep Acuña to chase a title in 2027.
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the New York Jets 35-12 on Sunday, but the headline is quarterback Patrick Mahmore's right elbow injury. Mahomes was hit by rookie David Bailey late in the first half, left the field holding his arm, and returned despite lingering pain. An MRI shows a strain or sprain with no major structural damage, yet his status for next week's game against the Atlanta Falcons remains uncertain. Coach Andy Reid is preparing backup Justin Fields as a precaution. Mahomes finished with 23 of 31 passes for 242 yards and two TDs, but the elbow issue could affect his performance going forward.
The Chiefs have one less defender to worry about in Week 10.
Blake Burkhalter’s 2026 Braves stint boils down to a literal "cup of coffee" – a single MLB inning on September 1 that yielded one hit, one walk, one strikeout (Daylen Lile) and one run. Drafted in the second round out of Auburn and once ranked 14th by Baseball America, he spent most of the year in Triple‑A, posting a 2.43 ERA over 29 2/3 innings but with a concerning 3.35 FIP and a 9.8% walk rate. Unprotected in the Rule 5 draft and now on the 40‑man roster, his future hinges on winter roster cuts; he could see another brief MLB look in 2027 if the Braves need a low‑level reliever, but a stable role remains uncertain.
The Jaguars pull off a blockbuster trade before the Tuesday deadline, acquiring All‑Pro safety Jessie Bates from the Atlanta Falcons for a second‑ and fifth‑round pick. Pittsburgh, sitting at 6‑2 and trailing the Jags for the No. 3 seed, had been linked to Jaguars WR Brian Thomas, but Jacksonville chooses to keep him for his locker‑room leadership and deep‑field speed. The two 6‑2 teams meet on Monday Night Football in Week 14, a matchup with major playoff‑seeding implications.
The Atlanta Falcons trade All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2027 second‑round pick and a 2028 fifth‑round pick, according to ESPN. Bates, a three‑time second‑team All‑Pro and former Pro Bowl selection, ranks first in forced fumbles, third in tackles and tied for sixth in interceptions among safeties over the past three seasons. The Jaguars, now 6‑2 and a top AFC contender, add his playmaking to a defense that’s third in takeaways per game. Pittsburgh will face Jacksonville on Monday Night Football in Week 14, making the move a direct preview for the Steelers’ upcoming opponent.
The Falcons trade Jessie Bates III to the Jaguars for two draft picks, sparking speculation about a flurry of moves before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. While the Bates deal nets a premium pick and a future fifth‑rounder, Atlanta may also consider offloading high‑cost players like CB A.J. Terrell, who carries a $81 million contract, linebacker Divine Deablo, veteran corner Mike Hughes, or even tight end Kyle Pitts, whose under‑whelming stats this season could lower his market value. The article weighs each name’s trade potential and how these moves could reshape the Falcons’ future despite their slim NFC South hopes.
The Atlanta Falcons trade safety Jessie Bates to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2027 second‑round pick and a 2028 fifth‑round pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Bates, a four‑year, $64 million contract player and three‑time second‑team All‑Pro, has logged 60 tackles, one interception and three forced fumbles in nine games this season. Jacksonville, now 6‑2 and leading the AFC South, loses starter Eric Murray to IR and adds Bates to fill the gap. The Falcons, sitting 3‑6 after a 34‑17 loss to the Bengals, move the veteran before the Nov. 10 trade deadline to recoup value before he hits free agency.
The Jaguars shock the league a day before the trade deadline by landing safety Jessie Bates III from the Falcons, confirming a hot market for defensive backs. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Buffalo Bills are now eyeing Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, who could be tempted by a contender if the Cardinals consider a deal. While the Cardinals haven’t signaled a move, the Bills and possibly other teams may outbid them, especially after Jacksonville’s aggressive safety acquisition. The article examines Baker’s trade chatter and the Bills’ potential pursuit ahead of the deadline.