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The Denver Broncos dealt with the unthinkable when starting quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle in an AFC Divisional Round overtime win over the Buffalo Bills.Now, they’re going to ask backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to do the unthinkable — lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl despite not throwing a pass in an actual game for over 2 years.An even crazier twist? Stidham will face the team that drafted him, the New England Patriots, in the AFC Championship Game. It’s also the team that tried to get him to come back and be the backup for NFL MVP candidate Drake Maye this season.Instead, Stidham signed a 2-year, $12 million contract extension with the Broncos.“Before the Broncos re-signed Jarrett Stidham this past offseason to back up Bo Nix, he had interest and an offer on the table from another team: The New England Patriots,” The Athletic’s Diana Russini wrote on X on Monday. “Sunday, he faces the team that drafted him in the AFC title game, the biggest start of his career … Stidham has acquitted himself well in four career starts, averaging over 250 yards per game and throwing six TDs. But in 7 seasons, he hasn’t had much opportunity. Those starts have come after Derek Carr and Russell Wilson were benched for the final weeks of the 2022 and 2023 seasons.”Noise on Stidham vs. Pats Will Get LouderExpect the storylines about Stidham facing his old team to get more pronounced as kickoff approaches.The Patriots ultimately ended up with Joshua Dobbs and Tommy DeVito as their backups to Maye.“The Patriots ‘did a lot of work’ on potentially signing Jarrett Stidham this past offseason, per Mike Vrabel,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens wrote on X. “The Broncos re-signed Stidham a day before free agency opened. Now Stidham will go against his former team with a chance to get to the Super Bowl this week.”Pats Selected Stidham in Fourth Round in 2019Stidham hasn’t played in a regular season game since he started the final 2 games of the 2023 regular season for the Broncos after Payton benched Russell Wilson.In 7 NFL seasons with the Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and Broncos, Stidham is 1-3 in 4 starts. The Patriots selected Stidham in the fourth round (No. 133 overall) of the 2019 NFL draft out of Auburn.Stidham’s last extended action was in the Broncos‘ 30-9 preseason opener win over the San Francisco 49ers on August 9 — 14-of-15 passing for 136 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 3 carries for 36 yards in just 2 quarters.Stidham’s ability to scramble and run the ball had fans and media buzzing almost as much or more than his brilliant performance throwing the ball, and he walked away with a 144.0 passer rating.“It’s good for us to just get out there and play together and put up some points,” Stidham told 9 News Denver. “(When I’m running) it’s more like just trying get down and not make a mistake.”“I’ll be telling my kids about the Jarrett Stidham legacy 2nd quarter,” NFL reporter Bryce DeGroat wrote on his official X account. “Unreal.” Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post QB Jarrett Stidham Chose Broncos Over Patriots in Free Agency appeared first on Heavy Sports.

Former Chicago White Sox knuckleballer Wilbur Wood, who played from 1961-78, passed away Saturday at the age of 84, the White Sox announced.Wood embodied the definition of durability throughout his career. While it was a different game for pitchers, he became one of the most consistent pitchers of the early 1970s with Chicago.The left-hander started his career with the Boston Red Sox at the age of 19. In 1964, he was purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but was used sparingly as a reliever until he was traded to Chicago in 1966.Wood’s Chicago White Sox CareerIn 1967, Wood made his White Sox debut. From 1967-70, he pitched in 292 games, including an astounding 88 in 1968. This was just the start of what would be an elite stretch with the White Sox.In 1971, Wood became a full-time starter and made his mark in the league. That year, he started 42 games, pitching to a 1.91 ERA. Even more unbelievable than his ERA that year was his 11.7 bWAR and 334 innings pitched.Wood finished third in American League Cy Young Award voting that year and ninth in MVP voting, and was selected to his first All-Star Game.The following year, he would start a whopping 49 games, pitching to a 2.51 ERA in 376.2 innings, the most innings thrown by a pitcher in the Live Ball Era (since 1920). He would be the runner-up in Cy Young voting that year to Gaylord Perry, and would get his second All-Star appearance.Then, in 1973, Wood had a 3.46 ERA in 359.1 innings, finishing fifth in Cy Young voting. In 1974, he had a 3.60 ERA in 320.1 innings. He would earn his third, and final, All-Star appearance. Since 1920, Wood is one of 10 pitchers who have thrown 300 innings in four seasons or more, per MLB Network.He would finish his White Sox career with 51.7 bWAR in 578 games (286 starts), with a 3.18 ERA. While putting up those legendary stats, his durability was not to be understated. At his peak from 1971-75 with Chicago, Wood threw 1,681.2 innings.That number was nearly 100 more than the next closest pitcher at that time, averaging 336.2 per season.Wood’s LegacyBeyond his elite play during his peak, Wood accomplished feats that will never be touched again.Roy Halladay, in 2003, pitched 266 innings. That number is the most by a pitcher since 2000, and still 70 less than what Wood averaged during his peak.In 2025, Logan Webb pitched 207 innings, the most in the majors, and a far cry from what pitchers used to do. While it is a different game today, Wood’s unbelievable run is not to be overlooked.We will never see another pitcher have more than 40 starts in a season, more than 300 innings, all while maintaining an elite level of play.There are several factors to consider. Pitchers throw much harder than they did in Wood’s day, and the knuckleball is all but extinct. Because of this, the incidence of arm injuries and injuries as a whole is much higher than it was in Wood’s day.Because of this, Wood’s innings record, as well as his overall durability, will never be seen again in baseball. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post White Sox Legendary Workhorse Passes Away at 84 appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Indiana Hoosiers have proven to be the team to beat time and time again this season in the NCAA, due in large part to Heisman Trophy winner and projected top NFL Draft pick Fernando Mendoza.Monday night’s National Championship game between Indiana and the University of Miami is a revenge game of sorts for Mendoza. Not because he used to play for Miami, or because he’s had squabbles with any of their players, but rather because of his connection to the city and the fact that the Hurricanes had no interest in him when he was being recruited.Mendoza grew up within a couple miles of the University of Miami’s campus, and had every intention to play for the Hurricanes when he was looking for a landing spot for his collegiate career.According to reports from the Miami Herald-Times though, Miami didn’t strongly pursue Mendoza when he was initially getting recruited a few years ago. They were hesitant to offer him a walk-on position, much less an actual roster spot.“It lit a fire under me,” Mendoza said on his high school recruiting at the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff, according to the Miami Herald-Times. “I was sad, and then I came to a realization: I’m not going to be a Miami football player, but it wasn’t God’s path for me.” Mendoza Passed Over For Carson BeckFast forward to last offseason, when Mendoza entered the transfer portal after three seasons with Cal Berkeley. Miami showed interest in him, but once again, the paths didn’t align for Mendoza to come back to his hometown to play. He ended up with Indiana, of course, while the Hurricanes grabbed Carson Beck out of the portal from Georgia.Ironically, this year’s National Championship game is being held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the Hurricanes home stadium. Hard Rock is located within a mile of Mendoza’s childhood home.Following Indiana’s resounding 56-22 win over Oregon in the CFP Semifinals, Mendoza spoke about what playing in his hometown meant to him.“I’ve actually not played in Hard Rock before, but I’ve been to a lot of games there. And it’s a very full-circle moment for myself,” Mendoza said. “If you open Google Maps and put my address, the University of Miami campus, it’s under a mile away. And I walked there, biked there, played basketball [recreational] games in the offseason there.” Mendoza, Indiana, Still Proving People WrongThe narrative surrounding the Indiana football team this season has been that they would fail to live up to their high standards eventually. So far, that take has not come to fruition, as Indiana has passed every challenge with flying colors.Not only is Indiana undefeated at 15-0 with a Big 10 Championship and two CFP wins under their belts, they’ve been doing it in dominant fashion. Only three of their 15 wins this season have even been within one possession, two of which were in the regular season against Iowa and Penn State, and the third in the Big 10 Championship against Ohio State.They demolished two powerhouse programs in Alabama and Oregon in their first two CFP games, and yet, they still have more to prove on Monday night against Miami.Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Fernando Mendoza’s Miami High School Connection: Did Hurricanes Ever Recruit Him? appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Seattle Seahawks entered the NFL playoffs relatively healthy, but the team is dealing with some significant injury challenges despite being one game away from the Super Bowl. Seattle was able to survive Sam Darnold’s late oblique injury scare to make short work of the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. The Seahawks were not as fortunate with one of the team’s key playmakers. If the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, it will be without one of their standout running backs. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald revealed that Zach Charbonnet will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a knee injury. Charbonnet sustained the injury against the Niners. "Zach Charbonnet has a torn ACL"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/WVyVBSjwpm — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 19, 2026 “Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet suffered a season-ending knee injury that will require surgery, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Seattle Sports. Macdonald called it ‘a significant knee injury, unfortunately. Breaks your heart. He’s going to need surgery, so he’s got a good long road to come back,'” ESPN’s Adam Schefter detailed in a January 19, 2026, message on X. Here’s a look at the latest Seahawks news ahead of the team’s NFC Championship matchup against the Rams. The Seahawks Are Expected to Lean on Ken Walker Amid Zach Charbonnet’s Season-Ending InjuryThe good news is Ken Walker is playing at a high level and will likely get the majority of the carries against the Rams as a result of Charbonnet’s injury. In addition to Walker, the Seahawks have running back Velus Jones Jr. on the roster. It would not be a surprise if Seattle made a late practice squad addition at running back. Seattle is a 2.5-point favorite versus Los Angeles in the NFC Championship odds, per FanDuel. The Seahawks are also listed a +145 favorite to win the Super Bowl ahead of the conference championship matchups. Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet Sustained a Torn ACL vs. 49ers: Report View this post on Instagram It is brutal news for Charbonnet who not only will miss the rest of the playoffs but faces a long journey back ahead of the 2026 season. Charbonnet sustained a torn ACL, per Schefter.Following the Seahawks’ win over the 49ers, Macdonald sounded optimistic that Charbonnet’s injury was not considered serious. Clearly things changed after Charbonnet underwent further evaluation. Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald on Improved Rushing Attack Led by Ken Walker: ‘It’s Great to See It Come to Life’After a slow start to the season, Seattle’s rushing attack has been potent in recent weeks, especially against the 49ers. Walker also had success against the Rams, posting 11 carries for 100 rushing yards and one touchdown in the December 28, matchup. The playmaker added three receptions for 64 yards in the previous game. “It’s everybody,” Macdonald said of the Seahawks’ improved rushing attack during a January 17, press conference, per Seahawks.com. “Our coaches deserve a ton of credit. K9 (Ken Walker) obviously had a great game. “A lot of it is coming on wide zone, you know that’s something that we’ve been having to work all year and that’s where we hang our hat on, so it’s great to see it come to life.” Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Seahawks Brutally Dealt Unfortunate News Days Before NFC Championship vs. Rams appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t fall flat in their attempt to repeat as Super Bowl champions because of their defense — you can make an argument they were playing as well as anyone in the NFL on that side of the ball at the end of the season.The reason the Eagles failed was because their offense failed, and that side of the ball will get what should be a pretty massive makeover with a new offensive coordinator coming in after Kevin Patullo was fired after one season.On defense, for a second year in a row, there’s essentially an embarrassment of riches that could lead to another purge in free agency.After last year’s Super Bowl win, defensive end Milton Williams land a 4-year, $104 million contract with the New England Patriots and edge rusher Josh Sweat to the Arizona Cardinals on a 4-year, $76.4 million contract.In 2026, it probably means the Eagles won’t be able to keep inside linebacker Nakobe Dean, who has established himself as one of the NFL’s best players at his position over the last 2 seasons.Dean Ready to Cash in With Free AgencySpotrac projects Dean will receive a 4-year, $61.9 million contract in free agency.Dean played the last 4 seasons on a 4-year, $5.2 million rookie contract after the Eagles drafted him in the third round (No. 83 overall) of the 2022 NFL draft out of the University of Georgia.While Eagles fans might really want Dean back, there are several things that indicate his time in Philadelphia has come to an end.The first problem is the contract of fellow inside linebacker Zack Baun, who signed a 3-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles following the Super Bowl win and it’s hard to imagine the team investing that much money at a position that’s traditionally undervalued.Another hurdle is Dean’s own injury history. He tore his patellar tendon in last seasons NFC Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers and missed the first 7 games of the 2025 regular season as he recovered from the injury. In 2023, he missed 12 games with a Lisfranc injury to his foot.The final problem with Dean coming back is probably the most significant — the Eagles have already tried to replace him.Eagles Spent 2025 1st Round Pick on ReplacementIn the Eagles’ season-ending loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Round, there was one pretty telling statistic no one spent a lot of time on — rookie inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell logged just one defensive snap.That’s significant because the Eagles traded up to select Campbell in the first round (No. 30 overall) in the 2025 NFL draft and signed him to a 4-year, $14.9 million contract. He played in all 17 games as a rookie and started 10 games — mostly when Dean was still recovering from his torn patellar tendon.Once Dean came back, Campbell quickly became an afterthought and finished his rookie year with 80 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 pass deflections, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.All that being taken into account, it just doesn’t seen sustainable to keep both Campbell and Dean on the roster moving forward. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Eagles Could Part Ways With Projected $61 Million Free Agent appeared first on Heavy Sports.