On one of the last days of March, Germany play Ghana in the final international break before World Cup preparations begin. Many fans started their journey first thing in the morning, including Dennis and Kai.
The two friends from the north of Germany put on their kits and boarded the train early, keen to support the team in person that evening in Stuttgart.
For Dennis in particular, trips like this are routine; he has been following the national team since 2015, and the 40-year-old has hardly missed a game since. Kai has been a regular since Euro 2024 on home soil.
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“Wearing the eagle on your chest and singing the national anthem is something special,” Dennis told DW. “You always meet up with other fans, travel to tournaments — it always gives you goosebumps.”
The two are what are known as regulars, fans who accompany the team to every match — wherever the location.
The buzz before the tournament
No wonder, then, that the upcoming FIFA World Cup is firmly marked in their calendars.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Kai, his eyes lighting up as he speaks. “I want to soak up everything that’s going on in the cities. Dennis has always talked so much about it.”
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The anticipation begins long before the tournament, added his mate Dennis: “The excitement starts two years in advance; you start saving up and thinking about what the trip might look like.”
Both have already bought tickets for Germany’s group games, and their itinerary is all planned out. They’re really looking forward to it, and the current political situation in the United States isn’t dampening their spirits.
“Politics should really stay out of sport. Sport is meant to build bridges and bring people together, but politics often likes to exploit tournaments like this,” said Dennis.
How big will Germany’s support be in the USA?Image: Maximilian Koch/picture alliance
Löw warns against traveling
Not everyone is as relaxed, though. Most recently, former Germany head coach Joachim Löw warned against traveling to North America.
“We had debates even before the 2018 World Cup in Russia and calls for a boycott ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But playing in a country that is currently actively at war is even more dangerous,” warned Löw at an event in Cologne.
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Löw, who led Germany to victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, was referring to the policies of US President Donald Trump, who started war with Iran at the end of February. On top of this, operations by immigration agency ICE and other geopolitical conflicts are causing unrest and uncertainty. The political situation is “completely overshadowing the tournament,” said Löw.
Green party politician worried about personal freedom
There has also been, and continues to be, strong criticism from the political sphere.
“What FIFA is organising there together with Donald Trump is not something that makes my heart beat faster,” Green Party politician and human rights activist Boris Mijatovic told DW.
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Green party politician Boris Mijatovic has warned against traveling to the USA this summerImage: dts-Agentur/picture alliance
“The disclosure of personal data, such as email addresses, mobile phones, computers or social media accounts, should not be ignored. These are all infringements on personal freedom that I would not tolerate,” Mijatovic said. “A state that snoops into your privacy in this way should not be rewarded with a visit.”
Mijatovic also fears further “bizarre moments of vicarious embarrassment” such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino presenting the newly created FIFA Peace Prize to Trump during the World Cup draw.
“I find it utterly grotesque the way one has to pay homage to this president to win his favor. This applies just as much to Gianni Infantino as it does to [German] Chancellor Friedrich Merz,” added the politician, including DFB German FA President Bernd Neuendorf in his criticism.
Mijatovic feels there is a lack of courage to voice criticism of FIFA.
“I miss that stance,” he said. “What we once built, with respect and fair play, has gone down the drain.”
For Germany fan Bengt Kunkel this year’s World Cup will be one he watches on television at home rather than in person. Kunkel, who has worked hard to generate a great atmosphere at Germany games for several years, will not be traveling to the US.Bengt Kunkel (center) was one of many fans cheering at Germany games at Euro 2024Image: Matthias Koch/picture alliance
“I take a very critical view of the World Cup,” he said. Trump is a huge problem, he added, because he is trying to make the World Cup his own and exploit it for his political agenda.
“On top of that, there are the restrictions on press freedom and freedom of expression, plus FIFA’s political pandering in awarding the Peace Prize to Donald Trump,” said Kunkel, who is also critical of the cost to fans.
“We worked out that for the group stage alone, we would probably have had to spend between €5,000 and €8,000 ($5,800-$9,280),” explained the Germany fan. “This isn’t a fan-friendly tournament. Nothing about this World Cup appeals to me, so it was clear I wouldn’t be going.”
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The stricter entry requirements for fans are also a cause for concern for the 27-year-old.
“When it comes to saying, ‘we’re going to check all social media activity of people wanting to enter the US and see if anyone has liked or posted anything against Donald Trump,’ then that has nothing to do with inviting the world into your home and wanting to celebrate a football festival.”
Germany fans are hopeful the country can seal their fifth star at the 2026 World CupImage: Matthias Schrader/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance
Can the team win the World Cup together?
Kunkel knows that the 2026 World Cup is currently dividing fans.
“But I understand anyone who goes there,” said Kunkel, adding that he does not believe a boycott is the answer.
“It has to be OK to support the national team, despite everything. So let’s just make the best of it and have a brilliant World Cup summer.”
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Even Dennis and Kai admit it’s “not a fan-friendly World Cup.” Nevertheless, they’re confident that the US will ensure everyone’s safety and that it will be a fantastic football festival.
“We want to become world champions,” Dennis said. “We have to be a team and act as a team, and if we fans stand behind the team, we can go a long way.”
Jynxzi’s first-ever League of Legends tournament turned into one of the biggest Twitch events of the year. The massive creator event aired on May 11, 2026, bringing together 40 streamers and content creators for a full day of matches, chaotic moments, and huge reactions from the community. By the end of the stream, Team xQc walked away as the winners after completely dominating the finals against Team Zoil.
The event was also a huge moment for Jynxzi himself. During the livestream, the Twitch star crossed 10 million followers on the platform and shattered his personal live viewership record with more than 400,000 concurrent viewers tuning in. The stream lasted for hours, but fans stayed locked in the entire time, especially during the finals where xQc’s squad took over the game in convincing fashion. After everything wrapped up, Jynxzi called it “the best stream” he has ever done and said he wants to host another tournament again someday.
Team xQc wins Jynxzi’s League of Legends tournament in dominant fashion
At around the eight-hour mark of the livestream, Team xQc faced Team Zoil in the grand finals. Team xQc included Félix “xQc” Lengyel, Kingsman, Ray, also known as “rayasianboy,” Sapnap, and AloisNL. On the other side, Team Zoil featured Zoil, Ludwig, ArrowCS, Pokelawls, and former pro player Sneaky.
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The final game ended up being extremely one-sided. Team xQc crushed Team Zoil with a 28-4 scoreline in just 27 minutes. xQc played Malphite in the top lane, while Kingsman stood out as one of the strongest players during the match while playing Samira as the ADC.
Jynxzi hits 10 million Twitch followers during the massive livestream
While the tournament itself was already huge, the stream became even bigger after Jynxzi noticed he had crossed 10 million followers on Twitch during the broadcast. The creator looked genuinely shocked while reacting live on stream and thanked viewers for supporting the event.
Jynxzi also revealed that the tournament broke his all-time viewership record by around 170,000 viewers. At one point, the stream reportedly crossed more than 400,000 live viewers, making it one of the biggest creator events on Twitch this year.
Meanwhile, fans are already asking Jynxzi to organize another creator tournament because of how successful the first one turned out.
Manchester United have been heavily linked with Atalanta defensive midfielder Ederson as they aim to reshape their midfield
Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has denied Manchester United have made a formal approach for Ederson amid heavy transfer links with the Brazil international. The 26-year-old has impressed for the Serie A club this season making 40 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing two assists.
Ederson has operated alongside Atalanta captain Marten de Roon in the centre of a 3-4-2-1 system. On Sunday, he picked up the man of the match award as his team beat AC Milan 3-2 at the San Siro in a game where the midfielder scored the opener for his side. United are on the hunt for at least two central midfielders this summer.
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Casemiro’s will depart and Manuel Ugarte is expected to be offered to other clubs. Kobbie Mainoo signed a new five-year deal recently so any new addition must compliment the academy graduate. With Ederson’s contract expiring in 2027, he has attracted interest.
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Atletico Madrid were believed to have agreed personal terms with Ederson in January but were unable to strike an arrangement on his wages, opening the door for a possible United move.
This week, Percassi was asked whether Ederson had been approached to which he told Tuttomercatoweb: “We have no official offers, only interest from other teams.”
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He added: “I think it’s unlikely that teams will make a move before the end of the season. Interest in our players is normal, but we’ll evaluate them at the right time with great serenity and calm.”
MEN Sport has previously reported that United want to target Premier League proven players this summer. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is a key target for the Reds but is attracting strong interest from Manchester City. West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton are all on United’s watchlist as they look to strengthen.
May 11, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Coby Mayo (16) connects on a three-run home run during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
The Baltimore Orioles want to make more out of the current three-game series after winning the opener against the visiting New York Yankees.
Maybe there will be more drama Tuesday night.
The Orioles won for just the fourth time in 12 games when Coby Mayo’s three-run homer in the seventh inning sparked a 3-2 victory on Monday. The blast completed a surprising turnaround, as Baltimore trailed 2-0 and didn’t have a hit until that inning.
New York took its fourth straight loss. The Yankees fell for the fifth time in six games since beginning May with a five-game winning streak that included a four-game wipeout of Baltimore.
Now the Orioles are feeling better.
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“It feels like I’ve been in that spot a lot over the last three seasons since I’ve been up here and haven’t come through much, as much as I wanted to,” Mayo said. “That was a spot where when I did come through, all that emotion came out and it just felt really good.”
The outcome provided the Orioles with a jolt of confidence. They were stymied by Ryan Weathers, but he exited after a single, a groundout and a walk in the seventh, and reliever Brent Headrick was taken deep by Mayo, the first batter he faced.
If the Yankees fall on Tuesday, they would match their longest losing streak of the season, a five-game skid from April 8-12.
“We’ve got to get some guys unlocked,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ve got a handful of guys that are scuffling. We’ve got to get a little bit more competitive up and down the lineup as we hit this little rough patch.”
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Will Warren (4-1, 3.46 ERA) will start for the Yankees on Tuesday. He held the Orioles to two runs, one earned, in 6 1/3 innings for a home victory on May 1, striking out nine and walking one. Pete Alonso tagged him for a solo homer. Warren’s only outing since then resulted in a loss to the Texas Rangers, when he allowed six runs in four innings on Wednesday.
The right-hander has struck out 53 and walked 11 in 41 2/3 innings this season.
Warren went 1-2 with 4.95 ERA in four matchups with Baltimore last year, giving up four home runs in those outings.
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The Orioles hadn’t announced their Tuesday pitching plans, but they are expected to have left-hander Trevor Rogers (2-3, 4.75 ERA) back from the injured list and available for a start any day now. Rogers hasn’t pitched in the majors since April 25. In four career outings vs. the Yankees, he is 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA.
Baltimore catcher Samuel Basallo was scratched from the lineup on Monday, when he was set to be the designated hitter, because of a sore left knee. A day earlier, he was involved in a collision at home plate but held onto the ball for an out against the Athletics.
The Orioles made a move involving the pitching staff on Monday, calling up left-hander Josh Walker from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning right-hander Trey Gibson to Norfolk.
New York slugger Aaron Judge has reached base against the Orioles in 27 consecutive games after hitting a sixth-inning double in the series opener.
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The Yankees didn’t have shortstop Jose Caballero, who is batting .259 with 13 stolen bases, in the starting lineup on Monday because of a finger injury sustained a day earlier in Milwaukee. The plan was to have him evaluated by a specialist Tuesday in New York, though he was used as a ninth-inning pinch runner and caught stealing to end the Monday game.
“He’s as tough as they come, but he had a little hard time when he went to throw (on Monday),” Boone said. “He’s been such a good performer for us here to start the year, both sides of the ball. He’s been a key part of our team to this point.”
Max Schuemann was New York’s shortstop in Caballero’s absence.
Belfast’s Lewis Crocker will defend his IBF world welterweight title against Australian Liam Paro in Brisbane on 24 June.
The contest will take place at the Pat Rafter Arena, with the date and venue having been confirmed on Wednesday.
Crocker hopes that a victory over Paro would help open the door to a unification bout with another belt-holder in the division.
The 29-year-old won the title with a split decision verdict over Paddy Donovan at Belfast’s Windsor Park in September and his team had hoped to stage the defence against mandatory challenger Paro in his home city.
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However, with no agreement reached between the parties, the matter was resolved by a purse bid with No Limit outbidding Crocker’s promoter Matchroom by $27,000 (£20,000).
Paul Heyman appeared on the latest edition of WWE RAW alongside Austin Theory, Bron Breakker, and Logan Paul of The Vision. He kicked off the show and was at ringside for their six-man tag team match against Joe Hendry and the Street Profits.
Heyman, unfortunately, watched his clients lose the match after interference from Seth Rollins. After the show, he uploaded a picture of the Empire State Building on his X/Twitter account, claiming that the building was lit up dark green in his honor, since he was wearing a suit of the same color on RAW.
Thanks for the submission!
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“Just landed back home a moment ago. The rumors are true. The Empire State Building is lit up dark green tonight in honor of my custom green suit on WWE RAW tonight. King of New York ( … and everywhere else)!” he wrote.
Real Reason why Jacob Fatu lost at Backlash – Check Here!
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It seems clear that Paul Heyman will have his hands full throughout the summer, as the feud between the two sides will continue following the tag team match on RAW.
Paul Heyman’s clients were booked in a title match for an upcoming WWE event
Angelo Dawkins rolled Austin Theory up for the pinfall during the six-man tag team match on RAW this past week. However, it wasn’t without shenanigans as Paul Heyman’s former client, Seth Rollins, interfered in the match, distracting Theory enough for Dawkins to get the victory for his side.
After pinning one-half of the World Tag Team Champions, the Street Profits will finally get a shot at the championship at an upcoming WWE special event.
Saturday Night’s Main Event XLIV is just two weeks away, and one of the first matches added to the card is a World Tag Team Championship match where Logan Paul and Austin Theory will defend their titles against Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins.
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The Street Profits have been featured regularly on RAW since their return, and have given Paul and Theory a tough time. Now, it remains to be seen whether they can end their title reign to send them on the back foot and gain a strong footing in the tag team division on RAW.
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Shortly after James and the Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer was asked if he planned to keep playing basketball next year.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” James told reporters. “… When the time comes, you guys will know.”
James said he plans to take time with his family before officially coming to a decision.
If he does decide to return, the next question for James is whether or not it will be with the Lakers.
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After spending the past eight seasons with L.A., James is currently not under contract for next season.
But at 41, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer proved this season that he can still be a force in the league.
James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 5.4 rebounds while playing 33.2 minutes per game in the regular season.
Then, with Lakers superstar Luka Doncic out for the entirety of the Lakers’ post-season run due to injury, James took his game to another level.
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The four-time NBA champ led the Lakers in total points and assists in the playoffs, and helped the team to a surprising upset of the Houston Rockets in Round 1.
So, despite being swept by the defending champs in Round 2, James is still proud of what he accomplished in his 23rd season.
“I left everything I could out on the floor,” James said. “I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure.”
Aug 12, 1978; Denver, CO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton (7) in action against the Dallas Cowboys during a preseason game at Mile High Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY NETWORK
Former Broncos quarterback Craig Morton, who led Denver to its first Super Bowl appearance and is a member of the franchise’s Ring of Honor, died at home at 83 on Saturday, the team announced.
Joining the Broncos in 1977, the former Cal star guided the team to Super Bowl XII, a 27-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Morton was named the PFWA Comeback Player of the Year after posting a 12-2 record and 1,929 passing yards with 14 touchdowns that season. Finishing his career with the Broncos in 1981, he was inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame in 1988.
Morton spent nine-plus seasons (1965-74) with the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him No. 5 overall in the 1965 NFL Draft, then played parts of three seasons with the New York Giants (1974-76) before joining the Broncos.
Morton trails only Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and John Elway in Broncos’ passing yards with 11,895. Morton ranks third with 74 passing touchdowns and second in game-winning drives to Elway with 14.
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Over his 18-year NFL career, Morton finished 81-62-1 with 2,053 completions for 27,908 yards and 183 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 627 yards and 12 scores.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are heading to the Western Conference Finals after beating the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 to complete a 4-0 series sweep.
Unlike the earlier games in the series, this play was much closer. The Lakers kept fighting throughout the night and even took a late lead in the fourth quarter, but Oklahoma City still found a way to close it out.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points, while Ajay Mitchell added 28, and 10 in the final quarter. With the game tied late, Chet Holmgren delivered a huge dunk with 32 seconds left to put OKC back in front.
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“We’ve done our job so far,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the win. “We’ve gone out there, executed, played at a high level and won eight tough games.”
The Lakers had their chances late. LeBron James finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds, but missed a driving shot in the closing moments that could have given Los Angeles the lead.
After the game, LeBron admitted he still does not know what comes next for his career.
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“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” he said. “I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family.”
Austin Reaves scored 27 points for the Lakers, while Rui Hachimura added 25 in a strong effort.
Still, the Thunder continued their dominance over Los Angeles this season, going 8-0 against the Lakers across the regular season and playoffs combined.
Oklahoma City now moves on to the Western Conference Finals, looking every bit like a serious championship favourite.
NEW DELHI: Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik has come out in support of fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat amid her dispute with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) over returning to competitive wrestling after retirement.Vinesh recently tried to compete at the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda despite the federation declaring her ineligible.
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Vinesh Phogat breaks silence on WFI notice
The WFI said wrestlers must serve a mandatory six-month notice period before making a comeback under anti-doping rules. However, Vinesh, who became a mother 10 months ago, has challenged the decision and refused to step away.Sakshi said she usually avoids political matters because Vinesh is now a Congress MLA, but she felt the issue was bigger than politics.In a video shared on social media, Sakshi pointed out that many countries around the world relax rules to help women athletes continue their careers after motherhood.“But our federation has come up with rules to stop Vinesh from making a comeback,” Sakshi said.She appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the WFI to give Vinesh a fair opportunity.“I would request the Prime Minister, the Sports Minister and the WFI to take Vinesh’s trial so that she can also win medals for the country and be an example for women by winning medals after becoming a mother,” she added.Vinesh had retired after a heartbreaking disqualification at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she missed the weight limit by just 100 grams before the final. Later, she entered politics and became an MLA from Haryana’s Julana constituency.
Aaron Rodgers didn’t make it back to Pittsburgh after all.
After reports surfaced this past Friday that Rodgers was expected to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in preparation for a return to the team he played for last year, many were hopeful the months-long wait was over.
However, during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN this Monday, Adam Schefter said neither the Steelers nor his agent were aware of any such meeting being on the schedule.
Aaron Rodgers of the Steelers stands during the national anthem before an NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 4, 2026.(Michael Owens/Getty Images)
But then, there were the reports about where Rodgers is in the world, with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporting that he was in the Steel City, though he wasn’t scheduled to visit with the team. A report from 93.7 The Fan added on, saying he was in town for golf.
Either way, the decision still lingers whether Rodgers will suit up for the Steelers, but the storied franchise gave themselves some insurance if the four-time MVP quarterback decides he wants to potentially play elsewhere.
The Steelers used an unrestricted free-agent tender on Rodgers last month, which allows Pittsburgh the right to match any offer Rodgers may get from another team.
Despite doubt from some camps on Rodgers’ potential return, Schefter noted his belief he will be in the Steelers’ depth chart come training camp. The Steelers have their OTAs scheduled to begin next Monday.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 4, 2026.(Getty Images)
With Rodgers at the helm this past season, the Steelers went 10-7, even earning a playoff berth after Baltimore Ravens rookie Tyler Loop’s now-infamous game-winning field goal did not get through the uprights. The Steelers ended up losing to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round, extending the team’s playoff winless streak to eight straight seasons, including three consecutive campaigns.
Rodgers, who’s slated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he decides to call it quits for his career, threw for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions in 16 games for Pittsburgh in 2025.
The Steelers also revamped their team for this season, as Mike McCarthy, Rodgers’ old head coach with the Green Bay Packers, takes over for Mike Tomlin, whose generational run in Pittsburgh ended after 19 seasons (2007-25). While D.K. Metcalf and Rodgers built chemistry this past season, the Steelers also added veteran receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts, while adding Alabama’s Germie Bernard in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers after being sacked during the wild-card game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 12, 2026.(Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-PA/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
And while Kenneth Gainwell is gone after a solid performance with Pittsburgh, Rico Dowdle comes into the fold to work alongside Jaylen Warren at running back.
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Yet, the biggest question in football still remains: will Rodgers be a part of these new-look Steelers in 2026?
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