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Brenton Strange’s ascension has warranted some financial security entering 2026.

The Jaguars and Strange have agreed to a three-year extension worth up to $48 million, NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday. The contract includes $25 million in guaranteed money, Garafolo and Pelissero added.

Strange was entering the final year of his rookie deal.

At maximum value, Strange’s extension places him in the range of the top three contracts for tight ends in the NFL and comes one day after Atlanta agreed to a three-year, $54 million extension with Kyle Pitts. Realistically, Strange’s deal likely lands closer to that of Baltimore’s Mark Andrews and the Giants’ Isaiah Likely, quality money for a 25-year-old coming off his best season: 46 catches, 540 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games played.

Selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Strange improved enough to prompt the Jaguars to move on from Evan Engram after the 2024 season, clearing the way for Strange to command the top tight end role in Liam Coen’s offense. He responded with career-high marks, cultivating a rapport with Trevor Lawrence in an attack that proved to be one of the most explosive in the NFL during the latter half of the 2025 season.

Jacksonville’s offseason has been defined by maintaining continuity, with most of its additions backfilling what is already a strong starting lineup on both sides of the ball. Strange’s contract extension follows the same approach while rewarding a rising player with a contract that should appear team-friendly a year or two from now.

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold has been arrested in connection with a February robbery and kidnapping in Tampa, Florida, the Hillsborough County State Attorney announced late Wednesday night.

Arnold, 23, turned himself in at Orient Road Jail (Florida) on Wednesday and is facing eight total felony charges — four for robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon and four for kidnapping, the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office told NFL.com. Arnold is being held with no bond and is due in court Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET, per the Sherriff’s office.

The charges carry a potential life sentence in prison, according to the state attorney statement, which added a pretrial detention motion will be filed to argue for Arnold remaining in custody until his trial.

“Terrion Arnold categorically denies any involvement in the matters underlying the allegations made against him and maintains his innocence,” a statement, obtained by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, from Arnold’s representation, CEO of EAG Sports Management Denise White, read. “There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Arnold to these allegations. Instead, the government appears to be relying on testimony from multiple convicted felons who have admitted their own involvement and may have substantial incentives to shift blame in an effort to lessen their sentences.

“Mr. Arnold looks forward to his day in court and is confident that the judicial process will lead to his ultimate vindication.”

The February incident was a kidnapping and robbery plot, reported by The Athletic as retaliation for a robbery at the Lions defensive back’s Florida residence, that Arnold was linked to and subsequently denied.

The state’s attorney’s office said Arnold’s “confidants” were also “behind bars.”

Suzy Lopez, the state attorney for the 13th judicial circuit in Tampa, posted comments on social media regard Arnold’s arrest.

“No one has the right to take the law into their own hands,” Lopez wrote. “A dispute over missing property does not justify kidnapping, violence, or retaliation. We will continue to pursue justice for the three victims by holding everyone accountable for their roles in this crime.”

The NFL and the Lions also released statement to NFL.com.

“We are aware of the matter and have been in contact with the club,” the league statement read. “We have no further comment at this time.”

“We are aware of the legal situation regarding Terrion Arnold,” the Lions said. “We will not comment at this time out of respect for the ongoing legal process.”

Arnold is a native of Tallahassee, Florida, who played collegiately at Alabama. Detroit selected Arnold in the 2024 NFL Draft’s first round at No. 24 overall.

In two seasons, he’s played 24 games with 22 starts, compiling 91 tackles, 10 passes defensed and one interception. Arnold played in just eight games during the 2025 season as he was sidelined by a concussion and twice with a shoulder injury, the second time leading to season-ending surgery.

LONDON, June 24 : Play was suspended briefly on all courts at the Wimbledon qualifying tournament on Wednesday because of a problem with the automated line calling system.

Britain’s Dan Evans had just lost the first set of his match against Australian Tristan Schoolkate on a baking hot day at Roehampton when the problem arose.

Line judges were abolished last year at Wimbledon for the first time in the tournament’s history in favour of the electronic system.

It is not the first time this week that the system has caused problems, with play also impacted on Monday.

It was announced that play would resume at 1145 GMT.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres acquired the No. 4 pick in the NHL draft in a trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

As part of the deal, Buffalo also acquired third-year defenseman Louis Crevier, who had a career-best 25 points in his first full NHL season, and a second-round draft pick, 46th overall. Chicago also acquired hard-hitting forward Jordan Greenway.

Byram is the key player in the trade.

The 25-year-old had a career-high 42 points and matched a career high with 11 goals in 82 games in spending much of the season playing alongside captain Rasmus Dahlin as Buffalo’s top defensive pairing. He was part of a deep and talented blue line that contributed to the Sabres winning their first Atlantic Division title and snapping an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.

With the fourth pick, the Sabres are positioned to land a top prospect in a draft class that’s loaded with highly regarded defenseman. Among the defensive candidates expected to be available at No. 4 are Carson Carels (WHL Prince George), North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff and Latvia’s Alberts Smits.

Buffalo hosts the two-day draft that opens with Round 1 on Friday night (7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).

In Chicago, Byram adds offense to a team that finished eighth in the Central Division standings for a fourth straight season and hasn’t made the playoffs in six years. The Blackhawks have struggled to improve despite picking seventh or better in each of the past four drafts — a stretch that included them selecting Connor Bedard first overall in 2023.

Chicago has a group of promising young defensemen, including Artyom Levshunov — the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft — and Kevin Korchinski — the No. 7 pick in 2022. But the Blackhawks needed another veteran leader on the blue line after trading Connor Murphy to Edmonton on March 2.

The 29-year-old Greenway is a 10-year NHL veteran, who spent three-plus seasons in Buffalo. He played a valuable checking line role, but has been slowed by injuries, limited to 74 games over the past two seasons.

Byram spent his first three-plus seasons with Colorado, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2022 before being traded to Buffalo two years later.

Former Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams signed Byram to a two-year, $12.5 million contract last summer in a deal reached before the defenseman’s arbitration hearing.

In addressing reporters after Buffalo was eliminated by Montreal in the second round of the playoffs last month, new Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he was placing a priority on signing Byram to a long-term contract this offseason.

At 6-foot-8 and 228 pounds, Crevier brings size and a hard shot to the Sabres a mere five days after they traded 6-foot-5 defenseman Michael Kesselring to San Jose. The teams swapped first-round selections with Buffalo moving up seven spots in the order by landing the Sharks pick at No. 20.

The Sabres now have six picks in this year’s draft.

England coach Thomas Tuchel said his team had been frustrated by one of the most robust defensive displays he had ever seen in Tuesday’s 0-0 World Cup draw with Ghana, and he urged fans ​to stay positive.

“I think full respect (to Ghana) and they defended with a ​lot of determination, with a lot of discipline, and with one of ⁠the most physical performances that I saw from a team defending,” the German ​told reporters.

“We had enough set-pieces to decide the match but we were not clinical ​enough,” he said, adding that he took more positives from the game than negatives.

Tuchel acknowledged that fans might be frustrated after England failed to repeat the flowing, attacking football of their 4-2 ​win over Croatia in the opening match of the tournament.

England’s 78.8% possession against Ghana ​was the highest in records dating back to 1966 by any side in a World Cup ‌match ⁠without managing to score.

“If…one team tries to play and run against this deep block and you don’t find the spaces and it’s difficult for you to create chances it can be difficult to watch,” Tuchel said.

“We always try to entertain our fans. It ​was difficult today. I ​hope they don’t ⁠lose belief. There’s a long way to go.”

Tuchel also said Harry Kane was unlikely to miss as good a chance in ​the rest of the tournament as the one he blazed ​over the ⁠bar in the 86th minute after substitute Nico O’Reilly hit the crossbar with a header and the ball rebounded perfectly for the England captain.

“Ninety-nine out of 100 he will ⁠convert this ​chance,” Tuchel said.

England have four points from their ​first two games, almost certainly enough to send them into the first knockout round, and they finish their ​Group L campaign against Panama on Saturday.

June 23 : Qatar’s sports minister and national team player Assim Madibo visited Canada midfielder Ismael Kone to check on his health after he was injured during their World Cup game, the Qatar Football Association said on Wednesday.

Qatar suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat by Canada in their Group B clash, during which Kone sustained a broken leg following a clumsy second-half tackle from Madibo. Kone has since undergone surgery.

“They were received by the President of the Canadian Soccer Association,” the Gulf country’s soccer governing body said on Facebook.

“This visit reflects the spirit of sportsmanship and the strong relationships on and off the field. We wish the player a speedy recovery and a quick return to the pitch,” it added.

The Qatar Football Association posted photos of the visit, with one showing the two players hugging each other. Kone was sitting in a wheelchair.

Qatar are set to play against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final group match, while tournament co-hosts Canada take on Switzerland.

GENEVA, June 24 : The International Olympic Committee will consider changes to the Olympic Charter on Wednesday which aim to reinforce the political neutrality of sport, moves which observers say could influence future decisions on Russian athletes taking part.

The amendments would strengthen language emphasising that sport should be free from political interference. One would stress the IOC’s role in ensuring neutrality “at all times, free from governmental, cultural, societal or economic pressure”.

The IOC says the reforms are designed to protect athletes and competitions from outside influence and prevent the Olympic Games from being used for political purposes.

However, critics say the proposal could weaken existing barriers to Russia’s full return to international sport. 

Rob Koehler, director general of advocacy group Global Athlete, said it risked undermining the Olympic movement.

“The message will be unmistakable: war, systematic doping and repeated violations of the Olympic Charter are no longer barriers to full participation,” he said.

Russian athletes have faced sanctions over a state-backed doping scandal linked to the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, while the IOC recommended in 2022 that Russian and Belarusian athletes be banned from competitions after the invasion of Ukraine.

RUSSIA LOOKING FOR A CHANGE 

The Russian Olympic Committee was suspended in October 2023 after recognising regional Olympic councils in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, which the IOC said violated the Olympic Charter and Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

The Olympic body has since taken gradual steps towards easing restrictions. In December, it said Russian and Belarusian youth athletes should be allowed to return to international competitions without restrictions. 

Last month, the IOC lifted all restrictions on Belarusian athletes, clearing the way for them to return to international events, including qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The IOC said the lifting of restrictions would not apply to Russian athletes. There has been increased speculation that a similar decision could be made for Russia in coming months.

In May, the IOC said ​its legal affairs commission was reviewing information regarding the ROC while also examining its anti-doping system, with ongoing ​investigations by the World Anti-Doping ⁠Agency a concern.

Sports minister and ROC ​chairman Mikhail Degtyarev said in April that his ministry and the ROC were “doing everything possible” to ensure the full return of the Russian national team to international competitions under the national ​flag.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying in April that he hoped for a fresh approach from the IOC’s new leadership.

Separately, the proposed reforms would also remove the fixed list of international federations from the Olympic Charter, giving the IOC greater flexibility to shape the programme based on criteria such as cost, logistics and global appeal.  

HOUSTON: Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six World Cup campaigns and silenced his critics after “a dark week” as the Portugal captain struck twice in a 5-0 annihilation of Uzbekistan on Tuesday (Jun 23).

The big win in Houston put Portugal on the brink of the knockout rounds and was a resounding response to the 41-year-old’s doubters. 

Ronaldo’s goal after six minutes made history – trumping even Lionel Messi – by scoring at six World Cups stretching back to 2006.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus ace pulled out his trademark “Siu” celebration and let out a throaty roar in front of 68,777 fans.

After Nuno Mendes made it 2-0, Ronaldo neatly got his second with a cool finish six minutes before the break.

That took him to 10 World Cup goals, more than any other Portuguese player, including the great Eusebio.

Ronaldo was seen saying “I’m back, I’m back”, and told broadcasters: “It’s always nice to break records, but my goal is to help the national team achieve its objectives.”

He added: “It was a difficult week, a dark week. It seemed like I was already retired from football.

“But I held on, as always, because I believe more in hard work than in anything else.

“It was hard, I have to admit it, but we’re back.”

Ronaldo came into the group encounter against tournament debutants Uzbekistan with 143 goals, the most in international men’s football.

But once widely regarded as a competitor to Messi for the unofficial title of best player, his powers have been on the wane at the highest level.

He had limited service in the disappointing 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo to start Portugal’s World Cup title bid.

But when he did have two chances, he missed the target, igniting calls for coach Roberto Martinez to drop him.

His travails in front of goal were in glaring contrast to the likes of Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, who all made lightning starts to the World Cup.

But Martinez has stuck defiantly by his skipper, who was given a rapturous reception when he came out to warm up at the Houston Stadium, and again each time he appeared on the big screens.

RONALDO’S DAY

Ronaldo nearly pounced after just three minutes, narrowly failing to make contact at the far post after a cross by Mendes. Ronaldo slapped the turf in frustration.

He did not have to wait long for his goal, swivelling on the six-yard box to meet a cross first time from Joao Cancelo and smash the ball beyond goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.

The outclassed Uzbeks, coached by the Italian 2006 World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, were perfect opponents for Ronaldo to rediscover his scoring boots.

It was 2-0 on 17 minutes when Mendes curled in a free kick.

The Uzbeks thought they had pulled one back after a screamer by Azizjon Ganiev, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR intervention for a foul on Cancelo.  

It was Ronaldo’s day, and he rolled in a third for Portugal with only the goalkeeper to beat with a smart, controlled finish.

He might have had a hat-trick following an intricate free-kick routine, but Nematov denied him, clattering into the veteran attacker in the process.  

From the resulting corner, it was 4-0, with Ronaldo in the thick of it again before the ball went in off Nematov for an own goal.

Substitute Rafael Leao scored an emphatic fifth in the 87th minute.

“There are times when you need a game like the first one in order to grow in the tournament,” said Martinez.

“Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with greater maturity because it was no longer the opening match.”

Before this, the evidence against Ronaldo was beginning to stack up.

In the previous 10 games at major competitions – the World Cup and Euros – before the Uzbekistan match, he had zero goals and one assist.

He did, though, have a successful season with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, scoring 28 goals in 30 league games.

Portugal’s final group match is on Saturday against Colombia, who beat the Uzbeks 3-1.

Colombia meet DR Congo later on Tuesday in Group K, knowing a win will propel them into the last 32.

BENGALURU, June 24 : Aryna Sabalenka will carry the aftershocks of yet another Grand Slam meltdown into Wimbledon as the world number one comes under heightened scrutiny to show her nerve holds when the pressure spikes on the sport’s biggest stage.

The 28-year-old Belarusian was two points from a place in the French Open semi-finals this month, before collapsing to a defeat by Russian outsider Diana Shnaider and later saying that she had descended into a “deep, dark hole” mentally.

The loss came a year after her runner-up finish at Roland Garros, where she let the title slip away, and again cast the spotlight on her 2022 decision to move on from a psychologist, though she has since revisited that step.

“I called my psychologist … it felt like I needed to talk through everything I’ve been going through in the last, I don’t know how many years,” Sabalenka told tennis website Bounces during her run to the Berlin semi-finals this month.

“It was really helpful. I changed a lot of things and I’m trying a lot of new things now. I feel like I need to figure out what’s happening, sometimes, in those matches to (be able to) move on and to avoid these situations happening.”

MENTAL ENERGY

Wimbledon now presents a fresh test on grasscourts, where four-times major champion Sabalenka’s raw power remains a major weapon, but her nerve will come under focus as pressure moments arrive more quickly on the sport’s fastest surface.

Gustavo Granitto, an International Tennis Federation coach, said Sabalenka’s competitive drive sometimes blurred her decision-making and sustaining a high level in pursuit of a Grand Slam demanded significant mental energy.

“Aryna is, first and foremost, a human being like any of us, yet also a competitive machine,” Granitto, who is certified in the Gazing Red2Blue mindset framework used by some athletes, told Reuters.

“Perhaps her immense ambition to win, which is largely what makes her number one, combined with the intensity with which she ‘lives’ the match on court, can slightly distract her focus and judgment when making decisions.”

‘SLIPPERY SLOPE’

Former player and sports psychologist Jeff Greenwald said being as intense and emotionally wired as Sabalenka means there is often only one gear.

“This can become a slippery slope at the highest level as pressure increases, because if errors start mounting, it’s hard to put the horse back in the barn,” Greenwald added.

“It’s not a regression but players do sometimes experience ‘monkey on the back’ syndrome if they can’t secure a major for a long period, but that’s not what’s happened with her.

“She has had a great deal of success in the past few years to build on. Her turnaround was remarkable but again, when she focuses all of that intensity in a certain direction, she’s likely to succeed.”

HOW WILL SABALENKA BOUNCE BACK?

Sabalenka’s last two defeats, at Roland Garros and Berlin, both ended in 6-0 deciding sets, pointing to an abrupt drop-off that has invited scrutiny of how her level holds up when matches slip from her grasp.

“I’m a little concerned about Sabalenka,” ESPN commentator and former world number four Mary Joe Fernandez said.

“Her game translates to all surfaces. It should translate to grass with how powerful she hits the ball. She’s got a weapon in the serve, weapon in the returns.

“What happened in Paris, she fell apart. The conditions got to her again … she still struggles with it. Let’s see how she bounces back.

“To me she’s still the favourite to win Wimbledon, but not as clear of a favourite as a month ago.”

June 24 : The following are some of the top contenders for the women’s singles title at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday:

IGA SWIATEK (POLAND)

* World ranking: 3

Defending champion Iga Swiatek has not reached a final in the WTA circuit since September, her longest time without doing so since her maiden Grand Slam triumph in 2020, partly due to last year’s recurring foot issue and an illness in April.

The 25-year-old looked nervous and error-prone during a round-of-16 loss to Marta Kostyuk at the French Open last month, but she believes the changes she has made to her footwork and service motion this year with coach Francisco Roig will ultimately improve her game.

“In the earlier years of my career, results came consistently and early. However, the brutal truth is that sport isn’t like that … I know that changes won’t bring immediate results, and I try to believe that I’m on the right path,” she told WP SportoweFakty this month.

ARYNA SABALENKA (BELARUS)

* World ranking: 1

Although Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam where world number one Aryna Sabalenka has never reached the final, the 28-year-old reached the semis in her last three appearances, and remains one of the frontrunners this year.

But Sabalenka has been struggling with a performance slump since winning the “Sunshine Double” in the U.S. in March, as she became the first world number one to suffer a bagel in the deciding set in two consecutive tournaments: the French Open and the Berlin Open.

Sabalenka has never won a WTA singles title on grass. But the Belarusian, who has been the world number one since October 2024, has proved many times that she can fight her way to success against the odds.

ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZAKHSTAN)

* World ranking: 2

Elena Rybakina started 2026 on a high note as she won the Australian Open, her second Grand Slam title after her Wimbledon triumph in 2022.

But things have since taken a downward turn for the 27-year-old, who crashed out from the French Open’s second round, and has struggled in the grass season, losing at the Queen’s Club Championships in the quarter-finals before a round-of-16 exit from the Berlin Open.

Rybakina also had an injury scare last week when she pulled out of the Bad Homburg Open with a hip injury, and will hope that the extra rest helps her prepare better for Wimbledon.

COCO GAUFF (U.S.)

* World ranking: 7

Last year, Coco Gauff partnered with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan to fix her serve and the nervous double faults that sometimes derailed the two-time Grand Slam champion, and left her at the top of the WTA’s charts with 431 double faults in 2025.

But despite many gruelling hours spent in practice, the 22-year-old’s new serve is far from perfect, as she leads the circuit again with 226 double faults in 2026, and is yet to win a title this year.

Gauff’s French Open title defence ended in the third round, and her grass season started with a round-of-16 loss at the Berlin Open, leaving her with her work cut out to defy expectations and hunt down her first WTA grasscourt title at Wimbledon.

MIRRA ANDREEVA (RUSSIA)

* World ranking: 5

“I want to thank myself for always believing in myself, for giving my all even in the toughest moments, and for continuing to fight against all inner demons,” Mirra Andreeva said in an emotional speech after winning her maiden Grand Slam at the French Open this month.

The 19-year-old’s steady improvement and ability to shine under pressure have been visible throughout the year, as she has reached four finals on the WTA circuit in 2026, winning three of them, culminating in the Roland Garros triumph.

Wimbledon also saw a glimpse of Andreeva’s potential last year, as she reached the last eight for the first time. Her newfound confidence can take her much closer to the top this year.