“The Athletic Football Show” is previewing all 32 teams leading up to the start of the 2026 NFL season. Below are select quotes from the show’s preview of the Kansas City Chiefs. The quotes are edited for clarity. You can watch the whole preview on YouTube and in the embedded video below, or listen to the full AFC West preview wherever you get your podcasts.

Derrik Klassen on what about the Chiefs most excites him: This is a team that for years has not had an explosive runner and really has struggled to gain explosive plays, and they just signed Kenneth Walker to a huge deal, and that’s kind of his whole deal.

I think sometimes it’s hard to figure out exactly how much a running back’s value is going to cascade to the rest of the team. In the case of the Kansas City Chiefs where they were so historically bad at generating these field-flipping runs, bringing in a player like Kenneth Walker, where he obviously gives that to you, it’s pretty easy to see how that actually adds something to this offense. I do think that that gets them back to the formula that was working for them in 2019 and 2020, where they were more explosive on offense. I just really believe in what Ken Walker is going to do here.

Robert Mays on what he’ll be watching the first month of the season: I’m interested in the structure of the offense, because this is a team that was incredibly siloed. Beyond the changes of what running the ball under center could do for their explosiveness, I just think having more optionality and murkiness about what you’re doing situationally is huge.

A lot of teams in the NFL have done this. They’ve gone back to an under-center world in part because you’re giving away no information by doing that, while making things easier on the line and on the quarterback. The Chiefs last year were one of the most siloed teams in the NFL. Per TruMedia, 19.3 percent play-action rate from under center last year, which was 31st in the NFL. They ran the ball 80 percent of the time when they were under center last season. That’s not going to happen again because of the running back, and because they know there are benefits waiting for them if they diversify that a little bit.

Dave Helman on what’s keeping him up at night: What if Kenneth Walker’s presence in the offense isn’t enough to change the fact that this could be a bottom-five receiver corps? What if Rashee Rice has lost a step for various reasons, be they injury or incarceration related? Xavier Worthy weighs 165 pounds and dealt with injury last year. We joked about it several times this summer — and I hope Cyrus Allen is awesome — but if a fifth-round pick is the talk of camp and there’s a genuine panic when he suffers a practice injury, that’s not a good sign if you’re supposed to contend for meaningful things.

I went through the teams and I was like, ‘Who do I think definitively has a worse receiver corps than the Chiefs?’ And I came up with Miami and Vegas. This could be a really, really bad unit, and I don’t know if Kenneth Walker alone can fix that.

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WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Not that he’s worried, but Byron Buxton said he’s physically “not where I want to be,” a day after being removed from Tuesday’s game against the A’s.

The Minnesota Twins outfielder acknowledged Wednesday afternoon the sensation he experienced in his sore right hip late in Tuesday’s loss was more intense than usual.

In pursuit of an extra-base hit to the gap in the seventh inning, Buxton wasn’t able to reach down and secure the baseball as he felt something grab, he said. Buxton immediately recognized exiting the game was his best option and headed for the clubhouse after meeting with the training staff.

Though he didn’t undergo an MRI on Wednesday, Buxton was set to receive a full day of treatment while the Twins closed out a series against the Athletics. Whether he’ll be available Friday, and whether his situation could prompt the promotion of top prospect Walker Jenkins, is unclear.

“I know what soreness is,” Buxton said. “It just felt a little different. It stopped me from bending over to try and get that ball. I knew then it was probably a little worse than what I was thinking. There’s been good days and bad days. But it’s a little frustrating right now trying to play through it. We’ve been doing everything we’re supposed to be doing, so it’s probably frustrating not only for me, but everybody.”

Twins manager Derek Shelton acknowledged seeing Buxton pursue a ball and whiff was a new experience. Shelton said late Tuesday the plan always called for Buxton to sit out Wednesday’s game for maintenance and to pair it with a team day off Thursday, allowing for two days of rest.

Shelton said Buxton’s Wednesday activities would be limited to working with athletic trainer Nick Paparesta.

“He’s been battling that hip and there’s certain things that bother him, like coming to a stop is what bothers it,” Shelton said. “I think that’s what happened. … I don’t think I’ve ever seen him miss a ball.”

Now three-plus months into dealing with his hip, an issue that’s bothered him dating to 2021, Buxton understands how he feels can change from one day to the next. On Monday, Buxton felt great during a game in which he doubled and went 3-for-4 with a walk and four runs.

Buxton, who received an injection to deal with inflammation during his recent second stint on the 10-day injured list, said he noticed Tuesday he didn’t feel as good as 24 hours earlier. But it wasn’t until the seventh inning the discomfort increased.

“Not that I’m worried about it,” Buxton said. “But we’ve got to get this in a little bit better spot for me to be able to do what I was doing. (Monday) I would have told you I was back to normal. I felt like myself, normal. (Tuesday), it was a little battle day. But it wasn’t bad, either. … Hopefully, it’s a little hiccup. I wouldn’t go through (the shot) for it to not work. Hopefully, it kind of got me a little, and it takes a couple days to subside.”

Buxton said his recovery is in the early stages. “It lingered a little more than normal, which lets me know it’s something a little worse than my day-to-day stuff,” Buxton said. “I ain’t done too much. Got in the hot tub. Whatever they’ve got on my docket for today, try to do it and get a plan from there.”

The question now is whether the club’s plan includes Jenkins, who is shredding minor-league pitching. Jenkins entered Wednesday batting .406/.488/.768 with seven home runs and 12 RBIs for Triple-A St. Paul this month.

Jenkins’ developing power is one area where the Twins wanted their top prospect to make gains. He’s hit the most home runs in his pro career this month.

If Buxton is sidelined for even a week, the Twins could choose to promote Jenkins and play him with the frequency he needs to stay sharp.

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Maybe you’ve heard of it. Maybe you haven’t. Either way, we’re talking about it today.

Before you ask, no, it’s not the leadoff-to-walk-off-home-run pipeline (x2!), nor the long-awaited explanation for why Julio Rodríguez insists on playing catch with fans midgame. (What a see-saw ride life is for Mariners fans right now — but isn’t it always?)

It’s the Women’s Professional Baseball League. 

Based out of Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Ill., this brand-new venture hopes to become the most successful women’s pro baseball league since World War II. But can this startup sustain itself on a remote fan base and television viewership, without a preexisting player pipeline or MLB support, all while navigating a fresh court filing and the many other — ahem, curveballs — that come with being built from scratch?  

I’m Emily Ohman, your designated hitter today while Levi enjoys his vacation — welcome to The Windup!

Standings Check: How these teams stack up

The WPBL just launched at the beginning of August, but the 15-game regular-season schedule for each team (30 games overall) is already nearly over. The league’s four teams — the San Francisco Firebells, Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights and Boston Hunters — will all advance to the playoffs, where they’ll play a three-game semifinal series to set the championship field. The respective winners will face off in a five-game series for the first WPBL title.

Quick aside — these team names have real significance to them. One of the more thoughtful naming systems I’ve encountered, the names honor not only the foremothers of women’s baseball, but also early champions of women’s rights around the country.

Regular-season standings will determine semifinal seeds: The team with the best record will play the team with the worst, and the two middle teams will face each other. San Francisco (6-4) currently leads the table, with Los Angeles and New York (5-5) on its heels. (Classic rivalries seem to be translating here, too — I spotted at least one “Beat L.A.” sign, akin to what you would see at a Giants-Dodgers game, in the crowd for a recent Firebells-Queens matchup.)

Boston rounds out the standings at 4-6. The Hunters play again tonight, kicking off the Wednesday-Sunday league week.

Playoffs start Sept. 9, and you should tune in (all games are on ESPN+). More on why later, but first, you’ve got to see this league’s mascot, the iconic Maybelle Blair:

Under the Hood: Players wearing many hats (and helmets and headsets)

The offense has been excellent so far. Nine players — 43 percent of qualified hitters — have homered, with Denae Benites of the Heights and Kelsie Whitmore of the Firebells each connecting for eight in 10 games. Benites is slashing a league-leading .658/.682/1.316. Whitmore, also a pitcher, is hitting .500/.550/1.235.

Whitmore has been a trailblazer for women in professional baseball for some time, making history as the first woman to appear in a starting lineup in the Atlantic League and to appear in and to start a Pioneer League game, among other feats.

Hitters can use aluminum, composite and wood bats, which makes for some incredible highlights (and even better cellys). 

There have been many impressive debuts, but the hitting has been well ahead of the pitching thus far. Three of the top five draftees were listed as pitchers, and they have allowed a collective 34 earned runs through 10 games.

No. 2 draft pick Ayami Sato, an acclaimed Japanese national pitcher who played professionally on a men’s team in Canada, has not had the campaign she pictured in her American debut thus far. She’s allowed a league-high 28 hits over 17 2/3 innings for an ERA of 3.96. Although Sato trails New York’s Jaida Lee for the second-most strikeouts, with 13 to Lee’s 19, she is determined to flip the script on her season.

“Yesterday against the New York Heights, we lost, and I’m honestly so disappointed. … But I don’t want to let this disappointment end as just disappointment,” Sato said in an Instagram post Sunday.

“I truly believe this team is getting stronger. I want to carry this good momentum into today’s game and play with pride in being a Queen, fighting all the way to the end.”

Even though the pitching hasn’t been lights-out, starters in this league are taking on more than what’s typically associated with the role.

The WPBL is abundant in three-way players — ones who pitch, hit and play a defensive field position. On the Queens alone, catcher Maggie Foxx hits, pitches and dabbles in color commentary (I’ll explain later) while right-hander Jamie Mackay (shown below) plays catcher, too — and is third in the home run race with five of her own.

From Denver Bryant of the Hunters to Claire Eccles of the Heights to Brittany Apgar of the Queens (who’s also learning to use a custom arm prosthetic), the list of two- and three-way players goes on. To paraphrase the Heights’ social media manager: Get you a player who can do it all.

Growing Pains: League debut shortcomings?

The on-field product has produced plenty of highlights, but the league is showing its youth in other ways, especially off the field.

As reported by Defector, the WPBL has struggled with communication with both fans and players. According to the article, many drafted players who did not sign or were not offered contracts received little communication from the WPBL in the months following the draft, leaving them in limbo. Many received updates indirectly from the league on social media rather than league spokespersons.

The article also describes frustrations over streaming legality issues, as games were not initially available to air commercially in public places like bars.

There’s also been heavy turnover in the broadcast booth: In-game announcer roles have changed hands multiple times with no formal explanation from the league. The sideline reporter, managers and players, like Foxx — as well as her father, who called a full game doing play-by-play — have had to make multi-inning cameos throughout the season to assist. In the dugout, Boston parted ways with its initial manager, former MLB reliever Keith Foulke, after just three games with little explanation (to him or fans) other than it being a “baseball decision.”

With most fans tuning in from home, they are noticing those details.

Then there are potential issues with financing. Players are already paid very modestly, and on Monday, a WPBL investor and board member filed a demand in a Delaware court for financial records from the league.

Are these problems serious enough to derail the WPBL’s long-term goal to sustain itself, or are they common growing pains for a new league? We’ll have to keep tuning in to see.

Handshakes and High Fives

Cooper Pratt failed to run hard out of the batter’s box following a popup. Once he reached first base for a single, Brewers manager Pat Murphy took him out of the game.

Chandler Rome has six thoughts on where the Astros go from here, after parting ways with GM Dana Brown.

A Padres minor-league catching coordinator, who was taken into custody by ICE over a week ago, was released on bond Monday.

For the first time since May, Dodgers SP Tyler Glasnow took the mound. After a shaky first inning, his resolve shows change.

The two biggest things coming out of deals between MLB teams and prediction markets: money and exposure. Will all 30 franchises get involved?

Most-clicked in our last newsletter: Aaand it’s Kyle Schwarber, again! Walk-off homer + unlikely comeback = NBD.

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