Josh Downs among 50 under-the-radar players who could shape the 2026 NFL season

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is an undersized, slot-only speedster who will take on a bigger role this season. After averaging 11.2 yards per catch across his first two seasons, that figure dropped to 9.8 last year. Expect Downs to be heavily involved, especially in the quick game, as Daniel Jones works his way back from a torn Achilles. (CBS Sports)

Caleb Wilson’s GOAT Resemblance: How the Chicago Bulls’ New Star Compares to Michael Jordan

Caleb Wilson was drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Bulls, the same team where Michael Jordan spent the majority of his career. It's only a superficial connection, as Wilson is yet to play a single NBA regular-season game. But Wilson has made his goal known of not being just another star, but rather a player of the same status as Jordan himself. (Chapelboro.com)

The Delicious Legacy of Chapel Hill’s Favorite BLT

Perched just off Highway 15-501 in Chapel Hill, NC, the old-school breakfast and lunch joint Merritt’s Grill serves such comforting Southern classics as pulled pork barbecue and pimento cheese sandwiches. But truthfully, most diners are there for just one thing: the BLT. It’s a simple sandwich made with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. What’s the secret? (Garden & Gun)

Video: IC Podcast - 2026 UNC Football Preview with Phil Steele

Phil Steele joins Inside Carolina’s Tommy Ashley and Spencer Haskell to highlight the process of covering every FBS school with extensive analysis in the transfer portal era. Steele shares his thoughts on the Tar Heels' 2026 football schedule and his predictions for year two of the Bill Belichick era at UNC. (View Video)

Julius Peppers Was a Star Before He Stepped on the Field - The Scouting Report That Proved It

I travelled to North Carolina for the Tar Heels' regular-season finale against Duke in November of 2001 to personally scout Julius Peppers. At the morning breakfast, his frame, which measured 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds at the time, was an intimidating sight. Yet when I spoke with Peppers, who was a junior at the time, he couldn't have been any nicer. (Essentially Sports)

Bill Belichick calls for uniform rules across NFL, NCAA; tampering enforcement

Bill Belichick advocated for the NFL and NCAA to work together to standardize football rules between the levels. "You watch multiple games on Saturday and see one set of rules. And you turn on the game on Sunday, and you have a different set of rules." On tampering, Belichick focused less on the rules themselves and just called for enforcement. (MSN.com)

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - UNC Basketball Offers 5-Star PG NaVorro Bowman Jr.

NaVorro Bowman Jr., son of NFL All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman Sr., has received an offer from Michael Malone and UNC Basketball. Isaac Schade discusses Bowman’s Peach Jam breakout, CJ Rosser’s second unofficial visit to UNC, and Coach Malone continuing the Outer Banks team-bonding trip. (View Video)

UNC Softball Adds Laurin Watts To Coaching Staff

UNC Softball coach Megan Smith Lyon announced the hiring of new pitching coach Laurin Watts on Monday. Watts arrives in Chapel Hill after two seasons at Southern Illinois. She led one of the Missouri Valley Conference's top pitching staffs in 2026, finishing the season with a team ERA of 2.91 as two pitchers received All-Conference recognition. (GoHeels.com)

North Carolina Football GM Michael Lombardi Under Investigation After HR Complaint

Michael Lombardi, who was placed on administrative leave Monday, is under investigation after a former UNC employee filed a Human Resources complaint against him, a source close to the situation confirmed. The decision to place Lombardi on leave was announced by Dean Stoyer, the vice chancellor of communications and marketing at UNC. (TarHeel247)

30 Tar Heels Participating in NFL Training Camps

Thursday was the start of NFL training camps around the league, meaning 30 former UNC Football players will begin their pursuit of spots on 53-man rosters across the 32 teams. To get you ready for preseason football, here’s where we think each player stands entering their respective camps and if we believe they end up making a roster this season. (Heel Tough Blog)

UNC Football General Manager Michael Lombardi Placed on Paid Leave

The University of North Carolina announced on Monday morning that football general manager Michael Lombardi has been placed on paid administrative leave, effective immediately. The official statement did not provide further details, and noted that university leadership, staff, and student-athletes were prohibited from addressing the matter. (Inside Carolina)

Newsletter: CJ Rosser Visits, 4 New Basketball Offers, Football Training Camp Nears, MLB Signings

CJ Rosser, the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit, was back in Chapel Hill this past week, and Michael Malone's UNC Basketball staff extended four new scholarship offers. Bill Belichick says his second UNC Football team barely resembles his first, even with the quarterback race wide open. And several Tar Heels cashed MLB Draft signing bonuses. (Tar Heel Times Newsletter)

Video: Coast To Coast Podcast - UNC Basketball Summer Update

With a new staff in place, UNC Basketball fans might think the summer would be a quiet time around the Smith Center. While there haven't been any traditional practices yet, the next iteration of the Tar Heels continues to take shape, as Inside Carolina's Sherrell McMillan, Sean Moran, and Joey Powell discuss. (View Video)

Drake Maye hungry, focused after sting of Patriots' Super Bowl loss

The sting of the Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks hasn’t gone away for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, but neither has his drive to keep getting better. At Patriots training camp Saturday, Maye talked about last year’s breakout season and what he’s looking for this season, which starts with a Sept. 9 rematch against the Seahawks. (Tar Heel Tribune)

Chicago Cubs reliever Trent Thornton avoids serious injury after 108.9 mph comebacker

Roughly 20 hours later, Trent Thornton can laugh about taking a 109 mph liner off his left heel. The fear of a serious injury, though, quickly set in during the immediate aftermath of the sequence. The Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene rocketed Thornton's fastball back up the middle to open the 10th inning, striking the Cubs' reliever directly on his left heel. (Yahoo! Sports)

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