Happy Monday, everyone, it's Wajih AlBaroudi. Hope you enjoyed the last weekend before college football.
Now, onto the news you need to get your week started.
THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
He's baaack. Coach Todd Bowles has announced that Tom Brady will return to the Buccaneers this week after he left the team for personal reasons on Aug. 11, meaning the seven-time Super Bowl champion is all but certain to start their season-opener at Dallas on Sept. 11.
While the reason for Brady's absence remains unclear (this bonkers "The Masked Singer" conspiracy hasn't been ruled out), Bowles said it was expected and "something we talked about before training camp started." Regardless of why he left, Brady has plenty of reasons to stay and play this season out. Here are a few from our NFL expert Jeff Kerr:
If his 40-day retirement and gargantuan broadcasting deal from this past offseason were any indication, the 45-year-old Brady knows his playing days are numbered. No ending would be more fitting for Brady than winning a final Super Bowl this season, and he got one step closer by relaying his plans to rejoin the Bucs this week.
THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Yes, you read that right.
While Brady's return stabilized the Bucs' most important position group, the one responsible for keeping the quarterback upright took yet another hit. Left guard Aaron Stinnie, who was battling for a starting spot, is out for the year after tearing his ACL and MCL in Saturday's preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Luke Goedeke and Nick Leverett are next up at left guard, according to CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr. Stinnie's injury is the latest of many concerning developments regarding Tampa Bay's offensive line:
All told, the Bucs could potentially be without four of its returning starters up front -- Donovan Smith, who's as dependable as they come with only two missed games over his seven-year career, predictably being the last man standing.
Thankfully for Tampa Bay, it'll presumably get an improvement at right guard in trade acquisition Shaq Mason, who won two Super Bowls with Brady while playing for the Patriots.
After falling victim to a takedown for the first time as a UFC fighter in Round 1, Kamaru Usman outmatched Leon Edwards all the way into the final round of his welterweight title defense -- until the final minute, that is.
Edwards, who our Brent Bookhouse described as looking "fatigued and increasingly dejected" as the fight progressed, delivered a kick to Usman's head with 56 seconds remaining, sending Usman to the mat in one of the most shocking knockouts the sport has ever seen.
Usman kept his head high after the fight, tweeting he'll "bounce back and come with a vengeance." And he may get exactly the opportunity he's looking for: UFC president Dana White said during the post-fight press conference he wants a trilogy between Usman and Edwards, listing Wembley Stadium as one of the potential venues.
Given Edwards' post-fight comments, the next match between him and Usman may be even more entertaining than the first. Edwards told reporters he put together one of his "worst performances" against Usman, adding it "was the worst I had to offer and I still knocked him out." If Usman needed any additional motivation to get back at Edwards, he's got it.
One half of the WNBA semifinals is officially set. With a 97-84 win over the Mystics, the Seattle Storm completed a two-game sweep against Washington to lock themselves into a second-round matchup with the Las Vegas Aces. The top-seeded Aces advanced with a sweep of their own against the Phoenix Mercury, one highlighted by an offensive masterclass they showcased in a 117-80 win in Game 2.
Here are some things to know before the much-anticipated matchup gets started:
On the other side of the bracket, the New York Liberty and Chicago Sky will play a win-or-go-home Game 3 on Tuesday, and the Connecticut Sun and Dallas Wings have another elimination game the following day. The Wings and Sky both dropped the first game of their series but looked dominant the next, as the former led by as much as 31 before winning by 10 while the latter won by 38, the largest margin of victory in WNBA playoff history.
The WNBA semifinals begin Aug. 28.
It wasn't the smoothest final round, but Patrick Cantlay will happily take the win -- along with the history it represents -- anyway. The California native won the BMW Championship for a second straight year, making him the first in PGA Tour history to successfully defend a FedEx Cup playoff event.
Here's our golf expert Patrick McDonald on Cantlay's BMW Championship performance and what's at stake for him in next week's TOUR Championship in Atlanta:
For a full recap of the BMW Championship, along with McDonald's grades for the top finishers, click here.
? Mets at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., MLB Network
?? Falcons at Jets, 8 p.m., ESPN
? Brewers at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., MLB Network