Dolphins Release DB Cornell Armstrong From Injured Reserve
The Miami Dolphins officially released DB Cornell Armstrong from injured reserve with a settlement on Friday. 
Armstrong, 30, is a former sixth-round pick by the Dolphins back in 2018 out of Southern Mississippi. He was entering the second year of his four-year, $2,578,408 rookie contract when the Dolphins waived him coming out of the preseason.
The Texans later signed Armstrong before adding him to their practice squad. He was eventually promoted to their active roster.
Houston re-signed Armstrong for the 2021 season but waived him coming out of the preseason. He was cut again after joining the practice squad before joining Atlanta. The Falcons brought Armstrong back for the 2023 season but cut him loose in September.
Armstrong had a stint with the Raiders later in the season and was on the team in camp in 2024 but was among their final cuts. Miami signed him during training camp before eventually placing him on injured reserve.
In 2022, Armstrong appeared in 10 games for the Falcons, recording 33 tackles and seven pass deflections.
Evan Turner Says Lakers Can’t Win Title With Austin Reaves As Their Third-Best Player
Evan Turner doesn’t think the Lakers can win it all with Austin Reaves as their third option. Speaking on the Lakers’ title chances, the former NBA forward praised Reaves’ skill but said he’s not good enough to be the third-best player on a championship team.
“You have Austin Reaves, he’s very talented,” Turner said. “But if you’re talking championship aspirations, that can’t be your third best. There has to be a secret weapon or a six man killer.”
Turner’s doubts go beyond just Reaves. He also expressed concern about Deandre Ayton and whether or not he’s truly ready to take on his new role as the Lakers starting center.
“Hopefully mentally he can show up and be prepared for that, there’s much more than showing up, setting a screen and playing with the two best players in the world,”
LeBron James was leading the way in Los Angeles for years, carrying them to a championship in 2020 followed by repeated playoff appearances. He ruled as the undisputed alpha for years until just recently, upon Luka Doncic’s arrival.
At 40 years old, James is close to the end now and the Lakers can no longer rely on him like they used to. That fact has become clear early this season with
With career averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, we already know what Luka can do and he’s slimmed down this summer in hopes of taking another leap as an NBA superstar. The Lakers have placed their full trust in him, and he’s showing flashes that he can live up to their standards.
The situation with Austin Reaves is much less certain. With averages of 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 46.0% shooting, he’s proven he can deliver as the third-option
That’s not to mention Deandre Ayton, whose NBA past is riddled with disappointment. As a former No. 1 overall pick, expectations were set high for Ayton but he failed to live up to those standards in Phoenix, where he averaged 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on 56.6% shooting. After being exiled to Portland, and now Los Angeles,
Ultimately, many variables will determine the Lakers’ success this season, but in a stacked NBA the championship is never guaranteed. As long as they have Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the court, the Lakers have a chance to win and they can figure everything else out later.
The Lakers are confident they have the talent to make another run, but critics like Turner see a different story. For all their star power, the true test will be whether Reaves and Ayton can rise to the moment when LeBron and Luka need them most. Until they prove it on the court, the Lakers will have to live with the doubt surrounding their title chances.
