Reuters reported Thursday that Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi forces exchanged fresh cross-border strikes, while civilians fled Yemen by boat across the Bab el-Mandeb. The International Organization for Migration says more than 100,000 Yemenis have been displaced in the latest fighting, mostly inside Yemen. Saudi civil defence said a Yemeni resident in Taif was killed by drone debris, the first death Riyadh has announced in the renewed attacks.

The fighting has tightened pressure on Red Sea shipping just as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained. Global crude eased slightly Thursday but stayed well above $100 a barrel; the average U.S. retail diesel price hit a record just shy of $6.40 a gallon. President Trump said he faces a “big decision” on whether to escalate against Iran ahead of next week’s UN General Assembly.

Denver is still digesting Monday’s 31–10 loss in Kansas City. Week 2 brings the Jacksonville Jaguars to Empower Field on Sunday, September 20 (kickoff 2:05 p.m. MT on CBS). Jacksonville is 1–0 after Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdowns in Week 1; early lines have Denver favored by about 2.5 points with a total near 45.5.

Local previews put the focus on tackling, third-down execution, and a cleaner offensive plan after Bo Nix called the Chiefs loss “an ugly wake-up call.” RJ Harvey and Marvin Mims Jr. have been on the injury radar this week. Separately tonight: Lions at Bills on Thursday Night Football (Prime Video, 6:15 p.m. MT) as a national watch option while Denver prepares.

Cale Makar did not practice with the Avalanche on Thursday’s first training-camp day because of a lower-body injury, though he was on the ice beforehand. Coach Jared Bednar said the Norris finalist is “feeling his way through it” and that the club is not concerned. The plan is to build him up rather than throw him into a heavy session cold.

Bednar expects Makar to be full-go for practice next week, when special-teams work ramps up, and still hopes to get him into one of the last two exhibition games. The issue is separate from last spring’s playoff upper-body injury. Across the league, camps opened with other notable absences (Barzal, Domi, Nikishin unsigned), but Colorado’s headline remains Makar’s ramp.

Colorado’s cup run ended Wednesday at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. St. Louis CITY SC won 3–0 in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. Sangbin Jeong (32’), Simon Becher (52’), and Alexandru Mățan (59’) scored, sending St. Louis to its first Open Cup final on Oct. 21 in Columbus.

A heavy first-touch error by young goalkeeper Adam Beaudry on a back pass led to the opener; coach Matt Wells said the mistake shaped the night but not all three goals. It is the third time this decade the Rapids have exited one match short of a trophy. Colorado returns to MLS at home Saturday against Seattle, sitting seventh in the West, the last guaranteed playoff spot.