“While the investigation determined that the team medical staff and unaffiliated medical professionals followed the steps of the Protocol as written, the NFL and NFLPA agree that the outcome in this case is not what was intended when the Protocols were drafted,” a joint statement read
Last Updated: 08/10/22 11:11pm
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Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa was taken to hospital with head and neck injuries after being forced out of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals but should he have taken the field in the first place after being concussed four days earlier?
Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa was taken to hospital with head and neck injuries after being forced out of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals but should he have taken the field in the first place after being concussed four days earlier?
The National Football League (NFL) and its players’ association have agreed to enhanced concussion protocols after a head injury suffered by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa prompted widespread concern.
A joint statement from the two parties on Saturday said ataxia – which includes abnormal balance, motor coordination or “dysfunctional speech” – would be added as a “no-go” symptom. Players diagnosed with ataxia during a game will not be allowed to return to the field.
Tagovailoa was carried off the field last week when his head slammed into the turf as he took a sack during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fans and armchair experts alike questioned why he was allowed to play against the Bengals as four days prior he looked disoriented after hitting his head to the ground during a game against the Buffalo Bills.
Miami coach Mike McDaniel defended his decision to allow Tagovailoa to play against the Bengals, saying “several layers of medical professionals” had cleared the quarterback.
The NFLPA initiated an investigation into the incident.
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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel described Tua Tagovailoa’s collision as ‘scary’ after the quarterback was hospitalized against the Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel described Tua Tagovailoa’s collision as ‘scary’ after the quarterback was hospitalized against the Cincinnati Bengals
“While the investigation determined that the team medical staff and unaffiliated medical professionals followed the steps of the Protocol as written, the NFL and NFLPA agree that the outcome in this case is not what was intended when the Protocols were drafted,” the joint statement read.
“As such, as has been done in previous cases, based on the advice of the parties’ respective medical experts, the Protocol will be modified to enhance the safety of the players. Specifically, the term “ataxia” has been added to the mandatory “no-go” symptoms.
“‘Ataxia” is defined as abnormality of balance/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue.
“In other words, if a player is diagnosed with “ataxia” by any club or neutral physician involved in the application of the Concussion Protocol, he will be prohibited from returning to the game, and will receive the follow-up care required by the Protocol.”
Tagovailoa will not travel for his team’s Sunday game against the New York Jets.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa “could have died” as a result of the mismanagement of a concussion, former rugby league player Stevie Ward has told Sky Sports.
Ward, who was captain of Leeds Rhinos before he was forced to retire from rugby league at the age of 27 due to concussions he suffered on the field, said: “We need to sit with the understanding that people are getting really ill, whether that’s short-term or long-term.”
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Former Leeds Rhinos forward Stevie Ward, who retired aged 27 due to long-standing consequences of a concussion injury, says Tua Tagovailoa could have died, after re-entering the field against the Buffalo Bills following a concussion.
Former Leeds Rhinos forward Stevie Ward, who retired aged 27 due to long-standing consequences of a concussion injury, says Tua Tagovailoa could have died, after re-entering the field against the Buffalo Bills following a concussion.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow described Tua Tagovailoa’s injury as ‘scary’ after he was taken to hospital with head, neck and back injuries
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow described Tua Tagovailoa’s injury as ‘scary’ after he was taken to hospital with head, neck and back injuries
“I saw that injury, the first one on the Sunday,” Ward said. “And the way that he got up, then stumbling to the floor – his team-mates holding him up, knowing it’s not right – there’s fundamentally something wrong.
“But then he’s able to come back onto the field and test himself against the other team of prime athletes, who are all out to get him… and he plays four days later.
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Max Duggan passed for three touchdowns in the second half, including the game-winning 24-yarder to Quinten Johnston with 1:36 left, and No. 17 TCU beat 19th-ranked Kansas 38-31 on Saturday.
The Horned Frogs (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) are out to their best start since 2017 after winning the matchup of surprise unbeatens.
“When we got through fall camp we knew we had some talented players,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “We felt if we could figure things out we’re going to have a pretty good team that can string some wins together.
“But we’ve got a lot of stuff we have to clean up on defense, and we’ve got a lot of stuff to clean up on offense. We left a lot of plays out there.”
Duggan finished 23 of 33 for 308 yards.
“It was huge to (win) a game like that on the road against a ranked opponent,” Duggan said. “We struggled in parts. Getting a win like that builds our confidence.”
Duggan outdueled Kansas backup quarterback Jason Bean in a wild second half. Jalon Daniels, who led the Jayhawks to five straight wins for their best start since 2009, suffered an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder late in the first half.
Bean, who started the first 10 games last season, was 16 of 24 for 262 yards and he became the first Kansas quarterback to throw for four touchdowns in a half since Todd Reesing in 2008.
“I don’t think it did much,” Dykes said of the switch to Bean. “They did what they did. Jason came in and played really well. I felt like we had guys contained and we got outrun. Any time your backup quarterback can come in and plays at the level he played at, you’ve got a good team.”
Kansas coach Lance Leipold was proud of the resiliency of his club.
“I’m proud of the way we battled, being down, losing Jalon,” he said. “I think we left opportunities out there. I’d like to commend (Bean), the way he’s handled it to be ready. If he is asked to be the starter next week, I’m very confident he’ll have a very good week of preparation and take advantage of his opportunity to be a starter.”
Leipold said he would know more about Daniels’ status after further testing on his shoulder Monday. The coach didn’t rule out Daniels for the next game.
Johnston’s 206 yards on 14 catches were the most by a TCU receiver since 2016.
“We had a plan from the end of the last game until now and that was to play fast,” Johnston said. “As receivers, we’ve got to get the ball and get as many yards up the field. I wouldn’t say that was the best of our ability, but we did enough to win.
“It’s all a mindset. If you love football, you’re going to go get it every single day.”
After combining for just 13 points in the first half, the teams combined for 42 in the third quarter alone.
What was expected to be an offensive shootout was anything but early. The Horned Frogs settled for a field goal, turned over the ball on downs and punted on their first three possession while the Jayhawks punted twice and failed to convert a fourth-and-5 on their third series.
“I think both teams made adjustments,” Duggan said. “That’s a good football team over there. It was kind of struggling on offense in the first half, but our defense bailed us out. It was an all-round team effort.”
The Jayhawks (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) appeared headed for the go-ahead touchdown in the middle of the second quarter when Daniels fumbled near the goal line.
The Horned Frogs went 99 yards in six plays, with Kendre Miller’s 1-yard run making it 10-0.
Kansas got its first points on Jacob Borcila’s 40-yard field goal one play after Daniels injured his shoulder.
Bean threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to Tanaka Scott and 8 yards Luke Grimm to put the Jayhawks up 17-10. Duggan found Derius Davis on a 51-yard touchdown pass to tie it, and after Jamoi Hodge picked off Bean at the Kansas 26, TCU regained the lead on a 3-yard run by Duggan.
Bean’s 38-yard TD pass to Quintin Skinner tied it, but Duggan’s 25-yarder to Taye Barber put the Horned Frogs up again. Bean then hit Skinner with a 29-yard TD pass to tie it 31-all with 4:21 left in the game.
THE TAKEAWAY
TCU: Duggan is playing some of the best football of his career. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry and nearly 10 yards per pass attempt. He’s got a great grasp of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley’s offense.
Kansas: The 5-0 start was not a fluke. Even with Daniels injured near the end of the first half, the Jayhawks were able to move the ball on the ground and through the air.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
TCU is in for a promotion. It could be a close call whether the Jayhawks stay in the Top 25 after entering the rankings for the first time since 2009 last week.
UP NEXT
Kansas: Visits Oklahoma on Saturday.
TCU: Hosts No. 7 Oklahoma State on Saturday.
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Kansas football dropped its first loss of the season against TCU on Saturday, falling 38-31 to the Horned Frogs in the final minutes.
After losing starting quarterback Jalon Daniels late in the first half, the Jayhawks fought back and led by one score midway through the third quarter before falling behind late. Kansas (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) finished the day with a game-high 540 yards of total offense.
Before exiting the game late in the first half, Daniels completed 5-of-10 passes for 89 yards before sustaining a shoulder injury while running out of bounds. Backup Jason Bean then stepped into the driver’s seat, completing 16-of-24 throws for 262 yards against TCU.
The Kansas defense also played a big role on Saturday, with tackle leaders Kenny Logan Jr. (12), Rich Miller (9), and Craig Young (5) helping keep TCU to 5-of-11 on third down.
1Q:
The Horned Frogs completed three first downs on the opening drive of the game, pushing up to the Kansas 21-yard line. Two tackles between defensive tackle Eddie Wilson and safety Kenny Logan Jr set up a third-down stop for the KU defense, forcing a field goal from TCU kicker Griffin Kell to put the Frogs on the board first with 10:46 still in the first.
Punting away on its first two drives of the day, Kansas relied heavily on its defense through the first quarter – stopping the Frogs on three consecutive drives heading into the second quarter.
2Q:
Down 3-0 at the start of the second, Kansas looked to capitalize off its stop with a series of strong rushes from running back(s) Devin Neal and Ky Thomas. A fourth-down pass from Daniels to receiver Quentin Skinner fell flat, though, and TCU took over at its own 32-yard line.
Back in possession with 10:22 to go in the half, TCU struggled to move the sticks and punted to Kansas for a second time. Starting at their own 19, the Jayhawks flew up to the 1-yard line, boosted by a 48-yard reception from tight end Mason Fairchild, but squandered the drive on a goal line fumble from Daniels.
The Frogs took advantage of the stop, going six plays and 99 yards downfield for a short-yardage touchdown from running back Kendre Miller to send TCU up 10-0 with 3:26 left in the first half. Kansas chipped in a field goal on the next drive but featured an injury to Daniels on the play preceding the score.
TCU looked to deal some late-quarter damage, but Frogs quarterback Max Duggan was intercepted by Kansas linebacker O.J. Burroughs, rounding out the half.
3Q:
Coming out of the break with the football, Kansas trailed 10-3 after losing its starting quarterback late in the first half. Shifting the offense over to backup quarterback Jason Bean, the Jayhawks scored on a quick floater touchdown from Bean to Fairchild in its first drive back.
The KU defense shut down the Horned Frogs in three plays on the following drive, starting again at its own 25-yard line with 12:01 still in the third. After going three-and-out, Kansas got the ball back on a fumble by TCU receiver Geor’Quarius Spivey with 9:42 to go in the third.
Using the momentum, Kansas scored after the takeaway on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Bean to receiver Luke Grimm shortly after the fumble recovery, taking a 17-10 lead – KU’s first of the day. TCU answered back quick with 6:29 to play in the quarter, tying the score at 17-17 on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to Derius Davis.
TCU linebacker Jamoi Hodge picked off Bean on the next drive, setting up another score for the Frogs on a short-yardage touchdown rush from Duggan moments later. Kansas, down 24-17, responded fast with a 48-yard touchdown pass from Bean to receiver Skinner with 1:50 left in the quarter.
The Frogs reclaimed the lead, 31-34, on another score late in the third, a 25-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to receiver Taye Barber.
4Q:
The KU offense seemed to carry over its rhythm early into the fourth quarter, but a fourth-down field goal attempt from kicker Jacob Borcila flanked left and handed the possession back over to TCU, still leading 31-24, with 8:03 still to go. Kansas stopped TCU on the next drive, regaining possession, again, with 6:40 left on the clock.
Back on offense, Kansas rolled downfield for a 29-yard touchdown pass from Bean to Skinner, tying the score at 31-31 with 4:21 left in the game. TCU snapped back soon after, scoring on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to receiver Quentin Johnston, pushing the Frogs ahead 38-31 with 1:36 left to go.
Kansas made its way up to the TCU 34-yard line, but a fourth-down incompletion handed the ball back to the Frogs with 0:37 to go, killing off Kansas’ last shot to tie the game.
We will have much more to come in our postgame coverage.
In a game that was highlighted by a backup quarterback controversy for Arkansas, it was another rough outing for defensive coordinator Barry Odom’s group in a 40-17 loss to Mississippi State in Starkville.
The Razorbacks gave up 568 total yards to the Bulldogs’ offense, including 395 passing yards and three scores through the air to Will Rogers.
The Bulldogs also rushed for a season-high 173 yards and three scores, despite them running an air raid offense. It was the most team rushing yards in a single game for them under head coach Mike Leach.
Arkansas’ offense featured a dramatic quarterback situation as walk-on Cade Fortin started the game, but Malik Hornsby came in and proved to be a much better option.
Hornsby finished the day with 234 passing yards, one passing touchdown, two interceptions and 114 rushing yards.
Discipline was another issue for the Hogs, who committed 10 penalties for 84 yards on the day.
Here is how Arkansas’ third loss of the season unfolded:
First Half
After Jake Bates sent the opening kick out of bounds, the Bulldogs had no trouble driving 65 yards on nine plays to score on a 1-yard carry by Dillon Johnson. Five of the Bulldogs’ nine plays were rushes on the drive.
Cade Fortin trotted out as the starting quarterback for the Razorbacks and he completed one of three passes for six yards and took a 9-yard sack on third down that led to a 25-yard punt from Max Fletcher.
With the favorable field position, Mississippi State drove 55 yards and capped the drive off with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Will Rogers to Jaden Walley that made it 14-0 with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
On Arkansas’ second offensive possession, Malik Hornsby came out as the quarterback, and he took off for a 52-yard run on his first play. Three plays later, he exited the game after taking an awkward hit to the head/neck area.
Fortin came back on and quarterbacked the offense to a turnover on downs when it couldn’t convert on 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1 at the Mississippi State 8-yard line.
The Razorbacks held their ground on defense for the first time and Bulldogs’ punter Archer Trafford pinned the Hogs back at their own 1-yard line. Fortin came out and handed it off three times for a quick three-and-out.
Arkansas’ Reid Bauer came on for his first punt of the season and it went 42 yards, but was returned 12 yards to the Arkansas 40-yard line by Zavion Thomas.
Mississippi State capped off a 9-play, 40-yard drive with a 10-yard strike from Rogers to Austin Williams that made the Bulldogs’ lead 21-0 with just over nine minutes left in the second quarter.
Hornsby came back out at quarterback for the Hogs and delivered a 21-yard strike to Ketron Jackson Jr. that put them in Mississippi State territory. The drive stalled out at the Bulldogs’ 29-yard line, leading to a 51-yard field goal from Cam Little that made it 21-3.
Mississippi State drove to the Arkansas 29-yard line, but fell short on 4th and 1 to turn it over on downs with 1:27 left in the half.
The Hogs took advantage right away with a 68-yard pass from Hornsby to Jadon Haselwood. The next play, Rocket Sanders punched it in from three yards out to make it 21-10 with 1:11 left in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs drove down the field into Arkansas territory, but a missed 40-yard field goal by Ben Raybon kept the Mississippi State lead at 21-10 going into the break.
Second Half
On the opening kickoff, AJ Green muffed the ball and was then tackled at the Arkansas 1-yard line. A quick three-and-out led to a 54-yard punt by Bauer.
The Bulldogs looked like a well-oiled machine on offense after Rogers completed his third passing touchdown of the day to Caleb Ducking for 33 yards to make it 28-10.
Arkansas took over and gained 56 yards on the first two plays, including a 44-yard pass from Hornsby to Haselwood. After stalling on the goal line, the Hogs ran plenty of pre-snap motion on 4th and 1 just to hand it off to Rashod Dubinion and get stuffed. The play resulted in the second turnover on downs in the red zone for Arkansas.
A pair of penalties by the Bulldogs benefited the Razorbacks’ defense and led to just the second punt of the day for Mississippi State. The Hogs capitalized with a 5-play, 80-yard drive that was highlighted by a 54-yard touchdown strike from Hornsby to Bryce Stephens that trimmed the deficit to 10 points.
On the ensuing Bulldogs drive, a 20-yard pass by Rogers was followed up by a 30-yard touchdown scamper by Johnson, his second rushing touchdown of the day. The Arkansas defense continued to have no answer as the Hogs went down 34-17 right before the end of the third quarter.
The first play of the fourth quarter was a 25-yard rush for Hornsby on 3rd and 10. It was all for naught, though, as he threw an interception on 4th and 7 a few plays later.
Mississippi State drove 70 yards on six plays to score its third rushing touchdown of the day and take a 40-17 lead. The next Arkansas drive ended just like the previous — with a Hornsby interception that put the writing on the wall for a Razorbacks’ loss.
The next two drives for both teams resulted in punts and on the final drive of the game, the Bulldogs managed to run the clock out and hand the Hogs their third loss of the season.
Thanks to more timely offense, Purdue won at Maryland Saturday 31-29.
Purdue took the lead with 3:19 to play, on Payne Durham’s four-yard touchdown catch after Maryland had scored a touchdown but missed the PAT, blocked by Cam Allen (who may have been off-side). Those back-to-back scores were the first points of the second half.
Maryland scored a touchdown with 35 seconds left, but failed on the game-tying two-point conversion after an initial make was nullified by penalty.
Devin Mockobee put the game away with a late touchdown run set up by Durham’s 56-yard catch-and-run as Purdue was trying to salt the clock away. That was Purdue’s longest completion of the season.
Durham caught seven passes for 109 yards. O’Connell threw for 360 yards and two scores.
Three things from the game …
• Clutch offense again by Purdue, breaking a scoring dry spell when It mattered most for the second week in a row.
Aidan O’Connell still does not look like himself and he got very little help today, as his protection broke down too often, he was forced to hold the ball too long at times and wide receiver Charlie Jones was finally stopped by a defense selling out to stop him.
O’Connell accounted for two of Purdue’s three turnovers, one being a fumble and the other an interception thrown behind Jones and deflected.
But they came up big with the game on the line, both with the go-ahead touchdown drive and Durham’s 56-yard catch-and-run to put the game away.
• Purdue’s offense once again left its defense blowing in the wind, failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities to create cushion on the scoreboard.
Yeah, the defense made another colossal end-of-half error, but the offense continues to leave that unit with absolutely no margin to make mistakes.
The offense’s three turnovers very easily could have decided this game. Purdue won despite three turnovers at Minnesota last week, and did so again this week, but that’s not a sustainable way to do things.
{{ timeAgo(‘2022-10-08 14:30:22 -0500’) }} football Edit
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BATON ROUGE, La. – For the first time since 2016, Tennessee is off to a 5-0 start to a season. After already recording ranked wins over Pitt and Florida, the No. 8 ranked Vols added another marquee…
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LONDON — Maybe a trip across the pond will be what Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers need to get the potency back in their passing game.
While Sunday’s game against the New York Giants in London is long on running backs with the NFL’s leading rusher in Saquon Barkley on one side and the Packers’ combination of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon on the other, Rodgers is still the star attraction — even if his numbers have been off his usual pace through the first four games.
Rodgers drew the biggest crowd of reporters during the Packers media session Friday at The Grove Hotel and when he was asked if he’d like coach Matt LaFleur to turn him loose and let him air it out, Rodgers didn’t hesitate.
“Hell yeah, of course,” Rodgers said. “Matt’s kind of in a grumpy mood right now. When he gets a little bit of rest and will be in a better mood, we’ll talk about airing it out a little bit more.”
Rodgers was referring to the fact that LaFleur hasn’t really hid his less-than-excited attitude about the travel and logistics of playing in London.
In fact, before LaFleur took questions from reporters on Friday in London, he said: “What time is it? I’m trying to figure it out right now?”
It was 6 a.m. on his body clock, considering the Packers did not leave Green Bay’s Central time zone until Thursday evening for an overnight flight, but it was noon BST.
When asked whether he got any sleep on the flight, LaFleur said: “A little bit. I don’t know. Am I coming across as cranky?”
The Packers have managed a 3-1 start — and Sunday’s game against the 3-1 Giants is the first in 32 London games between two teams with winning records — despite some unusual numbers from Rodgers. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Rodgers’ 43.1 QBR this season is his worst in the first four games of a season since he became a starter in 2008. His 6.2 air-yard average per attempt is also his fewest through four games in that same span, which is a reason big plays have escaped him.
Rodgers said after last Sunday’s overtime win over the New England Patriots that he did not think the way they were winning was sustainable.
“We’ve had halves of certain games where we’ve really played well and the other half has usually been pretty bad,” Rodgers said Friday. “We’ve got to try to put together four quarters and put on a show for the fans in the stadium. Hopefully it will be predominately green and gold.”
Former Lioness Lianne Sanderson believes the FA “forgot about” her and other former England players, calling out the governing body in an emotional post on
social media.
Striker Sanderson earned 50 caps for her country but was not among the large group of past players who marched pitchside at half-time during England’s 2-1 victory over USA at Wembley on Friday night.
The 34-year-old pundit took to Twitter on Saturday claiming she had not received an invite and noting her name had been misspelled in the matchday programme.
She wrote: “At this point I can’t say I’m surprised. All I can say is I’m sick of the hurt the systematic abuse has caused me throughout the years. They forgot about me before and many times before that and last night was just another example.
“All former Lionesses were invited to Wembley last night, got many souvenirs of their time playing for England, of which I’m happy for them about, especially after raising this issue at the Houses of Parliament four years ago.
“When asked what the FA can do? My response, don’t make former players feel like they are forgotten about and I wasn’t talking about myself. A lot of former players feel that way played for England.
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Former England international Lianne Sanderson told Sky Sports News last week that diverse ethnic under-representation remains an issue in elite girls’ and women’s football in England
“Now look everyone was invited accept [sic] me. That makes sense. I retired because a sport I loved so much wasn’t showing me love back. These are some of the reasons.
Image: Sanderson was capped 50 times by England
“Then to spell my name wrong in the programme and on the big screen, they forgot about my 50th cap. So at least allow me some moments to be proud of. I’ve created a career in media myself, no handouts or help from anyone after being ostracised for telling the truth and I will continue to do so.
“I’m happy all my former teammates enjoyed their evening, that makes me happy. But this has left me so upset yet again. Thank you to those that continue to support me. My circle is tight.”
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Manisha Tailor MBE says more work needs to be done to make elite girls’ and women’s football more representative of the nation.
The FA announced plans to welcome former Lionesses to the USA match in early September to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first official England Women fixture, the invitations the culmination of a research project that had taken several years to compile.
While Sanderson’s name was correctly spelled in a list of all the England players identified to date, it is misspelled in a feature highlighting the 12 top trans-Atlantic talents in England and USA history.
An FA spokesperson said on Saturday evening: “We are sorry. We invited Lianne, along with more than 200 former players, to last night’s celebrations but she didn’t receive it. We have been in touch with her representatives to explain. We also apologise for her name being misspelt in the programme. With 50 caps, Lianne is an England great and deserves full recognition for the service she gave to the national team.”
Robinson, who had been placed on the non-football injury list, was cleared to practice Wednesday. There had been optimism all week about Robinson’s chances of playing, especially after his right knee responded well after practicing each day.
It’s uncertain how much he’ll play and Washington does have other effective running backs in Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic. Gibson has been the Commanders’ primary back for the past two seasons and has rushed for 173 yards this year, while averaging only 3.3 yards per carry. McKissic is their third-down back.
Washington likes Robinson as a primary between-the-tackles runner and could pair him in packages with either Gibson or McKissic, both of whom are pass-catching threats.
“You’ve got a good group of backs that rotate through and you try to find the matchups that you can exploit,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said.
Gibson is considered more explosive, but the Commanders like Robinson’s potential as a steady, consistent back.
“He’s got a really good feel in terms of being able to run the football,” Washington running backs coach Randy Jordan said. “There’s some certain things you can’t teach … and feeling where he needs to cut.”
The Commanders could use an offensive boost with rookie receiver Jahan Dotson already ruled out with a hamstring injury. Dotson has caught 12 passes for 152 yards, but leads Washington with four touchdown passes — all three of his red zone receptions have been for scores. Starting right tackle Sam Cosmi (right thumb) won’t play. Tight end Logan Thomas (calf) is questionable for Sunday.
Robinson was shot in his leg in what the police report termed an attempted carjacking or robbery while the rookie was going to a restaurant in the District of Columbia. He needed surgery on his right leg; doctors told the team there was no structural damage, allowing him to return sooner.
On Wednesday, Robinson said, “It’s been a long five weeks, you know, but it’s a lot of work. I did everything I needed to do over that time period to make sure I was here today.”
LONDON — The NFL is prepared “to make a change or two” to its concussion protocol, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at a fan forum in London on Saturday as the league faces questions about how the Miami Dolphins handled quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s recent injuries.
Responding to a fan’s question about concussions and “recent incidents,” Goodell outlined the league’s “intensive focus” on the issue over the past 15 years and said its medical protocols have served as templates for other sports.
“Our job really is to continue to modify those as medical experts or other experiences tell you this is something you can do differently,’” he said.
The commissioner took questions only from fans in London ahead of Sunday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He wasn’t made available to the media Saturday. The league did not elaborate on what the potential protocol changes are or when they could come into effect.
Earlier this week, the NFL Players Association fired the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who evaluated Tagovailoa after he stumbled off the field against Buffalo on Sept. 25 following a hit. The quarterback was evaluated for a concussion, but he quickly returned to the game and the Dolphins said a back injury had caused his wobbly gait.
The quarterback subsequently suffered a concussion four days later at Cincinnati and is out indefinitely.
Goodell, without citing Tagovailoa by name, said there’s “more chatter now” about concussions.
“We understand some of that chatter, but the reality is the protocols are really important. We follow that strictly. We see no indication that that didn’t happen in this case. There’s an ongoing investigation, ” he said. “We’re really focused on doing that. But we’re also prepared to make a change or two in the protocols because we think we can actually add another element that would make it even safer.”
On Friday, the NFL Players Association urged the league to implement changes in time to protect players in this weekend’s games. In its own statement, the NFL said it was working on updates to the protocol but did not commit to implementing them before Sunday’s games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate’ was also injured last Sunday when he collided with a teammate near the end of the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs and was initially allowed to re-enter the game. He then sat out the second half with a concussion.
NFL players “are getting the most extraordinary care and better than they ever have in the history of the NFL, but they deserve that, and that’s our obligation, and that’s what we need to do,” Goodell said.
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Over the past couple of years, games between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens have featured signature moments for two of the game’s top young quarterbacks.
In 2019, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson picked up the highlight of his MVP season with a 47-yard touchdown run that featured a spin move straight out of a video game. Two years later, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow torched a depleted Baltimore defense and set a franchise record with 525 passing yards in a Bengals rout. Burrow’s 941 yards in sweeping Baltimore last season were the most passing yards vs. a single team in a season in NFL history.
In what is expected to be a tight AFC North this season, Sunday’s game between the Ravens and Bengals (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), who are both 2-2, could play a fairly large role in who wins the division.
And the winner likely will be determined by the quarterback position. Burrow is coming off a Super Bowl run, and Jackson is playing above his 2019 MVP level. With contract decisions for both quarterbacks looming, what happens Sunday and the rest of the season could shape the future of the AFC North.
“The quarterback’s a major component in how our team goes,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said ahead of Sunday’s prime-time game. “For him to play his best in the big moments, as he has, is critical.”
Burrow will be eligible for a contract extension next offseason. Off to a slower start than Jackson thus far, he is 16th in the league in Total QBR (49.4) and 17th in completion percentage (64.1). He’s seventh in the league in passing yards (1,099) and tied for sixth in touchdown passes (eight). He has also been sacked 16 times, which is third most in the NFL.
Jackson halted contract negotiations with the Ravens once the regular season began and is playing on his fifth-year option. In essence, he’s betting on himself, and the early returns have suggested it was a wise move. Jackson is tied for fifth in QBR, tied for first with 11 TD passes and the only QB among the top 25 in rushing, as his 316 yards put him ninth in the league.
With the Pittsburgh Steelers at the beginning of the Kenny Pickett era and the Cleveland Browns yet to see what Deshaun Watson brings to their offense — he’s currently serving an 11-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy following allegations of inappropriate conduct and sexual assault in massage sessions, Jackson and Burrow are the most established quarterbacks in the division. How the AFC North ultimately shakes out could very well come down to how these two play, and that narrative takes shape Sunday night.
BURROW’S FIRST GAME against Baltimore was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
As a rookie in 2020, the No. 1 overall draft pick and former Heisman Trophy winner had the toughest game of his career. He posted a career-low 4.2 Total QBR, which scores games on a 1 to 100 scale, in a 27-3 shellacking in Week 5.
Six weeks later, Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury. After an aggressive rehabilitation period, he turned the situation into a footnote, as he rebounded in ’21 as one of the NFL’s most effective quarterbacks, leading the league in completion percentage over expectation, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
The Bengals’ hopes when they drafted Burrow were quickly realized in February, when the team made its first Super Bowl appearance since 1989 before losing 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams.
Some of the success could be chalked up to the struggles he had as a rookie.
“It was a chance [for] him to have a season to look back and learn those different styles that you’ll see and those environments you’ll be in and play styles from defenses,” Taylor said. “To come back and have a great year, obviously he’s looking to build off of that this year.”
Bengals running back Joe Mixon said the meetings against Baltimore have displayed Burrow’s ability to extend plays and make big throws. But Burrow’s poise also has been on display in crucial moments.
“He’s gonna be that guy,” Mixon said. “He’s going to have a killer mentality. If you look at him or if you see him in the huddle or see him on the big screen he just looks like he’s about to deliver.”
In both games against Baltimore last year, Burrow starred. He engineered Cincinnati’s comeback in Week 7, throwing for 416 yards and three touchdowns. Two months later, Burrow threw for 525 yards in another victory over the Ravens. His 91.4 Total QBR from that game remains a career high.
At the beginning of the season, Burrow said he doesn’t care about the numbers as long as the team wins. Through four games, the third-year quarterback’s performances have varied between a four-turnover outing in a Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh to a steady showing in last week’s win over the Miami Dolphins.
But there’s a version of himself that he enjoys the most.
“The one that throws for 530 yards,” Burrow said.
AS MUCH AS Burrow has helped transform Cincinnati, no one has changed the trajectory of the Ravens over the past decade more than Jackson.
Baltimore was stuck in mediocrity after winning the Super Bowl in 2012. The Ravens were 44-45 (.494) from 2013 until Jackson took over as starting quarterback midway through the 2018 season.
Once Jackson replaced Joe Flacco as the starter, Baltimore has been one of the best teams in the NFL and had one of its most electrifying offenses. Jackson’s record as a starting quarterback (39-14) ranks behind only Patrick Mahomes (53-14) among active quarterbacks since 2018.
“He’s the one that drives our team,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said.
Jackson has accounted for 84% of the total yards for the league’s third-highest-scoring offense despite injuries on the offensive line and a plodding rushing attack. Baltimore has started three different left tackles in the first four weeks, and the Ravens’ running backs have 251 rushing yards, which ranks 30th in the league.
Jackson’s big plays have carried a team that has the NFL’s 30th-ranked defense. His 13 total touchdowns are more than 28 other offenses this season. Jackson has produced the longest run (79 yards) and the second-longest pass (75) this season.
“He is dynamic,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “He’s very deserving of everything he asks for, if you ask me. But his arm, his legs, his mind, his toughness, his tenacity — you’ve got to worry about it all.”
Even though Jackson is averaging a career-high 8.54 yards per carry, he has made significant strides throwing the ball, which has changed the identity of Baltimore’s offense. The Ravens once had the league’s most run-heavy attack, but Jackson has dropped back to pass 60% of the time.
Jackson is showing more patience, moving around to buy time instead of scrambling downfield. He has also become more confident throwing into tighter windows and more effective at reading defenses.
“The hard thing with him is … he got better,” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said.
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Stephen A. Smith calls out the Ravens’ defense after its tough start to the season.
LEAGUE SOURCES TOLD ESPN’s Adam Schefter in September that Jackson declined an offer worth about $250 million. Sources told Schefter that Jackson’s wish was for a fully guaranteed deal, similar to the record-setting $230 million, fully guaranteed contract the Browns gave Watson.
The sides agreed to suspend contract negotiations until after the season. Without an extension, Jackson doesn’t have any guaranteed money beyond his $23.016 million base salary for this season. Still, Baltimore remains tethered to the idea of Jackson as its franchise quarterback.
“I said at the beginning that it will happen when it’s time, and when it’s time, it will happen,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said before the start of the season. “So, Lamar is playing quarterback, he’s going to be playing quarterback here for a long time.”
Cincinnati knows Burrow could be in line for a big payday in 2023, the first year he is eligible to sign a contract extension. Team president Mike Brown is no stranger to paying a premium for quality quarterbacks. In 2005, Cincinnati gave quarterback Carson Palmer, the team’s previous No. 1 overall pick before Burrow, a six-year extension worth up to $119 million, making him one of the game’s highest-paid players at the time.
Before the start of this season, Brown acknowledged his fondness for Burrow and that he knows a future paycheck will have to be written soon.
“Right now, our obvious, most important issue will be with our quarterback,” Brown said in July. “It’s not quite ready or ripe yet, but it’s right down the track. We see the train coming.”
Chaldean made most of the running to win the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at
Newmarket for Andrew Balding and Frankie Dettori.
The Juddmonte-owned colt followed in the footsteps of his sire, Frankel, when cruising up the inside rail as the 5-2 joint-favourite.
He was pursued all the way by the runner up, Paul and Oliver Cole’s Royal Scotsman, but it was Balding’s youngster who prevailed at the line by a head to take the Group One with Nostrum back in third.
Image: Frankie Dettori with a flying dismount after winning the Dewhurst on Chaldean
It capped a topsy-turvy day for Dettori who had a nasty fall in the opening race but thankfully walked away unscathed.
Balding was emulating his father, Ian, who won the race on multiple occasions but most famously with the brilliant Mill Reef in 1970.
Image: Nostrum could only manage second on Saturday
Balding said: “Frankie has given him a fantastic ride and all credit to him. Frankie is the reason we came here because after Doncaster he was adamant this was the race for him. He’s played his part massively.
“The horse has won a nice collection of races and the nice thing is he’s so relaxed, he should go on next year and certainly stay a mile, so we have a lot to look forward to.
“The Dewhurst is an amazing race to win – it’s the most important two-year-old race of the year. My father won it with Mill Reef (1970) and Silly Season (1964) and Dashing Blade (1989), so I’ve got a bit of catching up to do!”
Dettori also told ITV Racing: “He fluffed the start, but luckily I was able to get him up there, and then I shot clear and I thought ‘I’ve got it in the bag’.
“He’s a proper Guineas horse – we can dream now for next year.”
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has suffered a left knee capsule sprain and bone bruise, the team announced.
There’s relief that Suggs avoided a more serious injury, sources told ESPN. His timeline on a return will depend on response to treatment, the team said.
The fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft had his rookie season interrupted by a fractured right thumb. He averaged 11.8 points and 4.4 assists in 48 games.
Orlando already is without point guard Markelle Fultz, who is out indefinitely because of a fractured left big toe suffered before training camp.
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s president said the country will not face sanctions from soccer’s world governing body after the firing of tear gas inside a half-locked stadium caused a crush at the exits, killing 131 people, including 17 children.
Joko Widodo said FIFA President Giani Infantino wrote in a letter to him about potential collaborations between Indonesia and FIFA and the country will remain the host of next year’s U-20 World Cup joined by 24 countries from five continents.
“Based on the letter, thank God, Indonesian is not sanctioned by FIFA,” Widodo said in a video posted on the presidential office’s YouTube channel late Friday.
In its security protocols, FIFA advises against the use of tear gas in or around stadiums and recommends exit gates be unlocked at all times during a game. While those rules are considered a safety standard, they don’t apply to domestic or national leagues and FIFA has no authority over how local governments and police control crowds.
Widodo toured the Kanjuruhan soccer stadium in Malang city on Wednesday and said several locked gates had contributed to the disaster that followed a league game between host Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya on Oct. 1. The national police chief on Thursday said the stadium did not have a proper operating certificate and criminal charges would be brought against six people, including three police officers.
Indonesia’s national soccer association, known locally as PSSI, has long struggled to manage the game domestically.
Gaining the right to host next year’s Under-20 World Cup was a major milestone in Indonesia’s soccer development, raising hopes that a successful tournament would turn around longstanding problems that have blighted the sport in the nation, home to more than 277 million people.
The deadly crush at is a tragic reminder, however, that Indonesia is one of the most dangerous countries in which to attend a game.
Since last week, the domestic league has been suspended. Widodo has ordered the sports minister, the national police chief and the soccer federation to conduct a thorough investigation into the deadly stadium crush.
He said on Friday that Indonesian government has agreed to take collaborative measures with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to improve stadium safety to prevent another tragedy.
“FIFA, together with the government will set a transformation team for Indonesian ,” Widodo said, adding that Infantino would also to visit Indonesia in the near future.
He said that FIFA will be based in Indonesia during these processes to improve safety standards at all football stadiums across the country, formulate security procedures and protocols for the police based on international standards, take feedback from Indonesian football clubs and fans, regulate season calendar under risk-based considerations as well as to involve experts from various fields for advice.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has refused to confirm or deny that Conor Benn is being investigated after failing a drugs test ahead of his cancelled clash with Chris Eubank Jr.
It was revealed on Wednesday that an “adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug” had shown up in one of Benn’s recent tests by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) ‘prohibited’ the catchweight bout against Eubank Jr, which was scheduled for Saturday at The O2, stating that the fight was “not in the interests of boxing”.
A statement released by Matchroom and Wasserman Boxing outlined that Benn has “passed all doping control tests conducted by UKAD”, but reports have suggested that the governing body could carry out its own probe into VADA’s findings.
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Promoter Eddie Hearn believes Conor Benn has not been given due process after failing a drugs test before his now-postponed fight against Chris Eubank Jr
“We neither confirm nor deny if we’re running an investigation or if a case is active,” a spokesperson told Sky Sports.
UKAD chief executive Jane Rumble had released a statement on Thursday, saying: “UKAD notes the reporting of a failed VADA test by the boxer Conor Benn with concern.
“UKAD acts on all reports of doping and always encourages anyone with information on suspected doping activity to come forward and share that with us.”
Benn Sr: ‘Total shock’ in fight postponement
Former middleweight world champion Nigel Benn defended his son, Conor, after the postponement of the fight and insisted that he was a “clean athlete”.
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Speaking on his Instagram profile, Nigel Benn discusses his son Conor Benn’s recent drug scandal and claims Conor is a clean athlete
Credit:nigelbennofficial
Eubank Jr and Benn were keen to proceed with the bout, which follows the two clashes between their fathers in the 1990s, but promoters confirmed on Thursday that the clash was off.
“Hi guys, as you know we’re in total shock,” Benn Sr said in an Instagram video on Friday. “I’ve been with my son for the last 10 weeks and the training has just gone absolutely the best it could ever have been.
“I love my son. I know he don’t [sic] cut no corners, he just goes straight at it, 100 per cent. But we’ll keep you informed and let you know what the next step is but you know, he’s a faithful trainer and a clean athlete.”
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Former WBA lightweight Anthony Crolla says it was the correct decision to cancel the Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank match after it was revealed Benn failed a drug test
Writing on social media about his positive test, Benn said on Thursday: “I am truly gutted that we are unable to make this fight happen on Saturday and I’m sorry to everyone who has been affected by the postponement.
“I am still completely shocked and surprised by this and it has been a tough couple of days. My team and I will consider the next options including rescheduling the fight, but my immediate focus is on clearing my name because I am a clean athlete!”
Timeline: Why Benn vs Eubank Jr was postponed
Wednesday morning – Reports emerge that Conor Benn has returned an “adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug” in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) test.
Wednesday lunchtime – Both promoters issue joint statement in reaction to VADA result, where they say B sample has yet to be tested and no rule violation has been confirmed.
Wednesday, 2.20pm – British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) releases statement to say Saturday’s scheduled fight is “prohibited as it is not in the interests of boxing”.
Wednesday afternoon – Both fighters attend live open workout in central London. Benn insists he is a “clean athlete” and wants fight to go ahead. Eubank Jr says he is happy to proceed with the contest, although denies claims that he had a phone conversation with his opponent.
Thursday morning – Concerns increase over the status of the fight when head-to-head press conference in a Canary Wharf hotel, scheduled for lunchtime, is pushed back twice.
Thursday lunchtime – Eddie Hearn tweets that he would not promote the fight with a foreign commission or alternative governing body.
Thursday, 4pm – Both promoters issue joint statement to say the fight has been postponed. Statement accuses BBBoC’s decision to withdraw sanctioning as “procedurally flawed and without due process”.
SUZUKA, Japan — Max Verstappen of Red Bull will be on pole position for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix as he attempts to clinch his second straight Formula One drivers’ title.
It was Verstappen’s fifth pole of the season. However, that has not been crucial for Verstappen, who has won 11 times this season — often starting from a non-pole position.
Verstappen finished first in qualifying on Saturday with a quickest lap time of 1 minute, 29.304 seconds at Suzuka. He was followed by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
Verstappen is guaranteed of taking the season title if he wins the race on Sunday and also gets a bonus point for turning the fastest lap. He could also win the championship for a second straight year without a victory depending on the other results.
“I’m not thinking about it too much,” Verstappen said as he talked about Sunday. “I’m just taking it day by day. I think what was more important is that we have a competitive car — and clearly we had that today in qualifying. And of course it’s going to be the same tomorrow in the race.”
“It’s a good start,” he added.
Even if he fails, Verstappen is likely to take the title in two weeks at the United States GP in Austin, Texas. He has a massive 104-point lead over Leclerc with five races to go, including Sunday’s race.
He’s also 106 points ahead of teammate Perez, the only other driver who has a mathematical chance to overtake him for the season title.
Verstappen has had a dominating season. He’s already won 11 times, and if he gets two more he will match a season record for victories held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. They both won 13 in one season.
Saturday qualifying was run on a dry circuit. However, rain is predicted for Sunday in central Japan. Those were also the conditions in Friday practice.
Race stewards later looked at an incident in the third practice session involving Verstappen and Lando Norris of McLaren. Norris was forced to swerve to avoid hitting Verstappen. Stewards gave Verstappen a reprimand but he kept pole.
Sunday’s race result could be quickly overshadowed on Monday when the FIA — the governing body of Formula One — is expected to rule if any team violated spending-cap rules last season.
Unsourced reports say Red Bull is one of the teams under investigation.
The FIA could put financial sanctions on a team or, in theory, could also strip Verstappen of the title he won last season in the final race of the season. That seems unlikely and could be a public relations disaster.
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More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports
Max Verstappen took pole in Japanese GP qualifying but is under investigation following a Q3 incident with Lando Norris; Norris says Verstappen should expect a penalty after forcing him off track; watch Sunday’s race live on Sky Sports F1 at 6am
Last Updated: 08/10/22 9:35am
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McLaren’s Lando Norris somehow managed to avoid a crash with Max Verstappen during the final part of qualifying at Suzuka
McLaren’s Lando Norris somehow managed to avoid a crash with Max Verstappen during the final part of qualifying at Suzuka
Lando Norris says Max Verstappen should expect a penalty after a Japanese GP qualifying incident between them forced him to go off track to avoid a high-speed collision.
Verstappen, who can claim the world championship by winning Sunday’s race and taking the fastest lap, took pole position on Saturday but is facing an investigation from the stewards after the Q3 incident with Norris.
As the drivers were on their out-laps ahead of their final flying efforts, with Verstappen going slowly, Norris attempted to overtake the Red Bull on the approach to 130R.
Verstappen then suddenly accelerated, and appeared to lose control of the rear of his car as he swerved across the track towards the line the McLaren was on, leaving Norris no option but to go off track to avoid a collision.
Both Verstappen and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner argued after the session that Norris was breaking a “gentleman’s agreement” between drivers not to overtake on out-laps, but the Briton was adamant the stewards should take action.
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McLaren’s Lando Norris blamed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for almost causing a collision with him during Q3 at Suzuka
McLaren’s Lando Norris blamed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for almost causing a collision with him during Q3 at Suzuka
Asked if he thought Verstappen tried to block his overtake, Norris told Sky Sports F1: “I mean it was quite clear he tried to do that.
“There’s no rule on what you can do, but doing what he did is something that you cannot do.
“People always overtake before the last corner, as much as everyone agrees to it (gentleman’s agreement), everyone always does it, so it doesn’t matter, he probably would have done the same if he was in my situation, but I wouldn’t have swerved at him if I was in his situation.”
Asked if he would expect a penalty if he had done what Verstappen did, Norris replied: “Oh yeah, for sure.”
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Karun Chandhok was at the SkyPad to analyse if Red Bull’s Max Verstappen impeded McLaren’s Lando Norris in qualifying
Karun Chandhok was at the SkyPad to analyse if Red Bull’s Max Verstappen impeded McLaren’s Lando Norris in qualifying
Verstappen: Norris could be more respectful
Verstappen, who appeared to offer an apology on the drivers’ in-laps as he pulled alongside Norris and waved, said he had not intentionally blocked the McLaren.
“I was just driving quite slow, and I wanted to accelerate but my tyres were quite cold, so then I had a big moment,” Verstappen said in his on-track interview immediately after qualifying.
“Then of course Lando was trying to pass me at the same time so he had to avoid me a little bit, but luckily nothing happened.”
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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen gave his perspective on the incident concerning Lando Norris and revealed how he’s feeling about possibly becoming world champion in Sunday’s race.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen gave his perspective on the incident concerning Lando Norris and revealed how he’s feeling about possibly becoming world champion in Sunday’s race.
However, speaking shortly after in a press conference, Verstappen offered a stronger repost to Norris’ comments.
“We were on our out-lap and we were all lining up to try to create a gap to everyone, and somehow he still wanted to get me into the chicane, but I was at the point of acceleration, but I was on very cold tyres so I had a little moment and that’s why he had to drive around me,” he said.
“But if you’re just a bit more respectful, then everyone is anyway already lining up. I don’t think anyone is trying to pass into that last chicane, so basically by trying to pass me you create that kind of problem.”
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after qualifying, Red Bull boss Horner was adamant that the incident had been caused accidentally.
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Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Lando Norris was wrong to try overtaking Max Verstappen on his out lap and doesn’t think the Dutchman should be penalised for the incident after securing pole
Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Lando Norris was wrong to try overtaking Max Verstappen on his out lap and doesn’t think the Dutchman should be penalised for the incident after securing pole
“I don’t think he’s trying to block Lando, I just don’t think he was expecting someone on an out-lap at that point near the chicane,” Horner said.
“They’re both on out laps and there’s a gentleman’s agreement between the drivers that when you get to that part of the circuit you hold position and they file through the last chicane one-by-one.
“So, Lando has decided that he wants to jump the queue as they head up to that final chicane. They’ve been following each other all the way around the circuit until that point.”
Button: Verstappen breached F1 regulations
Sky Sports pundit Jenson Button believed that Verstappen was guilty of breaching F1’s sporting regulations, which state that: “At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person.”
Button said: “[He breached] all three I’d have to say. I don’t think any of it was intention, when Lando says he turned left into me, I don’t think he did.
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Ride onboard with Max Verstappen as the Red Bull driver edged closer to a second world title in Japan.
Ride onboard with Max Verstappen as the Red Bull driver edged closer to a second world title in Japan.
“He [Max] is not looking in his mirrors, he looks like he’s got on the throttle to try and warm the tyres up and that’s put him in a position that looks like he’s moving over on Lando. Should he have done that? No.
“He’s going too slow on the exit of a 200mph corner, so that’s the issue that he has.
“None of it was intentional but the problem is that it could have been a massive incident and was very close to being a massive incident between the two cars.
“Do I think Max will get a penalty? There’s a good possibility.”
The Week 5 NFL schedule for the 2022 season is stacked with great matchups, and we have you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game and a bold prediction for each matchup.
Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a big stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a matchup rating (on a scale of 1 to 100) and a game projection. ESPN researcher Kyle Soppe hands out helpful fantasy football intel, as well. Finally, Seth Walder and Eric Moody give us final score picks for every game. Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL football.
Let’s get into the full Week 5 slate, including another London showdown (Giants-Packers), Kenny Pickett‘s first start, Jalen Hurts vs. Kyler Murray and an AFC North meeting between the Bengals and Ravens. It all culminates with a Monday Night Football matchup between the Raiders and the Chiefs on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
What to watch for: This could be a nightmare matchup for the Packers’ defense. It ranks in the bottom third of the NFL in yards allowed per carry (5.0), and the Giants — with the NFL’s leading rusher, Saquon Barkley — run it at the second-best clip in the league (5.8 yards per carry). It prompted Packers coach Matt LaFleur to say this week that defensive coordinator Joe Barry needs to have his players “play more physical” and “in certain situations you might have to put an extra defender in the box.” — Rob Demovsky
Bold prediction:Aaron Rodgers throws for 300-plus yards and at least three touchdowns. Rodgers hasn’t topped 255 yards passing this season, and the Giants have the eighth-ranked pass defense. But New York also hasn’t faced a quarterback like Rodgers and has a pedestrian 9.0 sacks and a 29.0% pressure rate, per NFL Next Gen Stats. This could be Rodgers’ breakout game. As Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said of the Packers QB, ‘It’s like owning a python and saying, ‘Don’t worry about it, he won’t bite.’” — Jordan Raanan
Stat to know: Rodgers is averaging 6.2 air yards per attempt, his fewest through four games since becoming a starter in 2008. His 43.1 QBR this season is also his worst through the first four games in that same time frame.
What to know for fantasy: Barkley has more than 20 carries or a rushing TD in all four games this season and leads the league in percentage of team offense accounted for (40.4%). See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Over the past 15 seasons, teams favored by at least seven points in international games are 7-0 ATS (6-0 ATS in London). Read more.
Moody’s pick: Packers 31, Giants 14 Walder’s pick: Packers 24, Giants 12 FPI prediction: GB, 86.9% (by an average of 13.5 points)
What to watch for: The Bucs are on a rare two-game slide and are 0-2 at home so far this season, while the Falcons have won two straight. The Bucs also gave up an uncharacteristic 189 rushing yards in their 41-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week — the most they’ve surrendered since 2018. Getting back to what they do best — stopping the run — is paramount this week. On the other side of the ball, Tom Brady said his shoulder is fine, but former Falcon Julio Jones‘ status is up in the air after missing the second half last week because of a knee injury. — Jenna Laine
Bold prediction: The Falcons, with no Cordarrelle Patterson and against a good run defense, will manage to once again top 150 rushing yards with Tyler Allgeier leading the way. Allgeier and Caleb Huntley will handle the majority of the work with Patterson (knee) on injured reserve, and the two young backs will alternate to cause problems for the Buccaneers. Atlanta has rushed for at least 179 yards in three of its four games. — Michael Rothstein
Stat to know: Brady’s only three-game losing streak in his career came from Weeks 4 to 8 in 2002, his second season as a starter.
What to know for fantasy: When you see “Brady vs. Atlanta,” you likely think about the Super Bowl comeback, but that’s not going to help you. What will help you is the fact that the GOAT is averaging 28.0 PPG as a Buccaneer against the Falcons. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Atlanta is 4-0 ATS this season, all as an underdog. Atlanta is the only team this season undefeated against the spread. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Buccaneers 34, Falcons 14 Walder’s pick: Buccaneers 30, Falcons 13 FPI prediction: TB, 85.9% (by an average of 12.9 points)
What to watch for: Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett is set to make his first career start against a Bills defense that is tied with the San Francisco 49ers for giving up the fewest yards per game (234.5). Pickett was picked off three times while playing in the second half last week vs. the Jets, and his ability to make good decisions on the road will go a long way against a defense tied for the league lead in interceptions (seven). — Alaina Getzenberg
Bold prediction: Bills RB Devin Singletary will have his first 100-yard game of the season. With a banged-up Steelers defense that has struggled since T.J. Watt‘s Week 1 injury, this game has the potential for any number of Buffalo offensive superlatives. But let’s put the bold in bold prediction. The Bills aren’t known for a traditional ground game, but the Steelers’ defense is giving up an average of 131.5 rushing yards per game. Because of the injuries in the Steelers’ secondary, Josh Allen is primed to jump out to a big lead early and then let the ground attack go to work to run out the rest of the game. — Brooke Pryor
Stat to know: Allen has accounted for all 12 of the Bills’ offensive touchdowns this season (either pass or scored).
What to know for fantasy:Najee Harris averaged over 4.0 yards per carry for the first time this season last week, but he failed to record a reception in Pickett’s NFL debut. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Last season, first-round quarterbacks making their first career starts went 0-5 ATS. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Bills 34, Steelers 17 Walder’s pick: Bills 30, Steelers 10 FPI prediction: BUF, 86.2% (by an average of 13.0 points)
What to watch for: The Patriots have given up 325 rushing yards on 51 carries (6.37 on average) over their past six quarters, while the Lions rank first in the NFL in average yards per rush (5.9) and sixth in total rushing yards per game (164). New England’s slide has coincided with losing DT Lawrence Guy (shoulder), who might be ready to return. That would help against a Lions offensive line featuring three solid first-round picks in left tackle Taylor Decker (2016), center Frank Ragnow (2018) and right tackle Penei Sewell (2021). — Mike Reiss
Bold prediction: Lions running back Jamaal Williams will rush for at least two touchdowns. No, Williams isn’t the greatest running back of all time — or possibly even the best overall on his team — but he has proven to be consistent and durable behind a strong offensive line. He will etch his name in the record books, joining Jim Brown in 1958 as the second player in league history to score multiple touchdowns in four of the team’s first five games. Even without D’Andre Swift, the Lions’ ground attack is rolling, and that won’t stop against New England. — Eric Woodyard
Stat to know:Jared Goff is tied for the lead in passing touchdowns with 11. That is tied for most through four games in his career (2018).
What to know for fantasy:T.J. Hockenson had 24.2 fantasy points through three weeks before exploding for a career-best 39.9 points last week against the Seahawks. The Patriots have allowed a league-high five touchdowns to tight ends this season. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Detroit has covered six straight road games, but it is 0-10-1 outright in its past 11 road games (0-9-1 under Dan Campbell). Read more.
Moody’s pick: Lions 27, Patriots 24 Walder’s pick: Lions 31, Patriots 17 FPI prediction: NE, 56% (by an average of 1.7 points)
What to watch for: The Vikings’ defense has given up 1,054 passing yards this season, seventh-most in the NFL, as it meanders through the adjustment process to coordinator Ed Donatell’s 3-4 scheme. The Bears, however, are the league’s least-equipped team to exploit that shortcoming. Through four games, they have collected an NFL-low 390 passing yards — the fourth fewest by any team at this point in a season since 2000. — Kevin Seifert
Bold prediction:Kirk Cousins will have another three-interception day against the Bears’ defense, akin to the last time the Vikings played against Matt Eberflus in Indianapolis, where Cousins recorded a 15.7 passer rating and three picks. This scheme has not changed and is bolstered on the back end by Eddie Jackson, who leads the NFC in interceptions with three in four games. Chicago knows how dangerous Minnesota’s run game can be, so they’ll stack the box to try to take away Dalvin Cook and make Cousins beat them with his arm. — Courtney Cronin
Stat to know: The Vikings have allowed at least 300 yards in 12 straight games dating back to last season. While they are struggling in the passing game, the Bears are third in the NFL in rushing yards (709).
What to watch for: The Dolphins, aiming to put aside the Tua Tagovailoa concussion controversy, hope to improve to 4-1 for the first time since 2003. QB Teddy Bridgewater is 2-0 lifetime against the Jets, who look to go over .500 for the first time since a 1-0 start in 2018. They’re tied for fourth with 25 explosive pass plays (16-plus yards), and Miami’s banged-up secondary is giving up huge chunks in the passing game (31st in yards). — Rich Cimini
Bold prediction: Bridgewater with throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Tyreek Hill. The team has preached all week that their offense won’t change much with the backup quarterback starting, and he’ll prove them right come Sunday. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Stat to know: The Dolphins’ 11-2 record since 2021 Week 9 is tied with the Chiefs for best in the NFL. They also rank No. 1 in both defensive efficiency and QBR allowed in that span.
What to know for fantasy:Breece Hall has a touchdown or six catches in all four games this season and seems to be trending in the direction of a lineup lock. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Over the past five seasons, Miami is 13-7 ATS as a favorite. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Dolphins 24, Jets 17 Walder’s pick: Dolphins 26, Jets 10 FPI prediction: MIA, 55% (by an average of 1.6 points)
What to watch for:Justin Herbert finished with 398 passing yards in the Chargers’ win over the Browns last season, the most Cleveland surrendered in any game in 2021. Herbert also totaled five touchdowns. While the Chargers’ running game has struggled, Herbert will always be a threat in the passing game. But Browns RB Nick Chubb leads the NFL in rushing first downs and rushes of 10-plus yards. And the Chargers have allowed 5.4 yards per rush, the second worst in the NFL. So, these teams could have to rely on their defenses. — Jake Trotter
Bold prediction: The Chargers have yet to put together a 100-rushing yard performance this season, but that will change Sunday against the Browns. The Bolts are averaging an NFL-low 64.5 rushing yards per game, while the Browns’ defense is ranked 17th, allowing an average of 113 yards per game. — Lindsey Thiry
Stat to know:Jacoby Brissett is fifth in both QBR (75) and completion percentage (74%) in home games this season.
What to know for fantasy:Austin Ekeler scored more fantasy points last week in Houston (34.9) than he did in the two weeks prior combined (31.7). The versatile back is now on pace for 115 catches this season. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Brandon Staley is 1-3 outright and ATS as a road favorite (won last week). Read more.
Moody’s pick: Chargers 27, Browns 20 Walder’s pick: Chargers 24, Browns 20 FPI prediction: LAC, 57.5% (by an average of 2.3 points)
What to watch for: It looks like another week without Winston and wide receiver Michael Thomas, which would mean Andy Dalton will likely take over again at quarterback. The Saints’ problems are beyond the quarterback right now, as they are among the worst teams in the league in both penalties and turnover differential. The one thing that might help their offense is the return of running back Alvin Kamara, who said he’s ready to roll this week. — Katherine Terrell
Bold prediction:Ryan Neal will take over for Josh Jones in the starting lineup and spark Seattle’s struggling defense with a game-changing takeaway. Neal has played well in the past while filling in for Jamal Adams and appears to be in line to get another opportunity, having replaced Jones in the fourth quarter of Seattle’s win over Detroit. The Saints, meanwhile, have committed an NFL-high 11 turnovers — including five interceptions in three games from Jameis Winston — so the opportunity will be there. — Brady Henderson
Stat to know:Geno Smith has a 77.3 completion percentage this season, the highest by any QB through a team’s first four games of a season in NFL history (min. 125 attempts).
What to know for fantasy:DK Metcalf had the big Week 4, but Tyler Lockett has benefited most from the overachieving of Smith … more than 75 receiving yards in three straight games. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Smith is 23-15 ATS in his career, including 10-2 ATS in his past 12 starts and 5-2 ATS with Seattle. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Saints 27, Seahawks 24 Walder’s pick: Seahawks 19, Saints 16 FPI prediction: NO, 72.6% (by an average of 6.9 points)
What to watch for: Washington has done a nice job stopping the run the past two weeks against the Eagles and Cowboys, allowing an NFL-best 2.27 yards per carry and tying for second at 67 yards allowed during that stretch. The Commanders have allowed 1.17 yards after contact, also second best the past two weeks. But the Commanders’ run defense will be severely tested by Tennessee running back Derrick Henry. He started slow, but has run for 199 yards combined the past two weeks and ranks third in the NFL in yards after first contact at 3.21 in that time. — John Keim
Bold prediction: Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill will finish with 300 passing yards in a win over the Commanders. He will find a way to connect with a receiver group that will be missing first-round pick Treylon Burks. Tannehill had only two 300-yard passing games last season and has yet to have one this year. Washington’s pass defense is allowing 259.8 yards per game, but 294 yards per game at home. — Turron Davenport
Stat to know: The Titans have allowed a player to record six or more receptions in each of their four games this season. Commanders WR Curtis Samuel has 26 receptions this season, tied with Travis Kelce and Davante Adams for eighth most in the NFL.
What to know for fantasy: Henry didn’t catch a single pass in the first two weeks but has eight (for 91 yards) over the past two weeks. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Washington has failed to cover in three straight games. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Commanders 30, Titans 27 Walder’s pick: Commanders 20, Titans 16 FPI prediction: WSH, 60.9% (by an average of 3.1 points)
What to watch for: Texans running back Dameon Pierce is coming off the first 100-yard game of his career (which included a 75-yard TD run) and ranks 10th in the NFL in rushing. The Jaguars were leading the NFL in rush defense until giving up 210 yards and four rushing touchdowns in a loss at Philadelphia last weekend. Expect the Texans to feed the Jaguars a heavy dose of Pierce, especially with run-game anchor Foley Fatukasi dealing with a quad injury. — Mike DiRocco
Bold prediction: Texans wideout Brandin Cooks will have his best outing of the season with a 100-yard game. This season, Cooks has zero 100-yard receiving games and has averaged just 53 yards per game. But in Cooks’ five career games against the Jaguars, he has averaged 120 yards with five touchdowns. That’ll help the Texans continue their eight-game winning streak over the Jaguars. — DJ Bien-Aime
Stat to know: Trevor Lawrence struggles under pressure, having the largest drop-off of any QB in QBR (-76) compared to when he’s not pressured. When pressured, he ranks in the bottom of the league in QBR, completion percentage and yards per attempt.
What to know for fantasy: Pierce has more than 100 scrimmage yards and a rushing score in consecutive games. His six catches last week against the Chargers are 60% of his grabs for the season. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: The past four times Jacksonville was a favorite, it lost the game outright, with three of those losses coming against Houston. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Jaguars 34, Texans 14 Walder’s pick: Jaguars 31, Texans 9 FPI prediction: JAX, 71.8% (by an average of 6.6 points)
What to watch for: Things have not being going well for Baker Mayfield. He has had 11 passes batted down at the line of scrimmage, six more than any quarterback in the NFL this season. He has also been sacked 11 times, tied for the eighth most in the NFL. San Francisco’s defense had seven sacks and 17 quarterback pressures on Monday night against the Rams. The 49ers are tied for second in the NFL in sacks with 15 — which is not a good omen for Mayfield. — David Newton
Bold prediction:San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa will have three sacks in his second career game against the Panthers. Bosa dominated Carolina in 2019 with three sacks and an interception. He is leading the NFL in sacks and pressures this year. What’s more, it’s Mayfield at quarterback for the Panthers this time, the same signal-caller Bosa made a point of terrorizing in 2019 with two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Another big day could be in store for Bosa here, and don’t be surprised if he brings back the “flag plant” celebration he used against Mayfield in that previous meeting. — Nick Wagoner
Stat to know: The 49ers are 0-2 and averaging 10.0 points per game on the road this season — and 2-0, 25.5 PPG at home. They haven’t lost three straight road games since 2018.
What to know for fantasy:Christian McCaffrey has set the bar so high that three straight games with more than 100 scrimmage yards isn’t enough to put him in the good graces of fantasy managers. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Carolina is 3-15 ATS in its past 18 games. Read more.
Moody’s pick: 49ers 27, Panthers 10 Walder’s pick: 49ers 23, Panthers 14 FPI prediction: CAR, 56.2% (by an average of 1.8 points)
What to watch for: The Cardinals will have their work cut out for them passing and defending the ball. Philadelphia is allowing a league-low 4.75 yards per pass, and the Cardinals are ranked 30th in passing yards per play (5.37). Additionally, the Eagles are averaging a league-high 8.79 passing yards per play while the Cardinals are giving up 7.36, which ranks 25th in the league. — Josh Weinfuss
Bold prediction: Arizona will double its sack total on the season and take Jalen Hurts down four times. The Cards are dead last in the league with four sacks entering Week 5. They’re catching the Eagles’ normally dominant offense at the right time, with left tackle Jordan Mailata (shoulder) and right guard Isaac Seumalo (ankle) dealing with injuries. Jack Driscoll, who hasn’t started a game at left tackle since college, has been getting the work on Hurts’ blind side this week. While he acquitted himself generally well in a tough spot when Mailata went down against the Jaguars on Sunday, Arizona should have some opportunities to affect the passer. — Tim McManus
Stat to know: The Eagles are the only team to win the turnover battle in every game this season. They have an NFL-best plus-eight turnover margin.
What to know for fantasy:Marquise Brown has scored at least 12.8 fantasy points in every game this season and has at least 11 targets in three straight games. The role is great, but don’t forget DeAndre Hopkins‘ suspension has just two weeks left on it. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Arizona is 19-9 ATS in September/October under Kliff Kingsbury (12-3 ATS in October). Read more.
Moody’s pick: Eagles 30, Cardinals 17 Walder’s pick: Eagles 23, Cardinals 20 FPI prediction: ARI, 56.4% (by an average of 1.8 points)
What to watch for:Matthew Stafford has been sacked 16 times this season, which is tied for the second most in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are tied for second in the league with 15 sacks and own the best pass rush win rate in the NFL (56.3%), according to ESPN Metrics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats. So it is possible things don’t get better for Stafford this week. — Sarah Barshop
Bold prediction:CeeDee Lamb will finish with more catches than Cooper Kupp. Through four games, Kupp has been targeted 54 times with 42 catches for 402 yards. Lamb has been targeted 42 times with 23 catches for 288 yards. The Cowboys will be the third pass defense the Rams have faced so far ranked in the top seven, and their varied pass rush will make life difficult for Stafford. With the return of Michael Gallup, Lamb will have chances to get away from Jalen Ramsey to make more plays. — Todd Archer
Stat to know: The Rams have been outscored 44-3 with an NFL-worst minus-41 point differential in the fourth quarter this season — they have outscored opponents by 17 in the first three quarters.
What to know for fantasy:Tony Pollard averaged 3.0 catches per game through two weeks, but in the past two weeks, he has a total of 2 receiving yards. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Since the start of last season, Dallas is 9-1 ATS on the road and 13-2 ATS in conference games. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Cowboys 23, Rams 20 Walder’s pick: Rams 27, Cowboys 17 FPI prediction: LA, 65.1% (by an average of 4.7 points)
What to watch for: The Ravens have lost a franchise-worst five straight home games (by a total of 12 points), dating back to last season. This is the second-longest current home losing streak in the NFL behind the Cardinals, who have dropped seven in a row at home. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has excelled in his past eight road games, going 6-2 with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. Thus, breaking the streak won’t be easy for the Ravens. — Jamison Hensley
Bold prediction: Ja’Marr Chase will have more than 125 receiving yards. Baltimore’s defense has struggled, and the amount of damage opposing teams have done through the air bodes well for the Bengals and Chase, who has received extra attention from opposing teams this season. — Ben Baby
Stat to know:Joe Burrow has 12 touchdowns on passes of 20-plus yards downfield since the start of last season. He is tied with Russell Wilson for the most in the NFL in that span.
What to know for fantasy: With two games of seven-plus targets already this season, plus a TD reception in Week 4, Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst has potential. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Baltimore is 12-2-2 ATS when the line is between +3 and -3 since 2019 (Lamar Jackson’s first full season as starter). Read more.
Moody’s pick: Bengals 27, Ravens 24 Walder’s pick: Ravens 30, Bengals 26 FPI prediction: CIN, 52.7% (by an average of 0.9 points)
What to watch for: The Raiders might need to score a big number in order to win. Patrick Mahomes has been as good against the Raiders as any opponent, with a 7-1 record, 22 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Last year alone, Mahomes threw seven touchdowns with no interceptions in two games as the Chiefs scored a combined 89 points. — Adam Teicher
Bold prediction: Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson will have a takeaway against the Chiefs. Listed at 5-foot-8, 187 pounds, he stood tall against Denver last week with a 68-yard scoop-and-score TD and played tough defense against Jerry Jeudy. Meanwhile, Mahomes has thrown two interceptions, and the team has also lost two fumbles through four games. — Paul Gutierrez
Stat to know: The Chiefs have won six straight home games on Monday Night Football with the last loss coming in 2004 against the Patriots.
What to know for fantasy:Derek Carr has completed over 70% of his passes in four straight games against the Chiefs and cleared 18 fantasy points in three of those contests. See Week 5 rankings.
Betting nugget: Mahomes is 7-1 outright and 6-2 ATS against Las Vegas. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Chiefs 41, Raiders 24 Walder’s pick: Raiders 30, Chiefs 27 FPI prediction: KC, 62% (by an average of 3.7 points)
LONDON — United States women’s national coach Vlatko Andonovski said he was proud of his players for “even being on the field” after they lost 2-1 to England at Wembley Stadium on Friday, just days after the release of a report detailing systemic abuse in women’s soccer in the U.S.
The independent investigative report from Sally Yates released on Monday, detailed systemic abuse within the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and that league officials and governing body U.S. Soccer failed to adequately protect players.
Given that buildup, Andonovski was full of praise for the mentality of his roster.
“Obviously, it’s been an extremely difficult week for everybody and I’m proud of the players for even being on the field and playing the game,” he said. “It wasn’t easy.
“For some of them who were in the environment to see and experience everything they went through, I applaud their bravery and I applaud their fearless mentality and relentlessness. Once again, they showed that nothing can stop them playing the game that they love. I’m very proud of them and hoping we never have to go through that again.”
The U.S. was beaten by first-half goals from England’s Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway in front of a sellout crowd of almost 77,000 at Wembley. Sophia Smith scored for the U.S., which was also controversially denied a second goal when the video assistant referee ruled there had been an offside in the buildup.
But the game was about far more than the events on the field.
Players from England and the USWNT came together before kickoff to unveil a banner showing their support for victims of sexual abuse.
The players held a banner saying “Protect The Players” in the center circle, while Wembley’s arch above the stadium was lit teal for 15 minutes before kickoff. Both teams also wore teal armbands in a show of solidarity.
“It was a special moment when the players got together and had the banner in front of them,” Andonovski added.
“It gave me goose bumps to see the support from the fans that applauded the moment. It was a statement that we have to stop sexual violence and once again the players did an incredible job in using this game and event as a platform to fight against it.”
Added England manager Sarina Wiegman: “It was very important. We all wanted to play our part in being supportive. It’s very horrible that these situations occur. For the victims it was horrible, and now they have to re-live it again. It should stop.
“Now people are speaking up and it’s very strong, and we need to make sure it’s going to change and it doesn’t happen anymore.
“We celebrated lots of things today but when this happens, you can’t just let it go. The time is now, we use this momentum to spread the word that it’s unacceptable and horrible what is happening.”
USWNT veteran Megan Rapinoe spoke on the eve of the match and said she was “emotionally exhausted” after processing the report and called for accountability for those the report found were complicit in covering up the abuse.
Rapinoe said the report was “devastating in every single way” but praised the USWNT team for “how we were able to take that on and continue to do our job” ahead of Friday’s match.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Chevan Cordeiro accounted for four touchdowns to lead San Jose State to a 40-7 rout of UNLV on Friday night.
Cordeiro was 18-of-27 passing for 230 yards and added 109 yards on the ground with touchdown runs from 10 and 15 yards. His 22-yard touchdown pass to Dominick Mazotti stretched the San Jose State (4-1, 2-0 Mountain West Conference) lead to 33-0 midway through the third quarter. Mazotti finished with seven catches for a career-high 100 yards. Kairee Robinson had nine receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown catch.
Cordeiro entered with the second-highest in yards passing in the Mountain West. He now has thrown for 1,308 yards and six touchdowns without an interception and has 186 yards rushing and six scoring runs.
Cameron Friel completed 14 of 19 passes for 143 yards and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Senika McKie late in the third quarter for UNLV (4-2, 2-1).
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