CHICAGO — The Phillies lost their fifth straight game and dropped into a tie for the National League’s final wild card berth as the Chicago Cubs swept the season series from Philadelphia with a 2-0 victory on Thursday.
Philadelphia was tied with Milwaukee at 83-72, pending the Brewers’ game against Miami later Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.
Seeking their first playoff berth since 2011, the Phillies have lost the first three games of a season-ending 10-game trip and 10 of 13 overall since peaking at a season-best 80-62. Philadelphia has scored three runs or fewer in nine of those 13 games.
“We’ve got to swing the bats a little bit better than we did, especially with runners in scoring position,” onterim manager Rob Thomson said, “But yeah, we’ve got to turn around here pretty quick. We’re getting good pitching. We’ve just got to string some hits together and we’ll be fine.”
The Phillies were 22-29 on June 3 when Thomson replaced Joe Girardi as manager.
Philadelphia holds the tiebreaker against Milwaukee, winning the season series 4-2. The Phillies go to major league-worst Washington for four games, then close with three at AL-best Houston. The Brewers finish with three games at home against Arizona.
Bryce Harper had three of six hits for the Phillies, who are 1 for their last 21 with runners in scoring position. J.T. Realmuto went 0 for 4 and struck out twice in his 1,000th game.
Philadelphia had not been swept in a season series of five or more games since Milwaukee went 7-0 in 2015.
“We’re still in it,” said Harper, the reigning NL MVP. “We have seven games left. We’ve got a road ahead us, but we’ve got to keep playing, got to keep going, not having a mindset about losing and thinking about that.
Harper said the team assembled by President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski was postseason caliber.
“We’ve got a great team here,” Harper said. ”We’ve got a lot of great players. Dombrowksi put this team together to win games and get into the playoffs. You know, we need to do that.”
Rookie Javier Assad (2-2) allowed five hits in five innings as he rebounded from pair of rough outings when he allowed eight runs in six innings. Keegan Thompson gave up one hit over three innings for his second big league save and first this year.
Patrick Wisdom doubled twice and drove in a run and Seiya Suzuki was 2 for 3 as the Cubs completed a three-game sweep in which they limited the Phillies to three runs. Chicago has won eight of nine overall and swept the Mets in New York two weeks ago.
“It’s fun to play well. It’s fun to win,” said Ian Happ, who drove in Chicago’s second run. “But those are the little things that motivate you as you kind of come down the stretch and being able to compete against good teams that are in playoff position.”
Ranger Suárez (10-6) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings. He had been 4-0 in 12 starts since a June 29 defeat to Atlanta.
Three of Chicago’s first four batters reached. Wisdom’s first double drove in a run in what would have been a bigger rally had Willson Contreras not been out at home on Happ’s chopper to Suárez,
Suzuki tripled with two outs in the fifth when center fielder Brandon Marsh lost his deep fly in the sun and the ball dropped in front of him, inches from his glove. Suzuki scored on Happ’s single.
Happ made a nifty sliding catch of Marsh’s fly at the left side wall for the first out of the ninth.
SUZUKI RETURNS
Suzuki played his first game after returning from paternity leave in Japan.
LOSING COUNT
After singling in these second, Jean Segura was tagged out by Assad to end the inning after he wandered off first after losing track of the count to batter Nick Maton. The count was 3-1, but Wrigley’s antique center-field scoreboard showed ball four. Segura pointed the scoreboard, to no avail.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: OF Nick Castellanos was held out the starting lineup for a rest day, but pinch hit in the ninth and got an infield single. He returned Tuesday after missing three weeks with right oblique strain.
UP NEXT:
Phillies: LHP Bailey Falter (5-4, 4.21) and RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-10, 4.12) will start in a day-night doubleheader Friday. Both were sent to the team’s hotel in Washington in advance.
Cubs: Adrian Sampson (3-5, 3.23) faces Cincinnati’s Graham Ashcraft (5-4, 4-18) on Friday as Chicago opens its final home series.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports
MANY, La. — Many (La.) four-star 2024 safety Tylen Singleton played the biggest game of his junior season last Friday night in a win over five-star quarterback Arch Manning and his Isidore Newman team, as he was big in limiting Manning’s offense to just 17 points.
It was just another game for Singleton who had been looking forward to the challenge for some time.
“I had settled in and then it was just another game in the books for me,” Singleton said. “But he was a great quarterback, we just had a great defense.”
On the recruiting side of things, Singleton is coming off of a visit to in-state LSU earlier this month where he was able to take in the atmosphere in Baton Rouge.
“I liked the coaches,” he said. “I liked the atmosphere, I went to the Southern game and the atmosphere was crazy the whole time.”
“I saw it that night,” he said. “So many coaches were asking to call. It was just amazing and now I see the coaches that actually want me and want to build that relationship with me.”
His next two visits will be to Notre Dame and Oklahoma. In South Bend, Singleton is looking forward to meeting special teams coordinator Brian Mason.
“I’ve been talking to Coach Mason for a while, I’ve been talking to the whole coaching staff for a while,” he said. “I’m excited to meet them in-person, see the facilities and the atmosphere up there. I’ve been talking to them for over a year now so I have a good relationship with them.”
Despite getting involved only recently, Oklahoma has done a good job of building a quick relationship with the top player in Louisiana for the class of 2024.
“They have a great program,” he said. “I’ve been talking to the coach up there for a few months now, and we just have a great connection.”
Singleton also plans on seeing Oregon, Florida State, Texas A&M and Arkansas at some point this season.
At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Singleton is the No. 32 ranked recruit in the country for the class of 2024, according to Rivals. He is the No. 1 recruit from the state of Louisiana and the No. 3 safety prospect in the country.
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Matt Lucas and Elis James challenge Darren Bent to recreate his famous beachball goal against Liverpool in 2009. Watch Fantasy Football League on Sky Max on Thursdays at 10pm.
{{ timeAgo(‘2022-09-29 15:30:59 -0500’) }} football Edit
Adam Gorney
• Rivals.com
National Recruiting Director
Even when Braxton Myers was committed to USC, the Ole Miss coaching staff never backed off. They kept recruiting him, kept coming after him.It paid off.The four-star cornerback from Coppell, Texas …
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Hanna Bennison’s free-kick deflected off goalkeeper Kirstie Levell and in to hand Everton a 1-0 victory over Leicester in added time at the end of the Women’s Super League contest at Walton Hall Park.
Levell’s late intervention from the Swedish substitute’s dead ball delivery decided a cagey contest in front of a sold-out crowd and left the visitors still seeking their first point of the campaign.
How Everton left Leicester still searching for their first point…
Image: Hanna Bennison’s free-kick deflected off goalkeeper Kirstie Levell in stoppage time
Neither side was able to create any real chances in the opening exchanges as Leicester’s back line responded well to the hosts’ high press.
The Foxes had their first opportunity when Molly Pike looked to chip Emily Ramsey but her effort instead landed in the hands of the Toffees keeper.
Everton’s first chance came midway through the second half when Nathalie Bjorn slipped the ball to Katja Snoeijs but her effort was well-blocked by Levell.
Izzy Christiansen then tried to pick out Snoeijs, but the Dutch international was not there to finish and Christiansen could only watch her cross sail across the face of goal.
Lucy Graham could only muster a half-chance from the edge of the area, pivoting before firing wide from her less-preferred left foot as the visitors fended off a sustained period of attack. And at the other end, Megan Finnigan easily cleared a Jemma Purfield delivery into the box to send the sides goalless into the break.
A chance at the restart saw Josie Green’s effort blocked, and Brian Sorensen’s side survived a scare when Ramsey, on her competitive debut for the Blues, collided with Sam Tierney but was able to continue after requiring attention.
The visitors won a free-kick and Purfield aimed straight at goal but saw her effort parried away by Ramsey.
Gabby George tried to get things going for the hosts as her low effort from a tight angle was stopped by Levell.
Substitutes for both sides missed opportunities in quick succession, with Natasha Flint unable to connect with a cross to head in for the Foxes before debutant Karen Holmgaard fired a sharp attempt at Ramsey.
Bennison nearly broke the deadlock on 69 minutes, deftly dodging her marker before curling an effort wide of the right post.
It was the beginning of a period of pressure from the hosts, with Gio Queiroz driving down the right and into the area but failing to get a good angle on her low, right-footed effort.
With few chances for either side as the match drew to a close, Everton floated in a corner but Levell got a glove on it and batted away any chance of an opener.
Finally, as the clock ticked into the fourth minute of stoppage time, Bennison broke the deadlock with an inswinging free-kick that found the top corner via the unfortunate Levell.
Everton next play on October 16 when they host Chelsea after the international break. Leicester travel to Man City, also on October 16, but before that they face a trip to Blackburn in the League Cup on Sunday.
That was the message wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase got from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow the morning of the 2021 NFL draft. During the 2019 season at LSU, Burrow and Chase formed one of college football’s most potent combinations. When Chase got the text from Burrow on draft day, it indicated a reunion in Cincinnati might be his future.
“I don’t know if that was a hint or not, but when I saw that text I said, ‘OK, I’m ready,’” Chase said after the Bengals selected him with the fifth overall pick. The move paid off handsomely for Cincinnati. Chase had a record-setting year with 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. Chase was named the NFL’s top offensive rookie. The connection between Burrow and Chase helped push the Bengals to the brink of winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl last season.
Burrow and Chase aren’t the only quarterback-receiver combinations who went from being college teammates to linking up in the NFL. They will face two of their former college rivals when Cincinnati hosts the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night (8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video).
One pick after the Bengals drafted Chase, Miami reunited Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle with his former college quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. They’re two of six NFL teams that have reunited quarterbacks with their college receivers, hoping to mimic the spark teammates showed before they turned pro.
So far, the results seem to be paying off for Cincinnati, Miami and teams that made similar moves across the NFL.
Stats together with LSU, 2018-19: 107 receptions, 2,093 yards, 23 TDs Stats together with Bengals, 2021-22: 100 receptions, 1,641 yards, 15 TDs
The moment Chase realized Burrow was a special quarterback didn’t happen on the field.
Ahead of the LSU Tigers’ game against the Florida Gators in October 2019, Burrow approached Chase about watching film together. Burrow pointed out all the weaknesses he saw in the opposing defensive backs as they plotted an attack for the upcoming Saturday. Chase finished with seven catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-28 win.
The two were prolific members of one of the best college teams in recent history. LSU went undefeated and won the national championship that season. Burrow won the Heisman Trophy while Chase earned the Biletnikoff as the nation’s top receiver, finishing with 1,780 yards and 20 touchdown receptions.
When Chase first arrived at LSU in 2018, the instructions from Burrow were simple but powerful.
“He was just telling me, ‘Bro, if I see one-on-one, I’m going to throw it up to you,’” Chase recalled in August ahead of his second NFL season. “That right there let me know that he believes I’m a great receiver and that I can make plays. When he told me that, it’s just my part to make the play and let him keep believing that I can do it.”
That belief didn’t waver when the pairing reunited in the pros. One year after the Bengals drafted Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, they selected Chase at No. 5. And again, it ended up being a special connection. Chase set Cincinnati’s franchise record for most receiving yards in a single season and was named the Associated Press’ Offensive Rookie of the Year.
That on-field connection was exemplified in a Week 17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs that clinched the AFC North and the Bengals’ first playoff berth since 2015.
On a pivotal third-and-27, Burrow found Chase for a 30-yard completion down the right sideline. It worked for the same reason Burrow told him when they started playing together at LSU.
“Everybody knows the meme: ‘Eff it, Ja’Marr’s down there somewhere,’” Burrow said in his postgame news conference. “I’m gonna just throw it up to him and he’s gonna make a play.” — Ben Baby
Stats together with Oklahoma, 2017-18: 77 receptions, 1,425 yards, 11 TDs Stats together with Cardinals, 2022: 23 receptions, 249 yards, 1 TD
Before they became one of college football’s most dynamic duos during the 2018 season, Murray and Brown forged their relationship behind closed doors in 2017 at the expense of one of college football’s best teams.
While both were backups for the Oklahoma Sooners that season, they joined forces on the scout team. Over the course of the season, they built a bond, a friendship and a connection on the field that they’re rekindling five years later.
The show they put on back then set the stage for 2018 and, again in, 2022.
“It was hell,” former Oklahoma cornerback Jordan Thomas said. “It was almost like I’d rather play our starting offense versus our scout team.”
Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury can see the comfort that Murray has with Brown.
“The flashes are there,” Kingsbury said. “And as the season goes on, I expect it to be a pretty good combination.”
From Kingsbury’s experience, which includes college football, if a quarterback and receiver work in college, “it usually has a chance — if they’re talented enough — to continue that chemistry on the next level.”
It’s safe to say Murray and Brown are that type of talented. Both were first-round picks in 2019.
Murray and Brown remained close after college, working out together during offseasons. In fact, they were throwing together when Brown got the call he was traded to the Cardinals in April.
“Just knowing him on a personal level, just knowing the person like, who they really are, just helps you on the field because I know how he thinks, I know how he’s wired, he knows how I’m wired, and sometimes it clicks for people and sometimes it doesn’t,” Brown said.
“With me and Kyler, I think it clicked know from Day 1 and then it’s just something that we just got.”
Brown had a career-high 14 catches in just his third game with Murray for 140 yards, the second most of his career. — Josh Weinfuss
Stats together with Alabama, 2018: 7 receptions, 125 yards, 1 TD Stats together with Eagles, 2021-22: 79 receptions, 1,165 yards, 6 TDs
Hurts and Smith are both electric on the field, but it’s their unspectacular lifestyles off of it that helped forge their initial bond.
Hurts was Smith’s host when Smith took his visit to the Alabama Crimson Tide’s campus. Asked what they did together outside of the obligatory functions, Smith said: “We didn’t do nothing. I went back to my hotel room. We didn’t hang out or nothing like that. That’s just the type of guys we are. We don’t want to be out. We just want to keep to ourselves.”
It’s all about business for both of them. When one wanted to meet up to get extra reps in, the other was always game. It became clear pretty quickly that they were like-minded when it came to their serious approach to their crafts.
“I always kind of draw towards a guy that’s willing to put the work in because I know I’m going to put the work in,” Hurts said. “I was able to build a relationship with DeVonta just because he was willing to work. We didn’t like to party much or do too much — we’d hang out with our friends and do things like that — but we were about the grind. There’s a few guys I remember being willing to do that: Minkah Fitzpatrick being one of them, DeVonta being one of them. We were able to build a great relationship just through our work ethic, and kind of tracked ourselves back here to Philly.”
Hurts and Smith were teammates at Alabama during Smith’s freshman and sophomore years (2017-18), when Smith was sharing the field with other standouts like Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III. Smith and Hurts connected for 12 receptions, 207 yards and two touchdowns during their time together in Tuscaloosa before Hurts transferred to Oklahoma.
When Smith first arrived to the Eagles practice facility in April 2021 after being selected with the 10th overall pick in the draft, Hurts was there to greet him, just like he did at Tuscaloosa. This time around they went a little wild and headed down the street to take in a Sixers game before calling it a night. — Tim McManus
Stats together with Clemson, 2018-20: 71 receptions, 811 yards, 7 TDs Stats together with Jaguars, 2022: 8 receptions, 81 yards, 0 TDs
Lawrence and Etienne have been teammates for five years, so naturally they’ve become close.
And as friends do, they share things. Memories. Maybe a few secrets. And hand towels.
It’s easier to let Etienne explain:
“So he wears his towel in the front and I wear my towel in the back,” he said. “After the first quarter my towel was drenched so I can’t wipe [my hands] on my towel. He keeps his towel fresh and clean because he’s got to keep his hands dry. So he’s right here. So I just use his.”
That started when Lawrence arrived at Clemson in 2018 (Etienne got there in 2017). At any moment during a game or a practice Etienne could reach over during the huddle and clean his hands on Lawrence’s towel. It has become an inside joke between the two that carried over into the NFL when the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted the pair in the first round in 2021. Etienne missed his first NFL season with a a Lisfranc injury.
South Florida coach Jeff Scott, who was Clemson’s co-offensive coordinator from 2015-19, said it’s not surprising that Lawrence and Etienne got along so well there and continue to do so now because they are similar people.
“High character [and] they love football,” Scott said. “Not a lot of distractions off the field. They’re very focused and really are all about the right thing. You saw them together a lot on the field, and off the field and they always had great communication.
“It was a very kind of professional [relationship] among them even at the college level. It was just a little bit of a higher level of maturity from them than maybe most guys at that point in their college career.”
Etienne was a little more flashy, however, wearing his towel out of the back of his pants for a little style. So Lawrence had to unwittingly help keep his hands dry. “It doesn’t bother me,” Lawrence said. “I just have to switch out my towel more often than normal.” — Michael DiRocco
Stats together with Fresno State, 2012-13: 233 receptions, 3,037 yards, 39 TDs Stats together with Raiders, 2021: 17 receptions, 189 yards, 3 TDs
It was after the first four routes Carr saw Adams run at Fresno State when the quarterback made a beeline to then-Fresno State Bulldogs coach Pat Hill.
“Why are we redshirting him?” Carr asked Hill of the new guy in 2011. “What are we doing?”
Adams, Carr said, might have been a better basketball player coming out of high school, yet he was already better than any other receiver on the Bulldogs’ roster. The two became fast friends in California’s Central Valley and as their chemistry grew for Fresno State, so, too, did their success. In 2013, when Carr passed for more than 5,000 yards, Adams caught 24 of his 50 touchdown passes. Carr was drafted 36th overall by the Raiders in 2014 and Adams went 17 picks later to the Green Bay Packers.
“We were working out together for the first six years of our NFL career anyway because we lived right down the street from each other once I moved up to Danville [California],” Adams said in training camp. “So, we were probably throwing three times a week for five, six years. Had about a two-year gap when the [Raiders] moved [to Las Vegas from Oakland], but basically picked up where we left off.”
And then some. After the megatrade that landed Adams in Las Vegas in March, they showed their chemistry was real. In Week 1 of the 2022 season, their first game as NFL teammates, Carr targeted Adams 17 times and Adams had 10 catches for 141 yards and a TD.
“We both are so committed and obsessive over our craft to where … I messed something up at the end of practice, just a subtle thing, and we go back out there after,” Adams added. “I just want to feel that and do it because that’s the way we did it before. Anytime if he didn’t like a ball he threw in a period, he had me go stand in the spot that I would have been catching the ball and then he’ll fire it until he liked how he threw it, which is usually one more pass.
“But when you got two dudes that have worked together and already built up a lot of camaraderie and have a close friendship, I feel like that makes it so much easier kind of getting back and jelling the way you were before.”
Yes, their lockers are next to each other in the Raiders facility. — Paul Gutierrez
Stats together with Alabama, 2018-19: 48 receptions, 798 yards, 7 TDs Stats together with Dolphins, 2021-22: 91 receptions, 1,100 yards, 9 TDs
Tagovailoa and Waddle spent two seasons together at Alabama, winning a national championship game and losing in another.
Their connection might not have been as prolific as the other duos on this list, but that didn’t stop the Dolphins from reuniting the former college teammates .
Neither was known for being particularly vocal, but Tagovailoa said he noticed a growth in Waddle during the time between their final game at Alabama on Nov. 16, 2019, and their first with the Dolphins on Sept. 12, 2021.
“His biggest improvement is his communication,” Tagovailoa said last season. “In college, Jaylen would speak up here and there, but you really see him now. You come to the sideline after a series and he’s out there telling me, ‘Hey, this is why I’m running this route. I’m running it because of this and that, and this is where I’m expecting the ball.’ He’s telling me ‘do this.’
“And it’s not asking — it’s more so telling.”
Miami’s idea to reunite them in the NFL paid off immediately. Waddle was the team’s leading receiver last season, setting an NFL rookie record for receptions with 104 on a team-high 140 targets. And they’ve picked up where they left off, particularly during an explosive win over the Ravens in Week 2 as both players set career highs for yards and touchdowns.
They generally like to downplay their success in the NFL having much to do with their relationship at Alabama, and that’s their prerogative. But Tagovailoa trusts Waddle implicitly, and that trust goes both ways.
During their game-winning drive against the Ravens, Waddle said Tagovailoa addressed the huddle, telling his teammates “it’s either us or them right now.”
“That got me going, man,” Waddle said after the game.
Immediately after Tagovailoa’s message to the team, he and Waddle connected for the game-winning touchdown. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Sunday night’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will continue to be held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa as originally scheduled, the NFL announced Thursday.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the many thousands in the Southwest Florida region who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Ian,” the Bucs said in a statement Thursday. “We are also very thankful that the Tampa Bay area was spared the most damaging consequences of this powerful storm.
“We have informed the NFL, after consulting with local and state agencies, that we are ready to play Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium as originally scheduled.”
The Bucs also expressed gratitude to first responders and emergency personnel “who are already battling the elements, saving lives, and helping our neighbors in those most impacted areas to our south.”
Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady hopes the game can help bring people together for “a common good.”
“I always feel like sports has brought people together over a long period of time,” Brady said. And watching different adversities — whether that was 9/11, whether that was [Hurricane] Katrina — sports has an amazing way of kind healing wounds and bringing people together and bringing communities together in something to cheer for and a common interest and a common good. So I think anytime you can participate in things like that, it’s a great feeling.
“… After what so many people have gone through in the state, it’s great to go out there and give them something to cheer about.”
Tampa mayor Jane Castor took to Twitter on Thursday to quip that she has “assured the @NFL that the only disturbance here Sunday is when the Bucs kick ass.”
On another note: we’re doing our best to keep the @Buccaneers game here Sunday. I have assured the @NFL that the only disturbance here Sunday is when the Bucs kick ass. 😉 pic.twitter.com/Mwp4EXPUlK
The Buccaneers relocated their players, coaches and some of their families to the South Florida area and have been practicing at the Miami Dolphins‘ facility.
Wide receiver Mike Evans said he hoped the Bucs could be a “bright spot” after everything the region has gone through this week.
“I definitely wanted to be at the home,” Evans said Thursday. “I’m happy I get to go out there and entertain and it’s a blessing and I don’t take it for granted. I know we’re going through a tough time right now, so hopefully we can be a bright spot during this time.”
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns All-Pro Myles Garrett returned to the team’s headquarters Thursday after crashing his car earlier this week when police said he lost control while speeding on a rural road after practice.
Garrett veered his Porsche off the hilly road near his home a few hours after practice Monday, flipping the vehicle and hitting a fire hydrant. The defensive end suffered a sprained shoulder, strained biceps and had several cuts and bruises from the wreck.
On Thursday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol cited Garrett for speeding, saying he was going 65 mph in a 45 mph zone.
According to the accident report, Garrett, who had a female passenger in his car, told an officer he was accelerating up a hill when he saw a vehicle coming in the opposite direction but didn’t make any type of swerving maneuvers to avoid a crash.
The officer said Garrett couldn’t exactly recall how he went off the road.
A witness at the scene told the highway patrol “they came over the hill flyin’, went airborne, took the fire hydrant out and rolled three times.”
Garrett and his 23-year-old passenger were taken to Akron General Hospital for emergency care. The highway patrol said the passenger suffered a minor head injury. They were both released a few hours later.
Garrett has a history of speeding. He was ticketed on consecutive days in Medina County last year for driving 120 mph. In the second case, he paid a ticket in which the speed was amended to 99 mph in a 70 mph zone.
Garrett has not yet been ruled out of Sunday’s game at Atlanta. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Garrett would be evaluated by team doctors before he practices or plays. The Browns (2-1) are missing several defensive starters due to injuries as they ready for the Falcons (1-2).
On Wednesday, Stefanski and several of Garrett’s teammates offered gratitude and relief he was not more seriously injured.
“Something like that happens, it’s just scary for anybody,” safety John Johnson III said. “But I heard he had his seatbelt on. I don’t know if that helped out or not, but that was good. I’m just glad he came out of there clean.”
The No. 1 overall pick in 2017, Garrett needs one sack to pass Clay Matthews (62) for the team’s career record.
The Browns, who had an extended break after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers last Thursday, are dealing with rash of injuries to their defense. Along with Garrett, end Jadeveon Clowney (ankle), cornerback Denzel Ward (back, ribs), linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (groin) and tackle Taven Bryan (hamstring) were also sidelined.
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL
We are only approaching the midway point of the 2022 high school football season, but that hasn’t prevented a select group of talented freshman from garnering attention from a myriad of college coaches.
Today we take a closer look at four class of 2026 prospects from the Midwest that you need to know.
Sadler is already a standout in all three phases of the game for a talented Detroit Cass Tech team known for producing high level talent on a yearly basis. The freshman ATH recruit has next level speed, is dynamic with the ball in his hands and a threat to score every time he touches the ball as a receiver or return man.
Sadler is also a standout on the defensive side of the ball and has shown capable of holding his own against some of the region’s top receivers. With early Power Five offers coming from Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Pitt and Louisville – it looks as though Sadler could be be one of the next great players to come out of Cass Tech.
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Williams wasted little time making his presence felt when he threw a 38-yard dime of a pass to 2024 receiver Kyan Berry-Johnson on his very first varsity play. The confidence Bolingbrook (Ill.) coach John Ivlow showed in the freshman by allowing him to unleash a deep ball with no prior high school experience proved to be warranted as Williams went on to throw for 407 yards and seven touchdowns in his debut.
Williams should end up being one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 class and he picked up his first of what will likely be many FBS offers from Kent State last night.
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The 2026 receiver out of Ohio has the size, speed, body control and ball skills to be downright special at the high school level and beyond. Henry Jr. is the son of the late Chris Henry who starred at West Virginia and later for the Cincinnati Bengals, so it should come with little surprise that he is already a game changer in the making.
We first saw Henry Jr. at the Under Armour Camp series event in Ohio this past spring, where despite being a freshman, he stood out physically amongst some of the nation’s top skill players. West Virginia, Ohio State, Penn State and Miami are a few of the schools who have already offered.
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Measuring in at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Comer is a physical specimen for his age and chances are he isn’t done growing. The Freeland (Mich.) product is currently listed as a tight end, but with his early size and growth potential, there are a number of positions he could end up playing down the road. While his talent is apparent on the football field, Comer has also shown promise as a basketball player which has led to early division one interest on the hardwood as well.
Central Michigan was the first to offer Comer a football scholarship and they did so prior to him even stepping foot on the varsity football field. Michigan and Purdue are a couple of the additional schools to show early interest in the two-sport standout.
{{ timeAgo(‘2022-09-29 09:44:16 -0500’) }} football Edit
Adam Gorney
• Rivals.com
National Recruiting Director
LAWNDALE, Calif. – Kahlee Tafai is still battling back from an injury and he should see the field in a couple weeks. Returning to playing football will be a nice change for him.One thing that does …
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Daniel Ricciardo has been linked with vacant 2023 seats at Alpine, Haas and Williams, along with reserve roles at Red Bull and Mercedes; watch the Singapore GP live on Sky Sports F1, starting with Friday’s practice at 10.30am; Sunday’s race at 1pm
Last Updated: 29/09/22 3:21pm
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Following the news that Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the season, take a look at his greatest race victories for Red Bull.
Following the news that Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the season, take a look at his greatest race victories for Red Bull.
Daniel Ricciardo says taking a Formula 1 reserve role in 2023 has become a “realistic” possibility for him as he continues to weigh up his options for next season.
After McLaren announced in August the early termination of Ricciardo’s contract at the end of the season, the Australian has been linked with vacant seats at Alpine, Williams and Haas, along with reserve roles for front-runners Red Bull and Mercedes.
Ricciardo has had a three-week break since the Italian GP to consider his future, and speaking ahead of this weekend’s Singapore GP, he admitted he is wary of taking a drive with a team at the back of field.
“Let’s say my headspace is in the same space,” Ricciardo said on Thursday. “I’m still keen to be part of F1 and of course, ‘Plan A’ would be to be on the grid.
“So nothing’s changed but I don’t want to just jump at the first kind of seat available. I know the landscape probably changes as well at the end of next year, with contracts and whatever, so I don’t want to say remaining patient, but remaining open.”
Asked specifically about the likelihood of taking a reserve role over a drive, he added: “It’s certainly something that’s realistic, yeah.
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“That’s the two realistic options. It’s not to be anywhere else.
“I love other disciplines of motorsport but I don’t see myself there. I feel as well if I jump into something like that, and then it closes the door on F1. It kind of feels like I’ve checked out, and I haven’t. So I’m solely focused on F1.
“My team is talking with, I want to say, pretty much everyone, or they’re having conversations, so we’re just trying to put it all together and figure out what makes the most sense.
“So it’s not that they’re not calling or they’re not interested, I know that sounds… I’m not coming from a place of overconfidence, but we’re just doing our due diligence and figuring out what’s best.
“I’m trying to kind of see beyond next year, for me of course I want to be racing but I also don’t want to just look at the next 12 months and not look at the next 24.”
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Nico Rosberg and Paul Di Resta discuss what’s gone wrong for Daniel Ricciardo and his options for 2023.
Nico Rosberg and Paul Di Resta discuss what’s gone wrong for Daniel Ricciardo and his options for 2023.
The 33-year-old’s two seasons with McLaren peaked with victory at last year’s Italian GP, but for the most part he has been clearly outperformed by team-mate Lando Norris, while the team have rarely been able to compete for podiums.
Ricciardo secured seven wins with Red Bull between 2014 and 2018 before leaving to join Renault, with whom he spent two disappointing seasons before joining McLaren, and admits the contrast between the level of competitiveness during those stops is impacting his latest decision.
“Having been through it the last few years, I know there is something that you fight for,” he said. “Monza last year was the best-case scenario in fighting for a win, but what fighting at the front does, when you’ve had that taste, it’s real and that’s ultimately where I want to be.
“So I guess I don’t want to just race to race, I want to race with a true belief or understanding that I could be back on the podium ultimately.”
Steiner: Haas not waiting on Ricciardo
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, who has previously expressed his interest in acquiring Ricciardo’s services for the 2023 season, insisted he wasn’t waiting on the Australian’s decision but also refused to rule out hiring him.
“I don’t want to speak for Daniel. I think he’s weighing up what he wants to do,” Steiner said.
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Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner says he is saddened by the announcement that McLaren are to replace Ricciardo for the 2023 season, adding that he is ‘one of the best guys’ in the sport.
Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner says he is saddened by the announcement that McLaren are to replace Ricciardo for the 2023 season, adding that he is ‘one of the best guys’ in the sport.
“That is my biggest thing, he needs to weigh up what he wants to do, if he decides to join a team at the back of the grid, that doesn’t mean he cannot move on up the grid, and I’m sure he didn’t mean what he said in a negative way.
“He needs to find out what he wants to do in life, and that will take him time, because this is a big decision for his career, and I’m sure he takes it very carefully what he wants to do.
“I’m not waiting for him to answer what he wants to do, just to clarify that.
“Once he decides what he wants to do, he will let everybody know, but I don’t know and I think he doesn’t know at the moment.”
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Down two points to the Miami Dolphins with 18 seconds on the clock and no timeouts on Sunday, the Buffalo Bills needed to finish off a game-winning drive.
Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie caught a pass that could have gotten them closer to field goal range, but he was unable to get out of bounds and time ran out.
The loss to the Dolphins pushed the to 0-7 in one-score games since Week 9 of the 2020 season. Only Buffalo and the Houston Texans (0-6-1) haven’t won a one-score game since the start of the 2021 season. During that same time frame, the Bills (2-1) are tied for the third-most regular-season wins (21-8).
This season, 18 games have been decided by three or fewer points, the most through three weeks in NFL history. Figuring out how to put away close games could be important with tough matchups ahead, including a game in Baltimore against the Ravens (2-1) and quarterback Lamar Jackson on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
“It’s an ongoing conversation,” coach Sean McDermott said. “We spent a lot of time in those last two to three plays of the game situations on all sides of the ball. You see us working on two-minute out there quite a bit, as much as I’ve ever been around to be honest with you.”
Some of the Bills’ woes in close games fall on the defense. In one-score games in the fourth quarter or overtime since Week 9 of 2020, the Bills’ opponents have averaged the most passing yards per attempt (9.06) in the league and only been sacked three times (fewest). Buffalo’s defense has also recorded one takeaway (worst in the NFL) in those situations.
“I just feel like we just gotta do a better job executing at the end of the game,” nickel cornerback Taron Johnson said. “That’s what it comes down to when you’re tired in that fourth quarter, it’s easy to make mistakes, you know? So, we really just gotta buckle down and just making sure we’re staying focused and executing.”
The Dolphins had the ball only twice in the fourth quarter but scored a touchdown on a 3-yard run by running back Chase Edmonds after converting a third-and-22 on a 45-yard pass earlier in the drive from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The inability to stop the big plays, especially when the Bills have the lead, is a problem.
Injuries hampered the Bills in Sunday’s game too, especially in the secondary with safety Micah Hyde (neck) placed on injured reserve and out for the season and safety Jordan Poyer (foot) and cornerback Dane Jackson (neck) missing the game. Rookie cornerback Christian Benford broke his right hand during the game, which required surgery, and the team was also without defensive tackles Ed Oliver (ankle) and Jordan Phillips (hamstring).
“The games come down, it’s in the margins most games, right, in terms of what separates winning from losing and whatnot,” McDermott said. “And I think it’s the details, the execution, and there’s a lot that goes into that.”
The Bills’ offense has moved the ball in tight games but has struggled to take advantage in the red zone. The Bills have scored touchdowns on 22.2% of red zone drives at the end of close games since Week 9 of 2020 (32nd) and averaged 4.57 points per game in those situations (31st). The Bills’ 64% red zone efficiency is tied for 11th in the NFL this season. Keeping the ball and sustaining drives isn’t a concern. Finishing them in tight situations is.
When the Bills have been winning, they’ve been winning big, with a 31.3-point differential in wins since Week 9 of 2020, highest in the league. But losing the close games has proved costly, like when the Bills had to go on the road to Kansas City in the 2021 playoffs because of the six close loses that season. While ending that streak is important, players say they aren’t concerned.
“Every game’s a different situation,” quarterback Josh Allen said. “Obviously, we got to find ways to win them. But we’re working through that, and we don’t see that as a problem at all.”
The UFC has closed off Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card at its Apex facility in Las Vegas to the public as well as the media.
The company declined to provide a reason for the closure at the time of the announcement earlier this week, but UFC president Dana White said Tuesday that he just wanted to give the media “a night off.”
However, women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern, who is fighting in Saturday’s main event, told reporters Wednesday that the reason behind the closure is Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg.
Speaking at a media day Wednesday in Las Vegas, Dern (12-2), who is scheduled to face China’s Yan Xiaonan (15-3), provided her understanding that the closure is linked to Zuckerberg.
“I know Mark Zuckerberg rented out the whole event,” Dern said. “I know he’ll be there, but I don’t know if it’s literally him, his wife or if he’ll have friends — some type of party. But from someone who wanted a main event with a crowd, [it’s now] going to be very, very private.”
Dern added: “I’m excited. That just makes me more driven to put on a good show. I know everyone is watching on TV, but for Mark and whoever is going to be there, put on a show. If that’s what they want to see, is a show, then we’re going to give a show.”
White took to Twitter later Wednesday and denied that Zuckerberg has rented out the Apex facility.
Earlier this week, the UFC alerted its regular media members that there would be no press credentials issued for Saturday’s card. The event is also closed to public tickets.
The UFC has still not commented on the matter other than White, who maintained Tuesday there is “no big secret” behind the decision.
Zuckerberg, 38, is a known fan of mixed martial arts and even made headlines earlier this month when he posted video of himself doing MMA drills.
SYDNEY — No one on Canada’s roster was alive the last time the team won a medal at the women’s World Cup. Now the Canadians are a win away from securing one for the first time since 1986, when they captured the bronze.
Kia Nurse scored 17 points to lead a balanced Canada team to a 79-60 win over Puerto Rico on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
“It’s really special,” Nurse said. “It’s been a work in progress for us and we all felt the disappointments. Quarterfinals have been our downfall for a long time and to be able to get over that hump. … I think our country is continuing to get really excited about basketball in the grassroots programs and this is just the start of what we can accomplish.”
Next up is a matchup Friday with the U.S., which beat Serbia 88-55.
“It’s always our goal to win a quarterfinal and make it to the semifinals. The medal rounds is where we want to be,” Canada’s Bridget Carleton said.
The other semifinal will pit China against either Belgium or host Australia. China advanced with an 85-71 win over France. While the medal drought isn’t as long as Canada’s, China hasn’t won one since 1994 when the Asian nation took the silver.
Canada (5-1) and Puerto Rico were tied 4-4 before the Canadians scored the next 12 points to start a 22-7 burst to close the quarter.
The lead ballooned to 44-23 at the half. Puerto Rico couldn’t really cut into its deficit in the second half thanks in part to Nurse and the fact that Canada committed only four turnovers the entire game. After spending 11 months recovering from an ACL injury, she saw her first game action in the World Cup. She had her best game of the tournament against Puerto Rico.
The loss ended a great run for Puerto Rico, which advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in its history. The players hoped the unprecedented run could bring some joy to the island which is recovering from Hurricane Fiona.
“The word legacy sums it up,” said Arella Guirantes, who had 19 points to lead Puerto Rico (2-4). “To leave something like that for the youth that’s coming up is bigger than any win or loss that we can have. . . . It means a lot to be a part of the beginning of a legacy. I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be back and will be better.”
UNITED STATES 88, SERBIA 55
Alyssa Thomas had 13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists to help the U.S. beat Serbia.
Kelsey Plum scored 17 points and A’ja Wilson added 15 to lead the Americans (6-0), who will face Canada.
The Americans had run through pool play, winning by 46.2 points per game and hadn’t faced any kind of challenge. Serbia (3-2) wasn’t afraid though, going right at the U.S. The Serbians scored the first basket of the game — marking the first time the Americans trailed in the tournament.
It was back-and-forth for the first 17 minutes, with the U.S. failing to go on any major run. Then, with 2:59 left in the half and the U.S. up by five, Kahleah Copper drove to the basket and was fouled. She landed hard on her hip and had to be helped off the court by the U.S. training staff. Copper, who has been a sparkplug for the U.S. in her first tournament, didn’t return.
Plum replaced Cooper and hit the two free throws, starting a 12-0 run to close the half as the Americans led 50-33 at the break. Serbia didn’t challenge that deficit in the second half.
Yvonne Anderson led Serbia with 14 points.
CHINA 85, FRANCE 71
Li Meng scored 23 points and Huang Sijing added 18 to help China top France.
China (5-1) led 60-58 late in the third quarter before scoring the final six points of the period to extend the advantage to eight. France could only get within five the rest of the way
China’s run is a big turnaround from 2018 when the team finished sixth.
“I remember 2018, I know this is a very strong team,” said Chinese center Han Xu, who had 13 points and nine rebounds. “We learned a lot.”
Marine Fauthoux scored 19 points and Gabby Williams added 17 for France (3-3).
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More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports
Cruiserweight contender Richard Riakporhe expects to take on WBO world champion Lawrence Okolie in an “unbelievable” clash of London rivals.
BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom thinks that fight can be made sooner than many would expect. It could even happen next.
“We’ve seen Richard speaking about Lawrence Okolie. That’s an unbelievable fight,” Shalom told Sky Sports.
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Chris Billam-Smith beat Isaac Chamberlain by decision in an epic 12-round battle in Bournemouth
“We know he wants to fight for a world title and we expect him to do so. He can’t ignore that fight also and I think that is bound to happen in the very near future. Both fighters want that fight and that’s the one I think fans want to see more than anything.”
He continued: “We’re going to speak to both camps. A lot of the boxers now, they want to be in the big fights.
“I think people recognise what it does for a boxer to be in those domestic fights [with] profile and everything often there’s no loser. Richard feels a completely different fighter to the one he was 18 months ago. He’s fought four times since we started with Sky and he’s ready to go again.
“I just sense from both camps that they really want that fight and so we’ll sit down with them. You never know, it could happen next.”
Britain has a number of world-class cruiserweights. The Transnational Boxing Rankings is a neutral rating system that evaluates the top fighters in each division independently. They consider Riakporhe the seventh-best contender at 200lbs and Bournemouth’s Chris Billam-Smith the ninth.
Image: Richard Riakporhe has advanced through the cruiserweight ranks
With sanctioning bodies the WBA and the WBO Billam-Smith is ranked fifth and second. For the WBC Billam-Smith is number seven and Riakporhe number six at cruiserweight. They are third and second respectively with the IBF.
Both then are closing in on world title shots and can demand them sooner rather than later.
Australia’s Jai Opetaia won the IBF belt when he beat Mairis Briedis earlier this year, making him the best cruiserweight in the world in the Transnational Boxing Rankings.
Billam-Smith could challenge Opetaia for that position in the near future.
“I do expect that fight to happen. We are in talks with Jai,” Ben Shalom said. “I think he wants to fight in December.
“We’d like to sign him. We think he’s a very talented fighter that has been the guy no-one really wanted to fight. But because of the extent of talent in the cruiserweight division, with Richard, with Lawrence, with Chris, with Mikael Lawal who fights Deion Jumah for the British very soon, they all want world titles.
“They all want world title opportunities and Jai wants to come over to the UK and defend his belt over here. I expect to announce Jai in a fight with one of those guys,” he continued.
“It’s an exciting time for boxing in general. There’s so much going on. So many fights everywhere. But what’s good is the big fights are now being made. Because I think there’s a pressure on all promoters and broadcasters to do it.”
“No, no, I wouldn’t do that to him,” the former Red Raiders coach said. “I wasn’t gonna make that bet because I’m not wearing that burnt orange s—, I can assure you.”
The Red Raiders beat then-ranked No. 22 Texas, 37-34, in overtime Saturday, the first time Texas Tech beat its in-state rivals at home since 2008.
McCoy, who played for Texas from 2005 to 2009, is the only Longhorn on the Cardinals. In addition to Kingsbury, Arizona has two other Texas Tech products: wide receiver Antoine Wesley and assistant coach Kenny Bell.
Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre’s charity, Favre 4 Hope, donated more than $130,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation from 2018 to 2020, according to tax records obtained by ESPN on Wednesday.
During this same period, Favre was trying to raise money for a new volleyball stadium at the university, where he played football and his daughter was on the volleyball team. Funds for that stadium are under scrutiny in the largest public fraud case in Mississippi state history.
Favre 4 Hope, whose mission statement says it provides support “for disadvantaged and disabled children and breast cancer patients,” receives public donations. Tax records show that in 2018, the foundation gave the USM Athletic Foundation $60,000. Every other organization received $10,000. In 2019, the USM Athletic Foundation received $46,817. The next highest donation, to the Special Olympics of Mississippi, was $11,000. The next year, Favre 4 Hope donated $26,175 to the USM Athletic Foundation while no other organization received more than $10,000.
Between 2011 and 2017, the year his daughter enrolled at USM, Favre 4 Hope gave the Athletic Foundation a combined $47,900. (Tax records were not available for 2016.) In 2015, when Favre’s daughter played volleyball at Oak Grove High School, his foundation gave the school’s booster club $60,000, tax records show. In 2013, the booster club received $10,000 from Favre 4 Hope.
“He has been very generous to Southern Miss since he played ball there,” Favre’s attorney Bud Holmes told ESPN on Wednesday evening. “Those particular things [the donations in question] I don’t know, but I know he has always given back, something most athletes don’t do.”
The Athletic first reported the donations made by Favre’s charity to the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation.
Favre, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is involved in a sprawling investigation into Mississippi’s welfare spending. He received $1.1 million in speaking fees for appearances he allegedly never made, according to a state auditor. He said he did not know where the funds came from and paid the money back, though the state is still seeking $228,000 in interest. Text messages show Favre was also involved in diverting at least $5 million in welfare funds to the volleyball stadium.
Favre has not been criminally charged. His attorney previously denied to Mississippi Today that the Hall of Famer knew he received welfare funds.
NEW YORK — With the Mets needing a comeback in the pressure of a tight pennant race, Eduardo Escobar was a one-man show.
Escobar homered and drove in five late runs — including the game-winning single in the 10th inning — to rally New York past the Miami Marlins 5-4 on Wednesday night and back into sole possession of first place in the NL East.
By overcoming a four-run deficit, the Mets moved a game ahead of the Braves heading into a three-game showdown between the teams in Atlanta this weekend. The defending World Series champions lost 3-2 in 10 innings at last-place Washington, one night after pulling even with the Mets.
“It’s going to be huge. Obviously, this is pretty much deciding the division,” winning pitcher Drew Smith said. “I’m sure it’s going to be as close to a playoff atmosphere as you can get without being in the playoffs.”
Of course, Hurricane Ian could affect the schedule in Atlanta, where the teams are set to square off Friday night following a mutual off day. Both clubs have six games remaining in the only division race not decided.
One win at Truist Park would give the Mets the season-series tiebreaker over Atlanta.
After this weekend, New York finishes the regular season with three home games against Washington, while the Braves play at Miami.
On this night, the Mets fell behind 4-0 but Escobar hit a two-run homer in the seventh and tied it on a two-run single with two outs in the eighth.
“He’s a catalyst,” Smith said.
Both those big hits came right-handed. The switch-hitter was batting from the left side when his RBI single off Dylan Floro (1-3) in the 10th scored automatic runner Francisco Lindor from second base — after an intentional walk to Jeff McNeil brought Escobar to the plate with two on and one out.
“A little bit of the force, a little bit of the matchup, and you trust Flo what he’s going to do,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly explained. “Pretty much Escobar all night.”
It was the first time a Mets player had at least five RBIs and knocked in all their runs in a walk-off win. After a slow start to his first season in New York, Escobar is batting .330 with eight homers and 24 RBIs in September.
“The answer’s probably nothing other than he just never gave in,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He never gives in. Was the same guy every day.”
Smith (3-3) struck out two in a perfect inning for the win.
Jesús Luzardo mowed down the Mets for six innings, striking out Pete Alonso three times and taking a two-hit shutout into the seventh.
But then McNeil led off with a single and Escobar chased the left-hander with a drive to left field that gave him his fifth career 20-homer season.
Marlins reliever Tanner Scott, pitching for the first time since Sept. 16, walked three batters in the eighth to load the bases and Escobar grounded a two-run single off Richard Bleier through an open right side with two outs to tie it 4-all.
Alonso raised both arms after sliding headfirst across home plate, and a fired-up Escobar pumped his fist and pounded his chest in excitement as he shouted toward the Mets’ dugout.
Bryan De La Cruz hit a two-run homer off starter Taijuan Walker and finished a triple short of the cycle for the fourth-place Marlins. JJ Bleday had a sacrifice fly, and Brian Anderson added an RBI double.
STORM WATCH
Showalter sounded a little annoyed that no schedule adjustments had been made yet to the series in Atlanta to help the teams get all three games in this weekend or avoid a potential makeup doubleheader.
“All that’s up to Atlanta. We don’t have much input at all. I mean, can’t you tell?” Showalter said. “It’s not our home game.”
Showalter said the Mets were planning to bring a taxi squad to Atlanta as insurance — in case rough weather makes it difficult to get reinforcements there for an injured player, for example.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: SS Miguel Rojas sat out after leaving Tuesday night’s game in the seventh inning when tendinitis flared up in his right wrist and affected his throwing hand and forearm. … LHP Steven Okert (tender biceps) threw a bullpen.
Mets: There’s still no timetable for the return of All-Star RF Starling Marte, sidelined since Sept. 7 with a partially broken middle finger on his right (throwing) hand. He received an injection and remains in a splint but is still feeling some discomfort. “I know it’s frustrating for him,” Showalter said. “He just needs to get to a point where he can grip a ball and grip a bat. Not there yet.” … RHP Mychal Givens had two strikeouts in a scoreless inning during a rehab outing for Triple-A Syracuse.
UP NEXT
Marlins: Another chance to play spoiler when they open a four-game series Thursday night at Milwaukee, which is chasing an NL wild card. LHP Braxton Garrett (3-6, 3.52 ERA) faces Brewers LHP Eric Lauer (10-7, 3.96).
Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (5-3, 2.93 ERA) is scheduled to pitch the series opener in Atlanta against LHP Max Fried (13-7, 2.50), who is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts vs. the Mets this season. New York is 9-7 versus the Braves, including 3-4 in Atlanta.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports
Welcome to Week 4 of the NFL regular season. This season we have seen our fair share of games come down to the wire. Eighteen games have been decided by three or fewer points — six just this past week. Gone are the days of the blowout — the fourth quarter is as important as ever.
Our updated Power Rankings are in. And there is quite a shuffle in the top five — including a new No. 1.
Coming into this season, we’re not sure anyone predicted this team to rise so quickly in the rankings — but they are undefeated and have played some good football lately.
And there’s another surprise team at No. 3 that few saw coming. Could this team become the best in the NFC down the stretch? Time will tell.
Below, we checked in with NFL Nation reporters across the league and asked them how every team’s QB is doing this season. We paired their responses with the team’s Total QBR and where that ranks in the league.
How we update our Power Rankings: Our power panel — a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities — evaluates how teams stack up throughout the season.
Tua Tagovailoa is off to the start every Dolphins fan dreamed of in his third NFL season. He ranks second in the league in passing yards and is already halfway to matching his career high in touchdown passes with eight. He also leads the NFL in QBR and is second in yards per attempt. The new coaching staff and improved supporting cast around him seems to have unlocked the potential Miami saw when he was drafted No. 5 overall in 2020, and it’s a big reason the Dolphins are the AFC’s lone unbeaten team entering Week 4. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Week 3 ranking: 1
Team QBR: 77.3 QBR rank: 3rd
While the Bills are coming off their first loss, Josh Allen has had an MVP-candidate start to the season. He has the league’s lowest rate of off-target throws (8.0%) and leads in passing first downs (49) as well. Allen’s completion percentage (71.2%) and interception percentage (1.5%) would both be career bests. Still, things haven’t been perfect. The Bills need to work on evening out the offense as Allen is also the team’s leading rusher (113 yards), but the fifth-year quarterback has set the groundwork early for yet another impressive season.— Alaina Getzenberg
Week 3 ranking: 8
Team QBR: 74.7 QBR rank: 5th
Jalen Hurts is one of the early favorites to be league MVP. His production on the ground remains strong — he ranks second among quarterbacks in rushing yards (167) and first in rushing touchdowns (three) — but it’s his improvement as a passer that has put the NFC on notice. Hurts is completing 67.3% of his passes, compared with his career average of 60%. He ranks third in passing yards (916) and is sixth in QBR (74.8). His standout play is the No. 1 reason the Eagles are 3-0. — Tim McManus
Week 3 ranking: 2
Team QBR: 76.0 QBR rank: 4th
Graded against most of his peers, Patrick Mahomes is off to a great start with eight touchdown passes and one interception. But his season, by his expectations, has been uneven. He had a great game in the opener against the Cardinals, throwing for 360 yards and five touchdowns. His production has not been as great since, particularly in the loss Sunday to the Colts, when the Chiefs had numerous chances to put the game away and failed repeatedly. — Adam Teicher
Week 3 ranking: 4
Team QBR: 51.1 QBR rank: 13th
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has played well, but the offense as a whole needs to improve. Coach Sean McVay said after the Week 3 victory in Arizona that he thinks the offense is “just continuing to learn our identity.” Stafford, who threw five interceptions in the first two games, did not throw one against the Cardinals, and the offense did enough to win the game. Stafford has thrown just four touchdowns through three weeks. He is playing without wide receiver Van Jefferson, who is on injured reserve, and is continuing to lean on Cooper Kupp, whose target share has increased (35%) from the 2021 season (32%). — Sarah Barshop
Week 3 ranking: 9
Team QBR: 79.3 QBR rank: 2nd
Lamar Jackson has played at an MVP level. He has accounted for 87% of the Ravens’ offense, beating teams with his arm and with his legs. He leads the NFL with 10 touchdown passes and ranks second with a 78.7 QBR. Jackson, though, remains just as dangerous running the ball, producing the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL (243) and the best rushing average (9.35 yards per carry). The Ravens are still without their All-Pro left tackle (Ronnie Stanley) and their No. 1 running back (J.K. Dobbins) just returned on Sunday. But Baltimore leads the league in scoring (33 points per game) because Jackson is the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL history. — Jamison Hensley
Week 3 ranking: 7
Team QBR: 49.1 QBR rank: 14th
Aaron Rodgers isn’t playing better or worse — he’s playing differently. He’s throwing it shorter than ever. He averaged just 3.0 air yards on his completions Sunday against the Buccaneers. That’s around half of the NFL average. Consequently, a large portion of his yardage has come after the catch. He’s on track to set a career low in average air yards (5.1) and career high in YAC percentage (65%). Perhaps that could change if rookie receiver Romeo Doubs continues to produce. — Rob Demovsky
Week 3 ranking: 3
Team QBR: 46.9 QBR rank: 18th
Tom Brady‘s Total QBR through the first three games is 46.9, good for 18th in the league and his second-lowest total since 2006. He has thrown three touchdown passes, which is 19th in the league, and his lowest total since 2014. But statistics alone never tell the full story. Brady has been without Chris Godwin, Julio Jones and starting left tackle Donovan Smith for two games now — and the Bucs didn’t have Mike Evans in Week 3 because of a suspension. Give him some receivers back — Evans and Jones return this week — and give them all some time to mesh, and they should hit their stride if they can avoid more injuries. — Jenna Laine
Week 3 ranking: 11
Team QBR: 45.9 QBR rank: 19th
Kirk Cousins is clearly still adjusting to the Vikings’ scheme under new coach Kevin O’Connell. Most notably, Cousins threw three interceptions in the Week 2 loss to the Eagles. “It’s not where I want it to be,” the quarterback said of the team’s comfort level on offense. But Cousins is not a stranger to slow starts since signing with the Vikings in 2018; his current 45.9 Total QBR is higher than it was in Weeks 1-3 of 2019 (35.5) and 2020 (31.2). — Kevin Seifert
Week 3 ranking: 15
Team QBR: 47.1 QBR rank: 16th
Joe Burrow is finding his way. The Bengals quarterback easily had his best week of the 2022 season in the Week 3 win over the Jets, when he completed 63.9% of his passes for 275 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He had very good pocket feel and steered the offense in a game the Bengals desperately needed to win. After an emergency appendectomy at the start of training camp, Burrow’s 46.3 QBR is lower than it was last season (60.2). But his latest performance suggests things could be trending upward after a slow start to the season. — Ben Baby
Week 3 ranking: 17
Team QBR: 62.6 QBR rank: 8th
Through three games, Jacoby Brissett is probably the biggest surprise on the Browns, and maybe one of the biggest surprise performers in the NFL. He ranks ninth in QBR (62.6), ahead of Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, among others. He has completed 66.3% of his passes and thrown four touchdowns with only one interception. The running game has been prolific, but Cleveland ranks fifth in offensive efficiency because of its quarterback as well. If Brissett can maintain this level of play, the Browns should be firmly in the playoff mix once Deshaun Watson returns from suspension in Week 13. — Jake Trotter
Week 3 ranking: 13
Team QBR: 45.1 QBR rank: 21st
The Broncos are 2-1, so that’s good news. And Russell Wilson has pushed them through some important late-game drives in the two wins — also good news. But overall Wilson and the Broncos’ offense is a work in need of far more progress. He has looked a little out of sorts at times in the new scheme as he and coach Nathaniel Hackett try to find a balance in getting Wilson to move the ball out quickly and yet not taking away his ability to make plays off schedule. He has a 59.4% completion rate and two touchdown passes. But at key moments he has moved the ball, and there is optimism that more big plays are on the way. — Jeff Legwold
Week 3 ranking: 24
Team QBR: 71.6 QBR rank: 6th
Trevor Lawrence looks like a No. 1 overall pick. After a rough start in the opener against Washington he has posted the second- and third-highest-rated games of his career in routs of the Colts and Chargers. He’s sixth in the NFL in Total QBR (72.9) and seventh in completion percentage (69.4). Most importantly, he’s not turning the ball over (just one interception). He has flourished under head coach Doug Pederson after a lost season with Urban Meyer. — Michael DiRocco
Week 3 ranking: 10
Team QBR: 37.0 QBR rank: 26th
It would be hard to judge Jimmy Garoppolo off one game if that game didn’t look so much like so many others he has started with the 49ers over the years. Which is to say Garoppolo is mostly solid but still prone to game-changing mistakes that contribute to frustrating losses. He had a costly fumble and an interception as the Niners tried to come from behind against the Broncos on Sunday night and fell a point short. There’s a reacclimation process that must take place after he didn’t participate in the offseason or training camp and returned from right shoulder surgery, but the 49ers don’t have much time to wait for that to happen. — Nick Wagoner
Week 3 ranking: 6
Team QBR: 60.8 QBR rank: 9th
The Chargers are 1-2 and in their losses, the performance of quarterback Justin Herbert has been somewhat uneven. He has without question had several “wow” moments — including a 35-yard pass to receiver DeAndre Carter late in the defeat to the Chiefs — but he’s also had a few costly ones. In Kansas City, Herbert threw an interception that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown, putting the Chiefs ahead, and despite a gutsy decision to play against the Jaguars with fractured rib cartilage, Herbert completed only 56% of his passes, threw an interception and lost a sack fumble in a lopsided loss. — Lindsey Thiry
Week 3 ranking: 21
Team QBR: 58.0 QBR rank: 10th
Dak Prescott has played only three-plus quarters after fracturing his right thumb in the season opener against Tampa Bay, and it wasn’t a productive three-plus quarters. But he could be back as soon as this week (though likely it will be at least one more), which will benefit the offense. Cooper Rush has done what you want out of a backup quarterback. He led the Cowboys to two wins — vs. Cincinnati and at the NFC East rival Giants. In three weeks, he has thrown for 514 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. But this is Prescott’s job as soon as he is healthy. — Todd Archer
Week 3 ranking: 19
Team QBR: 33.9 QBR rank: 28th
Daniel Jones has had his good and bad moments in the first few weeks of the season. Most of his top plays have come with his legs, such as the fourth-and-1 run late in the fourth quarter in Tennessee and the game-icing 11-yard scramble against the Panthers. Still, Jones hasn’t blown anyone away (he had fewer than 200 yards passing in each of the three games), which is going to be difficult to change if he continues to get pressured at a high rate. — Jordan Raanan
Week 3 ranking: 22
Team QBR: 45.4 QBR rank: 20th
Ryan Tannehill started the season with a good enough effort that should have led to a win over the Giants. He delivered passes to nine different receivers combining for 266 yards on 20 completions and two touchdowns, but the defense faltered in the second half of the 21-20 loss. Week 2 against the Bills was a disaster for the whole team resulting in a 41-7 drubbing. Tannehill got back on course the following week against the Raiders by completing 19 of 27 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. At this point, Tannehill is playing like a mid-level starter who isn’t being asked to individually elevate the passing game. — Turron Davenport
Week 3 ranking: 14
Team QBR: 47.9 QBR rank: 15th
As goes Kyler Murray, so go the Cardinals. He only has 68 rushing yards in three games this season, which is why, in large part, the Cardinals’ record is 1-2. From a throwing standpoint he’s playing like his typical self. But as a runner, Murray isn’t using his legs like he can, and to win the Cardinals need Murray to run. — Josh Weinfuss
Week 3 ranking: 25
Team QBR: 38.8 QBR rank: 25th
Matt Ryan is finding himself in a familiar situation, one reminiscent of his recent seasons with the Falcons: Shaky offensive line play and unproven passing targets are limiting his effectiveness. As a result of the heavy pass rush, Ryan is struggling with protecting the football. He has already fumbled seven times. But the veteran has showed composure when needed, like on the 43rd game-winning drive of his career Sunday versus the Chiefs, when he completed 8 of 10 pass attempts. — Stephen Holder
Week 3 ranking: 12
Team QBR: 44.5 QBR rank: 22nd
Jameis Winston is struggling. There’s no denying that Winston is gutting things out right now as his list of injuries piles up. Winston hasn’t been healthy since he tore an ACL last Halloween, and he is dealing with right ankle and back issues too. The offensive problems can’t all be pinned on Winston since the Saints are struggling to maintain consistency in every area, but the spotlight will remain on him as long as he’s on the injury report if his play doesn’t improve. — Katherine Terrell
Week 3 ranking: 28
Team QBR: 23.0 QBR rank: 31st
Justin Fields’ early-season struggles were magnified in the Bears’ 23-20 win over the Houston Texans, as the second-year quarterback called his performance “trash” after completing 8 of 17 pass attempts for 106 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. Chicago’s offense hasn’t been able to get its passing attack going, and much of that has to do with Fields missing wide-open throws, sailing balls past his receivers and generally appearing uncomfortable in the pocket. The Bears are trying to get a read on whether Fields is the answer at quarterback beyond this season, but it’s tough to evaluate him when he has only attempted 45 passes through three weeks. — Courtney Cronin
Week 3 ranking: 16
Team QBR: 35.9 QBR rank: 27th
Mac Jones is hurting. Everything took a back seat to his physical condition when he hopped off the field on his final offensive play in the loss Sunday to the Ravens, going directly to the locker room for evaluation. Jones is dealing with what doctors have diagnosed as a severe high ankle sprain that would cause many to have surgery and miss multiple weeks, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Jones is also hurting on the stat sheet. He threw three interceptions Sunday, upping his total for the season to five. He didn’t throw his fifth interception until the fifth game of the season last year. — Mike Reiss
Week 3 ranking: 18
Team QBR: 44.0 QBR rank: 23rd
The honeymoon period — if there ever was one — for Mitch Trubisky is over. Trubisky is averaging 5.5 yards per attempt, the worst of any quarterback who has played three full games this season. He hasn’t been aggressive enough in his downfield throws and the offense lacks rhythm. But it falls on more than just Trubisky, and many of the offensive issues are also rooted in the playcalling and the work-in-progress offensive line. There was at least one sign of life for an otherwise disappointing offensive start: Trubisky completed 9-of-13 for 109 yards, including a 36-yard toss to rookie George Pickens, in the first half of the Thursday loss to the Browns. — Brooke Pryor
Week 3 ranking: 20
Team QBR: 63.7 QBR rank: 7th
Jared Goff has only one victory to show for it in three games, but he has appeared much more comfortable in his second season with the Lions under new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. With more talent around him, Goff helped the Lions reach an NFL record with a touchdown in 11 straight quarters — the most to begin a season in league history. The team still must find a way to close games, but Goff certainly isn’t the problem as he’s playing much better football than he did last year. — Eric Woodyard
Week 3 ranking: 26
Team QBR: 39.9 QBR rank: 24th
Through two games, Carson Wentz had thrown seven touchdowns to three interceptions and ranked 14th in total QBR. But taking the third game into account, it’s been the full Wentz experience — and he has dropped to 24th in QBR. He has moments when he and the offense look excellent, and he has helped the Commanders use every inch of the field because of his arm. But he also holds the ball too long at times and needs to take care of it in the pocket. Wentz is an upgrade for the team and that hasn’t changed. He has the skill and the talent around him to be effective all year, but the protection will be a concern and his pocket awareness will be challenged. — John Keim
Week 3 ranking: 27
Team QBR: 54.5 QBR rank: 12th
Geno Smith has been good. And better than most observers expected out of a longtime backup who hadn’t entered a season as a starter since 2014. Smith ranks 10th in Total QBR (62.3) and is leading the NFL in completion rate by a wide margin (77.5%). He ranks 22nd in air yards per attempt (6.86), indicating how much of Seattle’s passing game has been short and intermediate throws. But Smith had some success down the field in the loss to the Falcons on Sunday that dropped the Seahawks to 1-2. His next step will be leading a game-winning drive, something he couldn’t do against Atlanta or in the three chances he had while filling in for Russell Wilson last season. — Brady Henderson
Week 3 ranking: 32
Team QBR: 55.8 QBR rank: 11th
Marcus Mariota has been fine. He has completed 63.3% of his passes — that would be the second-best in a season of his career — with a QBR of 55.9. He is throwing for a career-best 8.1 yards per attempt, which has been aided by head coach Arthur Smith’s playcalling. The concern? Some of his decisions and errors at critical times, including a red zone fumble and a bad center/quarterback exchange in the second half against the Saints in Week 1, leading to a loss, and a quarterback/running back exchange Sunday that was absolved somewhat by the win. But those mistakes have clouded an otherwise pretty good return to starting for Mariota and need to be remedied if he’s going to keep the job long term. — Michael Rothstein
Week 3 ranking: 30
Team QBR: 18.8 QBR rank: 32nd
Baker Mayfield has been subpar. That’s putting it kindly because he is putting up career-worst numbers. He ranks 32nd in the league in Total QBR (19.5), 31st in completion percentage (51.8), 28th in passing yards (550), 25th in touchdown passes (3, including a 67-yarder caught behind the line of scrimmage) and 25th in passer rating (80.8). And this doesn’t take into account five fumbles (all recovered) and almost a dozen passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. — David Newton
Week 3 ranking: 23
Team QBR: 47.0 QBR rank: 17th
Derek Carr is the most polarizing player in franchise history and while the Raiders’ unexpected 0-3 start is not entirely his fault, we all know quarterbacks get too much credit when things are going well and too much blame when things are going wrong. That said, he is off to an uneven beginning under new coach Josh McDaniels, as Carr has often had a slow start under a new playcaller. Small sample size, obviously, but his passer rating (85.1) and completion rate (60.8%) are both the lowest for him in a season since his rookie year. — Paul Gutierrez
Week 3 ranking: 29
Team QBR: 29.1 QBR rank: 30th
Zach Wilson (right knee) missed the first three games, but there’s a good chance he returns to the lineup this week. He hasn’t played since the first preseason game, so there’s bound to be rust. After an underwhelming rookie year, much is expected of the 2021 second overall pick. Wilson’s development, more than wins and losses, will determine whether the season is a success or failure. Patience is key. He should be evaluated on how he progresses over the final 14 games. Part of that is being able to stay healthy; durability has become an issue for him. Veteran Joe Flacco has filled in for Wilson throwing for 901 yards, 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in the three games. — Rich Cimini
Week 3 ranking: 31
Team QBR: 29.1 QBR rank: 29th
Davis Mills has regressed through the first three weeks of the season. He is completing 57.9% of his passes, third-worst in the NFL among starting quarterbacks. Last year he completed 66%. His biggest issue is third downs, on which he is netting 47% of his passes, fourth-worst in the NFL. And when the team has needed Mills the most, he hasn’t produced late in games, as the Texans’ offense has scored zero points in the final quarter. — DJ Bien-Aime
Bosa suffered a groin tear in the first quarter of Sunday’s 38-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“It’s a tough loss for our defense,” safety Derwin James Jr. said. “But it’s on us to have his back and hold things down until he gets situated.”
Bosa, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, will undergo surgery, but coach Brandon Staley said it’s anticipated that he will return this season.
“It’s going to be a ways, but we expect him to come back,” Staley said. “He’s optimistic and ready to attack it. He’s in a really good frame of mind. It’s never easy when you have an injury like that.”
The Chargers are 1-2 as they prepare for back-to-back road games at Houston (0-2-1) and Cleveland (2-1).
In Bosa’s absence, second-year pro Chris Rumph II and veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy are expected to step in. In Slater’s absence, the Bolts will turn to rookie Jamaree Salyer.
“He’s ready to play on the edge,” Staley said of Rumph, who will line up opposite Khalil Mack.
Staley also emphasized that flexibility and depth were among key motives in the offseason signing of Van Noy, who has the ability to play inside or outside linebacker.
The Bolts also claimed outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka off waivers Tuesday to provide depth.
Bosa has 1.5 sacks in three games this season. He has 59.5 sacks in seven seasons.
At left tackle, Slater tore his left biceps tendon in a loss to the Jaguars, causing him to undergo season-ending surgery.
Salyer, a sixth-round pick, played left tackle in his final two seasons at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win a national championship last January.
“What we’re trying to do is keep the sides the same, keep continuity,” Staley said. “For us, we feel like that is the best option for us going into this game plan.”
“It means a lot to me that my coaches and teammates believe in me enough to give me the opportunity,” said Salyer, who becomes the second rookie to start on the line this season, along with right guard Zion Johnson, the 17th overall pick last April.
