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Tag: Athlete injuries

  • Marcus Jones’ 87-yard punt return TD sparks Patriots offense in 42-13 romp over Panthers

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    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Marcus Jones had an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown, Drake Maye added two touchdown passes and ran for another, and the New England Patriots rolled to a 42-13 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

    TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson added touchdown runs and Jones had a 61-yard punt return that set up another TD to help the Patriots (2-2) avoid their fifth straight 1-3 start.

    A week after turning the ball over five times in a loss to Pittsburgh, the Patriots were turnover-free while going 4 for 4 in the red zone.

    Maye was steady throughout, completing 14 of 17 passes for 203 yards. Receiver Stefon Diggs had six catches for 101 yards.

    Carolina struggled from the outset, missing an extra point after scoring on the game’s opening possession and then punting on four of its final five drives. The other possession ended with a missed field goal.

    Panthers quarterback Bryce Young finished 18 of 30 for 150 yards and a touchdown before being replaced by Andy Dalton with just over eight minutes remaining.

    Maye put New England in front 14-6 in the opening seconds of the second quarter when he scored on a designed quarterback run.

    Later, following a missed 55-yard field-goal attempt by Carolina’s Ryan Fitzgerald, Maye led the Patriots on an eight-play drive that was punctuated by a 5-yard TD run by Henderson.

    A 61-yard punt return by Jones to the Carolina 14 got the Patriots back in business. Four plays later, a 1-yard touchdown run by Gibson pushed the lead to 28-6 just before halftime.

    Panthers: WR David Moore was carted off after suffering an elbow injury on the game’s first play. Moore rushed for 12 yards before being tackled near the Panthers sideline. He was able to walk to the cart before being driven off. … RG Chandler Zavala walked off on his own power with a knee injury after a collision in the first quarter but was later ruled out. … DT Cam Jackson limped off with assistance in the second quarter. … WR Dalevon Campbell left with a hamstring injury and was also ruled out.

    Patriots: CB Charles Woods was shaken up after taking hit during Jones’ punt return TD but was able to walk off the field. … CB Carlton Davis III walked off and was treated in the medical tent after a play in the second quarter. … S Jaylinn Hawkins left with a hamstring injury.

    Jones finished with 167 yards on three punt returns to set a single-game franchise record. His effort topped the 156 punt return yards Mike Haynes had against Buffalo in 1976.

    Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez made his season debut after missing the first three games of the season rehabbing from a preseason hamstring injury. He finished with three tackles.

    The Patriots wore “T Strong” shirts during pregame warmups in support of defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, whom the team announced was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Coach Mike Vrabel said the 51-year-old Williams would be around the team as much as possible and is in the process of undergoing treatment and meeting with specialists.

    Panthers: host Miami next Sunday.

    Patriots: visit Buffalo next Sunday.

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    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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  • Guardians’ David Fry sustains injuries after being hit in face by pitch

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    CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry sustained a broken nose and facial fractures after he was hit in the face by a pitch from Detroit’s Tarik Skubal in the sixth inning of Cleveland’s 5-2 win over the Tigers, a victory that deadlocked the AL Central division race.

    “He is doing OK, he’s in good spirits,” manager Stephen Vogt said by phone Wednesday morning. “He’s upright, he’s alert.”

    Vogt visited Fry in the hospital. The team planned a more detailed update later.

    Fry squared around to try to bunt a 99 mph fastball from Skubal on Tuesday night and the pitch struck him in the nose and mouth area. As Fry collapsed in the batter’s box and immediately grabbed his bloodied face, a visibly shaken Skubal threw off his glove and cap as Vogt and trainers rushed onto the field.

    Fry laid in the dirt for several minutes before being slowly helped to his feet. He gave a thumbs-up signal as he sat up and was driven off in a cart.

    The Guardians said Fry was being transported from Lutheran Medical Center to the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus for further testing and observation.

    “It was straight to the face,” Vogt said, describing the impact on Fry that shook everyone inside Progressive Field. “We’re all thinking about David and his family right now. Obviously, we’re glad he is OK, but obviously it’s a really scary moment.”

    Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, paced around the infield as Fry was being assisted. Following the game, Skubal, who allowed just two hits through the first five innings, said seeing Fry in distress was difficult.

    “Really tough,” the left-hander said. “I’ve already reached out to him. I’m sure his phone is blowing up. I just want to make sure he’s all right. Obviously, he seemed like he was OK coming off the field and hopefully it stays that way.

    “I know sometimes with those things that can change. So hopefully he’s all right. I look forward to hopefully at some point tonight or (Wednesday) morning getting a text from him and making sure he’s all good because there’s things that are bigger than the game and the health of him is more important than a baseball game.”

    That’s how Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan felt after watching Fry, an All-Star in 2024 who underwent offseason elbow surgery and didn’t join the team until late May, go down.

    “Definitely really scary,” Kwan said. “For David to even try something like that (bunt), that’s just who he is. Selfless kind of guy, and especially in a position like that, he’s a tough guy. Thankfully he had some humor when he came up, but you don’t want to see a guy that’s been with you pretty much the whole year.

    “Obviously energy-wise, just who he is as a teammate, he’s meant so much to us as a team. It’s really scary, but thankfully he had some humor coming off the field, so hopefully we get some good news.”

    Following the incident, Skubal threw a wild pitch to George Valera, who replaced Fry, allowing Cleveland to score. Skubal also had an error — he inexplicably tried to make a blind throw to first between his legs — and was also called for a balk in the sixth inning as the Guardians rallied for three runs to take a 3-2 lead without hitting a ball out of the infield.

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    AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.

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    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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  • New York Liberty part ways with championship-winning coach Sandy Brondello

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    NEW YORK — The New York Liberty will not renew coach Sandy Brondello’s contract for next season, the organization announced Tuesday.

    Brondello led the Liberty to its first WNBA championship in 2024, but the team struggled with injuries to star players Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu this year. New York earned the No. 5 seed in the playoffs and lost in the first round to the Phoenix Mercury.

    “It has been a privilege to have coached the NY Liberty these last four years. Bringing the first ever championship to New York will always be the most amazing feeling. I wish the team and organization more success moving forward,” Brondello said to The Associated Press in a text message.

    Brondello went 107-53 in her four seasons with the team, giving her the most wins in franchise history. The Liberty got off to a franchise-best start, winning nine straight games, only to stumble over the next few months as injuries took their toll.

    “We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact on the New York Liberty,” Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb said. “Sandy finishes her tenure in New York as the winningest coach in franchise history, and she took us to never-before-seen heights as the first head coach to lead the Liberty to a championship. We wish Sandy the very best in her next chapter.”

    She had her players support after the team lost in the playoffs last week.

    “To anybody that kind of questions Sandy being here, this is a resilient group,” Stewart said after the Game 3 loss to Phoenix last week. “And she has our back and we have hers. The way that she continued to kind of deal with the cards she was dealt was incredible. It wasn’t easy for anybody but she came in every day with a positive attitude and a mindset to put us in our best positions possible and best foot forward.”

    Before coming to New York, Brondello led the Phoenix Mercury to a championship in her eight seasons with that team. She was hired before the 2022 season by the Liberty after she helped the Mercury reach the WNBA Finals in 2021.

    New York lost in the finals to Las Vegas in 2023 before winning the championship last year in a decisive Game 5 overtime victory over Minnesota.

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    AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

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  • Despite losing Clark, other key players to injury, Fever still reach WNBA semifinals

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    INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever finally got a chance to celebrate Thursday night in Atlanta.

    A smiling Caitlin Clark, dressed again in street clothes, rushed the court to hug her teammates. The tone in coach Stephanie White’s voice changed between the first two questions of her postgame news conference. And three-time All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell recounted her journey here, to her first WNBA semifinal appearance — the one nobody saw coming just a few weeks ago.

    Yes, this team defied the odds by playing their way — with grit, resilience and an uncanny ability to adapt to any obstacle that threatened to derail their postseason aspirations.

    “I’ve had so many coaches in eight years, I’ve been on the worst record teams in the Indiana Fever (history), so I know where my career started at,” Mitchell said after the sixth-seeded Fever rallied in the final minute to beat the third-seeded Dream 87-85 in a decisive Game 3. “I know what I’ve had to go through to kind of be in this position, and I’ve never had a coach that poured into me respectfully, like Steph has. I’ve never felt that as a pro.”

    The truth is White needed Mitchell every bit as much, maybe even more, than Mitchell needed that tight bond with the league’s 2023 Coach of the Year.

    It wasn’t supposed to go this way after general manager Amber Cox spent the offseason pulling together a strong, deep and championship-experienced supporting cast around Clark, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, to turn Indiana into a title contender.

    But nothing went according to plan.

    Six-time All-Star forward DeWanna Bonner made only three starts and played in just nine games before she was released.

    The seemingly indestructible Clark sat out one preseason game with a left leg injury, missed five more with an injured left quadriceps and four more with a left groin injury before hurting her right groin near the end of a July 15 game at Connecticut that would eventually end her season.

    Guards Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald suffered season-ending injuries in the same Aug. 7 game at Phoenix and just when guard Sophie Cunningham started taking off, she suffered a season-ending right knee injury Aug. 17 at Connecticut, leaving the Fever without a natural point guard for the final month of the regular season.

    But with their playoff hopes teetering, the snakebitten Fever found an unexpected answer to that massive hole — relying on All-Star center Aliyah Boston’s evolving passing game and watching Mitchell thriving as both a ball distributor and the team’s top scorer at 20.2 points per game.

    “This group is just really special,” White said. “We say it pretty much ad nauseum, but it’s the resilience, the flexibility, the welcoming and inclusive nature of this team, their selflessness to pull for the we over the me, to let each teammate be who they are and shine at their best and to lift them up. In those moments, you know, I think that’s good for 12 or 15 points. It just is, and you couple that with the resilience, the toughness, the grit, the fight, the scrappiness and you always give yourself a chance.”

    They proved it by winning the league’s Commissioner Cup title without Clark and again by closing the regular season with five wins in their final seven games, including each of the last three, to earn the No. 6 seed.

    They did it again by rebounding from an 80-68 Game 1 loss by winning two elimination games — 77-60 on their home court and then back in Atlanta by scoring the final seven points, thanks in large part to five double-digit scorers and Lexie Hull’s steal with 4.8 seconds to play.

    “I’m grateful and happy to be back in the semifinals again,” said Natasha Howard, who started her career in 2015 with Indiana before winning three WNBA titles and was selected the league’s 2019 Defensive Player of the Year. “I’m just so excited that we’re back here again with this group of young women and the job is not done yet.”

    Next up is a best-of-five series that begins Sunday in Las Vegas against three-time MVP A’ja Wilson, an Aces franchise that captured WNBA crowns in 2022 and 2023 and a team that won its final 16 regular season games to finish second and rebounded from its first loss in 44 days by beating Seattle in Game 3.

    Could they come up with one more surprise? Don’t count Indiana out.

    “This group has been through every situation imaginable this year and we knew that we just had to keep it tight,” White said. “I love riding with these guys, I love coaching them and I’m just so incredibly proud of them.”

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    AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

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  • Jets quarterback Justin Fields ruled out with concussion, Tyrod Taylor to start against Buccaneers

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    FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields was ruled out Wednesday for the game at Tampa Bay with a concussion, and Tyrod Taylor will start against the Buccaneers on Sunday.

    Coach Aaron Glenn announced the decision before the Jets’ first practice of the week. Fields remains in the concussion protocol after being hurt late in the Jets’ 30-10 loss to Buffalo last Sunday.

    “I just know how these things are,” Glenn said, declining to say whether Fields has improved while in the protocol. “Just to my knowledge, this will be a week he’ll be out.”

    Fields fell backward when he was sacked by Joey Bosa in the fourth quarter and the back of his helmet hit off the turf. He was down for a few moments before he was able to get up and walk off under his own power.

    The 36-year-old Taylor will start for the first time since doing so in five games for the Giants in 2023.

    “I have competed against him a number of times and there’s an element within him that we also have in Justin that I like a lot,” Glenn said, likely referring to how both are dual-threat quarterbacks.

    “The fact that he’s been in this league for a long time, there’s no coverage, there’s no pressure that he hasn’t seen,” Glenn added. “That’s why I have confidence in him. He’s a very studious person, a good athlete. … There’s no better player that you would want as your backup quarterback than him at this point in time.”

    Taylor missed the Jets’ three preseason games with a knee injury that required surgery, but Glenn isn’t concerned that Taylor will be compromised in any way. Taylor went 7 of 11 for 56 yards in place of Fields against the Bills, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Ruckert.

    “He has over 14 years of reps,” Glenn said of Taylor. “So, he’s not new to this.”

    Taylor, who signed a two-year deal with the Jets last year to be Aaron Rodgers’ backup, has 58 career starts in the NFL. He began his career as a backup with Baltimore from 2011 through 2014 before going to Buffalo, where he started 43 games over three seasons.

    Taylor later started games for Cleveland (three in 2018), the Los Angeles Chargers (one in 2020), Houston (six in 2021) and the Giants (five in 2023). He has thrown for 12,310 yards and 69 touchdowns with 29 interceptions in 95 games over 14-plus seasons. Taylor also has rushed for 2,302 yards and 19 TDs.

    It’s a tough break for Fields, who had a standout debut against Pittsburgh with a touchdown pass and two TD runs in the loss. But he struggled mightily against the Bills, going just 3 of 11 for 27 yards and running for 49 yards on five carries before leaving the game with the concussion.

    It is believed to be the first documented concussion for Fields in the NFL.

    Glenn said edge rusher Jermaine Johnson (ankle), safety Tony Adams (groin), nickel cornerback Michael Carter II (shoulder), defensive tackle Jay Tufele (illness), wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) and running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) were being evaluated, but “a lot of those guys are trending in the right direction.”

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  • Phillies clinch 2nd straight NL East title with 6-5 win over Dodgers in 10 innings

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    LOS ANGELES — A barechested Bryce Harper poured a bottle of Champagne over his head, soaking in the Philadelphia Phillies’ second consecutive NL East title.

    Kyle Schwarber celebrated by chugging beer out of a hose as his teammates fed the contraption in the middle of a darkened visitors’ clubhouse after the Phillies rallied for a wild 6-5 victory in 10 innings over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.

    “You’ve got to enjoy this,” Schwarber said later, puffing on a fat cigar. “This doesn’t happen all the time.”

    The Phillies hope it keeps happening all the way through October as they chase the franchise’s third World Series crown and first since 2008.

    “We’re playing really good baseball right now and just got to keep going and keep understanding we’ve got a bigger picture,” Harper said. “We’ve got things on our mind that we want to win.”

    Philadelphia was already assured its fourth straight National League playoff berth on Sunday, when the San Francisco Giants lost to the Dodgers.

    And with the second-place New York Mets idle Monday, the Phillies needed a win to become the first division champion in the majors this season. They blew three one-run leads before finally getting past the NL West-leading Dodgers for their ninth victory in 11 games, opening a 12 1/2-game lead over the Mets in the NL East with 11 to play.

    Philadelphia had just one hit — Schwarber’s 53rd homer — until the seventh inning. But then Weston Wilson and Harper homered as Philly rallied against the defending World Series champions.

    “They’re just tough and they’re resilient,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said about his team. “They just keep fighting and I’m proud of them. This is a really special group.”

    After the Dodgers’ Max Muncy grounded out to end it, the Phillies gathered near the mound to celebrate. They posed for a photo on the field as red-clad fans cheered behind their dugout at Dodger Stadium.

    Then the party was on.

    It was the earliest division clinch in Phillies history, two days sooner than the 2011 team that won the NL East on Sept. 17. This squad got it done in Game 151, second-fastest behind those 2011 Phillies who did it in Game 150.

    Philadelphia (90-61) has three straight 90-win seasons for the third time in franchise history.

    “I feel like we’ve done such a great job this year,” Schwarber said. “We’ve had a lot of really big injuries happen to us and we just have that next-man-up mentality. I felt like guys came up, they stepped up right away and they got the job done. That’s how you win big baseball games.”

    Since the July 31 trade deadline, the Phillies are 29-14.

    They lost ace right-hander Zack Wheeler when he went on the injured list a month ago with a blood clot in his right shoulder. Wheeler was 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA in 24 starts when he was sidelined, but Philadelphia’s pitching depth has allowed the team to absorb such a huge loss.

    It certainly helped that the Phillies acquired closer Jhoan Duran and center fielder Harrison Bader from Minnesota at the trade deadline.

    “We’re a little bit different than we have been in the past,” Thomson said. “We can do some things. We’re going to slug but we also can play some small ball to win games, too. It’s a good balance.”

    All-Star shortstop Trea Turner (right hamstring strain) and third baseman Alec Bohm (left shoulder inflammation) are both on the IL. Thomson said Bohm could return later this week at Arizona, while Turner could be back in time for the final homestand of the regular season.

    The victory made Thomson the third manager in franchise history to win consecutive division titles, joining Charlie Manuel (2007-11) and Danny Ozark (1976-78). Thomson is the fourth manager in Major League Baseball history to reach the postseason in each of his first four full seasons. Among the other three is Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts.

    “I don’t feel 62 right now,” Thomson said. “The last four years has been the most fun I’ve had in baseball. It’s because of the guys. They have a lot of fun.” ___

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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  • Jets’ Justin Fields in concussion protocol, Tyrod Taylor could start vs. Buccaneers

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    New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields remained in the concussion protocol Monday and his availability for the team’s next game is uncertain.

    Coach Aaron Glenn said Fields will continue to be evaluated after the quarterback was hurt late in the Jets’ 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

    If Fields is unable to play next Sunday at Tampa Bay, veteran backup Tyrod Taylor would start for New York.

    “It’s always a hard one to really just try to evaluate it until we get more information,” Glenn said during a video call with reporters Monday. “I’m sure I’ll be giving you guys more information as the week progresses.”

    Fields fell backward when he was sacked by Joey Bosa in the fourth quarter and the back of his helmet hit off the turf. He was down for a few moments before he was able to get up and walk off under his own power.

    He was checked out in the injury tent on the Jets’ sideline and emerged several minutes later with a towel over his head. The quarterback then walked inside to the locker room and Taylor replaced Fields with 12:03 remaining in the game and the Jets losing 30-3.

    The Jets’ next practice is Wednesday and Glenn acknowledged Fields would need to be cleared from the concussion protocol and get in some time on the field if he’s going to play against the Buccaneers.

    “It’s hard for me as a coach, once we get to Friday and you haven’t had any reps, and that’s just something I believe in,” Glenn said. “Again, I don’t want to put anything on that as far as where we’re at with him until we get to that point.”

    Glenn acknowledged the Jets will have to prepare as if the 36-year-old Taylor will start, just in case Fields can’t.

    “We have to look at that both ways,” Glenn said. “If Justin can’t play, then Tyrod will be the guy. We have to make sure we build a plan that’s suitable for him.”

    Fields and the Jets’ offense had a poor showing after an impressive performance in a loss to Pittsburgh in the season opener. Fields was just 3 of 11 for 27 yards and ran for 49 yards on five carries before leaving the game.

    Taylor, who missed the Jets’ three preseason games with a knee injury that required surgery, moved the offense with a little more success in his brief stint. He went 7 of 11 for 56 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Ruckert.

    Taylor, who signed a two-year deal with the Jets last year to be Aaron Rodgers’ backup, has 58 career starts in the NFL. The last came during the 2023 season, when he started five games for the Giants.

    “I don’t think it changes that much,” Glenn said of a potential game plan with Taylor under center. “I said that during training camp, that was one of the positive things of having Tyrod as a backup. But there are some things that we want to get together as a staff and make sure that we’re aligned on.”

    Glenn said he didn’t want to go too far ahead before he and his staff sit down with Taylor and discuss things the quarterback likes and is comfortable with in the scheme. The coach also didn’t think Taylor missing time during the summer would have much effect on his ability to perform now.

    “He’s been in this league for a long time,” Glenn said. “It doesn’t take much for him to understand exactly what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to get done. So I have no concerns whatsoever.”

    Glenn said he had no immediate updates on a few others injured Sunday, including edge rusher Jermaine Johnson (ankle), safety Tony Adams (groin) and nickel cornerback Michael Carter II (shoulder).

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  • Bengals QB Joe Burrow leaves game with left toe injury during 2nd quarter against Jaguars

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    CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow left the game after he suffered a left toe injury during the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

    Burrow was sacked by Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead for a 5-yard loss at the Bengals 35-yard line with 9:02 remaining in the first half. It was the second time Burrow had been sacked in the game.

    The Bengals announced at halftime that Burrow’s return was questionable.

    Jake Browning came in for Burrow, who went inside the blue medical tent. He briefly walked with a limp on the Bengals sideline before heading to the locker room.

    Burrow led the league last season with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns, but has had some significant season-ending injuries in his six year career. He had a knee injury in his rookie season in 2020 where he missed six games and a wrist injury in 2023 that kept him out for the final seven games.

    Burrow was 7 of 13 for 76 yards and a 4-yard TD pass to Ja’Marr Chase against the Jaguars.

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  • Jets’ Sauce Gardner set to play vs. Bills after being limited earlier in the week by groin injury

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    FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner was removed from the team’s injury report Friday and should play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills after a groin issue limited him for one practice.

    Gardner was hurt Thursday, when he was first listed as a limited participant. He was listed without any injury designation on Friday, meaning he was a full participant and received no treatment.

    “I’m straight,” Gardner told The Associated Press in the locker room after practice. “I’ll be good to go.”

    Coach Aaron Glenn was optimistic about Gardner’s chances of playing, saying before practice: “I think he’ll be OK.”

    It was good news for the Jets, whose defense would’ve taken a huge hit if Gardner couldn’t play because of a setback or was compromised by the injury against Josh Allen and the Bills’ high-scoring offense.

    Gardner, the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback after receiving a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July, is coming off a strong opening-game performance against Pittsburgh. He was lined up against DK Metcalf on 30 of 34 pass plays by the Steelers and allowed only one 11-yard catch by Pittsburgh’s top receiver.

    Gardner, a two-time All-Pro selection, is lining up against teams’ No. 1 receivers and following them in motion — a departure from his first two seasons when he played in mostly a zone scheme under the previous regime.

    Against the Bills, Gardner will likely cover Keon Coleman for a good chunk of the game. Coleman had seven catches for 100 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown reception, in the fourth quarter of the Bills’ comeback win against Baltimore last Sunday.

    The news wasn’t as good for a few other players, including No. 2 wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jay Tufele (illness) will also sit out Sunday.

    Reynolds’ absence clouds the Jets’ wide receiver situation a bit at the No. 2 spot behind Garrett Wilson. New York could use a mix of Tyler Johnson, rookie Arian Smith or perhaps Allen Lazard, who was inactive for the opener because Glenn said he was still catching up after missing some time in training camp.

    “I can’t say he’s totally caught up,” Glenn said. “But he’s at a pace where he can go out there and play. We’ll see how this whole thing shakes out.”

    With Nwangwu out, newly acquired Isaiah Williams — signed off Cincinnati’s practice squad — could be in the mix to return kickoffs. Smith and Isaiah Davis also could be options, as well as current practice squad members Jamaal Pritchett and Keilan Robinson.

    Rookie tight end Mason Taylor (ankle) and nickel cornerback Michael Carter II (shoulder) were listed as questionable, but were full participants at practice.

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  • Steelers sign Jabrill Peppers to bolster secondary after DeShon Elliott’s injury

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    PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers emerged from their season opener against the New York Jets unbeaten but not unscathed.

    Enter Jabrill Peppers.

    Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday the Steelers are signing the veteran safety while starter DeShon Elliott recovers from a knee injury suffered in the first half against the Jets.

    Peppers, 29, became a free agent when he was cut by New England last month. Pittsburgh will be Peppers’ fourth NFL stop following stints with Cleveland (2017-18), the New York Giants (2019-21) and the Patriots (2022-24).

    Tomlin pointed to Peppers’ versatility in the secondary and his ability to be a difference-maker on special teams as major factors in the signing.

    “He’s a football player first, a positional player second,” Tomlin said.

    Peppers could get an opportunity to play right away when the Steelers (1-0) host Seattle (0-1) in their home opener on Sunday.

    Pittsburgh turned to veteran Chuck Clark — who was cut at the end of training camp before being signed to the practice squad — after Elliott left against the Jets, though Tomlin didn’t rule out Peppers being available quickly.

    “We’ll see how we divide the labor up as we get into the week,” Tomlin said. “Their ability to communicate and execute obviously will be a major component of how we divide that labor up and go from there.”

    Tomlin declined to say whether Elliott is a candidate for injured reserve, saying only that Elliott will definitely miss at least one week.

    Elliott, who signed a contract extension through 2027 in June, was serving as the hub of communication for an overhauled secondary that now includes newcomers Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay.

    Where those duties will fall going forward is uncertain, though Pittsburgh’s defense did just enough down the stretch to avoid the upset against New York. While the Steelers gave up 394 yards (including 182 on the ground) to an offense led by former Pittsburgh quarterback Justin Fields, they also made a pair of critical late stops.

    The Steelers forced a three-and-out on the Jets’ penultimate possession and Ramsey ended any last-gasp effort by drilling New York wide receiver Garrett Wilson on fourth down near midfield, sealing the victory.

    It also, however, came only after the Jets had their way on both sides of the line of scrimmage for long stretches. Fields and running back Breece Hall found plenty of room to run and Pittsburgh’s young offensive line struggled to protect Aaron Rodgers.

    The Steelers gave up four sacks total, with former first-round pick Broderick Jones struggling at left tackle. Jones, taken 14th overall in 2023, repeatedly had trouble with New York defensive end Will McDonald, who dropped Rodgers twice.

    Tomlin declined to single out Jones specifically, saying “all of our performances could be better,” and defended the 24-year-old’s mental toughness.

    “It’s football, you know?” Tomlin said. “You don’t get to the National Football League by being fragile, emotionally. There’s a lot of confident guys that I work with. You win some battles, you lose some battles. You come back fighting. That’s just the nature of the men that play this game at this level.”

    Peppers would know. The 25th overall pick in the 2017 draft (taken five spots ahead of Steelers star outside linebacker TJ Watt) was traded to the New York Giants after two years in Cleveland, then moved on to the Patriots in 2022.

    He turned a one-year contract with New England into a multiyear deal but spent the better part of two months of the 2024 season on the commissioner’s exempt list following his arrest on multiple charges stemming from a domestic incident. A jury acquitted Peppers in January, but his time with the Patriots ended in August when first-year head coach Mike Vrabel made Peppers among the team’s final cuts.

    Tomlin said he did plenty of studying up on Peppers in the lead-up to the 2017 draft, and took note of how Michigan deployed him, including having him get time on offense during his final season with the Wolverines.

    While that is not in play in Pittsburgh, Peppers’ ability to adapt has stuck with Tomlin through the years.

    “He was just used in a real unique way in Michigan that really highlighted his talents, man,” Tomlin said. “I think he was even a two-way player at one point. … He returned kicks. He was just a well-rounded football player in all areas of the game.”

    NOTES: Rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) is expected to miss his second straight game on Sunday. … Inside linebacker Malik Harrison (knee) is also out. … Outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) could return after sitting out the opener.

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  • Maddux Madsen leads Boise State to 51-14 romp over Eastern Washington

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    BOISE, Idaho — Maddux Madsen passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns and Boise State won its 13th home opener in a row, beating Eastern Washington 51-14 Friday night before a sellout crowd.

    Madsen completed 16 of 26 passes for the Broncos (1-1), who upped their win streak against FCS opponents to 22 dating to 1997.

    Madsen connected with Ben Ford for a 60-yard touchdown in the first quarter and then ran 11 yards for a score in the second to help the Broncos take a 30-7 lead into halftime. Ford and Madsen team up for a 6-yard score and a 44-7 lead in the fourth.

    Dylan Riley carried six times for 123 yards and scored on a 77-yard run with 3:54 remaining for the Broncos.

    Sire Gaines rushed 14 times for 98 yards and a touchdown. Malik Sherrod and Cameron Bates also had TD runs. Chris Marshall had four receptions for 132 yards.

    Jared Taylor passed for 102 yards and ran for 76 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles (0-2) before leaving the field on a stretcher after he was injured with 6:06 remaining. Backup Nate Bell scored on a 2-yard run.

    It was the first meeting between the schools since 2000 in a series Boise State leads 14-6.

    The Broncos improve to 47-4 at home in games not played on Saturday.

    Boise State is idle until Sept. 20 when it travels to play Air Force in a Mountain West Conference opener.

    Eastern Washington plays at Northern Iowa on Sept. 13.

    ——

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  • Angel Reese voices frustration with Chicago Sky’s losing season

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    CHICAGO — Angel Reese aired her frustrations with the Chicago Sky as the franchise finishes another losing season.

    The two-time WNBA All-Star told the Chicago Tribune that she “might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me” if the team doesn’t improve its outlook.

    “I am very vocal about what we need and what I want,” she said. “I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can.”

    Chicago improved to 10-30 after routing Connecticut on Wednesday night. Reese had 18 points and 13 rebounds. The franchise is 3-15 since the All-Star Break, but Reese missed a lot of those games with a back issue.

    “I’m not settling for the same … we did this year,” the young star told the paper. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason.

    “So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year.”

    Reese, who was the No. 7 pick in the WNBA draft last season, is averaging 14.6 points and and a league-best 12.6 rebounds. She has at least one more season on her rookie contract.

    Reese walked back her comments after Wednesday night’s win and said she had already apologized to the team.

    “I probably am frustrated with myself right now,” she said. “I think the language was taken out of context and I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole year.”

    Reese said she has to learn from the situation.

    “I just have to be better with my language because I know it’s not the message it’s the messenger and understanding what I say can be taken any kind of way so I just have to really be better and grow from this,” she said.

    Reese told the paper that she wanted coach Tyler Marsh to coach players harder and didn’t think the team’s current roster was good enough to win championships. She also was called out injured point guard Courtney Vandersloot, who is sidelined with an ACL injury. Vandersloot was a big part of the franchise’s only championship in 2021.

    “We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at,” Reese said. “I know she’ll be a great asset for us, but we can’t rely on that. We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who’s been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before.”

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  • South Africa wins the toss and bowls first against England in first ODI

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    LEEDS, England — South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first against England at Headingley on Tuesday in the first of three one-day internationals between the teams.

    South Africa captain Temba Bavuma made his decision after seeing a dry wicket and noting that teams have fared well chasing in Leeds.

    Playing on his home ground, England captain Harry Brook said he would have bowled first, too, if given the option.

    England gave a debut to 22-year-old fast bowler Sonny Baker, who starred in the recent edition of the domestic Hundred competition. Fellow pacer Jofra Archer will be playing his first ODI since the Champions Trophy in March.

    South Africa is without its own fast-bowling star, Kagiso Rabada, because of an ankle injury while Heinrich Klaasen is missing from the batting lineup after retiring from international cricket this summer.

    The second ODI is at Lord’s on Thursday and the third takes place in Southampton on Sunday.

    ___

    Teams:

    England: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker.

    South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickleton, Temba Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.

    ___

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  • Christian McCaffrey shines in 49ers camp after injury-filled season

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    SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In a training camp that has seemed to feature a new injury almost every day for the San Francisco 49ers, the one positive on the injury front has been the health of Christian McCaffrey.

    After missing almost all of last season with injuries to his Achilles tendon and knee, McCaffrey has been one of the few running backs or receivers to make it through the first five weeks of practice without an injury.

    While he has gotten some scheduled rest days, McCaffrey has been a near constant on the field and once again looks like the player who transformed the 49ers offense after arriving in a midseason trade in 2022.

    “You all have eyes like I do, Christian looks fantastic,” star left tackle Trent Williams said Thursday. “He looks like Offense Player of the Year Christian. So that’s really, really refreshing to see, knowing what he had to deal with last year, just the little nicks and knacks and not being able to do what he loves. To see him out there this year 100% healthy, treating every play like it’s his last, playing with his hair on fire. It really motivates the guys when you got a generational talent that brings it to work and to practice every day.”

    It’s a far cry from last season when McCaffrey injured his Achilles tendon early in training camp and missed the first eight games of the season. He rushed for just 202 yards on 50 carries in four games before going down with a season-ending knee injury as he was unable to match his sensational 2023 season.

    McCaffrey won the AP Offensive Player of the Year that season after leading the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and tying for the league lead with 21 touchdowns.

    McCaffrey had missed just one game combined in 2022-23 — a meaningless Week 18 game in the 2023 season for San Francisco when he had a sore calf — after missing 23 games because of injuries in his final two full seasons with Carolina.

    Coach Kyle Shanahan joked last week that McCaffrey had hit 25 mph on his GPS readings in practice. But no matter what speed McCaffrey has reached, he is looking much healthier than he did a year ago when he missed almost all of training camp.

    “Obviously physically he looks great, getting in and out of cuts, running hard. Back to the McCaffrey that we all know,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “And then mentally he’s just, he’s on one, like he’s ready to get after it with the season and obviously from beginning to end, like play a whole season and go hard. That’s who he is. He keeps telling all of us in the locker room, he’s like, ‘Dude, I can’t wait. I can’t wait.’”

    Receiver Skyy Moore passed a physical, completing a trade that sent him to San Francisco from Kansas City. The Niners sent a sixth-round pick in 2027 to the Chiefs for Moore and a 2027 seventh-rounder.

    Moore gives San Francisco a healthy body at receiver with so many other players hurt or facing a suspension to start the season such as Demarcus Robinson. General manager John Lynch said on his radio show on flagship station KNBR on Thursday that Russell Gage was the latest Niners receiver to get hurt with a knee injury that will likely sideline him for a week or two.

    San Francisco already is dealing with injuries at receiver to Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins.

    Moore was drafted by Kansas City in the second round in 2022 but hasn’t produced much in his first three seasons. He had 43 catches for 494 yards and one TD in 36 games. He didn’t catch a single pass last season because of a core muscle injury.

    The Niners also made a swap at backup quarterback with the team re-signing Tanner Mordecai after cutting him earlier this month and releasing Nate Sudfeld after two practices. Mordecai should get time in the exhibition finale on Saturday against the Chargers.

    Cornerback Tre Brown was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Brown was signed in March to be in the mix at either slot or outside cornerback after spending four seasons with Seattle. But he fell down the depth chart early in camp and now is shut down with an undisclosed injury.

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  • Embiid out on Saturday but 76ers’ All-Star center moves closer to return from knee injury

    Embiid out on Saturday but 76ers’ All-Star center moves closer to return from knee injury

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    CAMDEN, N.J. — Joel Embiid and Paul George will each miss a fifth straight game with left knee injuries when the Philadelphia 76ers host Memphis on Saturday night.

    The oft-injured Embiid has yet to play this season, though he was a full participant at Friday’s practice, including in 5-on-5 scrimmages with the team. George, who also has yet to play this season with a bone bruise on his left knee, also participated in the full practice and scrimmaged with the Sixers.

    Embiid skipped the entire preseason and has not played any basketball that matters since he helped Team USA win gold in the Paris Olympics.

    Embiid has officially been out with what the 76ers call left knee management. He was limited to 39 games last season, mostly because of knee surgery after tearing the meniscus in his left knee on Jan. 30 against Golden State.

    “Everybody has been on the same page,” Embiid said at the 76ers’ New Jersey complex. “If your body doesn’t react well, and if your body tells you one thing (sit out). I’ve done it. From what I can tell you, I’ve broken my face twice, I came back early with the risk of losing my vision. I have broken fingers. I still came back. When I see people say he doesn’t want to play, I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk for people to be saying that.”

    Embiid’s absence from the season opener raised suspicion in the NBA, and the league on Tuesday fined the team $100,000 for public statements, including by president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and by coach Nick Nurse, that were inconsistent with Embiid’s health status and in violation of NBA rules, including the league’s player participation policy. It found the participation policy was not violated.

    Embiid was the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft but missed his first two full seasons with injuries. Since his first full season in 2016, Embiid has played in 433 of a possible 805 regular-season games and only 59 of 67 possible playoff games.

    Embiid sprained his right knee in the 2023 playoffs, which cost him games against Brooklyn and Boston. He missed two games in the second round in 2022 and another in the first round in 2021 with various injuries, on top of the two he missed to begin the 2018 playoffs with an orbital fracture and another in 2019, also with a knee problem.

    “I wish I was as lucky as other ones,” Embiid said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not trying and I’m not doing whatever it takes to try to be out there, which I’m going to be here pretty soon.”

    Embiid added he does not regret playing in the Olympics. He could return for the Sixers’ three-game West Coast swing, which starts Monday against Phoenix.

    “I think really it’s being comfortable, trusting it,” Embiid said. “I want to be at my best. I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m like, I’m afraid if I do something or whatever (I get hurt again). I mentioned it since my last surgery, it was probably the toughest mentally. Mentally I’m just dealing with getting that trust back. In the past, it was just easy.”

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  • Nick Chubb scores TD for Browns in return after serious knee injury ended his 2023 season

    Nick Chubb scores TD for Browns in return after serious knee injury ended his 2023 season

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    CLEVELAND (AP) — Nick Chubb made it all the way back — like he promised.

    Cleveland’s star running back, whose 2023 season ended with a knee injury in Week 2, returned to the field Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, providing a lift for Browns fans and a team needing a spark.

    Chubb received a thunderous ovation during pregame player introductions, in contrast to quarterback Deshaun Watson being booed as he ran out of the tunnel.

    Watson later suffered a likely season-ending Achilles tendon injury, another blow to a franchise that has taken its share.

    Chubb scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run and finished with 22 yards on 11 carries. He also had one catch for 10 yards.

    “I was just happy to see him out there, all the work he’s put in,” guard Joel Bitonio said. “What everyone says about Nick Chubb is great, and he’s a better person than he is a player. He’s a heck of a player.

    “So it was good to have him back out there. I wish we would’ve been a little more successful … and got a win. But I’m glad he got in the end zone.”

    Chubb had just one carry in the second half, but coach Kevin Stefanski said that wasn’t any reason for concern.

    “No setbacks,” he said. “Just always trying to be smart with him. Want to make sure that we don’t put him in a bad spot. He was good. He came out of this thing good. So, he’ll be ready to roll.”

    Last season, Chubb, who is one of the most popular athletes in Cleveland history, was carted off the field after his left knee, the same one he injured while at Georgia, was wrecked on a hard hit near the goal line by Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

    Earlier this week, Chubb wrote an essay in which he said he feared his football career was over as he was carted off the field.

    After the Bengals returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, Chubb got his first carry in more than a year on the third play and picked up 2 yards.

    Chubb has rushed for 6,511 yards and scored 48 touchdowns in five-plus seasons for the Browns, who drafted him in the second round in 2018.

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  • Lewandowski extends scoring streak as Barcelona routs Sevilla ahead of ‘clasico’ against Real Madrid

    Lewandowski extends scoring streak as Barcelona routs Sevilla ahead of ‘clasico’ against Real Madrid

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    MADRID (AP) — Robert Lewandowski scored two more goals to extend his league-leading tally to 12 and Barcelona routed Sevilla 5-1 to open a three-point gap on Real Madrid ahead of next weekend’s “clasico.”

    Pedri and Pablo Torre also scored Sunday for the Catalan club, which restored its lead of La Liga a day after second-place Madrid won 2-1 at Celta Vigo.

    Barcelona midfielder Gavi came off the bench to replace Pedri in the 83rd minute, making his return to action nearly a year after a serious knee injury.

    “I had been dreaming about this moment for several months,” Gavi said. “It’s tough to watch from the outside. I have to enjoy every moment. I feel very lucky to be here today.”

    Barcelona will play Madrid on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Both teams have Champions League matches midweek — Madrid hosts Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday and Barcelona hosts Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

    “This was an important win considering the matches that we have ahead,” Pedri said. “We had to leave with a good feeling and the three points.”

    Lewandowski scored twice in the first half against the visitors, first by converting a 24th-minute penalty kick and then by finding the net from close range in the 39th.

    The Poland striker was coming off a hat trick at Alaves in the previous league round, and had scored twice in the team’s win over Young Boys in the Champions League. He has 14 goals in 11 matches in all competitions this season.

    Lewandowski, who received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 65th, nearly got his hat track against Sevilla in a one-on-one situation in the first half.

    Pedri scored with a curling shot from outside the area in the 28th and Torre added to the lead from inside the area in the 82nd and with a free kick in the 88th. Raphinha had a 49th-minute goal disallowed for offside.

    Barcelona has outscored its league opponents 33-10 this season.

    Sevilla, which had no attempts on target in the first half, scored its lone goal in the 87th with 19-year-old substitute Stanis Idumbo.

    Barcelona also saw Lamine Yamal return from a muscle strain that saw him leave Spain’s squad during the international break.

    Barcelona defender Eric García hurt a muscle in the team’s warmup and did not play.

    Atletico’s stadium partially closed

    Fewer fans than normal watched Atletico Madrid beat Leganes 3-1 in a match played in a partially closed stadium because of recent fan trouble.

    Alexander Sorloth scored twice and Antoine Griezmann once after the visitors took the lead in the first half at the Metropolitano stadium, which had an empty fan section behind one of the goals as punishment after Atletico fans threw objects on the field during a city derby against Real Madrid last month.

    The section is where the club’s more radical supporters usually gather.

    Atletico had been originally ordered to close the section for three matches but appealed the decision and the punishment was reduced to a single match. The derby was interrupted for more than 15 minutes after fans threw the objects near Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a game that ended 1-1.

    Sunday’s victory, which ended Atletico’s three match winless streak in all competitions, moved Diego Simeone’s team to third place in the league. It trails Barcelona by seven points.

    Atletico midfielder Pablo Barrios and defender Clément Lenglet both got injured.

    Griezmann was sent off late in the game after he slid into an opponent, but the red card was changed to a yellow after video review.

    Other results

    Villarreal is in fourth place after conceding an 87th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Getafe. Santiago Comesaña had put the hosts ahead in the 44th.

    Mallorca defeated visiting Rayo Vallecano 1-0 with a goal by Vedat Muriqi in the 75th. It was the fourth win in five matches for Mallorca, which moved to sixth place in the standings. Rayo stayed ninth.

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  • Steelers QB Russell Wilson ‘in consideration’ to start against the Jets in return from calf injury

    Steelers QB Russell Wilson ‘in consideration’ to start against the Jets in return from calf injury

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    PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Russell Wilson’s time may be fast approaching in Pittsburgh.

    Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Wilson is “in consideration” to be the starting quarterback when the Steelers (4-2) host the New York Jets (2-4) on Sunday night. The 35-year-old nine-time Pro Bowler has spent the past six weeks recovering from a calf injury he aggravated a couple of days before the season opener.

    While Tomlin stressed that Justin Fields “has been really good” while filling in for Wilson and the team has “been really good at times,” the NFL’s longest-tenured coach added that good was “not to be confused with great.”

    Enter Wilson, who won the starting job at the end of training camp before tweaking the calf less than 72 hours before a Week 1 visit to Atlanta. Tomlin saw enough of Wilson in practice last week to have him serve as the backup behind Fields during a 32-13 win in Las Vegas, and there’s a very real chance they could swap roles against the Jets.

    “This is a competitive league, man,” Tomlin said. “We’re trying to position ourselves to be that team. And we got a player with talent who hadn’t had an opportunity to play. So we’re going to potentially explore those things.”

    Fields has been efficient and occasionally spectacular during his six-week audition. He’s also largely avoided the kinds of mistakes that were a common thread during his three years in Chicago, throwing just one interception in 160 attempts. His accuracy, however, had dipped of late. Fields has completed just 57% (29 of 51) of his passes over his past eight quarters, down from 69% (77 of 111) across the opening month of the season.

    The Steelers are also 28th in passing and 20th in scoring, riding a soft(ish) early season schedule and a disruptive defense led by All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt to a tie atop the AFC North with rival Baltimore. After a pair of home primetime games against the New York City area teams — the Jets on Sunday, the Giants on Oct. 28 — the sledding figures to get far heavier once the calendar flips to November and Wilson’s resume may be too tantalizing for Tomlin to pass up.

    Tomlin cautioned that the decision to give Wilson reps with the first team in practice this week has more to do with Wilson’s experience and his resume than Fields’ performance.

    “Justin has been an asset to us,” Tomlin said.

    Just not enough of one for Tomlin to definitively hand the starting job to Fields outright. Tomlin declined to get into specifics on how he will divide the practice snaps with the first team and doesn’t expect to make a decision on who will start against the Jets until later in the week.

    “We’re just going to roll the ball out, let both guys work and make decisions from there,” Tomlin said.

    Fields’ play has allowed the Steelers to bring Wilson — who turns 36 next month — along slowly. Wilson initially injured the calf when the team reported to training camp in July and there was a concern when he aggravated it that it could lead to something more serious.

    Wilson has steadily improved and showed Tomlin last week that he could protect himself in practice. The next step will be knocking off whatever rust might remain from a month-plus of relative inactivity, though Tomlin doesn’t sound overly concerned.

    Whoever the quarterback is will likely be playing behind a seventh different offensive line combination in as many weeks with rookie center Zach Frazier out with an ankle injury sustained against the Raiders. Fields’ mobility — he’s already run for five touchdowns — has helped offset the constant churn in front of him. That’s not a tool that Wilson has had since the height of his “Let Russ Cook” days with Seattle several years ago.

    Asked how the offense might change with Wilson behind center, Tomlin smiled and said “it remains to be seen. And I think that’s one of the cute things about this discussion.”

    NOTES: LB Nick Herbig (hamstring) will miss his second straight game. … There’s a chance OLB Alex Highsmith (groin), out since a win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 22, could return. … RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) may also be available after missing two games.

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  • Vikings hold off Rodgers and the Jets for 23-17 win in London to improve to 5-0

    Vikings hold off Rodgers and the Jets for 23-17 win in London to improve to 5-0

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    LONDON — Aaron Rodgers had a message for Andrew Van Ginkel after the Vikings linebacker returned an interception 63 yards for a touchdown.

    “He told me, too, ‘Christmas came early’ for me,” the humble Van Ginkel said. “I just told him ‘thank you.’”

    Minnesota took two more gifts — interceptions — off Rodgers and stayed undefeated by holding on for a 23-17 win over the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

    Despite trailing 17-0 early, the Jets had a chance to drive for a potential winning score in the final minutes. But Stephon Gilmore intercepted Rodgers’ pass intended for Mike Williams and the Vikings improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2016.

    Van Ginkel grabbed Rodgers’ quick slant before breaking a tackle and outrunning the Jets linemen down the sideline for a 63-yard score and a 10-0 lead. The linebacker also had a pick-6 in the season opener against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants.

    “I couldn’t believe it happened,” the sixth-year linebacker said. “It’s something that I just read and caught the ball.”

    At some point in the second half, he said, “I kind of got close to him and he just made that comment to me.”

    Rodgers threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson to make it 20-17 with just over six minutes remaining before Vikings rookie kicker Will Reichard hit a 41-yard field goal — his third of the game. Wilson finished with a career-high 13 catches for 101 yards.

    A slow start ultimately doomed the Jets (2-3).

    Fullback C.J. Ham’s 2-yard run made it 17-0 before the Jets got back in the game when Rodgers found Allen Lazard for a 14-yard touchdown pass late in the first half.

    Rodgers clutched his left leg after a big hit in the third quarter. But after a roughing the punter call, Rodgers immediately went back onto the field and drove the Jets to the Minnesota 14. They settled for Greg Zuerlein’s 32-yard field goal to make it 17-10.

    “They were trying to get me in the (medical) tent … I said ‘Screw it, I’m going back out there,’” he said, describing the injury as a low ankle sprain.

    Rodgers threw two first-quarter interceptions — a first for the four-time NFL MVP.

    “In a game where you lose by six, plays like that are exponentially highlighted,” he said. “Three turnovers for me is definitely out of character, and I’m disappointed.”

    The Jets offense struggled so much last week in a 10-9 loss to Denver that Rodgers and coach Robert Saleh spent much of this past week saying that their relationship is solid.

    Reichard kicked a 53-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. He also had a 54-yarder and has yet to miss this season.

    Sam Darnold, who was drafted by the Jets No. 3 overall in 2018, finished 14 of 31 for 179 yards with an interception and one fumble. Justin Jefferson had six receptions for 92 yards for the Vikings.

    “We definitely left yards, points out there,” Jefferson said. “We definitely need to fix some things.”

    Rodgers was 29 of 54 for 244 yards, two touchdown passes and three interceptions.

    The Vikings started the 2009 season 6-0 in Brett Favre’s first year with the team. After the 5-0 start in 2016, the Vikings finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs.

    The Vikings are also the first team to go 4-0 in regular-season international games. All four victories have come in London. The New York Giants, who won the first London game in 2007, can match that perfect record next month when they face the Carolina Panthers in Munich, Germany.

    The Jets also fell behind 17-0 the previous time they played in London when they lost to the Atlanta Falcons in 2021.

    Rodgers became the ninth player in NFL history to throw for 60,000 yards in regular-season games on a 7-yard pass to Tyler Conklin in the third quarter. He also surpassed Hall of Famer Dan Marino for seventh on the NFL’s list for total yards passing in both regular-season and playoff games.

    Rodgers now has 60,148 yards passing regular-season games.

    Jets: CB Sauce Gardner was evaluated for a head injury in the third quarter after colliding with a teammate LB Quincy Williams, but returned late in the game … CB Michael Carter II left in the first quarter with a hamstring injury and didn’t return … LB C.J. Mosley (toe) was inactive after being limited in practice this week.

    Vikings: RB Aaron Jones left in second quarter with a hip problem and was later ruled out. … Darnold left for one play after taking a hit in his midsection in the first quarter. Nick Mullens completed a pass for a first down. Darnold returned and fumbled on the next play.

    Jets: Host the Buffalo Bills next Monday night.

    Vikings: Bye week before hosting the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Oct. 20.

    ___

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  • Bengals offense starting to click entering Week 5 showdown against rival Ravens

    Bengals offense starting to click entering Week 5 showdown against rival Ravens

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Despite their 1-3 start, the Cincinnati Bengals are starting to play better with a big challenge set for next week.

    Joe Burrow is making smart decisions, displaying poise in the pocket along with accuracy. Ja’Marr Chase again resembles one of the league’s top playmakers after an offseason of contract dispute, and running mate Tee Higgins is rounding into form after missing the first two weeks with an injury.

    And then there’s the Bengals running game.

    Second-year back Chase Brown picked up 80 yards on 15 carries and ran for the first two touchdowns of his career in Sunday’s 34-24 win over Carolina, while Zack Moss added 51 yards on the ground and caught four passes for 27 yards and a score helping to soften the blow from the trade of Joe Mixon.

    After being held to 11 yards rushing in the first half, the Bengals had 130 yards on the ground after intermission to take control of the game.

    “We’re explosive,” Brown said. “I mean, we can put up 30 points against anybody. That’s our mindset.”

    Burrow finished 22 of 31 for 232 yards with two touchdowns and one interception coming on a miscommunication with Chase. But over the past two games Burrow and Chase have mostly been on the same page, hooking up 13 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

    It’s probably no coincidence that Chase’s increased production have coincided with the return of Higgins, who takes added pressure off the team’s No. 1 wideout.

    “We’ve been moving around, making plays,” Chase said. “The team looked pretty good starting out the first half, which is what we needed, someone to keep the momentum up for us, and all around everybody is making plays.”

    The Bengals have now increased their point total with each game and Burrow said the offense is now “playing at a high level.”

    The amount of playmakers has coach Zac Taylor excited about the future, especially with Burrow at quarterback.

    “There are certainly plays where we are trying to target key guys,” Taylor said. “If they take them away defensively with whatever they’re doing, Joe progresses and finds the next option. There are so people that can make plays for us. About everyone in that game made critical plays for us in big moments. And the line is playing its tails off, giving great protection so Joe feels like he can call anything.”

    Of course, few things make an NFL coach happier than the ability to run the ball late in a game and burn the clock.

    The Bengals did just that on Sunday.

    Leading by seven with 4:23 left, the Bengals ran the ball nine straight times to move into field-goal range for Evan McPherson, who made it a two-possession game with a 46-yarder with 1:17 remaining.

    “No doubt it was important,” Brown said. “They were stacking up the box, they were gapped out. We know what’s coming. We play for those moments in those four-minute situations and we know we just want to put points up at the end. The thing is, you keep the rock on our side and kick the field goal to really push on the dagger at the end.”

    The win gives the Bengals some needed momentum heading into an important home game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

    “We knew we needed this one this week, especially going into a divisional game next week,” Brown said. “We just want to carry that momentum and that energy into next week and the rest of the season and just continue this style of football.”

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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