August 22, 2024 4:34 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson is dealing with what the Browns describe as “general arm soreness.” That development could impact whether Cleveland’s quarterback makes his preseason debut this week. The Browns stopped Watson from throwing during Wednesday’s practice. Coach Kevin Stefanski said he’s not “overly concerned” by the soreness. Watson had shoulder surgery in November to repair a fracture that ended his second season with Cleveland after six starts. Stefanski has not decided if or how much Watson will play on Saturday when the Browns visit Seattle Seahawks. Also, Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. has been released from a hospital after suffering a rib injury in practice.
August 22, 2024 4:33 am
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Rookie Bo Nix was informed Wednesday that he’d won the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback job. That means he’ll be the 14th different player to start at quarterback for the Broncos since Peyton Manning retired in 2016. Nix was the 12th player and sixth quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL draft. He started 61 games at Auburn and Oregon, which is the most by a quarterback in NCAA history. Nix beat out incumbent Jarrett Stidham and trade acquisition Zach Wilson, whom the Broncos acquired from the New York Jets in April.
August 21, 2024 6:06 pm
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Wyatt Langford’s single scored pinch-runner Ezequiel Duran with two out in the ninth inning, giving the Texas Rangers a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jonah Heim and Adolis García singled off David Bednar (3-6) to open Texas’ half of the ninth. Duran, running for Heim, advanced to third on a flyout to deep right field by Nathaniel Lowe. Bednar struck out Josh Jung on a 3-2 fastball after García stole second base. Langford then laced an RBI single to center field. Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Rangers. The Pirates went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position, left 10 runners on and struck out 16 times. They’ve lost three of their last four games.
August 20, 2024 4:30 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mitch Keller limited Texas to three singles through seven-plus innings following his two poorest starts of the season to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-0 win over the Rangers. Keller (11-7) struck out nine to equal a season high and walked none while throwing 98 pitches as the Pirates won for the fourth time in their last six games following a season-long 10-game losing streak. The Rangers’ Cody Bradford (4-1) matched a career high with eight strikeouts over seven innings while allowing five hits. But four of the hits came in the fourth inning when the Pirates scored three runs.
August 21, 2024 4:34 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed veteran center Nate Herbig on injured reserve. The move clears the way for rookie second-round pick Zach Frazier (pictured) to start when Pittsburgh opens the season at Atlanta on Sept. 8. Herbig injured his shoulder during the final day of training camp at Saint Vincent College and didn’t play during a 9-3 loss to Buffalo on Saturday. Frazier, a second-round pick out of West Virginia, got the nod in Herbig’s place and was one of the bright spots during an otherwise shaky performance by the offensive line.
August 21, 2024 4:36 am
WNBA players would like more of a break after the All-Star Game and Olympics before league play resumes. Here was a quick turnaround this year after the Paris Games. It could be a major topic of discussion when negotiations begin for the next collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA ends next year. Phoenix, Chicago and Los Angeles all played three games in a four-day span to resume the the regular season. Fortunately, from the Olympics standpoint, the next Games are in Los Angeles, so travel will be less of an issue for the players.
August 20, 2024 4:37 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Seager homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Texas Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3. Seager’s nine homers in August are tied for the major league lead with Miami’s Jake Burger. He also went deep twice on Aug. 2 against Boston. Rangers right-hander José Ureña pitched four scoreless innings in relief of Dane Dunning. Kirby Yates worked a perfect ninth for his 22nd save. Pittsburgh has dropped 12 of 14. Jared Triolo hit a three-run homer in the fourth for the Pirates.
August 20, 2024 4:39 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation. Hayes, a Gold Glove winner a year ago, has struggled to hit with power at the plate most of this season. The 27-year-old is batting .233 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 96 games this year. His .573 OPS is a career low and nearly 200 points below the .762 OPS he posted in 2023. Pittsburgh called up utility player Billy McKinney to take Hayes’ roster spot. McKinney hit .285 across two minor league stops this year.
August 20, 2024 4:42 am
The NFL’s new dynamic kickoff is achieving its goals in the preseason of raising the rate of return and the threat of big plays after years of increasing touchbacks. Whether that will carry over to the regular season when coaches might be more concerned with avoiding risk than testing out the new rule remains an open question. With the average start after kickoffs nearly reaching the 30, teams might opt to kick it deep and give up touchbacks to the 30 instead of risking giving up a long return. The NFL says it is “not likely” that the touchback will be moved to the 35 this season.
August 20, 2024 4:41 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets traded forward Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris and a second-round draft pick in 2026. The Blue Jackets were without the 26-year-old Laine for much of the 2023-24 season. He sought help from the NHL’s player assistance program in January and made it known that his issues were mental-health related. Laine was drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016. He has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $34.8 million contract. In four seasons with the Blue Jackets, Laine had 64 goals and 74 assists.
