December 19, 2021 6:45 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans will have outside linebacker Bud Dupree available Sunday when they play his old team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Titans (9-4) activated Dupree off injured reserve on Saturday. They also elevated wide receiver Cody Hollister and offensive lineman Daniel Munyer from the practice squad for the game, and defensive lineman Kevin Strong is a COVID-replacement elevation. They also placed fullback Tory Carter on injured reserve. Dupree left the Titans’ win over New Orleans on Nov. 14 after playing only one snap with an abdominal injury, and he was put on injured reserve Nov. 20. The Titans designated him to return on Wednesday. The linebacker was the Titans’ top free agent signee this offseason. Dupree set a career-high with 11 1/2 sacks with Pittsburgh in 2019 and finished his career there with 39 1/2 sacks, 10th-most in Steelers’ history. He was slowed at the start of this season recovering from the torn right ACL that ended his 2020 season.
December 19, 2021 4:28 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NFL has moved three games because of COVID-19 outbreaks: Las Vegas at Cleveland from Saturday to Monday; and Seattle at the Los Angeles Rams and Washington at Philadelphia from Sunday to Tuesday. The Browns could have been without as many as 16 regulars on Saturday, so the game is now scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. EST Monday. Washington and Philadelphia will play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, as will the Seahawks and Rams. The games at Los Angeles and Philadelphia will be played simultaneously. Previously, the NFL did not plan to move any games because of coronavirus outbreak, but recent developments with the omicron strain of COVID-19 has changed the league’s thinking.
December 18, 2021 4:29 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jeff Carter redirected a centering pass from Kris Letang between the legs of Malcom Subban 2:53 into overtime to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 3-2 win over Buffalo. Pittsburgh extended its winning streak to a season-high six games by relying on the NHL’s top penalty-killing unit at the start of overtime after Carter drew a penalty for tripping with just 5 seconds left in regulation. Carter atoned by deftly slipping the puck past Subban to send his teammates spilling over the bench in celebration.
December 18, 2021 4:28 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Najee Harris says he feels fresh heading into the final month of the season. Harris’ 279 touches top the NFL and his 1,270 yards of total offense have already set a franchise rookie record. Harris says he spent the offseason gearing up his body for a heavy workload and he’s “100%” heading into a visit by Tennessee on Sunday. Pittsburgh (6-6-1) is in last place in the AFC North but trails first-place Baltimore by just 1 1/2 games.
December 18, 2021 4:27 am
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) – Hockey is coming back to Robert Morris University. The school located in the western Pittsburgh suburbs announced that both its men’s and women’s programs will return to compete at the NCAA Division I level for the 2023-24 season. The programs were folded last May in a cost-cutting measure. A significant fundraising effort by former alumni helped provide a financial foundation for the programs to return.
December 17, 2021 3:56 am
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs are closer to another AFC West title after outlasting the Los Angeles Chargers in overtime. Travis Kelce scored on a 34-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes in OT to send the Chiefs past the Chargers, 34-28. Kelce caught a tying 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:16 left in the fourth quarter, then ended the game with his catch-and-run in overtime. Justin Herbert gave the Chargers a 28-21 lead with 2:19 remaining on a 8-yard TD pass to Keenan Allen. Mahomes finished 31 of 47 for a season-high 410 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Kelce had 10 receptions for a career-best 191 yards and two touchdowns. Los Angeles’ defeat came after a terrifying injury to tight end Donald Parham. The 24-year-old appeared to lose consciousness after slamming his head on the turf in the first quarter. He was helped off on a stretcher and taken to a hospital, where the team said he is in stable condition.
December 17, 2021 3:52 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The playoffs begin now for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh finds itself in last place in the tightly-packed AFC North as AFC South-leading Tennessee visits Heinz Field. The Steelers have just one win in their last five games but are still in the mix thanks to stumbles by division rivals Baltimore, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says it’s time for his team to go on a run. Tennessee comes in at 9-4 and can wrap up its second straight AFC South title with a win and a loss by Indianapolis to New England.
December 17, 2021 3:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Peach Bowl will go on without two of its biggest stars. Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett have both announced they are skipping the bowl game to focus on the NFL draft. Walker was part of a vital turnaround for the Spartans, who won 10 games after Walker transferred from Wake Forest. Pickett helped Pitt put together its best regular season in 40 years. Pickett won the ACC Player of the Year award and finished third in Heisman Trophy balloting.
December 17, 2021 3:53 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Madi Kubik had 13 kills, three aces and two blocks, Lauren Stivrins had nine kills and six blocks – the last of which came on match points – and Nebraska rallied to beat No. 3 seed Pittsburgh 16-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22 in the semifinals of the NCAA volleyball tournament. No. 10 seed Nebraska (26-7) – 40th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, second nationally to Penn State (41) – plays Wisconsin in Saturday’s championship game. The fourth-seeded Badgers won both regular-season matchups between the teams, losing just one set. Leketor Member-Meneh led the Panthers with 13 kills but had seven errors and hit just .150. Serena Gray added 11 kills. Nebraska, which advanced to its 10th title game, is 13-0 all-time against Pitt – 4-0 in the NCAA tournament.
December 16, 2021 3:48 am
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Urban Meyer’s tumultuous NFL tenure has ended after just 13 games – and two victories – when the Jacksonville Jaguars fired him early Thursday because of an accumulation of missteps. Owner Shad Khan made the move hours after ex-Jaguars player Josh Lambo told a Florida newspaper Meyer kicked him during practice in August. It was the latest embarrassment for the three-time national championship-winning college coach who failed miserably to make the transition to the NFL.
