September 18, 2024 4:29 am
Most coaches and players would dread having to spend a week on the road. Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers are relishing it. With games in the Eastern time zone for two straight weeks, the Chargers are staying in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in an AFC matchup of 2-0 teams. The Bolts began their extended road trip on a great note with a 26-3 victory against Carolina last Sunday. The Chargers have five road games in the Eastern time zone for the first time since 2005.
September 18, 2024 4:33 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins have placed Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after the quarterback was diagnosed with his third concussion in two years. Tagovailoa will be sidelined for at least four games. He will be eligible to return in Week 8 when the Dolphins host Arizona, but has to complete a series of tests and assessments required by the NFL’s concussion protocol before he can return to the field. Coach Mike McDaniel has cautioned against speculation on the quarterback’s future, stressing that he’s more focused on Tagovailoa getting healthy than what this latest concussion means for the team or for his career.
September 17, 2024 4:38 am
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Andre Pallante outdueled rookie Paul Skenes, striking out a career-high nine over seven innings to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0. Pallante allowed four hits and one walk. Andrew Kittredge and Ryan Fernandez each pitched a perfect inning, finishing a four-hitter and the ninth shutout for the Cardinals this season. Skenes gave up one run and four hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk, falling to 0-2 in three starts against St. Louis.
September 17, 2024 6:49 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby is looking to finish what he started in Pittsburgh. The Penguins star has signed a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2026-27 season. The deal, which carries an average annual value of $8.7 million, would keep Crosby in Pittsburgh until nearly his 40th birthday. The agreement comes on the eve of Crosby’s 20th training camp with the Penguins. Crosby had been eligible to sign an extension on July 1. While talks dragged on longer than expected, Crosby said recently he wasn’t worried about something getting done before the season began.
September 17, 2024 4:35 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kirk Cousins led a flawless last-minute drive for Atlanta and connected with Drake London for a 7-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to give the Falcons a 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Saquon Barkley dropped a short pass that stopped the clock with 1:46 left and forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal instead of a game-sealing first down. That was plenty of time for Cousins — especially against an Eagles defense playing soft coverage with a nonexistent pass rush. Cousins hit hit Darnell Mooney for 21 and 26 yards on consecutive plays during the final drive.
September 17, 2024 4:39 am
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have benched 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young after the second-year quarterback’s rough start to the season. Andy Dalton will take over as the starter for Carolina’s next game on Sunday at Las Vegas. Panthers head coach Dave Canales said he made the decision after watching game film from Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
September 17, 2024 4:41 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are signing backup quarterback Tyler Huntley off the Ravens’ practice squad as Tua Tagovailoa remains out with the third diagnosed concussion of his pro career. Coach Mike McDaniel confirmed the move first reported by NFL Network, saying that Huntley is being added for depth behind current No. 2 quarterback Skylar Thompson. Tagovailoa remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol after leaving a 31-10 loss to Buffalo last Thursday. McDaniel said there’s still not enough information to know whether Tagovailoa will go on injured reserve. Thompson likely will start when Miami plays at Seattle on Sunday.
September 16, 2024 4:37 am
DENVER (AP) — Justin Fields won his second straight start in place of an injured Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers throttled Bo Nix in a 13-6 win over the sputtering Denver Broncos. A lingering calf injury kept Wilson on the sideline as the Steelers’ emergency QB in his return to Denver to face the team that benched him late last season and then cut him in March. Nix struggled again to find any rhythm and the Broncos had a hard time moving the ball in losing Nix’s home opener and falling to 0-2 for the second straight season under coach Sean Payton.
September 16, 2024 4:41 am
HOUSTON (AP) — C.J. Stroud threw for 260 yards and a touchdown and Ka′imi Fairbairn kicked four field goals to help the Houston Texans top the Chicago Bears 19-13. Fairbairn connected from 56, 47, 59 and 53 yards, and Houston’s defense put heavy pressure on Caleb Williams for much of the game. Stroud’s 28-yard scoring pass to Nico Collins put Houston up 10-3 early in the second quarter, and the Texans led 16-10 at halftime. Houston had trouble moving the ball in the second half, but its defense intercepted Williams twice to secure the victory. Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, was 23 of 37 for 174 yards. He was sacked seven times.
September 16, 2024 4:39 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits, including a go-ahead single in the fifth inning, as the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a three-game sweep with a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Billy Cook lined a single to left to start the fifth and scored from first on a hit and run when Kiner-Falefa shot one to center to put the Pirates ahead 3-2. Carmen Mlodzinski pitched a perfect fifth inning in relief of Pirates starter Jared Jones, who allowed two runs in four innings. Brady Singer gave up four runs on six hits in five innings for Kansas City, which is four games back of first-place Cleveland in the AL Central.
