December 18, 2025 4:42 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has started rehab after surgery to repair two torn knee ligaments. The team is optimistic he could return early next season. The surgery was performed Monday night in Dallas, a day after Mahomes was injured in a game against the Chargers. Recovery typically takes about nine months, but it varies. The Chiefs are out of playoff contention after losing to the Chargers. Backup Gardner Minshew will lead the team for the final three games. Several other key players are also dealing with injuries, including Rashee Rice, who is in the concussion protocol. Mahomes plans to continue his rehab in Kansas City.
December 18, 2025 4:41 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel says his decision to start Ewers on Sunday against the Bengals came down to who he felt gave the Dolphins the best chance to win. The decision came after Tagovailoa struggled in a 28-15 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night that eliminated Miami from playoff contention. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with 15 interceptions and hasn’t played up to his contract after signing a four-year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024. He said he was disappointed by the benching and unsure what his future with the team will look like.
December 17, 2025 4:30 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Leon Draisaitl had four assists and became the fourth-fastest active player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-4 on Tuesday night. Connor McDavid scored twice and added two assists. Evan Bouchard added a power-play goal and an assist, while Matt Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin also scored for the Oilers, who have won six of their last nine. Sidney Crosby had an assist for Pittsburgh and moved within one point of tying Mario Lemieux’s franchise record of 1,723 points. Tommy Novak, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Danton Heinen scored for the Penguins.
December 17, 2025 2:54 am
The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Gregory Soto to a one-year contract for the 2026 season. Soto, who turns 31 on February 11, posted a 4.18 ERA (60.1ip/28er) and 70 strikeouts in 70 combined outings split between Baltimore and New York (NL) during the 2025 season. His 70 appearances last season were tied for the ninth-most among all left-handed relievers in Major League Baseball. Soto held opponents to a .156 batting average against (14-for-90) versus his slider in 2025, the sixth-best mark among all left-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball against that pitch (minimum 90 at-bats). Soto was named an American League All-Star with Detroit during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. His 30 saves in 2022 were the fifth-most in the American League and the 10th-most in all of Major League Baseball. Soto is one of only five Major League pitchers to make at least 60 appearances in each of the last
December 17, 2025 4:32 am
Curt Cignetti has been named The Associated Press coach of the year in college football for the second consecutive season. He is the first coach to win the award back-to-back since it was first presented in 1998. Cignetti has led Indiana to unprecedented success, with a 24-2 record over two seasons. The Hoosiers are 13-0 this year, Big Ten champions for the first time since 1967, and the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Cignetti received 47 first-place votes. Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea received two each, and Virginia’s Tony Elliott got one.
December 17, 2025 4:31 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is considering a quarterback change after Tua Tagovailoa’s continued struggles this season. Those were magnified in Monday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that eliminated Miami from playoff contention for the second straight season. Tagovailoa threw for just 65 yards through three quarters, and the areas in which he has appeared to regress were evident again, from questionable decision-making to a lack of mobility that has hampered him throughout the season. McDaniel said he would give “more clarity” on his quarterback decision on Wednesday.
December 16, 2025 4:22 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have taken care of the Miami Dolphins to stay atop the AFC North. Aaron Rodgers passed for 224 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s 28-15 win on Monday night. The Steelers won their second straight. They have won 23 straight home games on Monday nights. Rodgers connected on 23 of 27 passes at frigid Acrisure Stadium. The 42-year-old looked right at home with the lights on and temperatures in the teens during a night that felt like a callback to his prime in Green Bay. Miami saw its slim playoff hopes vanish in the chill.
December 16, 2025 4:24 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger believes Mike Tomlin should coach the Pittsburgh Steelers as long as he wants. The former quarterback had previously suggested on his podcast that it might be time for the Steelers to consider a new coach in the offseason following a lopsided loss to Buffalo. Tomlin, in his 19th season, is the NFL’s longest-tenured coach. While the Steelers have been regular playoff contenders, they haven’t won a postseason game since 2016. Roethlisberger clarified his comments on Monday, saying Tomlin has earned the right to go out on his own terms.
December 16, 2025 4:26 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs face the rest of the season without Patrick Mahomes, who had surgery Monday night to repair a torn ACL. The injury happened in a loss to the Chargers, ending the Chiefs’ playoff hopes. The team now faces uncertainty about the future. Key questions include Mahomes’ recovery, Travis Kelce’s potential retirement and coach Andy Reid’s plans. The Chiefs also need to address roster gaps, especially at wide receiver, running back and defensive end. Their rush defense has been strong, but the offense needs improvement. The Chiefs will play the Titans next, with draft positioning in mind.
December 15, 2025 4:32 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dylan Guenther scored 42 seconds into overtime, leading the Utah Mammoth to a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. Utah rallied after trailing 3-0, with Michael Carcone scoring twice and Nate Schmidt and Sean Durzi adding goals. Karel Vejmelka made 12 saves. Pittsburgh’s Justin Brazeau scored twice, while Bryan Rust and Ben Kindel also scored. Pittsburgh earned a point for the ninth time in 11 games but lost its fifth straight.
