Sports News

Thomas Tuchel has been announced as England's new head coach, the Football Association confirmed on Wednesday. Tuchel, 51, will start work on Jan. 1, with interim boss Lee Carsley remaining in charge for next month's UEFA Nations League doubleheader against Greece and Republic of Ireland. Tuchel's appointment concludes a search conducted by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham and technical director John McDermott which began in July following Gareth Southgate's decision to step down after England lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain. In a statement, former Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Tuchel said: "I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team. "I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to...

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino cautioned against making any harsh judgments of the United States men's national team (USMNT) after the 2-0 fall to Mexico on Tuesday in Guadalajara, reiterating his process with the federation just begun. "Overall, I think Mexico was a little bit better than us and fully deserved the victory," Pochettino said in a news conference after the match. "But for us it's a process that we started 10 days ago and today was a great opportunity for our player to visit a very difficult place to play. I think only we can improve and learn from this experience."   U.S. Soccer announced the arrival of Pochettino in September, only a few weeks before the October international window. He led the USMNT for the first time on Oct. 12 in a 2-0 victory over Panama in Austin, before traveling to Mexico for the game against El Tricolor. He coached the entire October roster for just a couple days before Marlon Fossey, ...

NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge finally looked the part in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. Five postseason games of struggles gave way to one giant swing Tuesday night, when Judge's two-run homer capped a 6-3 win that gave the New York Yankees a 2-0 series lead against the Cleveland Guardians. While the Yankees scored three early runs to capitalize on sloppy play from the typically tidy Guardians, Judge's home run -- a 414-foot blast to center field off Cleveland reliever Hunter Gaddis in the seventh inning -- energized the crowd of 47,054 at Yankee Stadium and served as a reminder that the future AL MVP is more than capable of providing memorable October moments. "You never know on these windy, chilly nights what that ball is going to do when you hit the center here," Judge said, "but the ghosts were pulling out there to Monument Park, that's for sure." The Yankees had won four of their first five playoff games with little...

Raúl Jiménez scored a goal and assisted on another to lead Mexico to a 2-0 friendly victory over the United States on Tuesday night in Guadalajara, Mexico. César Huerta also scored for Mexico, which snapped a seven-match winless run (0-5-2) against the United States dating back to 2019 and handed new U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino his first defeat in his second match in charge. Mexico's all-time appearances leader,  Andrés Guardado, received his 182nd and final cap. The 38-year-old Guadalajara native was subbed out in the 19th minute to an emotional ovation from fans in the city where his pro career began with Atlas. With several U.S. regulars absent -- including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah and Folarin Balogun -- the U.S. was outshot 17-5 overall and 5-1 in shots on target. With Pulisic in the fold, the Americans defeated Panama 2-0 in Austin, Texas, on Saturday. It marked the third time the...

Lionel Messi turned in another vintage performance for Argentina, scoring three goals and adding two assists in a runaway win over Bolivia in South American World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night. After the game, a 6-0 win for Argentina in front of a raucous crowd at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium, the 2022 World Cup winner said he is trying to savor every moment with the national team and acknowledged the end of his playing days is near. "It is very nice to play here feeling the affection of the Argentina fans," Messi said after the game. "It makes me emotional to listen how they shout my name. We all enjoy this connection with the fans and we love playing at home." When asked about his future and whether he'd help Argentina defend their title at the 2026 World Cup, Messi was cautious and honest with his answer. "I didn't set any date or deadline about my future," Messi said. "I'm just enjoying all this. I am more emotional than ever and taking all the...

NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge, the best hitter on the planet, finally looked the part in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. Five postseason games of struggles gave way to one giant swing Tuesday night, when Judge's two-run home run capped a 6-3 win that gave the New York Yankees a 2-0 series lead against the Cleveland Guardians. While the Yankees scored three early runs to capitalize on sloppy play from the typically tidy Guardians, Judge's home run -- a 414-foot blast to center field off Cleveland reliever Hunter Gaddis in the seventh inning -- energized the crowd of 47,054 at Yankee Stadium and served as a reminder that the future AL MVP is more than capable of providing memorable October moments. "You never know on these windy, chilly nights what that ball is going to do when you hit the center here," Judge said, "but the ghosts were pulling out there to Monument Park, that's for sure." The Yankees had won four of their first...

Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and had a hand in two more goals as Argentina crushed Bolivia 6-0 in South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday in front of raucous fans at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium. It marked the first time in Messi's international career that he had multiple goals and assists in a single game, and the hat trick was his 10th for Argentina -- tying Cristiano Ronaldo's mark for hat tricks with  Portugal. Making only his second international appearance since recovering from an injury sustained at the Copa América in July, Messi capitalised on a mistake by defender Marcelo Suarez to open the scoring in the 19th minute. "We enjoyed this, we are happy to be here playing in Argentina," said Messi, who once again refused to say whether he will play in the next World Cup in 2026. "This could be one of the last [matches in front of the Argentinian crowd]." Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra made a...

DETROIT --  Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill has agreed to a four-year contract extension, according to his agent, Mike McCartney at Vayner Sports. McNeill's deal is worth $97 million, including $55 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. He is the third member of Detroit's 2021 draft class under general manager Brad Holmes to sign an extension, joining All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who both reached extensions in the offseason. On Saturday, the Lions also inked star running back David Montgomery to a two-year, $18.25 million extension that ties him to the Lions through the 2027 season as they continue to reward their players after a strong start to the season. In addition, the Lions re-signed quarterback  Jared Goff to a new four-year, $212 million contract in May. Following training camp, Holmes said he believes in getting ahead of contract negotiations and rewarding...

NEW YORK -- Despite far better numbers hitting with men on base this postseason, Shohei Ohtani won't be moved down in the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday. Ohtani is 0-for-19 with the bases empty but 6-for-8 with men on while batting leadoff during the playoffs. "It's just funny how things change, where there was a lot of concern about Shohei not being able to get hits with the runners in scoring position -- and now we're all trying to find ways ... to get guys on base so he can hit, right?" Roberts said. "I kind of find that comical, a little bit." Neither Roberts nor Ohtani thinks there's much to the slugger's splits at the plate other than perhaps him chasing pitches a little more here or there, especially against good lefties like Sean Manaea of the Mets and Tanner Scott of the Padres. Roberts also acknowledged his...

EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings have acquired running back Cam Akers for the second time in 12 months, this time from the Houston Texans in an exchange of 2026 conditional draft choices, the team confirmed Tuesday. The Vikings will send a conditional 2026 sixth-round draft pick to the Texans in exchange for a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick as part of the deal. Akers started two games this season for the Texans in place of the injured Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce, including one against the Vikings in Week 3. He rushed nine times for 21 yards in that game and totaled 147 yards and one touchdown on 40 carries during his time in Houston. Akers became expendable with Mixon and Pierce both returning for the Texans. The short-term status of Vikings starter Aaron Jones is uncertain because of a right hip injury. Ty Chandler has been Jones' backup and would start Sunday against the Detroit Lions if Jones...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas will miss an extended period of time with a foot injury, sources told ESPN. Thomas, 25, has a potential Lisfranc injury and is still considering other options. There is concern it could be season-ending. The injury occurred in the third quarter of Sunday night's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium. Thomas played through it but could be seen limping badly as game progressed. "Not great," he said afterward of how he felt. Thomas added that he was "fighting" through the pain.   The second-team All-Pro in 2022 underwent tests on Monday that showed the severity of the injury. Additional opinions confirmed it to be serious. Losing Thomas is a massive blow for the Giants. Their offensive line has made significant strides this season after years of struggles, and Thomas has been a stalwart at left tackle. He ranks 25th among all offensive tackles this season with a pass...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- As he prepares for his first season as Kentucky men's basketball coach, Mark Pope will have a fan from afar: John Calipari. Calipari, who left Kentucky in March for the Arkansas opening, said his former school made the "perfect" choice when it hired Pope, the captain of the Wildcats' 1995-96 squad that won a national title under Rick Pitino, as its new head coach. Calipari and Pope have had a relationship that has continued amid their recent changes. Except for the lone meeting between Arkansas and Kentucky on Feb. 1 in Lexington, Calipari said he'll be supportive of his replacement. "I think they hired a perfect guy for that job," Calipari said Tuesday at SEC media day. "And part of it is because he played there, graduated from there. He has a heart for the place, and he has an idea of what that is. ... It's a different place if you're just walking in. He's been there and understands it." When asked about his decision to leave Kentucky amid a...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Two-time MVP Breanna Stewart on Tuesday said her wife received a threatening, anti-gay email following the New York Liberty's loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. "Myself and my family, we're definitely doing OK," Stewart told reporters Tuesday. "We're taking the proper precautions." Stewart reported the incident to the Liberty and to the league, while her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, reported the incident to police. "I think that for Marta, especially, I think it was, it is, terrifying," Stewart said. In Game 1 on Thursday, Stewart missed a free throw that would have given New York the lead with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, and she later misfired on a layup that would have tied it at the end of overtime. The series is now tied 1-1 after Stewart and the Liberty bounced back in Game 2 in Brooklyn. "With the spotlight of being in the Finals and everything like that, they said it makes the most...

PHILADELPHIA --  76ers forward Paul George has a bone bruise in his left knee but did not suffer any structural damage and will be reevaluated in approximately one week, the team announced Tuesday.  A nine-time All-Star, George was injured when his knee buckled on a defensive play in the second quarter of Monday's game against Atlanta. He was ruled out of the game with a hyperextended knee.  "Everything checks out OK," coach Nick Nurse told reporters Tuesday at the team's New Jersey complex. George attended Tuesday's practice. Even before the injury, George was not scheduled to play in Wednesday's preseason game against Brooklyn.  "I felt that it hyperextended, and immediately it was, all right, I need to get taken out and [looked at], but if you ask me, I'm not too concerned about it," George told The Philadelphia Inquirer after Monday's game.  The Sixers have been cautious with their star players and shut down center Joel Embiid on Sunday for...

PHILADELPHIA --  76ers forward Paul George did not appear to suffer any long-term damage to a hyperextended left knee injured in a preseason game. "Everything checks out OK," coach Nick Nurse told reporters Tuesday at the team's New Jersey complex. George attended Tuesday's practice and was scheduled for more tests later in the day. Even before the injury, George was not scheduled to play in Wednesday's preseason game against Brooklyn. Nurse said there was no additional timetable for how long George could be out and more would be known after additional imaging is completed. A nine-time All-Star, George was injured when his knee buckled on a defensive play in the second quarter of Monday's game against Atlanta. He scored eight points in 12 minutes in a 104-89 victory. "I felt that it hyperextended, and immediately it was, all right, I need to get taken out and [looked at], but if you ask me, I'm not too concerned about it," George told The Philadelphia...

NFL team owners on Tuesday voted to approve Tom Brady's purchase of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, a move he called "a blessing to know I'll be involved in the greatest league in the world for the rest of my life."  "Throughout my NFL career, I've learned that at its core, football is a game of teamwork, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence," Brady said in a statement posted to X. "The Raiders franchise, and the city of Las Vegas embody these same values, and I'm honored to become part of that story."  Brady thanked Raiders owner Mark Davis for "welcoming me into his family, and the tireless work he's done to help build on the organization that so many fans know and love today."  "Tom is somebody that for many years I didn't like very much," Davis told reporters after Tuesday's league meetings concluded, referencing the infamous Tuck Rule controversy in 2002. "He did admit that it was a fumble. So those are important aspects of the...

NEW YORK -- A day after starting Game 1 of the American League Championship Series for the Cleveland Guardians, Alex Cobb's season is over because of an acute left low back strain, the team announced Tuesday. The Guardians replaced the right-hander on their roster with Ben Lively, another right-handed starter, making Cobb ineligible to be on the team's World Series roster should they advance. Lively led the Guardians in wins during the regular season, going 13-10 with a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts. The move required approval from Major League Baseball because only injured players are allowed to be removed from the roster. Cobb, 37, departed Monday's 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees after just 2⅔ innings. Manager Stephen Vogt said Cobb's left hip tightened up and he was dealing with back spasms. The transaction concludes a turbulent season for Cobb, who made just five starts for Cleveland this season after being acquired from the  ...

The Buffalo Bills acquired Amari Cooper in a trade Tuesday with the Cleveland Browns, adding a true No. 1 wide receiver for star quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills received Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick for a 2025 third-round pick and a seventh-round selection in 2026. Cooper, 30, fills the No. 1 receiver void for the Bills that was opened when Buffalo traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans before the season. The Bills (4-2) completed the deal hours after their AFC East rivals, the New York Jets, made their own blockbuster trade for a wide receiver when they acquired Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders. In recent weeks, the Browns had fielded multiple offers on Cooper, who is in the final season of a five-year deal he originally signed as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. The fact that Cleveland converted the majority of Cooper's $20 million base salary into a signing bonus made him more...

Thomas Tuchel is set to become England's new men's head coach after talks accelerated with the Football Association at a rapid pace in the past 48 hours, sources told ESPN. The FA are set to hold a news conference at Wembley on Wednesday with Tuchel likely to be confirmed as Gareth Southgate's successor. Southgate stepped down after eight years after England's Euro 2024 defeat to Spain. The FA initially appointed under-21s boss Lee Carsley on an interim basis for England's autumn UEFA Nations League fixtures as they stepped up their search for possible candidates, who included Tuchel and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. Carsley repeatedly refused to rule himself in or out of the running for the role on a permanent basis and while speculation grew that the FA were hopeful he would prove himself able to succeed Southgate, sources told ESPN that English football's governing body were in fact making contact with high-profile alternatives. Tuchel has been...

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, a Heisman Trophy contender, is expected to play Saturday against Arizona, coach Deion Sanders said Tuesday. "Travis should play for certain," Sanders said. Hunter exited Saturday's loss to Kansas State with a right shoulder injury in the second quarter and did not return. He played 23 snaps on offense and 21 on defense in the first half against K-State, recording three catches for 26 yards plus one tackle. Through six games, Hunter leads Colorado with 49 catches for 587 yards and six touchdowns. He's also the team's best defensive player. Colorado's second-leading receiver, Jimmy Horn, is also expected to play against Arizona, Sanders said. Horn also exited early against the Wildcats, after catching three passes for 20 yards. A third receiver who was injured against K-State, Omarion Miller, underwent surgery Monday and is not expected to return this season, Sanders said. Miller, who...

Determined to save their season from ruin and preserve their hopes of ending a half-century Super Bowl drought, the New York Jets finalized a blockbuster trade for star wide receiver Davante Adams on Tuesday. The Las Vegas Raiders received a 2025 conditional third-round draft pick in the trade.  That pick could improve to a second-round selection, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, if Adams is a first- or second-team All-Pro this season or is on the Jets' active roster for the AFC Championship Game or Super Bowl. The trade reunites Adams and quarterback  Aaron Rodgers to re-create one of the most dangerous duos in recent NFL history. "We're back, man," Adams said while briefly joining Rodgers at the Jets' facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, for the quarterback's weekly appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show." "We're back." "Obviously, I'm really excited," Rodgers said, adding: "It's on us now. We're going all-in." Adams restructured his contract to...

The Cleveland Browns are trading wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. In the trade, the Browns will receive a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round selection in exchange for Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round pick, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Cooper fills the No. 1 receiver void for the Bills that was opened when the team traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans before the season. Cooper, 30, has 24 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns for the Browns this season, his third with the franchise. The five-time Pro Bowl selection has 691 receptions for 9,736 yards and 62 touchdowns in his 10-season career.

West Virginia coach Neal Brown is facing criticism over his recent comments aimed at the Mountaineers' frustrated fan base, whom he urged to continue supporting the team because of the "good time" they have at home games. West Virginia fell to 3-3 with Saturday night's nationally televised home loss to No. 9 Iowa State. It was the eighth consecutive loss against a ranked opponent for the Mountaineers, who squandered an early lead against the undefeated Cyclones and failed to capitalize on the raucous environment at Milan Puskar Stadium. With another prime-time home game on tap for Saturday night -- this time against No. 17 Kansas State, Brown was asked Monday whether he had a message to fans who are upset with West Virginia's uneven performance this season. "I get that they want to win," Brown said. "But what I would say is, did they have a good time? Did they enjoy it? It was a pretty good atmosphere. You know, I'm assuming they probably had a pretty good time...

PITTSBURGH -- After proving his health and "knocking the rust off" in practice last week, Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is "in consideration" to start against the New York Jets on Sunday, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. Tomlin said he would make his choice between Wilson and Justin Fields as the starting quarterback "closer to game time." "I got comfortable with his ability to display his health [last week]," Tomlin said of Wilson. "... Now it's about knocking the rust off. He is in consideration this week. We'll see where that leads us, man. Both guys at the quarterback position are scheduled to work [Wednesday] and we'll just walk it day by day. All geared toward putting ourselves in best position to win the football game." Tomlin didn't rule out the possibility of using both quarterbacks in the game Sunday night. "Certainly there's a scenario," Tomlin said. "There could have been a scenario where that could have occurred last...

Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is coming out of retirement to seek a landmark 50 combined fights in the UFC and WEC, the 41-year-old said Tuesday. Cerrone (36-17) retired with 48 combined appearances in the UFC and WEC, dating back to 2007. He retired in July 2022 in the midst of a six-fight skid, but has now stated he intends to come back for two more bouts. He will presumably need to reenter the UFC's anti-drug program for a mandatory amount of time, although the UFC can waive that condition in special circumstances. "I want to go back and get two more fights," said Cerrone, in a video posted to Instagram. "When I retired, I told you I was getting my hair done and [I'd] get on steroids. The No. 50 [Zuffa] has been sitting on my mind for a while. So, I've been working with Transcend for the last two years, taking [testosterone-replacement therapy] and a bunch of peptides. "Now, we've got a protocol for all you people that, 'Oh, what if you get on it, you can't ever come off it.' Well,...

The New York Jets have given holdout pass rusher Haason Reddick permission to seek a trade, owner Woody Johnson confirmed Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Atlanta -- an about-face for the organization. Previously, the Jets said they wouldn't grant Reddick's request for a trade, which he made Aug. 12. On Monday, Reddick's new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, met with general manager Joe Douglas before the Jets faced the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Rosenhaus told ESPN there was "healthy dialogue," adding that his preference was to keep Reddick with the Jets. On Tuesday morning, The Athletic reported that Reddick had received the OK to speak with other teams. One source said the Jets are letting him explore opportunities with the hope of sparking his desire to get back on the field -- for them. Johnson, who last week issued a public plea to Reddick to report to the Jets, sounded hopeful Tuesday that Reddick still could play for the Jets. He said he's counting...

The Philadelphia Phillies have extended manager Rob Thomson through the 2026 season, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced Tuesday. Dombrowski also said the Phillies' entire coaching staff will return next season. The moves come six days after Philadelphia was eliminated in four games to the division-rival New York Mets in the National League Division Series. Thomson, 61, guided the Phillies to a 95-67 record this season and their first NL East title since 2011. He is 250-185 over parts of three seasons with the Phillies. Under Thomson's watch, the Phillies won the NL pennant in 2022 before falling in six games to the Houston Astros in the World Series. Philadelphia fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games during the 2023 NL Championship Series.

Determined to save their season from ruin and preserve their hopes of ending a half-century Super Bowl drought, the New York Jets are finalizing a blockbuster trade for star wide receiver Davante Adams, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday. The Las Vegas Raiders will receive a conditional third-round draft pick that could improve to a second-round selection, sources told Schefter. For the pick to improve to a second-rounder, Adams must be a first- or second-team All-Pro this season or be on the Jets' active roster for the AFC Championship Game or Super Bowl, the sources said. Adams took a red-eye flight into New Jersey early Tuesday morning with the deal basically in place and was scheduled to take a physical to finalize the trade, a source told Schefter. The Jets are assuming the balance of Adams' remaining salary, a source told Schefter. Adams' salary for this season is $17.5 million, with approximately $11.59 million still owed through the end of...

FRISCO, Texas -- Jerry Jones got heated during his weekly radio appearance Tuesday when he was about to be asked whether the Dallas Cowboys' lack of aggressiveness in the offseason has played a part in their 3-3 start. The Cowboys' longtime owner and general manager appeared to even threaten the jobs of hosts Shan Shariff, R.J. Choppy and Bobby Belt. "Listen, let me tell you what I'll do about it, I will let us sit down and look at the decisions we've made over the last several years. OK? I'll look at it," Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. "Now if you think I'm interested on a damn phone call with you over the radio and sitting here and throwing all the good out with the dishwater, you'd have got to be smoking something over there this morning. I'm not. And I really don't ... and I don't even want our listeners listening to me talk about. This is not your job. Your job isn't to let me go over the reasons that I did something and I'm sorry that I did it. That's...

NEW YORK -- On Thursday, while Gerrit Cole mowed down the Kansas City Royals in the  New York Yankees' series-clinching Game 4 win in the American League Division Series, Carlos Rodón took mental notes from the dugout. Not on anything Cole did to Royals hitters. Not on his approach or his pitch selection or his mechanics. But on Cole's demeanor around the mound. His tranquility as he navigated the only jam he encountered. The lack of screams and fist pumps. So cool, so calm. "It's just like a robot walking to the dugout," Rodón noted. Rodón's emotions sabotaged his first start of this postseason, in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Royals. He saw in Cole the model to emulate. On Monday, in the most important start of his professional career, Rodón nailed the imitation, tossing six brilliant innings in the Yankees' 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series. Rodón held the Guardians to one run on...

LOS ANGELES -- A snake slithered through the Los Angeles Dodgers' dugout during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday. The reptile appeared in the top of the fifth inning of the Dodgers' 7-3 loss to the New York Mets. It wasn't big enough to put a scare into anyone. The snake was wrapped in a towel and removed by a member of the grounds crew. The Dodgers trailed by six runs at the time, but they narrowed their deficit thanks to  Max Muncy's solo home run in the fifth and Tommy Edman's two-run single in the sixth. Los Angeles' rally fell short, however, as the snake didn't have the same effect as the San Diego Padres' rally goose that landed on the field at Dodger Stadium in 2022. "I was hoping it was a rally snake and we turned a rally around right after that," Los Angeles reliever Brent Honeywell said. "But just something to get the boys moving a little different [after] everything else." "We've had...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For the third straight week, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was left to explain a loss in which his team missed an opportunity to win the game on its final possession. This time, he seemed more frustrated -- and concerned -- than ever. "We need to get going," Rodgers said Monday night after the Jets -- in their first game under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich -- dropped to 2-4 with a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. "This was a golden opportunity. Some games you win in the NFL, and some games you give away. This was a giveaway." Not only was he critical of the Jets' performance, but Rodgers questioned the officiating, too. The teams combined for 22 penalties and 204 yards, including 11 for 110 yards by the Jets, who suffered the same issues under former coach Robert Saleh. "It seemed a little ridiculous," Rodgers said of the officiating. "Some of [the calls] seemed really bad, including the roughing...

NEW YORK -- On Thursday, while Gerrit Cole mowed down the Kansas City Royals in the  New York Yankees' series-clinching Game 4 win in the American League Division Series, Carlos Rodón took mental notes from the dugout. Not on anything Cole did to Royals hitters. Not on his approach or his pitch selection or his mechanics. But on Cole's demeanor around the mound. His tranquility as he navigated the only jam he encountered. The lack of screams and fist pumps. So cool, so calm. "It's just like a robot walking to the dugout," Rodón noted. Rodón's emotions sabotaged his first start of this postseason, in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Royals. He saw in Cole the model to emulate. On Monday, in the most important start of his professional career, Rodón nailed the imitation, tossing six brilliant innings in the Yankees' 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series. Rodón held the Guardians to one run on...

NEW YORK --  Juan Soto homered during New York's three-run third inning, Carlos Rodón got his first postseason win and the Yankees took advantage of Cleveland's wildness in a 5-2 victory on Monday night in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Cleveland became the second team to throw a pair of run-scoring wild pitches in a postseason inning and tied a postseason record with five overall. Guardians pitchers walked six in a nine-batter span and nine overall. Giancarlo Stanton added his 13th career postseason homer for the Yankees, who are seeking a record 41st AL pennant. New York batters have walked 36 times in five postseason games. "Getting the start-off win is big," Stanton said. "It's a message in its own." Rodón rebounded from the Yankees' only loss in the division series, limiting the Guardians to a pair of singles before Brayan Rocchio's sixth-inning homer. "The goal was to just stay in control, stay in control of what...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. --  Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for the remainder of the  LA Clippers' preseason, and his status for their season opener Oct. 23 remains uncertain. Leonard has not suited up this preseason, missing the first three games and Monday night's 110-96 win against the Dallas Mavericks because of inflammation in his right knee. "Continue to keep rehabbing," Clippers coach Ty Lue said when asked about the plan for Leonard this week. "Keep getting better. Keep checking the boxes." Lue said Leonard will not play in LA's preseason finale against the Kings on Thursday. Leonard has not participated in contact drills in training camp, as the team has been cautious with its franchise star. Lue has said that Leonard has spent practices strengthening his knee. Leonard missed the final eight games of last regular season and was limited to two games in the six-game, first-round loss to Dallas in the postseason because of inflammation in his...

Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George suffered a hyperextended left knee in the second quarter of Monday's preseason win in Atlanta and didn't return. "Hopefully it'll be OK, so he's back with us right away," 76ers coach Nick Nurse told reporters after the game. George, playing in his second preseason game with the 76ers after signing a four-year max contract as a free agent this offseason, was defending Hawks forward Jalen Johnson on a drive with a little over eight minutes to go in the second quarter when his left leg planted awkwardly and bent at an odd angle. He quickly exited the game and didn't return, with the team ruling George out for the remainder of the evening in the second half. "I felt that it hyperextended, and immediately it was, all right, I need to get taken out and (looked at), but if you ask me, I'm not too concerned about it," George told The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia had already ruled out  Joel Embiid for the rest of the...

LOS ANGELES -- The intentional walk, if you think about it, was appropriate. Two runners were on in a two-run game. First base was open with two outs. Francisco Lindor, a potential MVP who had already homered, was up to bat. And yet Mark Vientos, who would deliver the grand slam that set the tone in the  New York Mets' 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday, said he "took it personal." That reaction, if you ask Vientos' teammates, was also appropriate. "My man's got a lot of confidence in himself," said  Sean Manaea, the Mets' winning pitcher. "I love that." Vientos' grand slam off Landon Knack, who was expected to do most of the work in what qualified as a bullpen game for the Dodgers, capped a five-run second inning that helped the Mets split the first two games from Dodger Stadium, evening the best-of-seven NLCS with three games from New York's Citi Field on...

United States men's coach Mauricio Pochettino said the door is open for new players to feature against Mexico on Tuesday night at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara after the departure of five players. Marlon Fossey, Zack Steffen, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi left U.S. camp after a 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday due to injuries, while Christian Pulisic returned to AC Milan to avoid work overload. Now, Pochettino will use the upcoming friendly as the last chance to observe other players before the next international window in November. "It's really important for the players because I think we all want to have the opportunity to play, to show quality," said Pochettino on Monday ahead of the Mexico game. "It's true, it's a problem because I think we cannot have five players that can be involved in all of our quality. Some players that cannot be involved in the last game, against Panama and now in Mexico. "It's a little bit sad...

Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton, a two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection, will miss the rest of the season and end his decorated college career with an injury that will require surgery. Rams coach Jay Norvell did not specify the injury in a statement Monday night, although Horton left Saturday's game against San Jose State with an apparent knee injury late in the first half. He returned in the second half but was limited and finished the game with seven receptions for 75 yards. Horton, a two-time team captain who earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2022 and 2023, finishes his career just 35 yards shy of Colorado State's career receiving yards record. He spent two seasons with Nevada, where Norvell coached before CSU, before transferring and joining his coach. "His injury is season-ending, but he will fully recover and have his chance at the next level with the National Football League," Norvell said in a statement. "I am appreciative of Tory's...

The Columbus Blue Jackets now have what they call a "Johnny skate" at the end of practice. It's a shot someone takes from the far end of the ice toward the opposite goal. Make it, players skate one lap. Miss it, players skate three laps. That's as in 1 and 3. 13. Johnny Gaudreau's jersey number. And the shooter Monday missed it on purpose. Nobody minded, since it was Johnny Gaudreau's father. Guy Gaudreau -- the father of the late brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau -- was a guest at the Blue Jackets' practice in Columbus, a day before the team's home opener against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. He skated around with a few players, tapped his stick on the ice to encourage players as they skated past and had a fist-bump for everybody before the session ended "He loves the game, loves hockey," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "It was a joy to have him out there."   Guy Gaudreau is former hockey coach at Hollydell Ice Arena and Gloucester...

On the heels of three straight losses, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy took another hit during the Cowboys' bye week, suffering an unusual eye injury that forced him to move his weekly, in-person news conference to Zoom on Monday morning. "Well, I had a little run-in with my cattle over the weekend," Gundy told reporters. "I guess they've been watching us play and I got headbutted. So I've got a bad eye that I didn't think would be particularly enjoyable for people when they were looking at my pretty face in a live interview. "More importantly, it's full of blood, and I get dizzy. So it's not easy to be upright and be in a normal function. But other than that, I'm doing great." Gundy, in his 20th season in charge of Oklahoma State, is expected to coach the Cowboys when they visit No. 13 BYU on Friday. However, further details on the injury and how they might impact Gundy in his duties for the 9:15 p.m. ET kickoff in Provo, Utah, are not yet clear. "It should get better...

LOS ANGELES -- The New York Mets weren't sure what they were going to get with the Los Angeles Dodgers sending out a parade of relievers in a bullpen game. They found out right away. Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos homered as the Mets stopped the Dodgers' record-tying postseason scoreless streak in a 7-3 victory on Monday, tying the NL Championship Series at a game apiece. Lindor added to his storybook season with a leadoff homer in the first inning against Ryan Brasier. Vientos delivered during New York's five-run second, connecting for a grand slam against Landon Knack. Before Lindor went deep, Los Angeles had a string of 33 consecutive scoreless innings. Jack Flaherty led the Dodgers to a 9-0 victory in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday night. "I didn't know it," Lindor said of the Dodgers' streak. "I was just trying to have a quality at-bat and get the guys going." Sean Manaea opened Game 2 with four shutout innings for...

FRISCO, Texas -- A day after the most decisive home loss since 1988, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy attempted to take a big picture view. The Cowboys suffered the fourth largest home loss in franchise history in Sunday's 47-9 defeat against the Detroit Lions to fall to 3-3 overall. The decisiveness of the loss and how poorly the Cowboys played could be enough to affect the mental state of the team, but McCarthy still believes in the roster. "At the end of the day if we totally don't believe it's about us, it'll always be about us and play to who we are, what we do, how we do it, then we're not going to get to where we want to go," McCarthy said. "And I believe we will. I think this is an opportunity that we relish. I know I relish it. And I think they do too. "So this is a place that a lot of good can come out of it. Been here before. And I think this is a really good opportunity for our leadership. I think it's an excellent opportunity for our young guys to...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is inactive for Monday night's game against the New York Jets with a toe injury suffered in last week's loss to the Houston Texans. Cook was a limited participant in Saturday's practice after not participating earlier in the week, and was listed with a questionable designation going into the game. "It's getting better. Just improving every day," Cook said after Saturday's practice. "Trying to get it back stronger, and go out there and help the team, like I said, I'm just taking it day by day, treatment, see what, how I feel on Monday." Without Cook available, the team has elevated rookie running back Frank Gore Jr. from the practice squad. This will be his first career game action. Running backs Ty Johnson and rookie Ray Davis are expected to take on a significant load in Cook's absence. The Bills are looking avoid a three-game losing streak for the first time...

Notre Dame landed a commitment from four-star quarterback Blake Hebert on Monday, flipping the longtime Clemson pledge and securing a quarterback for the Irish's 2025 class less than two weeks after Deuce Knight's seismic flip to Auburn. Hebert, ESPN's No. 6 dual-threat passer in 2025, announced his decommitment from Clemson via X before giving his pledge to Notre Dame minutes later Monday evening. Hebert, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback from Greenwich, Connecticut, had been committed to Dabo Swinney and the Tigers since June 16, 2023. With his recruitment closed, Hebert took a pair of trips to Clemson earlier this year, most recently on an official visit in May. Yet the quarterback landscape in the 2025 cycle shifted when Knight, ESPN's No. 2 dual-threat quarterback, pulled his pledge from Notre Dame on Oct. 2 and committed to Auburn, ending a lengthy recruiting saga that began in the summer. The Irish were aggressive in their pursuit to...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- After leaving Sunday's game against the Broncos with an irregular heartbeat, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that he will wear a heart monitor for the next two weeks and take a blood thinner and another medication to keep his heart from spiking. Harbaugh on Monday saw a cardiologist whom he said did not recommend a medical procedure but said he could have one in the future. In 1999 and 2012 Harbaugh had an ablation, which is a procedure that uses heat or cold to destroy heart tissue that is causing an irregular heartbeat. Harbaugh said he is not considering stepping away from football. "It would take my heart stopping for me not to be out there on the sideline," Harbaugh said. He said he will continue to follow doctors' directives and that he learned more about managing his heart.   "I'm pretty confident on this one that I know what it is and how to deal with it," Harbaugh said. "But as always, we'll address the doctors and...

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- If there's one thing that Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell says he has learned about Aidan Hutchinson, it's not to bet against him. Campbell anticipates a four- to six-month recovery process for the Lions' star edge rusher after he underwent surgery to repair his fractured tibia and fibula, but the coach refuses to call it a season-ending injury. "I would never count Hutch out. Ever," Campbell said. "So, probably a long road, but I would never count him out and I would say if anybody can make it back, it'd be him." Campbell said Hutchinson's surgery went great Sunday night at Baylor White Medical Center in Irving, Texas. During Sunday's 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, Hutchinson injured his left leg on a play in which he was sacking Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. While pulling down Prescott, Hutchinson's leg appeared to snap above the ankle when it hit the left leg of teammate Alim McNeill. He...

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles coach Nick Sirianni apologized for his interaction with a group of fans at the end of Sunday's home game against the Cleveland Browns. "I was trying to bring energy and enthusiasm yesterday, and I'm sorry and disappointed at how my energy was directed at the end of the game," he said during his videoconference with reporters Monday. "My energy should be all-in on coaching, motivating and celebrating with our guys. And I've got to have better wisdom and discernment of when to use that energy and that wasn't the time." As the Eagles secured a 20-16 win over Cleveland, Sirianni was seen on camera yelling and gesturing toward fans in the section behind the team's sideline. At one point he put his finger up to his ear, seeming to suggest he had silenced their chirping with a victory. Boos rained down for parts of the game as the offense sputtered at times and the talent-rich Eagles struggled to separate from the now 1-5 Browns. Though not...

LOS ANGELES -- Injured Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw plans to return for another season in 2025, he said Monday. "I had some tough luck with my toe this year, but I want to make use of this surgery," Kershaw told Fox before Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets. "I don't want to have surgery and then shut it down. So I'm going to come back next year and give it a go. See how it goes. "My shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm feels great." The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner and former NL MVP will not appear for the Dodgers this postseason because of troublesome bone spurs in his left big toe. Kershaw, a 10-time All-Star, appeared in only seven games during the regular season, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA after undergoing shoulder surgery after the 2023 season. The surgery delayed Kershaw's 2024 debut until July 25 and played a key role in his decision to return for an 18th...

Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen will sit out the rest of the season after tearing his left pectoral muscle Sunday, coach Dan Quinn announced Monday. Allen sustained the tear during the third quarter of a 30-23 loss to Baltimore, rolling over in pain after running back Derrick Henry scored on a 7-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes, 12 seconds left. Allen had tests on the sideline and after the game, and later expressed optimism in the locker room about his health outlook. But an MRI on Monday afternoon revealed the tear. Quinn said Allen would undergo surgery "in the coming days." Washington also had two other defensive linemen exit the game because of injuries -- defensive ends Dorance Armstrong (rib) and Javontae Jean-Baptiste (right foot). Quinn said both are undergoing more tests. He said initial X-rays on Jean-Baptiste were negative. Allen has been one of Washington's top defensive linemen since the team drafted him in the...