Sports News

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost both star wide receivers -- Mike Evans and Chris Godwin -- in a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on "Monday Night Football," with Godwin suffering what coach Todd Bowles said was a dislocated left ankle and Evans sustaining a right hamstring injury. Bowles said he was waiting for further details on Evans but that "it [didn't] look good" for Godwin, who was met by several teammates in the training room after the game. "Our prayers go out to him," Bowles said of Godwin. "Chris is a hell of a player and a hell of a human being. Not much you can say. You feel bad for him, and unfortunately, they're not going to cancel the games. We got to step up and move on. But our hearts are heavy." With 1:04 left in regulation, Godwin caught a pass from Mayfield and was tackled from behind by inside linebacker Roquan Smith, with Godwin's left ankle appearing to get caught beneath Smith. Several...

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost both star wide receivers -- Mike Evans and Chris Godwin -- in a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on "Monday Night Football," with Godwin suffering what coach Todd Bowles said was a dislocated left ankle and Evans sustaining a right hamstring injury. Bowles said he was waiting for further details on Evans but that "it [didn't] look good" for Godwin, who was met by several teammates in the training room after the game. "Our prayers go out to him," Bowles said of Godwin. "Chris is a hell of a player and a hell of a human being. Not much you can say. You feel bad for him, and unfortunately, they're not going to cancel the games. We got to step up and move on. But our hearts are heavy." With 1:04 left in regulation, Godwin caught a pass from Mayfield and was tackled from behind by inside linebacker Roquan Smith, with Godwin's left ankle appearing to get caught beneath Smith. Several...

TAMPA, Fla. -- In making the case for a third NFL Most Valuable Player award, Lamar Jackson is apparently a triple threat now. In addition to throwing five touchdown passes and rushing for 52 yards Monday night, Jackson showed off his latest skill -- lead blocking for Derrick Henry in the  Baltimore Ravens' 41-31 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the Ravens ahead by 16 points (34-18) in the fourth quarter, Jackson saw Henry switch directions and ran upfield to push All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. out of the way to help Henry to a 39-yard gain. "Lamar is the ultimate competitor," Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said. "He lays it all out on the line every game. [He's] just really awesome, and he's the best. He's the MVP." For the first time this season, Jackson has catapulted himself to being the betting favorite for NFL Most Valuable Player, according to ESPN BET. Jackson's odds are now +275, which puts him ahead...

DETROIT -- The bumpy start to  Jameson Williams' career continues, as the Detroit Lions wide receiver is facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy, sources told ESPN on Monday night. Williams, 23, has the team's second-most receiving yards (361) and touchdowns (3), behind All-Pro wideout  Amon-Ra St. Brown, and he was off to a strong start in his third season. The Lions (5-1) are coming off a thrilling 31-29 win at the  Minnesota Vikings (5-1) in Week 7, but Williams was targeted only once for minus-4 yards. As the No. 12 pick out of Alabama in the 2022 draft, Williams' NFL career has kicked off in a less-than-ideal manner. He missed the first 11 games of his rookie season because of an ACL injury he suffered in college, then was suspended four games for violating the NFL's gambling policy in his second season. The gambling suspension, for mobile betting on non-NFL games from a club...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders are signing quarterback Desmond Ridder, a former third-round draft pick, off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, a source confirmed to ESPN on Monday. Ridder, who has an 8-9 record in 19 career games with the Atlanta Falcons, joins the Raiders after starter Aidan O'Connell broke the thumb on his right (passing) hand in the first quarter of Sunday's loss at the Los Angeles Rams. O'Connell had replaced a benched Gardner Minshew last week but is expected to miss four to six weeks, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Minshew, after throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown against the Rams, is tied for the league lead with 10 turnovers, along with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis. The Raiders also have undrafted rookie quarterback Carter Bradley on the practice squad. Ridder, 25, has passed for 3,544...

Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold will get the start under center when the  Sooners visit No. 18  Ole Miss on Saturday, coach Brent Venables announced during his coach's show Monday night. Arnold, the sophomore passer, began the season as Oklahoma's starter but had not appeared in a game since Sept. 21, before he came off the bench Saturday to replace freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. in the first quarter of the Sooners' 35-9 defeat to  South Carolina. Arnold completed 18 of his 36 passes for 225 yards with a touchdown in the Week 8 loss, which dropped Oklahoma to 4-3 and 1-3 in SEC play. Arnold's return against the Gamecocks marked his fifth appearance this fall, officially burning his opportunity to redshirt and leaving him with two seasons of eligibility remaining. In Week 9, the former five-star prospect will make his first start since he was benched in a 25-15 loss to  Tennessee in Week 4, back under center on...

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon agreed to a four-year, $133 million contract extension, Klutch Sports' Calvin Andrews and Rich Paul, and Elise Gordon, told ESPN. The deal, which includes a player option in 2028-29 and a trade kicker, comes via the forward opting in on his $23 million salary for 2025-26 then adding three additional years at his maximum salary, including bonuses. It allows the Nuggets to secure one of the best role players in the league and a critical member of Denver's 2023 championship team. After losing key cog Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency to the  Orlando Magic this summer, it was imperative for Denver to keep Gordon long term. Gordon averaged 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 55.6% from the field in 2023-24.  After spending the first 6½ years of his career in Orlando, Gordon was acquired by the Nuggets at the 2021 trade deadline. His versatile two-way ability made him the final part of Denver's championship...

Neymar has made his first appearance in over a year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear, coming off the bench in the second half of  Al Hilal's AFC Champions League Elite clash against Al Ain. The Brazil star replaced Nasser Al Dawsari in the 77th minute, just after Salem Al Dawsari had scored to put Al Hilal 5-3 ahead. He nearly made an instant impact, exchanging passes with  Aleksandar Mitrovic to create space before firing his shot just wide of the left-hand post. The game finished 5-4 to Al Hilal after the United Arab Emirates-based Al Ain scored a last-gasp penalty to narrow the scoreline. On the pitch after the full-time whistle, Neymar said: "I feel good... I always have a good team. I'm so happy. I'm back! I'm back! The former  Paris Saint-Germain player  suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury during Brazil's qualifier against Uruguay shortly after joining the Saudi Pro League (SPL). He underwent...

The Golden State Warriors and forward Jonathan Kuminga did not reach a new deal before Monday's 6 p.m. ET deadline for rookie contract extensions. The Warriors and Kuminga's representative, Aaron Turner of Verus Basketball, have been in discussions over the past several months but talks never gained traction. Kuminga believes in his talent and ability to progress into a star in the league, and the Warriors have seen statistics that measure his growth similarly to the early years of the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, Indiana's Pascal Siakam and Boston's Jaylen Brown.   The Warriors, however, prefer to view Kuminga's growth this coming season. The fit between Kuminga and coach Steve Kerr is also something Warriors officials are monitoring, sources said. Despite not coming to an agreement, the Warriors still have Kuminga's rights in free agency next summer. "Just because you don't get an extension done doesn't mean they're not going to be...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Less than 24 hours after wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk injured his right knee against the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers got the bad news they were expecting. Aiyuk tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee, which will require surgery and end his 2024 season after just seven games, coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday. What's more, the illness that limited wideout  Deebo Samuel to four snaps against the Chiefs is technically a form of pneumonia, according to Shanahan. Samuel has some fluid buildup in his lungs and remains in a local hospital after checking in Sunday night. "I think it started acting up in the middle of the night Saturday night or early Sunday morning and then it just kind of evolved as the day went," Shanahan said of Samuel. "Once we found out he had the fluid in his lungs and stuff after the game, then I believe they sent him over there." Shanahan said there's...

LOS ANGELES -- More than 30 years after they became the first father-son duo to team up in MLB history, Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. will be in the building Tuesday to potentially see LeBron James and Bronny James play in the same game in the NBA. "I'm actually going to go to the game and I'm going to take my dad," Griffey Jr. said of the Minnesota Timberwolves- Los Angeles Lakers regular-season opener as a guest on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM this week. "First father and son to play baseball, now first father and son to play basketball, so it's a big deal for my dad and I to be there. We made history, now we get to watch history." The Griffeys were teammates on the Seattle Mariners in 1990 and 1991 and famously hit back-to-back home runs on Sept. 14, 1990. Senior hit his first, and Junior completed the moment. LeBron and Bronny played together once during the Lakers' six-game preseason schedule but did not link up for any assists in either...

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun has agreed on a five-year, $185 million rookie extension, his agents Sean Kennedy and Jeff Schwartz of Excel Basketball told ESPN's Bobby Marks. The contract includes a player option in the last year.  The deal comes ahead of a 6 p.m. ET deadline for rookie extensions. Sengun becomes the first player to sign a five-year rookie extension and have a player option since Luka Doncic and Trae Young. Sengun, 22, blossomed into an All-Star candidate last season -- and earned a third-place finish in Most Improved Player voting -- by averaging 21.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5 assists per game for Houston before his season was cut short by an ankle injury.   He was one of just six players to average at least 21, 9 and 5 last season, with the others being Doncic,  Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Julius Randle. Sengun was taken with the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA draft by...

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green has agreed to a three-year, $106 million rookie contract extension with the franchise, CAA's Aaron Mintz, Andrew Morrison and Shakira Wardally told ESPN. The deal includes a player option in the third season, providing Green the ability to increase his earning potential down the road, sources said. Green is the first NBA player ever to successfully negotiate a 2-plus-1 rookie extension on a nine-figure deal.   For Green, 22, the agreement is another trend-setting moment. He became the pioneer for the NBA's G League Ignite as the first signing in 2020, then went second overall to the Rockets in the 2021 draft. The three-year deal provides Green with financial flexibility in the short term and the ability to earn more than $240 million total over the next five years -- more than the $224 million current maximum -- because of his extension eligibility as soon as October 2026 and the ability to opt out at the age of 25. Green closed...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Less than 24 hours after wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk injured his right knee against the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers got the bad news they were expecting. Aiyuk suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will require surgery and end his 2024 season after only seven games, a source confirmed to ESPN. On Monday, tests confirmed what Niners coach Kyle Shanahan was expecting Sunday night. After a 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Shanahan said all signs pointed toward an ACL but a closer look was still needed and that the Niners were "praying" they were wrong. Aiyuk's injury happened with 48 seconds left in the second quarter. Quarterback Brock Purdy squeezed a pass to Aiyuk between Kansas City defensive backs Chamarri Conner and Trent McDuffie for a gain of 15 yards. As Conner and McDuffie converged on Aiyuk, his knee appeared to hyperextend. Niners medical personnel...

Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver DK Metcalf suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain, coach Mike Macdonald said Monday. A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter earlier Monday that Metcalf is considered week-to-week. Macdonald, in a videoconference with reporters later in the day, did not rule out the possibility of Metcalf playing in the Seahawks' Week 8 game against the Buffalo Bills in Seattle, describing his injury as "minor." "Timeline, I'm not sure," Macdonald said. "It doesn't look like it's a long-term injury and I know you guys know DK, we know DK -- he's going to probably do anything humanly possible to be able to play in this game, I would imagine. We'll assess it as the week kind of unfolds here." Metcalf, whose 568 receiving yards are second-most in the NFL this season, was hurt late in the third quarter of Sunday's win over the Atlanta Falcons while attempting to make a sideline catch. The Fox broadcast later showed a replay of the receiver recoiling in...

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels did not suffer long-term damage to his ribs Sunday, and there's a chance he'll play next Sunday against the Chicago Bears, coach Dan Quinn said Monday. Quinn called Daniels "week-to-week" with a rib injury that he incurred on his first play from scrimmage, a 46-yard run in which he was tackled from behind by two Carolina Panthers, causing him to fall awkwardly, in Washington's 40-7 victory. Daniels left the game after the Commanders' first series and did not return. "We're hopeful he can play," Quinn said, "but we'll also make sure to take every precautionary step and do it smartly for the player and the man." Washington (5-2) hosts Chicago (4-2) this Sunday in a game that would pit the top two quarterbacks picked in the 2024 draft. The Bears selected Caleb Williams with the first pick; Washington chose Daniels at No. 2. But that matchup could be put on hold depending on how Daniels fares during...

AUSTIN, Texas -- Coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday that the Texas Longhorns' "passionate fan base" needs to use "better discretion" after the school was fined and threatened with further sanctions by the SEC. Texas fans pelted the field with water bottles and trash in the third quarter of Saturday night's loss to Georgia after an apparent pass interference penalty against the Longhorns. The game was briefly delayed for cleanup before the penalty was ultimately reversed. Sarkisian went on the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to implore fans to stop throwing things. "I know that we've got a passionate fan base, and I think that showed Saturday night," Sarkisian said Monday. "I think we all were a little upset in that moment. I just think that we've all got to use a little better discretion in moments like that. "We don't want that to be the narrative that that's what DKR is all about. It was too good of a football game for that to be...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will return to practice this week after missing the team's past four games, coach Mike McDaniel said Monday. Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve after he was diagnosed with a concussion in Week 2, the third diagnosed concussion of his NFL career. In his absence this season, the Dolphins (2-4) lost three of their four games and are 2½ games behind the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills. McDaniel said medical experts have deemed it safe for Tagovailoa to return; barring any setbacks, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are aiming for him to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. He technically has not cleared concussion protocol but isn't able to do so until he resumes practicing. "This week, our plan is [for Tagovailoa] to start practicing on Wednesday," McDaniel said. "The clearing doesn't come until after some of the activity, but we're obviously doing so in the hope of everything going well...

The Golden State Warriors and forward Jonathan Kuminga will not reach a new deal before Monday's 6 p.m. ET deadline for rookie contract extensions, sources told ESPN. The Warriors and Kuminga's representative, Aaron Turner of Verus Basketball, have been in discussions over the past several months but talks never gained traction. Kuminga believes in his talent and ability to progress into a star in the league, and the Warriors have seen statistics that measure his growth similarly to the early years of the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, Indiana's Pascal Siakam and Boston's Jaylen Brown.   The Warriors, however, prefer to view Kuminga's growth this coming season. The fit between Kuminga and coach Steve Kerr is also something Warriors officials are monitoring, sources said. Despite not coming to an agreement, the Warriors still have Kuminga's rights in free agency next summer. "Just because you don't get an extension done doesn't mean they're...

The Memphis Grizzlies and Jaren Jackson Jr. will revisit extension talks next offseason, sources tell ESPN. Jackson has two years left on his contract and was eligible to sign a three-year $106 million extension prior to the Monday night deadline. Starting the day after the 2025 NBA Finals conclude, Memphis is allowed to offer Jackson a four-year $147 million extension. If he is named Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA or wins MVP this season, he would than become eligible to sign a five-year $345 million super max extension. Jackson was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and has been selected All-Defensive twice. He averaged a career high 22.5 points last season.

WNBA players have opted out of their current collective bargaining agreement and face the prospect of a work stoppage if they don't negotiate a new deal with the league by the end of the 2025 season. The elected members of the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) announced Monday that players are seeking "a business model that reflects their true value, encompassing higher salaries, enhanced professional working conditions, expanded health benefits, and crucial investments needed for long-term growth." Players had until Nov. 1 to opt out of the current deal, which was set to expire in 2027 and will still be in effect until Oct. 31, 2025. The two sides have a year to come to an agreement. Citing higher television ratings, attendance figures and franchise values, the union said the time is right for renegotiating with the league and owners. The league also recently entered into a historic 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC for $200...

NEW YORK -- When Nestor Cortes was placed on the injured list on Sept. 25, the New York Yankees weren't optimistic about his chances of pitching again in 2024. Elbow flexor strains often lead to significant elbow injuries. Even if this one did not, the Yankees would have to make a deep postseason run for his return to even be a consideration. Chances were slim. But the Yankees have made that deep postseason run. And now Cortes will likely be on the Yankees' roster for Game 1 of the World Series on Friday -- exactly one month after he was put on the injured list. "I think there's a good chance of it," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in a call with reporters Monday. Cortes' availability is predicated on him emerging healthy from a live bullpen session Tuesday. The left-hander threw a 20-pitch live bullpen session Saturday in Cleveland before Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. The Yankees beat the Guardians that night to win their first AL pennant since 2009...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will return to practice this week after missing the team's past four games, coach Mike McDaniel said Monday. Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve after he was diagnosed with a concussion in Week 2, the third diagnosed concussion of his NFL career. In his absence this season, the Dolphins lost three of their four games and are two and a half games behind the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills with a 2-4 record. McDaniel said medical experts have deemed it safe for Tagovailoa to return; barring any setbacks, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are aiming for him to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Tagovailoa spent the past month resting and meeting with neurologists in order to determine the viability of resuming to play. Sources told ESPN that he hasn't displayed concussion symptoms in weeks, and Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert said Tagovailoa felt well enough to attend a...

Michigan is not yet naming a starting quarterback ahead of its rivalry game against Michigan State, as coach Sherrone Moore said a decision will be made depending on how practices go this week. Jack Tuttle, who replaced Alex Orji in an Oct. 5 loss to Washington, on Saturday became the third quarterback to start for the Wolverines (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) this season. Tuttle struggled with his accuracy early but finished with 209 passing yards -- a season-high total for U-M quarterbacks -- in a 21-7 loss to Illinois. Michigan failed to score 10 points for the first time in 131 consecutive games, dating to a shutout loss against Notre Dame in 2014. The Wolverines opened the season with Davis Warren, a former walk-on, at quarterback, but he was replaced by Orji following a three-interception performance against Arkansas State. Orji, primarily used as a running quarterback in 2023, struggled with his accuracy and tallied only...

An MRI revealed that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has a season-ending ruptured right Achilles tendon, the team announced Monday. Coach Kevin Stefanski had said after his team's 21-14 loss to the Bengals on Sunday that it appeared Watson had suffered a season-ending injury. Stefanski said Monday that Watson will have surgery this week. He was unaware of the exact type of procedure Watson would undergo. After New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers ruptured his Achilles in the 2023 season opener, he underwent a SpeedBridge repair that allowed him to return to practice 11 weeks later. By the spring, Rodgers was cleared to practice with no restrictions. "We feel bad for Deshaun," Stefanski said. "In this case, feel bad to lose him for the season. And we also know as a football team, this is where you have to step up. Guys have to step up, and that's just how it goes." Stefanski did not commit to a starting quarterback for next...

New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III has agreed to a four-year, $112 million rookie contract extension with the franchise, sources told ESPN. The deal includes no incentives and no player option, sources said. Murphy, 24, averaged 14.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game primarily in a reserve role last season. The 6-foot-8 Murphy has established himself as an outstanding 3-and-D wing. He is a 39.2% career 3-point shooter, including 38.0% on 7.8 attempts per game last season. According to ESPN Research, Murphy and teammate CJ McCollum are the only players in franchise history to make at least 150 3s in multiple seasons. Opponents shot only 42.2% from the floor when Murphy was the closest defender last season. That was the fifth-lowest percentage among 201 players who were the closest defender on at least 500 shots, according to Second Spectrum data. Murphy is likely to miss the start of the regular season due to a right hamstring strain. New Orleans opens at...

An MRI revealed that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has a season-ending ruptured right Achilles, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. Coach Kevin Stefanski had said after his team's 21-14 loss to the Bengals on Sunday that it appeared Watson had suffered a season-ending injury. Watson suffered the injury when his leg appeared to get hyperextended on a noncontact play as he tried to carry the ball on the first snap after the two-minute warning. Watson immediately gave himself up and fell to the ground. Shortly thereafter, a cart came onto the field and carried off an emotional Watson. The entire Browns sideline came onto the field as he was placed on the cart. Multiple players expressed frustration postgame with fans who appeared to cheer after Watson's injury. Watson was met with boos in pregame introductions, which were quickly drowned out by cheers for running back Nick Chubb, who made his season debut after last year's...

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell is expected to miss four to six weeks with a broken thumb on his right (throwing) hand, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. O'Connell, who was wearing a heavily wrapped splint on the thumb after Sunday's 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, will undergo more tests Monday. The quarterback said Sunday he suffered a similar-feeling injury in middle school. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce didn't have an update on O'Connell as of Monday afternoon. He said he wasn't sure whether the Raiders will add another quarterback as it depends on O'Connell's status. "Once we know what's going on with Aidan, I'm sure we're going to have to look at all our options," Pierce said. It was during the Raiders' second offensive series of the day when, on second-and-10, O'Connell attempted a deep pass to the right side and was hit on his follow-through by Rams safety  Kamren Curl. With no receiver in the vicinity, O'Connell was...

It took 27 years, but the New York Liberty are finally WNBA champions. They'll be favorites to reclaim the franchise's second title next season. The Liberty opened as +200 favorites to win the 2025 WNBA Finals, according to ESPN BET odds. They improved from second on last year's odds board, where they were also +200 at open, but +245 prior to the start of the 2024 season. This year's runners-up, the Minnesota Lynx, check in at second with +350 odds, a vast improvement from the +5000 they showed just before the 2024 campaign tipped off. Minnesota massively defied expectations by making it to the Finals and winning the Commissioner's Cup. The Indiana Fever, who made the playoffs for the first time since 2016 on the back of guard Caitlin Clark's stellar rookie campaign, are another big mover. They opened with +1000 odds to win the 2025 championship and will likely be a popular future play among the betting public. The Las Vegas Aces, perennial...

LOS ANGELES -- In the end, when the  Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the World Series and created the matchup that will captivate an entire nation, it was a group of seven relievers who tackled nine innings. It was Tommy Edman, an unheralded midseason pickup, who supplied most of the production. And it was Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith, mired in weekslong slumps, who turned it on when they needed to most. The 2024 Dodgers were initially defined by their stars. As their season evolved, they were thwarted by injuries. And when adversity hit, they were bolstered by the sum of their parts -- by a fellowship that empowered them. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts alluded to it on the makeshift stage that was set up on Dodger Stadium's outfield grass Sunday night, in the wake of a 10-5, pennant-clinching victory over the New York Mets in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, when he repeated an oft-used phrase. "I've never...

PITTSBURGH -- Two scenes in the  New York Jets' postgame locker room told the story of their 37-15 loss Sunday night to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Newly acquired wide receiver Davante Adams, surrounded by reporters, seemed incredulous that an offense with so much talent managed only two touchdowns and was shut out in the second half. "That's almost what pisses you off even more, knowing that you've got those type of weapons and to come up short ..." he said. As Adams spoke, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Garrett Wilson -- in the far corner of the room -- embraced for several seconds. It was a consolation hug. Wilson blamed himself for the Jets' fourth straight loss, saying his third-quarter drop -- intercepted by nickel back  Beanie Bishop Jr. -- was the turning point. It was that type of night for the Jets (2-5): Emotional, frustrating and bitterly disappointing. They're 0-2 under interim...

The inaugural season of TGL presented by SoFi, the tech-infused golf league fronted by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, will tee off Jan. 7 on ESPN, the league announced Monday. New York Golf Club, led by two-time major champion Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler, will square off against The Bay Golf Club, which includes Ludvig Åberg and Wyndham Clark, in the first TGL match on Jan. 7 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN+). "In partnership with ESPN, our season will complement the PGA TOUR's FedEx Cup Season with a fast-paced team competition that aims to captivate a wide range of sports fans with elements, like a shot clock, that are familiar to fans of other sports," TMRW Sports CEO and founder Mike McCarley said in a statement. "TGL's two-hour matches are perfect for prime time and will help bring more fans closer to some of the biggest names in golf." Woods' Jupiter Links Golf Club will face Los Angeles Golf Club in the second match on Jan....

PITTSBURGH -- As the offense trudged off the field following its third consecutive three-and-out early in the second quarter Sunday night, loud boos rained down from a listless Acrisure Stadium crowd. And if there was any doubt about the primary target of the vocal frustration, the chants for Justin Fields made it abundantly clear: Russell Wilson's subpar play and inaccuracy was at the heart of the crowd's discontent. Two hours and 31 unanswered points later, though, the crowd sang along to Biz Markie and Mac Miller as Wilson quarterbacked the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 37-15 win against the New York Jets in prime time, setting a franchise record for passing yards and points scored in a debut along the way. Wilson finished his injury-delayed regular-season debut with 264 passing yards and three total touchdowns. And after completing just 2 of 6 attempts for 19 yards in the first quarter -- including a 15-yard completion to Darnell...

NEW YORK --  Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said the 2024 WNBA title was "stolen" from her team due to what she called "incredibly disappointing" officiating in Sunday's 67-62 overtime loss to the  New York Liberty in the deciding Game 5 of the Finals. Reeve took umbrage in particular with a foul call on Lynx center Alanna Smith with 5.2 seconds left in regulation. After missing a pair of foul shots a few plays earlier, 2023 WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart went to the free throw line and made both attempts for New York to tie the score, effectively sending the game into overtime. "All the headlines will be, 'Reeve cries foul.' Bring it on." Reeve said. "Bring it on. Because this s--- was stolen from us. Bring it on." The Lynx challenged the call, but it was upheld. Reeve said after the game that a third party should be involved in reviewing challenges. "At the other end when they challenged it, if we would have turned that clip in, they...

Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton is expected to miss Wednesday's season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN on Monday. The three-time All-Star will be out to start the NBA season as he rehabs from offseason ankle surgeries, and the Bucks are cautiously progressing Middleton toward a return, sources told ESPN. Middleton did not appear in a preseason game and still hasn't been cleared to participate in the team's 5-on-5 scrimmages at practice. He had participating in 3-on-3 scrimmages for most of the preseason, but Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters over the weekend that Middleton has been limited in practice since Wednesday. Taurean Prince has been filling in in the starting lineup during the preseason during Middleton's absence. Middleton sprained his left ankle in a Feb. 6 game against the Phoenix Suns after he landed on Kevin Durant's foot following a jump shot. Middleton then missed the next 16 games with the...

LOS ANGELES -- Tommy Edman and Will Smith homered to send Shohei Ohtani into the World Series for the first time, and the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the New York Mets with a 10-5 victory in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night. The Dodgers clinched their record 25th NL pennant and first at home since 1988, when they beat the Mets in seven games. They moved on to their 22nd World Series -- 13th in Los Angeles -- and first since 2020, when they beat Tampa Bay during the pandemic-delayed season. Next up for Ohtani & Co. is a matchup with  Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees, who are back in the World Series for the 41st time and first in 15 years. Game 1 is Friday at Dodger Stadium, pitting Judge (58) and Ohtani (54) -- MLB's top home run hitters this season. It'll be the 12th time the storied franchises meet in the World Series and the first in 43 years. The Yankees have beaten the...

NEW YORK -- The franchise that won the first game in WNBA history finally has won the last game of the season. More than 27 years after playing for league's inaugural championship and following several near misses, the New York Liberty are WNBA champions following a 67-62 overtime victory Sunday over the Minnesota Lynx. Breanna Stewart sealed the win with two free throws with 10.1 seconds left in the extra period. After Leonie Fiebich stole a pass, the Liberty dribbled out the clock on a victory that was as hard-fought and dramatic as any in a Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The Liberty prevailed 3-2 in a series marked by huge shots and big momentum shifts in the first three games. Little separated the teams in Game 4, which the Lynx won on two free throws with two seconds left. In Game 5, before a packed house at Barclays Center, the Liberty battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit to take a 47-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter. So many...

Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, who helped the team to consecutive conference championships in 2021 and 2022, has stepped down amid a second season of struggles, coach Kyle Whittingham announced Sunday night. Ludwig, in his second stint as Utah's offensive coordinator, had overseen the offense since 2019 after previously working there from 2005 to 2008. Whittingham didn't immediately name a replacement. "Andy is the consummate professional and we want to thank him for his complete dedication to our program during his 10 total seasons with us," Whittingham said in a statement. "Coach Ludwig has been instrumental to our success here at Utah and personally, I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Andy as both a coach and a person." Utah finished 98th nationally in scoring last season and has slipped to 95th this season following Saturday's 13-7 home loss to TCU. Top quarterback  Cameron Rising missed all of the 2023 season because of a knee injury and...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Lying in a hospital bed in the 24 hours after he'd been shot through the chest in an alleged armed robbery attempt, Ricky Pearsall had two questions for anyone who entered his orbit: Am I going to live and, if so, am I going to be able to play football again? The answer to the first question came quickly, with doctors assuring Pearsall that though his injury was significant, he was going to survive. The answer to the second required multiple tests and a long, difficult night. And though doctors informed Pearsall on the morning of Sept. 1, that, yes, playing receiver for the San Francisco 49ers could still be in his future, the real answer came Sunday, when he tugged his red No. 14 jersey over his shoulder pads and played in his first NFL regular-season game against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a moment 50 days in the making. "It meant everything," said Pearsall, speaking publicly for the first time since the shooting....

LANDOVER, Md. -- The Washington Commanders don't yet know if quarterback Jayden Daniels will miss any time with a rib injury that caused him to leave Sunday's win over Carolina in the first quarter, but they did find out they could still be effective on offense without him. Daniels suffered a rib injury on Washington's first possession and was eventually ruled out. Marcus Mariota replaced him and completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns while leading six scoring drives in the 40-7 rout. Coach Dan Quinn said he had "no update" on Daniels after the game, saying more tests would be conducted Monday to determine the extent of his injury. "I'll give you some updates just as soon as I find out tomorrow, but I do not have any tonight," Quinn said. Daniels' mom, Regina, posted to social media that "he's fine," and multiple sources told ESPN after the initial X-rays that Daniels was OK. He stood on the sideline in street...

Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody has agreed to a three-year, $39 million rookie contract extension with the franchise, CEO of Klutch Sports, Rich Paul, told ESPN on Sunday night. Warriors officials and Paul have been negotiating a new deal for Moody, who is in the final year of a rookie contract he signed after being drafted with the No. 14 pick in 2021.  Moody has developed into a key, reliable rotation player for Steve Kerr during this year's training camp and is expected to receive an enhanced role for the Warriors this upcoming campaign. Last season, Moody averaged eight points in 17.5 minutes in 66 games played, setting career highs in scoring, playing time, rebounds, steals and blocks. At the end of that season, Kerr said he wanted to see Moody become a more aggressive shooter, especially on catch-and-shoot shots. Moody averaged 15.5 points in 20 minutes through the preseason, including three starts. He shot 45.6% from the floor and 39.4% from 3 on 5.5...

The Oklahoma Sooners have fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, it was announced Sunday. Oklahoma is moving on from the first-year playcaller one day after the offense sputtered again in a 35-9 home loss to South Carolina. "Seth is an all-time great Sooner," Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said in a statement. "He has a deep love for this university and football program, and has poured his heart and soul into both. Despite that, our performance as an offense this season has not at all lived up to the OU standard and I felt a change was necessary now." Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley will take over interim playcalling duties while analyst Kevin Johns, the former Duke offensive coordinator, has been promoted to interim quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. The unranked Sooners, who are 1-3 in their SEC debut, head to Ole Miss in Week 9 ranked 128th nationally in total offense and 107th in scoring. They have 11 turnovers...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- On a day when the San Francisco 49ers celebrated the return of one wide receiver, they lost another -- possibly for the season. Brandon Aiyuk, who has led the Niners in most receiving categories in the past two seasons, suffered what the team fears is a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Sunday's 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. If the further testing Aiyuk has coming in the next 24 hours confirms that diagnosis, Aiyuk will need surgery and miss the rest of the season. "That's what it looks like, but we don't know for sure," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "Been wrong before. So, praying that we are." At the start of the day, Aiyuk was the only healthy 49er among the team's top three wideouts. Jauan Jennings was ruled out Friday with a hip injury, while  Deebo Samuel arrived at Levi's Stadium with an illness that was announced about 30 minutes before the game with the caveat that Samuel was...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Already missing one of their top three receivers, the San Francisco 49ers lost wideouts  Deebo Samuel (illness) and Brandon Aiyuk (right knee injury) during Sunday's 28-18 defeat to the  Kansas City Chiefs. Of most immediate concern was the injury to Aiyuk. With 48 seconds left in the second quarter, Niners quarterback Brock Purdy found Aiyuk between two Chiefs defenders for a gain of 15 yards. Chiefs defensive backs Chamarri Conner and Trent McDuffie converged on Aiyuk as he took a low hit, leaving his knee in a precarious position. Aiyuk stayed down as Niners medical personnel came out to help before he was able to get up, slowly limp to the sideline and head to the medical tent. He went to the locker room soon after and a return was ruled out as the third quarter opened. The injury to Aiyuk comes after Samuel came down with an illness Sunday morning. Samuel didn't do much in warmups and the...

Southern Miss has fired coach Will Hall, ending his tenure at 14-30 over four seasons, it was announced Sunday. Hall will be owed nearly $860,000, per his contract. The Golden Eagles are 1-6 this season after Saturday's 44-28 loss to Arkansas State.  He went 7-6 in his second season at Southern Miss, including a win in the LendingTree Bowl, but he has gone 4-15 since, prompting the administration to make a change. "We are grateful to Will and his family for their dedication to Southern Miss over the past four years," athletic director Jeremy McClain said in a statement. "Will poured his heart and soul into this program and into shaping these young men. Unfortunately, the results on the field didn't align with our shared goals and expectations." Assistant head coach Reed Stringer will take over as interim head coach. The Golden Eagles play at James Madison next week. Hall got high marks for building the culture and recruiting the area, but he just couldn't...

The Oklahoma Sooners have fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday amid multiple media reports. Oklahoma is moving on from the first-year playcaller one day after the offense sputtered again in a 35-9 home loss to South Carolina. Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley will take over playcalling duties while analyst Kevin Johns, the former Duke offensive coordinator, has been promoted to quarterbacks coach, sources confirmed to ESPN. The unranked Sooners, who are 1-3 in their SEC debut, head to Ole Miss in Week 9 ranked 128th nationally in total offense and 107th in scoring. They have 11 turnovers in seven games. Littrell, the former  North Texas head coach, was set to earn $1.1 million in his first year in charge of Oklahoma's offense in a contract that was set to run through the end of the 2026 season. He assumed the OC role in December 2023 following Jeff Lebby's departure for ...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Already missing one of their top three receivers, the San Francisco 49ers lost wideouts  Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk to an illness and a right knee injury, respectively, Sunday against the  Kansas City Chiefs. Of most immediate concern was the injury to Aiyuk. With 48 seconds left in the second quarter, Niners quarterback Brock Purdy found Aiyuk between two Chiefs defenders for a gain of 15 yards. Chiefs defensive backs Chamarri Conner and Trent McDuffie converged on Aiyuk as he took a low hit, leaving his knee in a precarious position. Aiyuk stayed down as Niners medical personnel came out to help before he was able to get up, slowly limp to the sideline and head to the medical tent. He went to the locker room soon after and a return was ruled out as the third quarter opened. The injury to Aiyuk comes after Samuel came down with an illness Sunday morning. Samuel didn't do much in warmups and the...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants pulled starting quarterback Daniel Jones early in the fourth quarter to "create a spark," coach Brian Daboll said after a 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Daboll said Jones will remain his starting quarterback ahead of Drew Lock, who also didn't have much success Sunday. The Giants will play on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers next Monday night. "We made a change in the fourth quarter when it was 28-3 -- we had 100 yards -- just to create a spark," Daboll said. "Daniel will be the quarterback going forward." Said Jones of the move: "I was frustrated. Didn't like it, obviously." The Giants (2-5) finished with 119 total yards in the loss, which saw star running back Saquon Barkley haunt his former team on its home turf. Jones went 14-of-21 passing for 99 yards and was sacked seven times. Lock was 3-of-8 for 6 yards, as not much changed for...

LAS VEGAS -- Knocked out of the playoffs this time last week, Joey Logano seized on his reversal of fortune to become the first driver locked into NASCAR's championship finale. Logano was below the cutline and eliminated from the eight-driver field when he left Charlotte Motor Speedway last Sunday. But when Alex Bowman's car failed postrace inspection, Bowman was disqualified and Logano reinstated to the playoff field. The only two-time Cup champion in the playoff field, Logano passed Daniel Suarez with five laps remaining Sunday for his fourth career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is the second win of the playoffs for Logano, and the Team Penske driver makes a Ford the first one locked into the winner-take-all final four at Phoenix Raceway next month. He needed a massive fuel-saving effort to win. "Man, we did some fuel mileage stuff, didn't we?" Logano said. "What an incredible turn of events here the last week. It takes the whole team to do the...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Las Vegas Raiders quarterback  Aidan O'Connell suffered a broken thumb to his right (throwing) hand in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. O'Connell will undergo more tests Monday to determine how long he will miss, the source said.  Gardner Minshew, who was benched in favor of O'Connell last week, replaced O'Connell. But with the Raiders having no emergency third quarterback on the roster -- receiver Jakobi Meyers was designated as such but is missing his second consecutive game with an ankle injury -- O'Connell remained questionable to return, in case Minshew goes down.   O'Connell appeared to hit his hand awkwardly on the outstretched hand of onrushing Rams safety Kam Curl on a deep throw. O'Connell, who had the thumb heavily wrapped after returning from the locker room, completed 6 of 10 passes for 52 yards against the Rams. Per ESPN Research, he...