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DETROIT -- Pinch hitter David Fry hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, then bunted home an insurance run in the ninth to help the Cleveland Guardians force a decisive Game 5 against the Detroit Tigers in their American League Division Series with a 5-4 victory on Thursday night. Cleveland ended a streak of 11 losses in postseason elimination games dating to Game 6 of 1997 World Series. Game 5 is Saturday in Cleveland, with ace Tarik Skubal set to start for the Tigers. The winner advances to the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees or Kansas City Royals starting Monday. Fry said the Guardians' resilience was no surprise. "We've shown that all year long, that's who these guys are," he said. "We have a bunch of tough dudes. We get down 2-1 and we're in the locker room like it's just another day. We show up ready to play to try and get a win. And let's go win Game 5." On the verge of reaching the...

Four-star wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon, ESPN's No. 134 prospect in the 2025 cycle, flipped his commitment from Florida State to Texas on Thursday night, marking the fourth ESPN 300 departure from the Seminoles' 2025 class since the start of the regular season. McCutcheon, a 5-foot-11 pass catcher from Allen, Texas, had been committed to Florida State since July 13. Prior to Thursday, he was the second-ranked member of Mike Norvell's 2025 recruiting class, trailing only five-star in-state offensive tackle Solomon T homas. With McCutcheon's pledge, the Longhorns now hold commitments from 13 ESPN 300 prospects, including three of ESPN's top-15 wide receivers in the current cycle. McCutcheon's flip represents the latest blow to Florida State's 2025 recruiting efforts amid the program's 1-5 start to the 2024 season. The Seminoles lost pledges from four-star defenders Javion Hilson (No. 71 in the ESPN 300) and Myron...

NEW YORK -- The WNBA will move to a best-of-seven series for the WNBA Finals starting next season, commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Thursday. In her address to the media before Game 1 of the Finals between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx, Engelbert also said the league will go to a 1-1-1 setup for the best-of-three first round, giving all playoff teams at least one home game, and the regular season will expand to 44 games. The WNBA has had a best-of-five format for the Finals since 2005. From 1998 through 2004, it was a best-of-three series. The championship in the inaugural WNBA season in 1997 was decided in a single-game format. The best-of-seven series will have a 2-2-1-1-1 structure in which the higher seed would host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, and its opponent would host Games 3, 4 and 6. "This will give our fans a championship-series format they are accustomed to seeing in other sports," Engelbert said. The WNBA semifinals will continue to be a...

HOUSTON --  Texans running back  Joe Mixon called out the NFL on Thursday, questioning the league's priorities regarding player safety. Mixon practiced for the first time in almost two weeks after suffering an ankle injury in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears when linebacker T.J. Edwards used the banned hip-drop tackle to bring Mixon down. Edwards was not penalized on the play. "I was the No. 1 leader in rushing. I was stopped because of that weak-ass hip-drop tackle," Mixon said Thursday. "I can't do nothing about that. It's frustrating, it is what it is. I want to be out there more than anybody." The former 2021 Pro Bowler was frustrated that Edwards was only fined $16,883 when other players have been fined more for appearing to protect themselves. For example, Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was fined $22,511 for unnecessary roughness and impermissible use of helmet for dipping his helmet and colliding with safety Antonio...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Following an "unprecedented" meeting between the SEC and Big Ten on Thursday, the commissioners of both conferences addressed multiple weighty issues facing college athletics and strongly pushed back on recent pitches from private equity groups to help offset increased expenses that will result from the NCAA's expected House settlement. It was an important united front from two of the most powerful people in college sports, as any drastic changes that would include private equity are unlikely to garner national support without the backing of the SEC and Big Ten. "I have yet to see a single thing in any plan that I've learned details about that contains things that we couldn't do ourselves and our A4 colleagues as well," Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said. "At the end of the day, there's a strong commitment that you have the ability to do all of this ourselves. "... The notion that college football is broken -- what we do is broken -- is just not...

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Moving to the ACC has been a boost for Cal and Stanford from a number of different standpoints, providing both schools with a long-term home in a power conference after the Pac-12 fell apart in the summer of 2023. But the change also has brought worries over travel during conference play, with nearly every road trip in January, February and March involving a multiple-game swing and several days away from home. "I'm absolutely concerned about the travel," Cal coach Mark Madsen said Thursday at ACC Tipoff. The Golden Bears, however, are taking steps to minimize the impact the long-distance travel will have on their student-athletes, Madsen said. In the offseason, Golden Bears athletic director Jim Knowlton brought in a NASA specialist to give a presentation to the school's sports teams. "He specialized in recovery across time zones. How the body can recover under duress. It was very informative," Madsen told ESPN. "We were there with all the head...

Conor McGregor has already started mapping out his return to the UFC in 2025. After being forced out of his June matchup with Michael Chandler because of an injured toe, the former two-division champion has been chomping at the bit for his opportunity to return to the Octagon for the first time in nearly four years. With Chandler booked for a rematch with Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in November, McGregor has started to weigh his options. "We're looking for the date," McGregor said in an interview with The Schmo. "I'd like to square it away with Michael Chandler. You know, I'd like to get Chandler in. We've had our beef. It's not settled. He has a match scheduled. I would like to fight before he's recovered. There's a few names in the line at the minute. There's a few names being discussed." Chandler recently told ESPN that a fight with McGregor is still in the plans for 2025. However, McGregor doesn't plan to wait on Chandler's availability before...

LAS VEGAS -- Even at age 58, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson isn't expecting to work overtime in a boxing ring. Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) will face Jake Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) on Nov. 15 in his first professional boxing match in nearly two decades and doesn't expect the fight to go the distance -- as long as "The Problem Child" doesn't run from him. "If I don't have to catch him, you can expect a Round 1 knockout," Tyson said at a news conference to announce his collaboration with LF*GO! energy pouches. "But I may have to catch him because I anticipate this guy running from me." The highly anticipated fight that pits the boxing legend against a YouTuber-turned-prizefighter will be streamed live on Netflix and takes place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Tyson hasn't won a professional boxing match since stopping Clifford Etienne in February 2003. He suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride before calling it a career in 2005 at age 38. Although...

From the time Natalie Nakase watched the Golden State Warriors clinch their first NBA championship under new ownership in 2015, she knew she wanted to work for the team. That day came to fruition nine years later as on Thursday, Nakase was named the first head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA's latest expansion franchise, which is owned by the Warriors. Recalling that championship day, Nakase said she was struck not solely by the fact that the Warriors had won, but by the happiness and joy they exhibited along the way. But she knows the Valkyries job comes with the same expectations owner Joe Lacob had for the Warriors when he took over: win a championship within five years. "I understand the expectations here. You made it really clear," Nakase said during her introductory news conference, remembering a conversation with Lacob where he mentioned that very five-year plan for the Valkyries. "And I was like, 'Hell yeah, we're going to win a championship.' And I...

Commissioner Adam Silver believes the NBA could stage games in China again, five years after a conflict over the Hong Kong democracy protests prompted a backlash against the league by Chinese broadcasters. "I think we will bring games back to China at some point," Silver said Thursday at the Columbia University Sports Management Conference in New York. "China's government took us off the air for a period of time. We accepted that. We stood by our values. ... Anybody in our league has the right to speak out on political matters." In 2019, then- Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted a message on social media in support of anti-government protests in Hong Kong. That set off a firestorm of controversy for the NBA in the lucrative Chinese market and a disagreement over Silver saying in 2019 that Chinese officials wanted Morey fired. China refused to broadcast two preseason games that were held in the country between the Los Angeles Lakers and ...

Oklahoma leading wide receiver Deion Burks is not expected to play against No. 1 Texas due to a soft tissue injury, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Thursday. Burks was listed as questionable in Oklahoma's SEC player availability report ahead of Saturdays' Red River Rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas (TV: 3:30 p.m., ABC). He suffered the injury during the Sooners' loss to Tennessee on Sept. 21 and sat out their victory against Auburn the following week. Burks, a transfer from Purdue, has produced a team-high 26 catches for 201 yards in four games. He scored all three of his touchdowns in the Sooners' rout of Temple in the season opener. Oklahoma will once again be missing five of its top wide receivers when it takes on its rival on Saturday. Injured receivers Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony and Jayden Gibson had already been ruled out for the game. In their absence, J.J....

PITTSBURGH -- Speaking for the first time since the Sunday night loss to the Cowboys, Steelers wide receiver George Pickens dismissed questions about the explicit message on his eye black and the postgame incident with Dallas defensive back Jourdan Lewis. Pickens wore eye black that read "Open F---ing Always" for the game, and after a game-ending, failed hook-and-lateral attempt, Pickens yanked Lewis down by the face mask as Lewis ran by him and appeared to say something. "It's just eye black," Pickens said when asked if there was a purpose behind the message. He said "No" when asked if he expected blowback from it and shook his head to a question about hearing from the NFL about a fine or internal consequences. The NFL is expected to review Pickens' eye black for a potential fine because it's a violation of the league's uniform policy, which prohibits personal, unapproved messages displayed by players during games, a league source told...

The Minnesota Twins announced Thursday that they are for sale, potentially ending one of the longest-tenured ownerships in Major League Baseball. The Pohlad family, which bought the Twins for $44 million in 1984, said it has retained Allen & Company, the investment banker that commonly facilitates sales of sports franchises. The Twins are estimated to be worth between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. "After months of thoughtful consideration, our family reached a decision this summer to explore selling the Twins," the team said in a statement. "As we enter the next phase of this process, the time is right to make this decision public." Since moving to Minnesota from Washington, D.C., in 1961, the Twins have been owned only by Calvin Griffith and the Pohlads, whose patriarch, Carl, purchased the team and passed it to his son Jim. It is currently controlled by his grandson Joe. Only the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies have...

The abuse college athletes face on social media, including threats of violence, spikes during March Madness, with women basketball players targeted three times more often than men, according to a study the NCAA released Thursday. Eight out of 10 abusive posts sent to college athletes on social media occurred during the NCAA tournament, the study found. One athlete received more than 1,400 abusive messages over two weeks. Overall, 6% of abusive posts flagged during the study were violent, and 96 social media accounts were referred to the NCAA and law enforcement for further investigation. One example the NCAA included read, "Im gonna wait for you outside the arena to beat the f--- out of your knees with a spiked baseball bat." "I was shocked by the volume in addition to the profanity that was being directed at the kids," NCAA president Charlie Baker told ESPN. "It is just vile, nasty and brutal and, in some cases, seriously threatening. I think it's incumbent on us to raise the...

WARE, England -- Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey confirmed the team's pursuit of quarterback Tom Brady when the future Hall of Famer was a free agent in 2020. During Fox's Week 4 broadcast of the  Philadelphia Eagles- Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, Brady revealed a story that he said had never been told before; that the Bears were "very stealth in their recruitment" of him once he left New England. At the time, former Bears first-round quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was coming off a disappointing 2019 season where the Bears didn't make the postseason one year after winning the NFC North. While McCaskey said he was not directly part of the pitch to get Brady to consider signing with Chicago, he did confirm the team's interest. "Well, that seems like ancient history at this point," McCaskey said. "I do remember we were interested in pursuing him. It didn't work out for us. Worked out great for him in Tampa." McCaskey added: "Anytime you're in a...

After 15 NBA seasons, Danny Green says he is retiring from basketball. Green, who announced his retirement on his podcast Thursday, is one of four players in NBA history to win championships with three different teams (2014 with the Spurs, 2019 with the Raptors, 2020 with the Lakers). "I'm officially moving on from the game of basketball, the NBA. It's been a great run," Green said. "To me, I'm very proud to be able to walk away from the game. I'm at peace with it." Green, 37, was known as a 3-point marksman -- he was a career 40% shooter behind the arc -- and a leader in the locker room over the course of his career. He played two games for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023-24 before he was waived following the trade that sent  James Harden to the LA Clippers. Drafted in the second round by the Cavaliers in 2009, Green spent one season in Cleveland before eventually finding his spot with the Spurs, where he...

After 15 NBA seasons, Danny Green says he is retiring from basketball. Green, who is announcing his retirement on his podcast Thursday, is one of four players in NBA history to win championships with three different teams (2014 with the Spurs, 2019 with the Raptors, 2020 with the Lakers). The 37-year-old was known as a 3-point marksman -- he was a career 40% shooter behind the arc -- and a leader in the locker room over the course of his career. He played two games for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023-24 before he was waived following the trade that sent  James Harden to the LA Clippers. Drafted in the second round by the Cavaliers in 2009, Green spent one season in Cleveland before eventually finding his spot with the Spurs, where he spent the majority of his career and averaged a career-high 11.7 points while playing in 81 games in 2014-15. He also made the All-Defensive Team in 2016-17. He finishes with career...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- On his second full day on the job, New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich made a major shake-up on his coaching staff, stripping the playcalling responsibilities from embattled offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. The move, announced by Ulbrich on Thursday, has an added layer of significance because Hackett is an Aaron Rodgers confidant. One of the main reasons why Rodgers wanted to be traded to the Jets last year was his close relationship with Hackett. The new playcaller is Todd Downing, a former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator who coaches the quarterbacks and holds the title of passing game coordinator. He will have "the full say on the game plan and, ultimately, the plays that are called within the game," said Ulbrich, hoping to spark an offense that ranks 27th in yards per game. "This is more a byproduct of a different take on things," he said, explaining his rationale. "I'm not saying it's a better or worse take on...

The roof at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, sustained major damage because of high winds associated with Hurricane Milton, which made landfall Wednesday along Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm. Pictures and video on social media showed most of the fabric covering the domed roof torn off.  Capt. Garth Swingle of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue told ABC News that there has been contact with the people inside and that they are safe. It wasn't immediately known whether there was damage inside the stadium. No injuries at the stadium were reported. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had said earlier in the week that there were plans for the ballpark to serve as a "temporary base camp" to support debris cleanup operations and temporarily house some first responders. The facility was set up to host 10,000 people, with cots arranged on the playing surface. But those plans were changed as the storm neared, amid concerns that the roof simply would not survive Milton's...

Tennis great Rafael Nadal will retire from the sport at the end of the year. Nadal, 38, has enjoyed a career that has seen him win 22 Grand Slams, including 14 French Open titles. But he has been hampered by injuries in recent years, and he announced Thursday that this will be his final year playing the sport. He will play for Spain against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup in Malaga from Nov. 19-21. That will be his final act on the tennis court, in a sport where he stood alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as four modern greats in the men's game. "I'm here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis," Nadal said in a video statement posted to social media. "The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these two especially. I don't think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that takes me some time to make. "But in this life, everything has a beginning...

"In this life everything has a beginning and an end."

NEW YORK -- Before the New York Mets gathered for another celebratory team photo Wednesday night, after another thrilling postseason victory extended this dream season to the National League Championship Series, Francisco Lindor made it a point to hug as many people as possible. The night's star thanks to a go-ahead grand slam, the franchise cornerstone paid like a franchise cornerstone for these nights, bounced around the infield grass at Citi Field from embrace to embrace. There was a warm hug with Alex Cohen, owner Steve Cohen's wife, who was in tears. There were daps with teammates and coaches and support staff. Finally, before rushing to the mound for the team photo, there was an extended hug by second base with Brandon Nimmo, the longest-tenured player on the roster. The shortstop and the outfielder squeezed tight. Nimmo dug his face into Lindor's shoulder. Tears welled in his eyes. "It's really hard to put into words what we've gone through behind...

SAN DIEGO -- With the rotation decimated, the lineup wounded and the season hanging in the balance, a group of close to 12 Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers walked toward Petco Park's center-field bullpen late Wednesday afternoon to attempt what at that point seemed improbable -- tame a vaunted San Diego Padres offense, quiet an effervescent opposing crowd and send this National League Division Series back to L.A. Their only hope was to do what they always do -- band together, follow the plan laid out for them and prepare for it all to unravel. "Obviously stuff can change," said  Daniel Hudson, the most senior member of that group. "I mean everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the mouth, right?" On this night, in a must-win Game 4, it was the Dodgers who did the punching, deploying eight relievers to shut out the Padres and capture an 8-0 win, setting up a winner-take-all Game 5 from Dodger Stadium on Friday. Along the way, Ryan Brasier, ...

NEW YORK -- Before the New York Mets gathered for another celebratory team photo Wednesday night, after another thrilling postseason series victory to extend this dream season to the National League Championship Series, Francisco Lindor made it a point to hug as many people as possible. The night's hero thanks to a go-ahead grand slam, the franchise cornerstone paid like a franchise cornerstone for these nights, bounced around the infield grass at Citi Field from embrace to embrace. There was a warm hug with Alex Cohen, owner Steve Cohen's wife, who was in tears. There were daps with teammates and coaches and support staff. Finally, before rushing to the mound for the team photo, there was an extended hug by second base with Brandon Nimmo, the longest-tenured player on the roster. The shortstop and the outfielder squeezed tight. Nimmo dug his face into Lindor's shoulder. Tears welled in his eyes. "It's really hard to put into words what we've gone through...

The roof at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, sustained major damage because of high winds associated with Hurricane Milton, which made landfall Wednesday along Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm. Pictures and video on social media showed most of the fabric covering the domed roof torn off.  The ballpark in St. Petersburg was designated as a staging site for first responders and state and local emergency management services aiding with debris removal. The facility was set up to host 10,000 people, with cots arranged on the playing surface. Capt. Garth Swingle of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue told ABC News there has been contact with the people inside and they are safe. It wasn't immediately known if there was damage inside the stadium.  The roof is made from ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a polymer that's stronger than glass but significantly lighter. The metal frame appeared to be unscathed. According to the Rays, the Trop was built to...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Five hours before the New York Yankees' pivotal division series game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, a pitching machine set up well off the third-base side of the mound fired balls at an angle toward Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees' slugger was looking to acclimate himself to the Kauffman Stadium batter's eye and find his swing, aware of how imperative it is for New York's postseason success. Stanton found it. And because of it, the Yankees are one game from the American League Championship Series. He hit a no-doubt, go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of Game 3, and newly minted closer Luke Weaver held strong for a five-out save to secure a 3-2 victory Wednesday night in front of a rowdy crowd of 40,312. New York holds a 2-1 lead in its ALDS and will start reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole in Game 4 on Thursday night. The home run capped a 3-for-5 night for Stanton, who drove in Juan...

SAN DIEGO -- First baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from Game 4 as the Los Angeles Dodgers try to avoid elimination in their National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Freeman was lifted for a pinch-runner in Game 3 on Tuesday after he limped to first on an eighth-inning single. He also left Game 2 on Sunday after five innings due to discomfort in his sprained right ankle. The Dodgers made numerous changes to adjust for Freeman's absence. Max Muncy moved from third base to first, Enrique Hernandez switched from center field to third base, and Chris Taylor got the start in center field. Reliever Ryan Brasier started for the Dodgers, with manager Dave Roberts saying Tuesday that the team would go with a bullpen game. Brasier was announced as the starter about four hours before first pitch at Petco Park. The right-hander pitched in relief in Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium, earning the win in a 7-5...

Just as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wrapped up the first of three practices this week at Tulane University in New Orleans, where they evacuated to in advance of Hurricane Milton, conditions some 685 miles back home began to rapidly deteriorate Wednesday. The area is seeing its first direct hit from a major hurricane since 1921, and that wasn't lost on players and coaches. "A lot of prayer, a lot of prayer," quarterback Baker Mayfield said in a video call with reporters. Added wide receiver  Mike Evans: "We're not even just playing for just football now. We're trying to play for something a little bit bigger." Ten days ago, Hurricane Helene swiped the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, forcing Mayfield and others living in coastal areas to evacuate. The worst of the impact was felt in Florida's Big Bend region, some 200 miles north of Tampa, but it still left piles of broken furniture and other debris in places such as Pinellas and Manatee...

SAN DIEGO -- First baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from Game 4 as the Los Angeles Dodgers try to avoid elimination in their National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Freeman was lifted for a pinch-runner in Game 3 on Tuesday after he limped to first on an eighth-inning single. He also left Game 2 on Sunday after five innings due to discomfort in his sprained right ankle. The Dodgers made numerous changes to adjust for Freeman's absence. Max Muncy is moving from third base to first base, Enrique Hernandez switches from center field to third base, and Chris Taylor will get the start in center field. Reliever Ryan Brasier will start for the Dodgers on Wednesday night, with manager Dave Roberts saying Tuesday that the team would go with a bullpen game. Brasier was announced as the starter about four hours before first pitch at Petco Park on Wednesday. The right-hander pitched in relief in Games 1 and 2...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts' No. 1 wide receiver, has suffered a back injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple games, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Pittman played the entirety of Sunday's loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars but is believed to have been injured in the game. He joins a long list of key Colts players dealing with injuries, leaving them looking for answers at numerous positions. The Colts have not yet determined whether Pittman will be placed on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games. Pittman has 22 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown through five games this season and has 3,159 combined receiving yards in the past three seasons. He was rewarded during the offseason with a three-year, $70 million contract extension in March that prevented him from reaching free agency. Also Wednesday, the Colts said starting receiver  Josh Downs is dealing with a toe injury....

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts' No. 1 wide receiver, has suffered a back injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple games, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Pittman played the entirety of Sunday's loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars but is believed to have been injured in the game. He joins a long list of key Colts players dealing with injuries, leaving them looking for answers at numerous positions. The Colts have not yet determined whether Pittman will be placed on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games. Pittman has 22 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown through five games this season and has 3,159 combined receiving yards in the past three seasons. He was rewarded during the offseason with a three-year, $70 million contract extension in March that prevented him from reaching free agency. Also Wednesday, the Colts revealed that starting receiver  Josh Downs is dealing with a...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts' No. 1 wide receiver, has suffered a back injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple games, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Pittman played the entirety of last Sunday's loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars but is believed to have been injured in the game. He joins a long list of key Colts  players dealing with injuries, leaving them looking for answers at numerous positions. The Colts have not yet determined whether Pittman will be placed on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games. Pittman has 22 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown through five games this season and has 3,159 combined receiving yards in the past three seasons. He was rewarded during the offseason with a three-year, $70 million contract extension in March that prevented him from reaching free agency. Also Wednesday, the Colts revealed that starting receiver  Josh Downs is dealing...

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints will start rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday. Rattler will start in place of injured Derek Carr, who strained his oblique against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. Allen said Carr's return would be a "week-to-week" decision and that Carr would retain his starting job when healthy. "Overall, I think he's doing OK, and yet I think he's disappointed that he can't be out here," Allen said. "He's a guy that hasn't missed a lot of time, doesn't like to miss a lot of time, so I think he's frustrated with that part." The Saints play two games in five days -- Sunday against Tampa Bay and then Oct. 17 against the Denver Broncos on "Thursday Night Football." Rattler, a 2024 fifth-round draft pick out of  South Carolina, won the starting job over second-year player Jake Haener, but Allen declined to go into...

Five former employees of San Diego Wave FC have filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court against the club and the National Women's Soccer League alleging multiple forms of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination. The suit adds additional allegations to those made over the summer by former Wave employee Brittany Alvarado that the club, led by team president Jill Ellis, created a toxic work environment. The Wave quickly refuted those allegations from July, and a few weeks later, Ellis filed a defamation lawsuit alleging that Alvarado "made false and defamatory statements about Ellis ... supported by a fake email." Ellis is not named as a defendant in the new lawsuit, although she is mentioned throughout it. The lawsuit alleges that Wave leadership fostered an "abusive and hostile work environment" and that multiple employees "asked for help from the NWSL." A San Diego Wave spokesperson provided the following statement to...

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels can make plays with his legs, just like Sunday's opposing quarterback Lamar Jackson. That doesn't mean Daniels views the two as similar. "I don't like when people try to compare me to Lamar," Daniels said. "We're two different players. I want to be known as Jayden Daniels and not the next such-and-such." Washington (4-1) plays at Baltimore (3-2) on Sunday in a matchup of the NFL's two highest-scoring offenses -- and two of the most dynamic quarterbacks. Daniels owns the NFL's third-highest quarterback rating (73.2); Jackson's is fifth (67.2). Jackson has thrown for 1,206 yards passing and nine touchdowns while rushing for another 363 yards and two scores. Meanwhile, Daniels has thrown for 1,135 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 300 yards and four scores. Both quarterbacks are on pace to surpass 1,000 yards rushing. But while their stats might be comparable, that doesn't mean...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Concerns over Hurricane Milton and its effects on Florida forced the cancellation of Friday's preseason game in Orlando between the Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans, the NBA said. The game will not be rescheduled. Orlando was playing at San Antonio on Wednesday night and was scheduled to return to central Florida on Thursday. A team spokesperson said the Magic now will stay an extra day in San Antonio before departing Friday. Forecasters say the hurricane is set to make landfall somewhere on the Gulf Coast of Florida sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday. The Magic-Pelicans game is the second NBA preseason matchup to be affected by Milton. A game scheduled for Thursday in Miami between the Heat and Atlanta Hawks was postponed until Oct. 16 because of storm concerns. Also called off earlier this week: a rescheduled NHL preseason game on Friday in Tampa between the Lightning and Predators -- one that...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux had surgery Wednesday morning on his wrist and is considered "week-to-week," according to coach Brian Daboll. While Thibodeaux is excepted to miss some time, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is getting closer to a return from a concussion. Nabers worked on the side with a trainer at Wednesday's practice and is making progress in the concussion protocol after missing Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Daboll said Nabers, the Giants' leading receiver, is "feeling better." Thibodeaux suffered a fractured scaphoid bone during the win over the Seahawks, a source confirmed to ESPN. He played through the injury and finished the game before being reexamined early this week. The Giants (2-3) seem to think that Thibodeaux will be able to return this season. "Yeah, again, I'm not going to give you a timeline or anything like that," Daboll said. "I would just say he's...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, commenting for the first time on Robert Saleh's dismissal, fired back at those who believe he influenced owner Woody Johnson's decision to change coaches after only five games. "As far as any of the ridiculous allegations out there, I'm not going to spend more than one sentence in response to it," Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday. "And that is that I resent any of those accusations because they are patently false. It's interesting the amount of power that people think that I have, which I don't. I love Robert." Rodgers said he will support interim coach Jeff Ulbrich and any changes he might make to the offensive staff. One of those changes could be a demotion for Rodgers' close friend, Nathaniel Hackett, the offensive coordinator and playcaller. Ulbrich said Tuesday he's mulling changes, but he didn't offer specifics. Before he got fired, Saleh was...

Before the Lakers departed on a 1,750-mile flight from Los Angeles to the Midwest for Thursday's exhibition against the Milwaukee Bucks, LeBron James took to social media to question the necessity of the trip. "Can someone please explain to me why we're getting on a [plane emoji] and heading to Milwaukee for 1 pre-season game!?!?" James posted to X on Wednesday. The Lakers will play a six-game preseason slate this month, and none of the games are at home. The team scheduled the games on the road because of planned renovations to Crypto.com Arena. The building is completing the third phase of its major renovation program since undergoing a rebrand from Staples Center to Crypto.com Arena in 2021. The NHL's Los Angeles Kings also will be displaced until Oct. 24, when they play their first  regular-season home game vs. the San Jose Sharks. The result has been the purple-and-gold going on a barnstorming tour before the curtain rises on...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Aidan O'Connell will start at quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, replacing Gardner Minshew, coach Antonio Pierce announced Wednesday. Minshew won a tight training camp battle over O'Connell but was twice benched late in his five starts for the Raiders, in losses to the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. The Raiders are 2-3 heading into Sunday's game. "I mean, it was a quarterback battle early on," Pierce said, "and at this point, I think it's best to go with Aidan going forward." Pierce said the decision to make the switch was his. Asked if it was permanent for the rest of the season or if Minshew might regain the job, Pierce left the door open. "I don't plan on making switches at any time," he said. "When it's time to make a switch, we'll make a switch." Minshew was completing a career-high 70.7% of his passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in five games....

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux had surgery Wednesday morning on his wrist and is considered "week to week," according to coach Brian Daboll. While Thibodeaux is excepted to miss some time, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is getting closer to a return from a concussion. Nabers worked on the side with a trainer at Wednesday's practice and is making progress in the concussion protocol after missing Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Daboll said Nabers, the Giants' leading receiver, is "feeling better." Thibodeaux suffered a fractured scaphoid bone during the win over the Seahawks, a source confirmed to ESPN. He played through the injury and finished the game before being reexamined early this week. The Giants (2-3) do seem to think that Thibodeaux will be able to return this season. "Yeah, again, I'm not going to give you a timeline or anything like that," Daboll said. "I would just say...

PITTSBURGH -- The NFL is reviewing the explicit message worn on the eye black of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens during Sunday night's loss to the Dallas Cowboys for a potential fine over violation of the league's uniform policy, according to a league source. Pickens' message read, "Open F---ing Always," and was written in silver over the eye black. According to league rules, Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 states that players are prohibited from "wearing, displaying or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office." Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he was unaware of Pickens' eye black. "I don't know what messaging you're talking about regarding his eye black," Tomlin said Tuesday. "I didn't have any outlying issue with his effort." Pickens, who played a career-low 34 snaps Sunday, declined a postgame interview request and didn't make...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams, who has been out with a hamstring injury as well as having requested a trade, is not expected to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Adams last played for the Raiders in a Week 3 home loss to the Carolina Panthers and was on the sideline for Las Vegas' Week 4 win against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium but has not spoken to local media since Sept. 25. "It shouldn't take a coach to say something to you to get you fired up and motivated to turn it around," Adams said that day, in the wake of the Panthers loss. "So, just looking to see how the guys respond, myself included, everybody." He canceled his scheduled paid appearance on the "Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams" on Tuesday. Adams, 31, prefers to be traded to a team with a quarterback he has a previous relationship with, per ESPN 's Adam Schefter, such as...

Erik ten Hag is preparing as normal for Manchester United's next game against Brentford, a source told ESPN, despite the continuing uncertainty surrounding his position. The club's executive committee, including co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer, met for more than six hours in central London on Tuesday amid growing pressure on the Dutchman. Early-season performances, which have seen United slip to 14th in the Premier League table, were discussed at the meeting along with a number of other topics. But with no clear directive received since, Ten Hag is continuing to work as normal ahead of Brentford's visit to Old Trafford on Oct. 19. A source told ESPN Ten Hag has been in touch with members of his staff who have remained in Manchester during the break. United have privately maintained that the gathering, which was also attended by CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth, technical director Jason Wilcox and Ineos director of...

Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum is expected to miss three months after undergoing right wrist surgery on Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. Exum suffered the serious right wrist injury during a training camp workout and sought multiple opinions before electing for surgery this week. His extended absence is an early-season blow to the Mavericks' backcourt, which will now rely heavily on Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes and Jaden Hardy. Exum, 29, has been hampered by injuries throughout his career since being selected by the Utah Jazz with the fifth overall pick of the 2014 draft. Exum played in Europe for two seasons before the Mavs signed him during the 2023 offseason. He emerged as a key role player for Dallas but missed most of January and February due to foot and knee ailments. Exum averaged 7.8 points and 2.9 assists in 55 games and was one of the Mavs' best perimeter defenders last season.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The NFL placed New England Patriots starting safety Jabrill Peppers on the commissioner exempt list, the league announced Wednesday. Peppers may not practice or attend games while on the list. Peppers pleaded not guilty Monday after he was arrested Saturday on charges that include strangulation and drug possession, according to police in Braintree, Massachusetts. "I just want to be clear -- any act of domestic violence is unacceptable for us as a team, whether you're a player, staff member. We're wholeheartedly against any type of domestic violence. I know the organization's position, which I fully support," coach Jerod Mayo said Wednesday. "With that being said, I do think that Jabrill has to continue to go through due process. We'll see how that works out. The league has put him on the exempt list, and that will give us time to gather more information going forward. At this time, he is not in the building and we'll talk about that at a...

The Houston Texans have placed wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the next four games. Collins, who leads the NFL with 567 receiving yards this season, suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter of Houston's 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. The injury occurred when quarterback C.J. Stroud launched a deep pass to Collins for a 67-yard touchdown to put the Texans up 14-3. Collins limped to the sideline following the score, eventually heading to the locker room. He didn't return to the game. On Monday, coach DeMeco Ryans said Collins' injury was "week-to-week" and replacing his production will require a team effort. "Nico has been the best receiver in the NFL this year. So, do you replace him? No, everybody just steps up and whatever role you're asked to do, just step up and play your role the proper way," Ryans said. "Nobody has to be Nico. There is one Nico, he's done a great job of that....

Former Boston Bruins star goaltender Linus Ullmark has signed a four-year contract extension with the Ottawa Senators, who acquired him in a high-profile trade in June. Ullmark, 31, has one more season left on a deal that carries a $5 million average annual value. His new contract, which begins in the 2025-26 season, has an AAV of $8.25 million -- the same salary cap hit as his former Bruins crease-mate Jeremy Swayman, who signed an eight-year contract Sunday. "We are excited to have Linus signed to a contract extension before the start of the regular season," Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios said in a statement. "In a short window of time, Linus has been able to see the culture we're trying to grow with our hockey club and his family has experienced the community spirit of Ottawa-Gatineau." Ullmark and Swayman were the NHL's best tandem over the past three seasons, helping the Bruins to the lowest...

On Aug. 13, three days after his first NFL appearance, Cleveland Browns rookie Michael Hall Jr. was arrested after police said he held a gun to his fiancée's head and threatened to kill her. Hall initially pleaded not guilty to a domestic violence charge, and the NFL opened an investigation into the allegations the next day. He played in the Browns' remaining two preseason games before the NFL announced he would be placed on the commissioner's exempt list and barred from practice or games until the league concluded its investigation. His fiancée later recanted her statement that Hall held a gun to her head, and in September, he pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct. The NFL suspended him Oct. 1 for five games without pay. The NFL's immediate reaction to Hall's arrest was a result of the procedures implemented a decade ago, when public criticism over the league's delayed response to allegations involving then- Baltimore Ravens...

Jürgen Klopp is set to make his return to football as head of global soccer at Red Bull, with the former Liverpool manager taking up his role on Jan.1, 2025. Klopp, 57, will oversee Red Bull's network of clubs, and while he will not be involved in their day-to-day running, he will help with strategic vision, aid the sporting directors, support their global scouting operation and also help with training and developing coaches. This will be his first official role back in football after he left Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season after nine hugely successful years at Anfield. Multiple reports in German media say Klopp's contract has a break clause if the Germany men's national team job becomes available after the 2026 World Cup. Klopp will bring years of experience to the role, having managed Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. In his role, he will work across their portfolio of clubs, which includes  RB Leipzig, New York...