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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Already without running back Christian McCaffrey for at least the next three games, the San Francisco 49ers will also not have receiver  Deebo Samuel for the next couple of weeks. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Samuel strained his calf late in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and would "probably miss a couple of weeks." According to Shanahan, Samuel suffered the injury with a little more than two minutes left in the game. "He told me he thinks he did it when he caught, I think it was the third to last play," Shanahan said. "They had a blitz down in the red zone. He caught the hot route breaking in. He says he thinks he did it on that play." With 2:18 left in the fourth quarter, Niners quarterback Brock Purdy threw short to the right side to Samuel for a 2-yard gain. Television replays showed Samuel grimacing and moving slowly to the sideline favoring his right leg just before...

Air Force has emerged as a serious target to be added to the American Athletic Conference, sources told ESPN on Monday. Air Force had been referenced in conversations as a potential AAC add in recent months, prior to the Pac-12 taking four Mountain West Conference schools last week. The AAC released a statement Monday night saying the league "is a pioneering brand, firmly grounded in grit and hard work, with powerful and prestigious member institutions. In the past five months, we have prioritized seizing every opportunity that enhances value for our member institutions and student-athletes." "Whether through private capital, naming rights, innovative partnerships, or realignment, we have proactively assessed each opportunity, and are prepared to collaboratively take action-steps, to be at the forefront of success and sustainability," the statement read. The AAC has 14 football schools this season, including Army and  Navy. The league does not have any programs...

LOS ANGELES -- Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp will miss "an extended period of time" with a left ankle sprain, coach Sean McVay said on Monday. Kupp left the Rams' 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday with the injury. He is a candidate for injured reserve, McVay said, which is a decision the head coach said the team expects to make either Monday or Tuesday. McVay said guard Jonah Jackson (shoulder) and safety John Johnson III (shoulder) are also candidates for injured reserve. On Sunday, Jackson reaggravated the shoulder injury that caused him to miss time during training camp. "We're kind of running out of those [injured reserve] spots and we're only into Week 3 in terms of the return to play, but that is a possibility for all of those guys," McVay said. The Rams already have two offensive linemen on injured reserve: left guard Steve Avila, who sprained his MCL in Week 1, and tackle Joe Noteboom, who left the...

VERNON, Conn. -- An Oregon man was held on $100,000 bond after appearing in Connecticut Superior Court in Rockville on Monday facing charges that he stalked and harassed UConn women's basketball standout Paige Bueckers. He was arrested by UConn Police on Friday. Robert Cole Parmalee, 40, of Grants Pass, Oregon, is charged with breach of peace, electronic stalking and harassment. Parmalee is also referred to as Parmelee in various documents and social media accounts. According to UConn Police, officials in UConn's communications department became aware of Parmalee in June after they received emails that were described by campus police as "rambling." Police said Parmalee's emails claimed he was a member of the royal family and wanted to marry a member of the women's basketball team. His social media posts contained dozens of references to Bueckers, including a post of a fake wedding invitation and multiple photos of Parmalee with what appears to be a diamond...

Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a torn ACL in his right knee during Saturday's 42-10 loss to Alabama, sources confirmed ESPN's Pete Thamel. Van Dyke sustained the injury on Wisconsin's opening possession while trying to scramble along the sideline. His knee appeared to buckle just before being hit by Alabama's Keanu Koht. Van Dyke had to be helped to the injury tent and was later carted to the locker room. He appeared on Wisconsin's sideline after halftime in street clothes and crutches, with his right leg in a large brace. Coach Luke Fickell said after the game that Van Dyke would undergo an MRI on Sunday but that the initial prognosis was not promising for the senior. Redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke replaced Van Dyke in the game and completed 13 of 26 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Wisconsin has an open week, so Fickell has not spoken with reporters since Saturday. A transfer from Miami, Van...

BIRMINGHAM, England -- Tom Brady took the bragging rights over Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds in the game dubbed the "Hollywood derby" as Birmingham City ended Wrexham's unbeaten start to life in League One with a commanding 3-1 victory at St Andrew's on Monday evening. The match played out in front of a crowd including NFL legend Brady, Hollywood star McElhenney and ex-England football captain David Beckham, but it was Birmingham's club-record signee Jay Stansfield who was the star act. He scored twice to help validate the £15 million the club spent on him on deadline day -- the largest signing in League One history and a statement of intent from the ambitious Blues. Stansfield knows this club well, having spent last season there on loan, and his two goals, alongside a brilliant strike from Tomoki Iwata, gave Birmingham the win against Wrexham, whose sole goal came from Jack Marriott after just two minutes. "Birmingham have had an extraordinary opportunity this summer and every...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --  Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is expected to miss approximately six to eight weeks after suffering a fibula injuryduring Sunday's game against the  Cincinnati Bengals, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. Pacheco will be placed on injured reserve, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, but he is expected to return this season. Pacheco underwent X-rays on Sunday night and will have an MRI on Monday to determine whether there is a fracture and/or ligament damage to his right ankle, sources told ESPN. He left Arrowhead Stadium on crutches and with his right foot in a walking boot after Sunday's 26-25 win.  "I know it won't be this week and it'll probably be more than that," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said about a potential timeline for Pacheco's return. "... It's going to take a little bit of time there.'' The Chiefs are bringing Kareem Hunt, their former running back, back to Kansas City for a Tuesday visit, league...

MIAMI -- Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will not be placed on injured reserve, coach Mike McDaniel said Monday, at least not until more information becomes available. Tagovailoa remains in the NFL's return to participation protocol after suffering a concussion in Thursday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. McDaniel said that it's too early in the process to say whether Tagovailoa will be placed on injured reserve but that he and general manager Chris Grier will make that decision once further evaluations have been completed. McDaniel declined to comment on reports that Tagovailoa is not considering retirement and reiterated what he told local media Friday -- that Tagovailoa should be allowed to speak on his own career. "As far as Tua's career is concerned, I think it's an utmost priority of mine for Tua to speak onto his career," he said. "I think as far as I'm concerned, I'm just worried about the human being and where that's at day to day. I'll let...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young on Monday was benched in favor of Andy Dalton, less than 24 hours after coach Dave Canales declared that the top pick of the 2023 draft would remain his starter for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Young, 23, becomes the first quarterback selected No. 1 in the common draft era (since 1967) to be benched for noninjury reasons in his second season. Canales said he made the change after reviewing film of Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, in which Young posted a career-low 6.4 QBR. Canales did not specify whether owner David Tepper had a say in the decision but noted general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president Brandt Tilis were part of the discussion. Ultimately, though, "this was my decision,'' Canales said. "Certainly a lot of parties involved there, and ultimately this comes on me,'' said Canales, who was hired earlier this year for...

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas ascended to No. 1 this week and Arch Manning captured the nation's attention with a four-touchdown performance following an injury to Quinn Ewers. But Steve Sarkisian said Monday that none of the hype or attention changes anything for the Longhorns. Manning threw for 223 yards and four touchdowns and added a 67-yard rushing score in a 56-7 win over UTSA after Ewers exited in the second quarter because of an oblique strain. Sarkisian said Ewers is listed as questionable this week and will be monitored day-to-day, but that Manning and freshman Trey Owens would get more practice reps to prepare. He did not name a starter this week, and said he doesn't change anything in how he approaches his quarterbacks. "I don't do anything," Sarkisian said. "Arch is just another guy on our team, and the reason I'm able to do that is because that's who Arch is every day. He's the selfless teammate. He cares about the guys on the team. He cares...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The day after his team's 24-17 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, Titans coach Brian Callahan was clearly still bothered by quarterback Will Levis once again committing an egregious mistake that contributed to the loss.  Callahan was caught on the TV broadcast yelling, "What the f--- are you doing?!" to Levis as he came off the field after a costly fumble deep in Jets territory. Callahan went on to say he regretted that moment being caught on TV because he didn't want to make it about one player and not the team. But Callahan didn't regret the emotion after the play.  "I don't regret my feelings about it and how I felt in the moment," Callahan said Monday. "I am generally pretty composed. That one just set me off, and I, I'm human like everybody else. I have blackout moments where I'll lose my mind." The fumble came one week after Levis threw an errant pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown that led to the Titans' 24-17 loss to...

Notre Dame's historic blowout win at Purdue came with a cost, as the team lost starting linemen Ashton Craig and Jordan Botelho to season-ending knee injuries, coach Marcus Freeman said Monday. Botelho and Craig sustained their injuries on consecutive series during the second quarter of Saturday's 66-7 win, which marked the largest margin of defeat in Purdue history. Craig had been starting at center for a new-look Fighting Irish offensive line, which lost projected starting tackle Charles Jagusah for the season with a torn pectoral muscle sustained early in training camp. The third-year sophomore, who injured his left knee, started Notre Dame's final three games at center last season and the first three this fall. Notre Dame also will be without starting guard Billy Schrauth for several weeks, as he sustained a right ankle injury in the first quarter against Purdue. Botelho, who injured his right knee, had started Notre Dame's first three games at the viper position, a defensive...

New York Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson confirmed on social media Monday that his right Achilles is torn, meaning he will miss the remainder of the season. "This is not a dark time for me, although there will be dark days ahead," Johnson said in his post. Johnson's injury, suffered in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, ramps up the pressure on New York to resolve its contract dispute with Haason Reddick if he still wants to play for Jets. Reddick requested a trade from the Jets on Aug. 12. The Pro Bowl edge rusher, holding out since his arrival from the Philadelphia Eagles in the spring, has forfeited two game checks ($792,000 apiece) and has accumulated more than $5 million in mandated fines. Without Reddick and Johnson, who recorded 7.5 sacks last season and made the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement, the Jets are dangerously thin on the edge in their 4-3 front. Their top ends are Will McDonald IV and ...

No. 18 Michigan is making a change at quarterback ahead of its Big Ten opener, switching to junior Alex Orji for its game on Saturday against No. 11 USC, coach Sherrone Moore announced Monday. Orji will replace senior Davis Warren, a former walk-on, for one of the Wolverines' biggest matchups of the season. "Excited for him," Moore said of Orji. "I know he's chomping at the bit." Warren is averaging 148 yards per game and has thrown for only two touchdowns with six interceptions in three games this season, including a 31-10 loss at home to Texas. Warren's QBR is 35.3, which ranks 103rd in the country. Warren had three interceptions and only 122 passing yards in a 28-18 victory over Arkansas State last week. "I wouldn't call them an issue," Moore said of the position. "We're just going to go to work. So we'll get better as we did in the running game last week. We'll get better in the passing game and we'll continue...

Sidney Crosby has signed a new two-year contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins, ending months of speculation about his future. Crosby is in the final season of a 12-year contract. The new deal starts in the 2025-26 season and runs through the 2026-27 season, when Crosby will be 39 years old. The contract carries an annual average value of $8.7 million against the NHL salary cap. It's the same cap hit he has carried on two previous contracts of five and 12 years, and a numerological nod to his birthday (8/7/87) and his jersey number. His contract extension earns him a base salary of $780,000 with a $9 million signing bonus in 2025-26 and a $1.09 million salary and a $6,530,000 signing bonus in 2026-27. The contract carries a full no-movement clause. Crosby and his representatives had been discussing the shape of this contract for a while, knowing that he had one year left on his current deal. Some speculated the term would be shorter, others speculated it could be...

HOUSTON -- Texans running back Joe Mixon called out the NFL on social media for not enforcing its own rules after injuring his ankle on what he believed to be an illegal hip-drop tackle during Houston's 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. With 11:57 left in the third quarter, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed a pass to Mixon, who ran up the sideline before he was brought down by Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards using what appeared to be the now-banned swivel hip-drop tackle. The refs did not penalize Edwards as Mixon got up limping and hobbled to the sideline before entering the medical blue tent. He went to the locker room for further treatment on the ankle before reentering the game with 50 seconds left in the third quarter. Mixon took only seven snaps following his return and had only one carry for 1 yard before being tackled again by Edwards. He finished the night with 9 carries for 25 yards. Mixon did not...

HOUSTON -- Texans running back Joe Mixon called out the NFL on social media for not enforcing its own rules after injuring his ankle on what he believed to be an illegal hip-drop tackle during Houston's 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. With 11:57 left in the third quarter, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed a pass to Mixon, who ran up the sideline before he was brought down by Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards using what appeared to be the now-banned swivel hip-drop tackle. The refs did not penalize Edwards as Mixon got up limping and hobbled to the sideline before entering the medical blue tent. He went to the locker room for further treatment on the ankle before reentering the game with 50 seconds left in the third quarter. Mixon took only seven snaps following his return and had only one carry for 1 yard before being tackled again by Edwards. He finished the night with 9 carries for 25 yards. Mixon did not...

DETROIT -- Detroit Lions star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown initially was determined to have only a contusion and cramping despite hobbling throughout Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. St. Brown left the game with about 30 seconds remaining after hauling in a reception on the first play of the Lions' final drive. The two-time Pro Bowler did not return for the Lions' last five plays of the 20-16 loss and was seen on the sideline undergoing treatment and evaluation on his legs. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Sunday that Brown was "all right," adding that he didn't think the injury was "anything long term, so that's good news." St. Brown finished with a team-high 11 catches for 119 yards against Tampa Bay. It was his seventh career game with 10 or more receptions. The Lions (1-1) visit the Arizona Cardinals (1-1) in Week 3.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --  Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is expected to land on injured reserve after suffering a fibula injury during Sunday's game against the  Cincinnati Bengals, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. Pacheco underwent X-rays on Sunday night and will have an MRI on Monday to determine whether there is a fracture and/or ligament damage to his right ankle, sources told ESPN. He left Arrowhead Stadium on crutches and with his right foot in a walking boot after Sunday's 26-25 win.  "I know it won't be this week and it'll probably be more than that," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said about a potential timeline for Pacheco's return. "... It's going to take a little bit of time there.'' Pacheco, 25, has been the Chiefs' leading rusher in each of the past two seasons. He rushed for 90 yards on 19 carries and caught five passes for 21 yards Sunday. In two games this season, he has rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown while averaging 4.0...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Bengals star receiver  Ja'Marr Chase was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct in the fourth quarter of Cincinnati's 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday following an interaction that officials said crossed the line. Referee Alex Kemp, who threw the flag, said in a pool report after the game that Chase believed he was taken down by Kansas City cornerback  Trent McDuffie with a hip-drop tackle, a controversial maneuver that was banned this offseason because of the injury risk the play presents. According to Kemp, Chase's questioning of the play led to an exchange that produced "abusive language" that went far beyond any dissent over a perceived missed call. "The simple answer is, profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official," Kemp said when asked about the difference between disagreement and abuse. "That's the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can't let...

DENVER -- Quarterback Russell Wilson didn't play a single snap in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 13-6 win against the Denver Broncos, but coach Mike Tomlin still gave him a game ball. Not just any game ball -- a "petty game ball." "I think we all know Russ got kind of did dirty last year," quarterback Justin Fields said after the game. "So I know he wished he could have played today in this game, but it's awesome getting a win for him. He got a petty game ball." Tomlin routinely hands out that kind of game ball to his players in games where they beat their former teams. Practice squad wide receiver Brandon Johnson and punter Corliss Waitman, who each spent time in Denver, got petty game balls, too. Wilson, who was released by the Broncos two years into a five-year, $242.6 million deal, was inactive as he continued to battle an aggravated calf injury, but he still spent plenty of time on the turf of his old stomping...

Las Vegas forward A'ja Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to hit the 1,000-point mark for a season Sunday in the Aces' 84-71 victory over Connecticut. Wilson hit 1,000 on the dot with a fadeaway jump shot with 1 minute, 57 seconds left. Her teammates and the crowd at Michelob Ultra Arena celebrated with Wilson, who is the overwhelming favorite for the 2024 WNBA MVP award. "I really try to pinpoint little things," Wilson said of how she continues to improve after winning two previous MVP awards and two WNBA titles. "Everyone can come in and say, 'Oh, I want to win a championship.' But what are the little things you're going to do to get to that point? That's what I want to be great in. "I really have to credit my offseason work and my preparation. I take time to get away from basketball, to let me miss it. So then when I'm in it, I don't take it for granted. My screensaver is, 'Rest at the end, not in the middle,' and that's something I tell myself every...

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp injured his left ankle in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals and did not play in the second half of the 41-10 loss. Rams coach Sean McVay said in his postgame news conference that he didn't have an update on the severity of Kupp's ankle injury. The star wide receiver had a boot on his left foot in the locker room after the game. Kupp appeared to sustain the injury on his fourth reception of the game -- a 24-yard catch-and-run near the end of the first half. He walked off the field to the locker room at halftime with a noticeable limp. "[Kupp] ran across the field, did a really nice job, and then was limping a little bit," quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "And he doesn't usually limp for too long. Sometimes you get stepped on and you limp for a minute and walk one off. But we will see what that is. Obviously a huge part of our team and a huge part...

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark recalls Seimone Augustus being the first WNBA player she ever met when she went to a Minnesota Lynx game as a child. On Sunday, Clark set the WNBA rookie season scoring record, previously held by Augustus, and called it a full-circle moment. "I got my picture with her on my dad's little phone -- it was maybe like a BlackBerry back in the day," Clark said after Indiana's 110-109 win over  Dallas. "I vividly remember it. I was always a fan of her game and the way she could shoot the ball." Clark now has 761 points in 39 games, so there is the caveat that Augustus -- who will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in October -- set her mark of 744 points in 2006, when the WNBA season was 34 games.  Regardless, it was a big afternoon for Clark, who had a career-high 35 points, and the Fever, who secured the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. Indiana is 20-19 and will finish the regular season Thursday at  ...

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark recalls Seimone Augustus being the first WNBA player she ever met when she went to a Minnesota Lynx game as a child. On Sunday, Clark set the WNBA rookie season scoring record, previously held by Augustus, and called it a full-circle moment. "I got my picture with her on my dad's little phone -- it was maybe like a Blackberry back in the day," Clark said after Indiana's 110-109 win over  Dallas. "I vividly remember it. I was always a fan of her game and the way she could shoot the ball." Clark now has 761 points in 39 games, so there is the caveat that Augustus -- who will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in October -- set her mark of 744 points in 2006, when the WNBA season was 34 games.  Regardless, it was a big afternoon for Clark, who had a career-high 35 points, and the Fever, who secured the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. Indiana is 20-19 and will finish the regular season Thursday at  ...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The boos for Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers began late in the second half of Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers when the second-year quarterback threw a short pass in the flats on third-and-15 that had no chance at a first down. Young had a historically bad day, passing for only 84 yards to tie for the fourth fewest in team history for a quarterback with at least 25 pass attempts. He became the third player in the past 20 seasons to average 4 or fewer yards per dropback in four straight starts. He has three interceptions and no touchdowns in two starts this season. Yet when first-year coach Dave Canales was asked who would be his starter next week against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, he didn't hesitate. "Bryce is our quarterback,'' said the coach who was hired to turn Young around. "We're going to continue to shore and fix the things we need to fundamentally, from a scheme...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For the first time in 623 days, Aaron Rodgers walked off the field a winning quarterback. It wasn't a prolific game by any measure, but Rodgers was flawless on the winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, helping the New York Jets to a dramatic 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium. Afterward, he savored everything about the win, from his heady playcalls that resulted in three touchdowns to his jawing with Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who called Rodgers "a crybaby" during the game. "It was great," the 40-year-old Rodgers said of the win, avoiding the first 0-2 start of his 20-year career. "It was a long time coming. "These are kind of the games you look back on late in the season and you're thankful you won these, because if we want to be a great team, we have to win in these type of environments against a team like that." Rodgers won Jan. 1, 2023, his next-to-last start...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert injured his lower right leg in Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers. He told reporters he would know more about the severity of the injury "in the coming days." The injury happened in the third quarter when Herbert tried to escape the pocket but was pulled from behind by linebacker DJ Johnson and hit face-first by defensive end Jayden Peevy simultaneously, causing his lower body to get trapped under Johnson while Peevy hit him above. Herbert lay on the field and walked off gingerly before entering a medical tent on the sideline, where he said trainers applied medical tape to the injury. He didn't miss a snap and didn't specify where the injury was on his lower body, but said he had an MRI postgame. After his news conference, Herbert walked with a significant limp. He finished the game with 130 passing yards -- the second-lowest total of his career -- two touchdowns and an...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara caught a touchdown pass and ran for three more scores as the Saints piled on the points in a 44-19 win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The Saints (2-0) have now put up 91 points on offense through two games -- the second most in franchise history and tied for sixth most among any team in NFL history. The 2009 Saints scored 93 points in their first two games en route to winning Super Bowl XLIV. The Saints also tied a franchise record by scoring 35 points in the first half and are the only team that has yet to trail this season, according to ESPN Research. "Just speaking for the offense, when you're able to go out there and execute, limit the self-inflicted wounds, have explosive plans, like, man, the sky's the limit," Kamara said. "It feels good right now, obviously. Y'all know me, I'm not too into the hype. It's a win but we've got to keep moving." The Saints parted ways with...

DETROIT -- An emotional Dan Campbell briefly held back tears when addressing the Lions'  20-16 upset loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Detroit's coach made no excuses, instead blaming himself for the team's 1-1 start despite entering the Week 2 matchup at Ford Field as a 7.5-point favorite, per ESPN BET. "I asked for improvement from last week was the story, and we did improve. And their coach cost them -- their head coach cost them this one," Campbell said. "So, critical error to end the half, and 100 percent on me. We improved. There's areas we've got to continue to improve on, but it's not OK." In a rematch of last season's NFC divisional round playoff matchup, Detroit's offense scored just one touchdown on seven red zone trips against the Buccaneers. The six red zone drives without a touchdown were the most by a Lions team in a game since 1981, per ESPN Research. However, Campbell pinpointed as a major blunder the drive that ended the first...

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp injured his ankle in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals and is doubtful to return. Kupp appeared to sustain the injury on his fourth reception of the game -- a 24-yard catch-and-run near the end of the first half. He walked off the field to the locker room at halftime with a noticeable limp. The Rams are already without wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is on injured reserve after spraining his posterior cruciate ligament in Week 1. Kupp had four catches for 37 yards on six targets against the Cardinals before leaving the game. In two games this season, Kupp has 18 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson says he is not expecting to miss any games after leaving the team's 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers because of a bruised right quadriceps. "I'm not seriously injured," Jefferson said. "So that's the main important thing. So it's just all about getting to the training room, making sure my body is right for next week, and I'll be ready to go next Sunday." Jefferson caught four passes for 133 yards, including a career-long 97-yard touchdown in the second quarter, before suffering the injury while blocking on a running play with 13:06 remaining in the game. He appeared to collide with 49ers linebacker Fred Warner and Vikings center Garrett Bradbury on the play and was helped off the field by medical staff. Jefferson missed seven games last season because of a torn hamstring in the same leg. But neither he nor coach Kevin O'Connell appeared concerned about the long-term prognosis of Sunday's...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- New York Jets edge player Jermaine Johnson, a key part of the team's young core, is likely lost for the season after suffering what is feared to be a torn right Achilles tendon. "It's unfortunately looking like that," coach Robert Saleh said Sunday after the 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Johnson will have an MRI exam on Monday. If the tear is confirmed, it will put pressure on the Jets to resolve the contract situation with edge rusher Haason Reddick, who is holding out. Johnson, who made the Pro Bowl last season as an injury replacement, went down while pass rushing Will Levis on what appeared to be a non-contact injury in the third quarter. The injury cart came out immediately as Johnson was surrounded by teammates. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who tore his left Achilles in the 2023 opener, said "my heart kind of dropped a little bit" when he saw on the Jumbotron that the injury was an...

NASHVILLE -- New York Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson was carted off the field Sunday with a potentially severe injury to his right Achilles in the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. If Johnson's injury is long term, it will put pressure on the Jets to resolve the contract situation with holdout Haason Reddick. Johnson, who made the Pro Bowl last season as an injury replacement, went down while pass rushing Will Levis on what appeared to be a noncontact injury. The cart came out immediately. Johnson's teammates gathered around him, as the former first-round pick buried his head in his hands. He put a towel over his head, then gave a thumbs-up as he was taken off the field. Linebacker C.J. Mosley left with the game in the second quarter with a toe injury on his right foot. He was carted to the locker room and didn't return. The Jets' plan was to pair Johnson and Reddick as their bookend pass rushers,...

Texas quarterback  Quinn Ewers' oblique strain is not as serious as initially feared and his status for returning to play is considered week-to-week, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Sunday. Ewers is likely to miss No. 1 Texas' game against UL Monroe on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+), which would pave the way for redshirt freshman Arch Manning to make his first career start for the Longhorns. There's no set timetable for his return from his abdominal injury, but sources said there's optimism after consulting with doctors. Orangebloods first reported that Ewers' status is week-to-week. Ewers suffered the noncontact injury in the second quarter of Texas' 56-7 win over UTSA on Saturday night and did not return to the game. Manning replaced him and produced 223 passing yards, 53 rushing yards and five total touchdowns over nine drives. Texas opens SEC play at home against Mississippi State on Sept. 28 and then has an idle week...

Texas is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll for the first time in 16 years, replacing Georgia on Sunday after the Bulldogs struggled to remain unbeaten. The Longhorns moved up a spot from No. 2 and received 35 first-place votes and 1,540 points. The Bulldogs, who have been No. 1 since the preseason poll, received 23 first-place votes and 1,518 points. Ohio State received five first-place votes and stayed at No. 3 during an off week. No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Ole Miss held their places, and Tennessee moved up a spot to No. 6, flip-flopping with SEC rival Missouri. The last time the Longhorns were No. 1 was the middle of the 2008 season, when they spent three weeks at the top of the polls before losing a memorable game at Texas Tech in early November. The Longhorns are likely to settle into the top spot for at least another week with a home game against UL Monroe up next, possibly with ...

ESPN football analyst and veteran head coach Herm Edwards gives his opinions on NFL's matchups, including his former team, the New York Jets.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars tight end Evan Engram suffered a hamstring injury during pregame warmups and will not play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, the team announced. Engram, who had one catch for 5 yards in last week's loss at Miami Dolphins, had not missed a game with the Jaguars since signing with the team in March 2022. He caught 114 passes for 963 yards and four touchdowns last season. The Jaguars will have only two tight ends active on Sunday: fourth-year player Luke Farrell (24 career catches) and second-year player Brenton Strange (five career catches), the team's second-round pick in 2023. Engram has 188 catches for 1,734 yards and eight touchdowns in 35 games with the Jaguars.

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles star receiver A.J. Brown has been downgraded to out for Monday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Brown popped up on the injury report Friday after his hamstring "got a little tight" in practice, according to coach Nick Sirianni. He was sidelined for Saturday's session and originally carried a questionable designation on the final practice report before being ruled out Sunday. Brown, 27, has been a central part of the Eagles' offensive attack since being acquired from the Tennessee Titans in 2022. He became the first player in team history to post 1,400-plus receiving yards in back-to-back seasons, setting franchise highs for receiving yards in both campaigns. His 2024 season got off to a fast start, as he racked up 119 yards and a touchdown on five receptions during a Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo. With Brown sidelined, Jahan Dotson will likely assume a larger role. Acquired in...

The Philadelphia Phillies reinstated infielder Alec Bohm from the 10-day injured list before Sunday's finale of a three-game series against the visiting New York Mets. Catcher Aramis Garcia was designated for assignment to make room for Bohm on the 28-man roster. Bohm, 28, initially was placed on the injured list Sept. 6, retroactive to Sept. 3, because of a left hand strain. He went 2-for-4 with a double in his lone rehab appearance with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday in its game at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. A first-time All-Star this season, Bohm is batting .290 with a National League-best 44 doubles to go along with 13 home runs, 89 RBIs, a .343 on-base percentage and a .462 slugging percentage in 131 games. The Phillies selected Bohm third overall in the 2018 MLB draft. He is a career .279 hitter with 57 home runs, 125 doubles and 328 RBIs in 587 games for Philadelphia since 2020. Garcia, 31, went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts in three games...

Gabriel's second-half header earned Arsenal a crucial 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur in a feisty North London derby on Sunday to keep pace with early Premier League leaders Manchester City. Spurs started sharper and David Raya was forced into early saves, turning Dejan Kulusevski's first-time effort behind before he clawed away a dangerous cross from the Sweden winger. Record signing Dominic Solanke, making his home debut, squandered a good opening in the 14th minute after Arsenal lost possession deep in their own half, taking too long on the ball and allowing William Saliba to recover. Arsenal were missing captain Martin Odegaard through injury and Declan Rice through suspension, but dug deep impressively despite an under-strength midfield. "It was difficult because we have lost a lot of important players for us," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports. "Those who waited for the chance trained and behaved...

Long before Daniel Jones' $23 million injury guarantee for the 2025 season could become an issue, the New York Giants already were mulling their quarterback options. Amid questions about Jones' future in New York, the Giants will face a quarterback Sunday whom they strongly considered trading up to draft. During this offseason's edition of "Hard Knocks" on HBO, Giants general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll were sitting together when they began assessing one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class. "Daniels," Schoen said, referring to Heisman Trophy-winning LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. "Have you guys seen enough that you would trade up for him?" To which Daboll replied, "Daniels? I would." The Giants were unable to move up as high as No. 2; the Commanders stayed in that slot and drafted their quarterback of the future, the player New York will face Sunday in Washington. The Giants also have a question they may need...

Amid the offseason uncertainty surrounding Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers checked in on Justin Jefferson's availability before this year's NFL draft, but the Vikings had zero interest in trading the star wide receiver and immediately rebuffed San Francisco's inquiries, league sources told ESPN. The 49ers were not the only team to check in on Jefferson. The Jets and Colts also had some level of interest, but the Vikings never considered moving the three-time Pro Bowler and talks never went anywhere, according to sources. Those inquiries came before the Vikings signed Jefferson to a record deal in June, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Inquiring teams thought they might be able to tempt Minnesota into attractive trade packages, but the Vikings only were interested in re-signing one of the league's top players. San Francisco faces Jefferson and the Vikings on Sunday, and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan knows what...

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua could miss between 5-7 weeks, depending on how quickly his PCL injury heals, sources told ESPN. Nacua reinjured his knee during last Sunday night's overtime loss to the Detroit Lions and was placed on injured reserve last week. Rams head coach Sean McVay said it was possible that Nacua could be sidelined the minimum four weeks that he is required to miss by being placed on IR. The Rams have their bye in Week 6, so the earliest the second-year star could return would be Los Angeles' Week 7 home game against the Las Vegas Raiders. But now the Rams' thinking, according to sources, is that Nacua's status for the games against the Raiders and the following Thursday night at home against the Minnesota Vikings also could be in jeopardy. The Rams want to make sure they're careful with Nacua and not rush him back. The team wants to do whatever is needed to ensure there are no more setbacks to the injury that Nacua...

LAS VEGAS -- Merab Dvalishvili put an emphatic end to "The Suga Show" with a smothering unanimous decision win over Sean O'Malley to claim the UFC bantamweight title Saturday night in the main event of Noche UFC at Sphere. Dvalishvili used constant movement, six takedowns and just over 10 minutes of control time to befuddle and prevent O'Malley from uncorking one of his fight-ending punches. It was a dominant performance that lacked the fireworks fans expected after witnessing a highly produced spectacle of an event. "I know he was good, but I made him look normal," said Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC). "I am the best bantamweight in the UFC." O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was making the second defense of his 135-pound title but struggled to find any momentum outside of a few front kicks to the body in the closing minutes. Despite scores of 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47, Dvalishvili was in control for nearly every minute. Known for his relentless takedowns and...

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Colorado coach Deion Sanders said after a 28-9 win over Colorado State on Saturday night that the Rams made the game more personal after they took shots at his players and program. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders put it more bluntly: "They just asked for it." Comments quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton made during a media day interview with a local television station surfaced on social media this week. Horton lamented a 43-35 loss to Colorado last year, saying, "We should have murdered them guys, and they came out with that attitude they were on top of the world, and this ain't no Cinderella story. We're coming for revenge." Fowler-Nicolosi said: "I think it goes to show that the hype, the media train, it only gets you so far at the end of the day. You have to line up 11 guys against our 11 guys, and we'll find out who wants it more. We'll see how far Instagram followers gets...

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered another concussion during his team's Thursday night game against  Buffalo, is scheduled to meet early this week with neurologists, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Tagovailoa will be seeking their input into the severity of his latest concussion and the cumulative effect of the ones he has suffered in the past to make the most informed decision about his future, sources said. Tagovailoa sustained a hit to the head during Thursday night's loss when he lowered his shoulder into Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa's helmet made forcible contact with Hamlin's arm, prompting a fencing response as a stunned crowd at Hard Rock Stadium let out a collective gasp. Tagovailoa remained on the field for several minutes but was able to walk off and into the locker room under his own power. He was almost immediately ruled out for the rest of the game. Tagovailoa was diagnosed with two concussions...

LAS VEGAS -- Canelo Alvarez, boxing's top star, retained his unified super middleweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Edgar Berlanga on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. Alvarez floored Berlanga with a monstrous left hook in Round 3 -- his money punch -- and prevailed via scores of 117-110, 118-109 and 118-109. ESPN scored it a 120-107 shutout. This was the fifth consecutive decision victory for Alvarez, who hasn't scored a knockout win since he defeated Caleb Plant in November 2021. It's also the fourth consecutive bout where Alvarez scored a knockdown. "Now what are they gonna say?" Alvarez, 34, said during his postfight interview. "I fight younger fighters. They say I fight older fighters. They always talk. ... My experience, my talent, my hard work, my intelligence, everything together [makes me the best]. If you have talent but you don't have discipline, you have nothing." Alvarez, ESPN's No. 5 pound-for-pound boxer, is an all-time great. Berlanga,...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Backup quarterback Marcel Reed accounted for three touchdowns in his first college start and Texas A&M dominated Florida 33-20 on Saturday in what might have been coach Billy Napier's final game with the Gators. Reed, filling in for injured starter Conner Weigman, threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score as the Aggies won a road game for the first time in nearly three years. Texas A&M (2-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) had dropped 10 straight on the road. "He was lights out," first-year A&M coach Mike Elko said. "He was calm. He was confident. He made throws." This one will go down as a signature win for first-year coach Mike Elko and could end up being Napier's swan song with the Gators (1-2, 0-1). Florida looked inept on both sides of the ball and overmatched for the second time this season in the Swamp. The first one, against Miami, turned up the heat on Napier. The latest one could result in Napier getting the...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Lionel Messi marked his return to the pitch Saturday night at Chase Stadium with two goals and one assist while playing a full 90 minutes to inspire Inter Miami's 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union. The Argentina forward spent two months on the sideline after suffering a right ankle injury during the Copa America final July 14. He last played for Inter Miami on June 1 in an MLS match against St. Louis City before returning to the starting lineup Saturday. "A little tired, the humidity and heat of Miami doesn't help much, but I really wanted to get back, it was a lot of time off the field," Messi told Apple TV after the match. "Little by little I found myself with the group, I felt good and that's why we decided that I would start. I am very happy."  Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino said Messi's 90-minute participation was, in part, due to his ability to make a difference at any point. "I'm happy that he...