Update on the latest sports
APNFL-NEWS
Coach Vrabel among new trio of Titans out
UNDATED (AP) — Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel (VRAY’-bul) will miss the Titans’ preseason finale a week after testing positive for COVID-19. Two other coaches and another player also have joined the protocols as the team’s outbreak grows.
The Titans announced Saturday special teams coach Craig Aukerman, who missed a couple of practices under the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, will be back for Saturday night’s game with Chicago. Wide receiver coach Rob Moore and offensive line assistant Jason Houghtaling will miss the game because of the virus protocols.
Rookie wide receiver Racey McMath also was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday. That makes him the seventh player currently on the list and 12th player or coach either placed on the reserve list or following the COVID-19 protocols since Vrabel announced he had tested positive a week ago.
Defensive lineman Anthony Rush was activated from the reserve list Friday, which is for players who test positive for COVID-19 or quarantined after being in close contact with an infected person.
In other NFL news:
— The Jacksonville Jaguars have traded backup quarterback Gardner Minshew to Philadelphia for a conditional draft pick in 2022. The Jaguars received a sixth-round pick that would become a fifth-rounder if Minshew plays 50% of snaps in three games. Minshew joins a QB room that already has starter Jalen Hurts and veteran backup Joe Flacco. The Eagles cut third-string quarterback Nick Mullens to make room for Minshew.
— The New Orleans Saints have canceled their home preseason game set for Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals because of the potential for Hurricane Ida to batter Louisiana’s coast with wind as high as 140 mph by Sunday. After initially moving kickoff up by seven hours, the Saints decided to cancel the game came after consultation with city officials in New Orleans, Gov. John Bel Edwards, the National Weather Service, the Department of Homeland Security and the NFL.
NBA-REFEREE VACCINATIONS
NBA referees to be vaccinated this season
UNDATED (AP) — NBA referees will all be vaccinated against the coronavirus this season.
The NBA announced Saturday that it has struck a deal with the National Basketball Referees Association on that requirement. Part of the referees’ agreement with the NBA also says that those working games will receive booster shots once they become recommended.
The NBA’s agreement with the referees was revealed one day after the league told its teams that anyone within close proximity of players and referees will also have to be vaccinated. That mandate covers, among others, coaches, support staff traveling with teams, locker room attendants and those working at official scorer’s tables in NBA arenas.
Players are not required to be fully vaccinated. But many were last season after the league encouraged them to do so by agreeing to relax some health and safety protocols for those who were.
F1-BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
Verstappen takes pole position for Belgian GP, Russell 2nd
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Max Verstappen produced a brilliant last lap in the rain to take the pole position for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix and deny George Russell his first career pole in Formula One.
Verstappen found extra pace to cross the line .321 ahead of Russell and .334 clear of world champion Lewis Hamilton as pouring rain drenched the track.
Verstappen now leads Hamilton 6-3 for pole positions this season and is in a good position to claw back Hamilton’s eight-point lead in the championship.
PARALYMPICS-WHEELCHAIR RUGBY
US to play Britain for gold
TOKYO (AP) — The United States will play Britain for the gold medal in wheelchair rugby at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
The U.S. defeated Australia 49-42 on Saturday to reach Sunday’s final. Britain defeated host nation Japan 55-49 in the other semifinal.
Wheelchair rugby features constant mayhem as athletes strapped into wheelchairs smash into each other much like bumper cars at the amusement park.
The United States won gold in 2000 in Sydney and in 2008 in Beijing.
