Update on the latest sports
APNFL-NEWS
Beckham cleared to play Sunday
UNDATED (AP) — Odell Beckham Jr. has been cleared for takeoff. The Cleveland Browns wide receiver made it full through a full week of practice without any issues with his reconstructed knee and coach Kevin Stefanski says Beckham will make his return Sunday at home against the Chicago Bears.
Beckham hasn’t played since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on Oct. 25 against Cincinnati, an injury that kept him out during the Browns’ playoff run. He’s been inactive for Cleveland’s first two games.
In other NFL news:
— Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play on Sunday against Cincinnati. Roethlisberger has been dealing with a bruised chest that limited his participation in practice this week. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt is questionable with a groin injury suffered in a loss last week to Las Vegas. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, wide receiver Diontae Johnson and defensive lineman Carlos Davis are out.
— Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule says running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to miss “a few weeks” with a strained hamstring. McCaffrey was injured in Carolina’s 24-9 win over the Houston Texans Thursday night. The news isn’t as good for rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn, who has three broken bones in his foot and could miss the remainder of the season. The extent of safety Juston Burris’ groin injury is still unknown.
— Tennessee left tackle Taylor Lewan practiced fully all week and is set to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts after being scratched for the Titans’ win in Seattle. Outside linebacker Bud Dupree is questionable after not practicing Friday. Starting tight end Anthony Firkser, rookie cornerback Caleb Farley and outside linebacker Derick Roberson all are out against the Colts.
— The Baltimore Ravens have put linebackers Jaylon Ferguson and Justin Houston and defensive linemen Brandon Williams and Justin Madubuike on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Ravens play at Detroit on Sunday. Baltimore also ruled out tackle Ronnie Stanley and defensive end Derek Wolfe. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was back to full participation in practice after missing Thursday because of an illness.
— Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark strained his hamstring and cornerback Charvarius Ward strained his quad in practice this week, leaving the status of both in doubt for their game against the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend.
— The Atlanta Falcons will be without receiver Russell Gage and cornerback A.J. Terrell for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. Coach Arthur Smith ruled out both players, along with rookie receiver Frank Darby. Terrell is recovering from a concussion. Gage has an ankle injury. Darby is sidelined with a calf issue.
— The NFL is adding Monday night to its Wild Card Weekend. The league says it will play one of its first six playoff games on Monday night beginning this season. The NFL added a third wild-card team in each conference last season, and then played three wild-card games on Saturday and three on Sunday during its first weekend of the playoffs. The new schedule means the league will play two games on Saturday, three on Sunday and one on Monday night. Wild Card Weekend for this postseason runs from Jan. 15-17.
NBA-BULLS-WILLIAMS
Bulls’ Williams could miss start of season with ankle injury
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls say forward Patrick Williams has a severe left ankle sprain that could cause him to miss the start of the season.
The Bulls expect Williams to miss four to six weeks because of the injury sustained Sept. 15 during an optional individual workout. He started 71 games and averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds last year.
Bulls guard Coby White is expected to make a full return in November after having surgery on his left shoulder.
Chicago opens the season at Detroit on Oct. 20.
NHL-BLACKHAWKS-COVID-19
Blackhawks G Lankinen held out because of COVID-19 protocol
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Kevin Lankinen and forward Mike Hardman were held out of practice Friday because of the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
The announcement on the team’s second day of training camp doesn’t necessarily mean that either player tested positive. General manager Stan Bowman said Thursday that the team was 100% vaccinated.
Lankinen is coming off a solid rookie season, going 17-14-5 with 3.01 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. He is expected to back up Marc-Andre Fleury this year.
Hardman made his NHL debut last season, finishing with a goal and two assists in eight games.
MLB-GOODBYE INDIANS
Name drop: Cleveland set to say goodbye to Indians for good
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians are about to become history.
One of the American League’s charter members will play its final home game of 2021 on Monday. That will be its last game at Progressive Field as the Indians, the team’s name since 1915, when “Shoeless” Joe Jackson was the starting right fielder on opening day.
Much more than the makeup of a rainout against the Kansas City Royals, the home finale will signify the end of one era and beginning of a new chapter for the team, which will be called the Cleveland Guardians next season.
The home finale will signify the end of one era and the beginning of a new chapter for the team, which will be called the Cleveland Guardians next season. The team dropped the name Indians in the wake of a national racial reckoning to remove offensive symbols.
GOLF-RYDER CUP
DeChambeau’s 417-yard drive makes eagle a cinch
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — Golf galleries dig the long ball, and Bryson DeChambeau did not disappoint.
The game’s longest hitter made his debut in the afternoon’s fourball matches alongside Scottie Scheffler and almost immediately made an impact. At the 581-yard, par-5 5th, DeChambeau crushed a 417-yard tee shot to the elbow of the dogleg-right hole. That left him just 72 yards to the pin.
From there, DeChambeau dialed down the power and turned on the finesse. He lobbed a wedge to 4 feet and made that for eagle and a tie with Europeans Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton early on in their match.
