Sports News

Alabama football general manager Courtney Morgan has agreed to a new, precedent-setting contract with the Crimson Tide following a summer approach from USC, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday night. Morgan will earn an average of $825,000 annually under the three-year contract, a deal that bolsters his place as college football's highest-paid front office figure. The new deal was approved by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees on Monday, but sources tell ESPN that the updated contract has been agreed upon for some time. Morgan's upgraded salary figures were first reported by 247Sports.   Morgan, the general manager behind Washington's 2024 national runner-up finish, stands among the highest-rising stars of college football's rapidly growing front office and personnel space. Morgan spent the past two seasons with Kalen Deboer at Washington, then followed the 49-year-old coach to Alabama earlier this year when the Crimson Tide hired Deboer to replace...

After spending three seasons as a backup, Miller Moss' patience has officially paid off. In a move that was widely expected, No. 23  USC head coach Lincoln Riley named Moss the Trojans' starting quarterback Monday ahead of the start of the 2024 season. Moss, a junior, will step into the sizeable shoes left behind by Caleb Williams, who spent two seasons at USC, won a Heisman Trophy, and threw for over 8,000 yards and 72 touchdowns. Moss, for his part, has only thrown 59 pass attempts for 681 yards and seven touchdowns throughout his time at USC. It took Moss all of spring practice and most of fall camp to officially secure the position, but in many ways, Moss may have won the job back in December. With Williams deciding to not play in the Holiday Bowl in anticipation of his NFL draft decision, Moss stepped into the starting role and made the most of his opportunity. With a game plan set up for him to showcase his talent, Moss threw 33 passes, completing 23...

Alabama football general manager Courtney Morgan has agreed to a new, precedent-setting contract with the Crimson Tide following a summer approach from USC, sources confirmed to ESPN Monday night. Morgan will earn an average of $825,000 annually under the three-year contract, a deal that bolsters his place as college football's highest-paid front office figure. The agreement was approved by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees Monday, but sources tell ESPN that the updated contract has been agreed upon for some time. Morgan's upgraded salary figures were first reported by 247Sports.   Morgan, the general manager behind Washington's 2024 national runner-up finish, stands among the highest-rising stars of college football's rapidly growing front office and personnel space. Morgan spent the last two seasons with Kalen Deboer at Washington, then followed the 49-year-old coach to Alabama earlier this year when the Crimson Tide hired Deboer to replace Nick...

LOS ANGELES -- Justin Turner returned to Dodger Stadium on Monday night for the first time since leaving the Dodgers in 2022 after a nine-year run as their gritty third baseman, which included a World Series championship. "It was one of the best things that ever happened to my career, getting a chance to put on this uniform that so many great players have worn throughout the years and be on some teams that have done some historic things," Turner said before the game. "It's really something that I feel honored to be a part of." He's now 39 years old and playing first base for the Seattle Mariners, who opened a three-game series against the NL West leaders. Turner was greeted with a second standing ovation before his first at-bat in the second inning. He grounded out to third -- his old position in L.A. -- to end the inning and finished 1-for-3 in a 3-0 Mariners loss.  Turner's wife, Kourtney, and son Bo, born on July 4, joined him behind home plate...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is dealing with a "very minor thing" that has kept him out of practice since being involved in a serious car accident on Wednesday, coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "We're not messing with him right now," Harbaugh said. "Don't worry about Mark. He's going to be fine." On Wednesday, Andrews was involved in an incident where two vehicles sustained heavy damage, according to Baltimore County police. The incident occurred while Andrews was driving to the Ravens' team facility for training camp. The Ravens issued a statement that indicated Andrews did not suffer any apparent injuries. But Andrews has been absent for the past three practices since the accident. He was on the field before Saturday's preseason game, casually catching passes from tight end Isaiah Likely, but did not participate in any drills. Andrews is expected to make the trip with the team to Green Bay, where the Ravens will...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- As the 2024 NFL season gets closer, the injuries for the Buffalo Bills continue to pile up. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky (knee), wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck) and tight end Quintin Morris (shoulder), who is undergoing further evaluation, will all be out multiple weeks, coach Sean McDermott said Monday. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel (turf toe), safety Damar Hamlin (hamstring) and linebacker Baylon Spector (calf) are all week-to-week. The injuries -- some suffered during the team's second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night, some before -- are the latest in what has been a tough spring and summer for the Bills. A number of players are missing significant time because of injuries, and starting linebacker Matt Milano tore a biceps in practice last week. Many of the injured players are new additions to the team this offseason. The Bills have a busy...

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert returned to practice Monday, participating for the first time since being diagnosed with a plantar fascia injury in his right foot on July 31. Herbert had been on the sidelines in a walking boot for two weeks, though at the time of the diagnosis, he was expected to be ready for Week 1, the team said, after completing a "gradual return to play protocol" process. "It felt great," coach Jim Harbaugh said when asked what it was like to see his starter back under center. "It felt like music should be playing, I thought I heard music, voices of angels maybe. It felt great." Harbaugh has been steadfast, throughout the injury process, that Herbert wouldn't miss a beat in adapting to a new offense, saying last month that it was still "full steam ahead" without him. "The preparation, the work continues," he said at the time. "He's not on the field, in practice, but in the meeting room, still in the training environment, that chemistry...

After spending three seasons as a backup, Miller Moss' patience has officially paid off. In a move that was widely expected, USC head coach Lincoln Riley named Moss the Trojans' starting quarterback Monday ahead of the start of the 2024 season. Moss, a junior, will step into the sizeable shoes left behind by Caleb Williams, who spent two seasons at USC, won a Heisman Trophy, and threw for over 8,000 yards and 72 touchdowns. Moss, for his part, has only thrown 59 pass attempts for 681 yards and seven touchdowns throughout his time at USC. It took Moss all of spring practice and most of fall camp to officially secure the position, but in many ways, Moss may have won the job back in December. With Williams deciding to not play in the Holiday Bowl in anticipation of his NFL draft decision, Moss stepped into the starting role and made the most of his opportunity. With a game plan set up for him to showcase his talent, Moss threw 33 passes, completing 23 of them...

Just days after it became public he wanted to leave, Patrik Laine is no longer a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets as the winger was traded on Monday to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris. The Blue Jackets received a 2026 second-round pick in addition to Harris and will not retain any of Laine's salary in the deal. Laine, 26, has two years left on his contract worth $8.7 million annually. Laine's future with the Blue Jackets had been in question for quite some time. The speculation further intensified last week when Blue Jackets president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell told TSN 1050 in Toronto that Laine was vocal about not wanting to play for the Blue Jackets anymore. Waddell reiterated Laine's desire to leave in a statement released at the time of the trade. "We want players that want to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him," Waddell said....

Chelsea have agreed a deal in principle to sign João Félix from Atlético Madrid, sources have told ESPN, in a move which should now see Conor Gallagher complete his transfer in the opposite direction. Talks have intensified in recent days with Atlético needing to move a player out before finalising a deal for Gallagher, who has been training away from the first-team group at the Blues' Cobham base as he awaits news on his future. The exact fee is unclear, but one source told ESPN the final package for Felix could be worth in the region of €50 million including add-ons. The Portugal international was not included in Diego Simeone's squad for their LaLiga opener against Villarreal on Monday. Sources have added that Felix has agreed a six-year contract with the option of a further 12 months to rejoin the club where he spent six months on loan last year, scoring four goals in 20 appearances. Gallagher is now expected to travel to Madrid to...

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley has been diagnosed with a fractured right hand and is expected to miss approximately six to eight weeks, the team announced Monday. Riley was hit by a 97 mph pitch from the Los Angeles Angels' Jack Kochanowicz on Sunday. An MRI on Monday confirmed the injury. He is batting .256 with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs. The Braves are second in the National League East -- seven games behind the Philadelphia Phillies -- and are two games in front of the New York Mets for the final wild-card spot entering Monday's games. In other roster moves, the Braves activated All-Star right-hander Reynaldo López from the injured list and optioned right-hander Jimmy Herget to Triple-A Gwinnett. Lopez, who is 7-4 with a 2.06 ERA this season, hasn't pitched since having tightness in his right forearm on July 28. He is scheduled to start against the Phillies on Tuesday. The Associated Press contributed...

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Commanders finally made official what has been expected since the NFL draft: Jayden Daniels is their starting quarterback. Commanders coach Dan Quinn announced the move Monday, though Daniels, the second overall pick in April, had been working with the first team exclusively in training camp for the past three weeks. It wasn't exactly a secret that Daniels would start, but by waiting and seeing, the Commanders allowed him to prove he was worthy of the job. "We knew we would get here," Quinn said, "but we were just excited to see how we would. Seeing him hit all the spots, this is a rare competitor. He's just had a remarkable start to things." Quinn said he told Daniels the news during a meeting in the quarterbacks room Monday afternoon. Quinn reiterated his belief in having competition for a position then said he told Daniels, "You absolutely crushed it and earned it." Though the news was more of a formality, Daniels said he didn't...

BOSTON -- Former NFL player Gosder Cherilus was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly drunkenly hitting one man and urinating on another passenger during a flight from Boston to Dublin, Massachusetts State Police said Monday. The 40-year-old Cherilus, a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2008 who also played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was arrested early Sunday after the Delta Air Lines flight returned to Logan International Airport. Troopers ordered Cherilus, from Wakefield, near Boston, to leave the plane but he "became irate and uncooperative," police said. He was then arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and disturbing a flight crew. According to the police report, he appeared drunk when he boarded the plane, allegedly argued with the flight crew about his seat, and an hour into the flight urinated on an elderly passenger. He then hit another passenger and took that passenger's seat before...

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. --  Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. did not play Saturday in the team's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, and he won't suit up again Friday when the Falcons host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their final tune-up Friday, coach Raheem Morris said Monday. Morris believes he and the coaching staff saw enough of Penix in the team's joint practices and first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins two weeks ago. Penix went 9-of-16 for 104 yards in the game with no touchdowns or interceptions. "You've seen the amount of reps that Michael's been able to get [in practice] without really taking away from our starters and Kirk and it's been awesome," Morris said. "And I don't see that varying at all in his developmental plan, even moving into the season. Because he'll be able to have 100% of the reps versus our defense. And he's getting I don't know how many reps versus our starting defense...

Tua Tagovailoa didn't hold back when asked to describe the difference between having a coach who believes in him compared with one who didn't. The Miami Dolphins quarterback has flourished in two seasons under Mike McDaniel, so much so that Tagovailoa was rewarded this offseason with a four-year, $212.4 million extension. He had a far different experience under Brian Flores, his coach for the first two seasons of his career. In an interview with "The Dan LeBatard Show" that aired Monday, Tagovailoa said that he began to believe he didn't belong as an NFL quarterback under Flores and that McDaniel has had to train that out of him the past two seasons. "To put it in simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you [that] you suck at what you did, that you don't belong doing what you do, that you shouldn't be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven't earned this right, and then you have somebody else come in and tell you, 'Dude, you are the best...

Quarterback Colt McCoy, who starred in college for the Texas Longhorns before an NFL career that spanned 14 seasons with five teams, is officially retiring from football and is moving to the broadcast booth. "Thank you football," McCoy posted to social media along with a video summarizing his career. "Excited for the next chapter." McCoy, 37, was a two-time finalist for the Heisman Trophy during his collegiate career at Texas, where he won an NCAA Division I-record 45 games as a four-year starter from 2006 to 2009. He led the Longhorns to the BCS National Championship game in 2010 after winning the Big 12 title with a 12-0 regular season. He was drafted in the third round by the Cleveland Browns in 2010, and he went on to post an 11-25 record in his 36 starts with the Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals, where he last played during the 2022 season. In 56 games,...

Thierry Henry has resigned from his role as manager of France's youth teams after earning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, the French Football Federation announced on Monday. Henry, who won the 1998 World Cup with his country as a player, cited "personal reasons" as the motivation for his decision in the FFF news release. "I have to thank the FFF and Philippe Diallo [president of the FFF], who gave me this amazing opportunity," Henry said. "Winning a silver medal at the Olympics for my country will remain one of the proudest achievements of my life. "I am incredibly grateful to the Federation, the players, the staff and the supporters who allowed me to live out a magical experience." Henry's Olympic team, made up of under-23 players and three overage selections, beat  Argentina and  Egypt on the way to the final in Paris, only to be beaten 5-3 by  Spain after extra time. Diallo thanked Henry for his professionalism in the statement and added that...

Racing and reckless driving charges were dismissed against Georgia starting linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. on Monday, his attorney confirmed to ESPN. Mondon, who was arrested by Athens-Clarke County Police on July 10, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving too fast for conditions during a hearing at Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court on Monday. Mondon's attorney, Billy Healan, said Mondon attended defensive driving and victim impact classes and paid a $500 fine. Healan said the misdemeanor count is a nonreportable traffic offense, meaning it won't show up on Mondon's driving record. "We feel like this was the appropriate resolution," Healan said. "Smael accelerated too fast, but he was not racing and wasn't reckless. He has paid his fine, and he is ready to move on from here. Smael is scheduled to graduate in December and had no prior traffic incidents." According to an Athens-Clarke County Police report, which was previously obtained by ESPN, a police...

Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon reiterated Sunday what she has said previously about former Aces player Dearica Hamby's trade to Los Angeles in January 2023. Hammon has denied that the Aces mistreated Hamby or traded her because she was pregnant. Hamby filed a federal lawsuit last Monday against the WNBA and the Aces, alleging that because of her pregnancy, she was subject to "repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation from the Aces" before being traded to the Sparks. Hamby also alleges the WNBA failed to "properly investigate" the issue. Sunday, the Aces defeated Hamby and the Sparks 87-71 in Las Vegas. After the game, Hammon addressed the lawsuit when asked about it in the postgame news conference. "Here's some facts," Hammon said. "I've been in either the WNBA or the NBA for now 25 years. I've never had an HR complaint. Never, not once. I still didn't, actually, because Dearica didn't file any. She didn't file with the...

LAS VEGAS -- A'ja Wilson scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds -- her WNBA-record 17th game this season with 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds -- to help the Las Vegas Aces beat the Los Angeles Sparks 87-71 on Sunday. Wilson broke her own single-season record for 20-10 games of 16, set in 2023. The 6-foot-4 center has scored at least 20 points and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in eight consecutive games, also a WNBA record. The two-time WNBA MVP is averaging 29.3 points, 14.4 rebounds and 3.6 blocks while shooting 53% (85-of-161) from the field and 93.3% (56-of-60) from the free throw line during that span. Wilson is the first player in WNBA history with multiple games of 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals, and became the fourth player in league history to record eight double-doubles in a row, joining Candace Parker (twice), Sylvia Fowles (twice) and  Chicago Sky rookie  Angel Reese (WNBA-record 15 straight in 2024). Kelsey Plum hit...

Boise State named redshirt sophomore quarterback Maddux Madsen the starting quarterback for the opener against Georgia Southern, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Madsen, who has appeared in 10 games in his prior two seasons at Boise, edged highly touted transfer Malachi Nelson for the starting nod. Nelson, a second-year player, transferred from USC prior to the spring and entered college as ESPN's No. 1 overall player in the class of 2023. Madsen brings experience and familiarity with the Boise State offense, as he played in nine games last season and has 1,234 career passing yards and nine touchdowns passes. He also offers a dual threat, rushing for 121 yards and two touchdowns in his career. Boise State enters the season as one of the favorites from outside the four power conferences to capture a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff, as one bid is reserved for the five conference champions. That leaves one bid for a league outside the power four, and Boise is the...

Add yet another milestone to  Caitlin Clark's record-breaking 2024, her latest coming Sunday in the  Indiana Fever's 92-75 win over the Seattle Storm as she broke the WNBA single-season rookie mark for assists. Clark, who leads the WNBA in assists at 8.3 per game, had 9 Sunday to reach 232, passing Ticha Penicheiro's previous rookie record of 224 set in 1998. Penicheiro was the No. 2 pick that year for the Sacramento Monarchs, who are no longer in the WNBA. She helped lead the Monarchs to the 2005 league championship and finished her career with 2,600 assists, third most in WNBA history. Clark was four years from being born when Penicheiro came into the WNBA, and was 10 years old when Penicheiro retired. But Clark said the two connected during her college career at  Iowa. And she knows enough to accurately describe Penicheiro, who is regarded as one of the most creative and exciting passers in women's basketball history. "If you...

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers center Nate Herbig is expected to be sidelined for a significant amount of time with a torn rotator cuff, a source confirmed to ESPN, paving the way for the team to start rookie center Zach Frazier. Herbig, an interior offensive lineman, worked primarily at center with the first-team line throughout training camp before suffering the injury last week. Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged Herbig's injury following the Steelers' preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night, but said Herbig, 26, was seeking a second opinion. Frazier, who played in college for West Virginia, was selected in the second round of April's draft and started in Herbig's place against the Bills. "Nate's got an injury that's being continually evaluated," Tomlin said when asked about Herbig's status postgame. "I think he's getting a second opinion. I want to wait to that. I'll give you guys some information probably the next time we come together, but I...

Carlo Ancelotti slammed his Real Madrid team's "attitude" and "collective commitment" after the LaLiga champions were held to a 1-1 draw at Mallorca in their opening game of the 2024-25 season. Rodrygo put Madrid ahead in the 13th minute at Son Moix -- after a passing move involving Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior -- before Vedat Muriqi levelled for Mallorca with a second-half header. Madrid couldn't find a late winning goal, and defender Ferland Mendy was sent off in added time, leaving coach Ancelotti frustrated. "In the second half we lacked balance," Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference. "We gave away counterattacks, crosses. It wasn't a good game. We have to defend better, and above all have more balance on the pitch. "Today we're not happy. I don't want to give excuses. We just had to do better, with more attitude. But we can learn a lot from this game, it was clear where we had...

Pep Guardiola said Erling Haaland's goal-scoring record is reaching the levels of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but believes the striker is capable of getting even better in the years ahead. Haaland, 24, scored the opening goal on 18 minutes as City started their quest for a fifth consecutive Premier League title with a 2-0 win at Chelsea, sealed with Mateo Kovacic's 84th-minute strike. The Norway international marked his 100th league appearance with his 91st goal, and Guardiola claimed that Haaland's summer off -- Norway failed to qualify for Euro 2024 -- has left him feeling sharper ahead of the new campaign. "He has the numbers for Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who controlled the last decade, 15 years, absolutely everything," Guardiola said. "In terms of numbers, it is that level. So, I don't know how he does it, but in 100 games scoring 91 goals is something in Premier League, in this country, is unbelievable. "I...

LOS ANGELES -- Rams head coach Sean McVay said he's not sure whether Matthew Stafford will practice on Monday but noted he's "not concerned" about the quarterback missing time because of hamstring tightness. Stafford left the Rams' joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys last week and did not participate in the team's jog-through the next day as a precaution. "I'm not concerned," McVay said. "I'm not. ... Do you want him to be able to get the work? Of course, but I'm not concerned based on what I understand the tightness is and erring on the safe side of caution for this week, if that's what we end up having to do." During the second half of the joint practice on Wednesday and during the jog-through on Thursday, backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took the reps in Stafford's place. Garoppolo, who signed with the Rams in March, is suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy. "He can...

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has taken aim at Noah Lyles, challenging the 100-meter Olympic gold medalist to a race on social media Sunday. The speedy Hill apparently wasn't impressed with Lyles' win in the men's 100-meter final at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 4, and he took exception on the "Up & Adams" podcast Monday to Lyles saying Super Bowl champions were not "world champions" -- a dig the sprinter previously leveled at NBA champions as well. Hill took to social media Sunday and encouraged Lyles to sign a contract to compete against him in a 50-yard dash. "Sign the contract and lock in that 50 yard race ..." Hill wrote. Hill's challenge came on the heels of Lyles calling out the Dolphins wideout on "Nightcap" with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson in an episode that was posted Saturday. "Tyreek is just chasing clout," Lyles said. "Anytime someone fast comes up, he would try to race them. If he really wanted to race people, he would've showed...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Gardner Minshew will open the season as the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback, coach Antonio Pierce announced Sunday. Minshew, who signed with the Raiders as a free agent this offseason, was competing with Aidan O'Connell for the job. "A lot of things went into it," Pierce said. "It wasn't based off of [solely] last night. There's a lot of factors. So, we feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start, and that's what we're going with. We support him, our team's behind it, our staff's behind it, the organization's behind it." The Raiders open the 2024 season at the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1. Asked specifically what went into the decision, Pierce pointed out the "experience" of Minshew, who is entering his sixth NFL season, as well as the totality of the competition. "The operation, the process and just everything we saw in practice," Pierce said. "Some of it showed up in the games. A lot...

The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million deal with forward Guerschon Yabusele, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday, after he played a big role in France's run to the silver medal at the Olympics earlier this month. Yabusele, a bruising 6-foot-8, 260-pound power forward who was a 2016 first-round draft pick by the Boston Celtics, has a chance to step into the rotation on a 76ers team that made one of the biggest moves of the summer in signing Paul George to a four-year max contract. While the 76ers also retained Kelly Oubre and Kyle Lowry as free agents and signed  Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon, they are light on options at power forward behind Martin -- the presumed starter -- which gives Yabusele a chance to earn a spot in coach Nick Nurse's rotation. Yabusele, 28, was a breakout star in France's run to the Olympic gold medal game, scoring 22, 17 and 20 points against...

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Buccaneers reached an agreement with outside linebacker Randy Gregory to release him, with coach Todd Bowles saying Sunday that he was never given a reason as to why Gregory didn't show up for training camp. "I'll never find out, but I wish him the best and we'll move on from there," Bowles said. "Can't miss what you never had." Gregory had yet to report to training camp and missed two preseason games after filing a lawsuit against the NFL and Denver Broncos over alleged discrimination in June. In it, Gregory claimed that the league and team denied him the use of the drug dronabinol, which is prescribed to Gregory by a doctor for the treatment of social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress and resulted in Gregory accumulating $500,000 in fines. The Bucs placed Gregory on the reserve/did not report list July 23. He had signed a one-year deal with the club worth $3 million with an additional $2 million in incentives. Gregory...

Veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore found a home Sunday with the Minnesota Vikings, a team that has been scouring the free agent and trade markets this summer to fortify a position that has been decimated by injury and tragedy. Gilmore and the Vikings have agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $10 million with $7 million guaranteed, his agent, Jason Chayut of Sportstars Inc., told ESPN's Adam Schefter. A two-time first-team All-Pro, Gilmore is the fifth -- and by far most significant -- cornerback acquisition the Vikings have made this summer. He will reunite with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who was on the New England Patriots' coaching staff for two of Gilmore's seasons with that team. Flores was the Patriots' defensive playcaller in 2018 when Gilmore received his first All-Pro nod. Gilmore, who turns 34 next month, had been unsigned since finishing a strong 2023 season with the Dallas Cowboys. He had offseason surgery to repair...

LAS VEGAS --  Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said the team's decision-makers will "sleep on it and make a decision in the next couple of days" on whom Las Vegas' starting quarterback will be for the season opener --  Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell. Both quarterbacks played five series apiece in a 27-12 preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys, who played only two starters Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium. Minshew started for the Raiders and was scattershot in completing just 10 of 21 passes for 95 yards, though he did have a pretty 48-yard deep ball to receiver Tre Tucker. And while O'Connell was more efficient, going 14-of-20 for 96 yards with a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harrison Bryant, he also threw an ugly 69-yard pick-six to Cowboys cornerback Kemon Hall on his final snap of the game, the first play of the fourth quarter. "It sucks," O'Connell said. "It sucks to throw interceptions in general, but to be the...

LAS VEGAS --  Dallas Cowboys kicker  Brandon Aubrey knew immediately that he caught the ball well off his right foot. Aubrey's 66-yard field goal in the Cowboys' 27-12 preseason win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night would have equaled the NFL record set by Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens on 2021. "Just kind of feels like nothing's quite there," Aubrey said. "Got a little bounce off of your foot, that it sticks onto your foot for like a fraction of a second and then it goes. It kind of shoots off, jumps off your foot. And you know right off the bat it was a good, clean hit." In last week's preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, Aubrey's 65-yard attempt was wide and potentially a little short. After the game, coach Mike McCarthy contemplated giving Aubrey a chance at a 72-yarder earlier in the drive but said, "Bones wasn't feeling it," referring to special teams coordinator John Fassel. Trey...

Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended the UFC middleweight championship by defeating Israel Adesanya with a fourth-round submission Saturday in the main event of UFC 305 from the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) had to overcome adversity to retain his belt, as Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) was building a head of steam in the fourth round before a left hook stunned the former champion and led to the finishing sequence. It was a nip-and-tuck affair through three rounds, between Du Plessis' explosive offense and takedowns and Adesanya's pinpoint counterpunching and bodywork. Just as it appeared the bodywork was slowing down the champion in the fourth round, Du Plessis dug deep and charged forward, slamming a trio of right hands into Adesanya and securing a takedown. Du Plessis quickly transitioned to the former champion's back and sank in a rear-naked choke to get the submission at the 3:38 mark. "I came in here to die for this belt or take a...

Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn loves what he has seen from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. But there's one exception: Quinn wants him to slide more. That was evident in Saturday's 13-6 preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins. On a first-quarter zone read keeper around the right end, Daniels picked up 13 yards but rather than slide continued forward and got tackled from behind. After the game Quinn told reporters -- with a nod to the movie "Animal House" -- that Daniels was on "double secret probation" because he didn't slide on the play. It was the second consecutive week Daniels left the coaches anxious about a play and the potential for a big hit. Following the play Saturday, Quinn walked down the sideline to where Daniels was and motioned for him to get down. Washington has been ecstatic about Daniels' performance, not just in the preseason games but in practice as well. Coaches and teammates have raved about his work ethic and say he's ahead of...

PITTSBURGH -- For the second week in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers' first-unit offense failed to put any points on the board as the team dropped Saturday night's preseason game to the Buffalo Bills  9-3. This time, though, Russell Wilson -- making his preseason debut -- led the unit to its scoreless outing in five series, while Justin Fields' unit mustered only a field goal in five series of its own. Wilson, 35, completed 8 of 10 attempts for 47 yards over five series. But the starting offensive line gave up three sacks in the first three series for a loss of 21 yards, and the unit picked up only one first down while averaging a paltry 1.6 yards per play. "We didn't do a good enough job of protecting the quarterback," coach Mike Tomlin said. "We've got to do a better job in pass protection than we did -- not only in possession downs but just in general. I was really up-front with the group about it in that regard, that can't be a problem...

CHICAGO -- Months ago at the NFL combine, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles described two types of quarterbacks: The artist who "doesn't draw within the lines" and the surgeon who slices through defenses with razor sharp accuracy. In his second preseason game Saturday, Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams showed why he's the former. After a slow start, where the Bears offense went three-and-out on three straight possessions in the first quarter of Chicago's 27-3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Williams tapped into his inner artist to put together his first touchdown drive of the preseason. Ahead 3-0 before the two-minute warning in the first half, Williams dropped back to pass while keeping his eyes downfield. Upon spinning out of the pocket away from pressure, the 22-year-old quarterback flung a deep ball on the move to rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze, who came down with a 45-yard reception while flanked by Bengals cornerback ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Patrick Mahomes hinted during the week that he wanted to throw a behind-the-back pass during a game. He delivered during Saturday's preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes went behind the back to Travis Kelce for an 8-yard gain and a first down on Mahomes' last drive of the game before he was pulled in favor of backup Carson Wentz late in the first quarter.  Mahomes said the play wasn't designed for him to throw behind his back, but it worked out anyway. "It has to happen naturally,'' Mahomes said after the Lions beat the Chiefs 24-23 on a walk-off field goal. "I can't force it. ... It probably looked pretty cool, but I haven't actually got to see it yet.''   Mahomes said he has been urged to try a behind-the-back pass by coach Andy Reid. Mahomes has occasionally thrown behind his back in practice, most recently completing one to running back Isiah Pacheco at training camp. Reid said...

The New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have gone from winning an Olympic gold medal in Paris to restarting their WNBA season with victories at Los Angeles and Las Vegas and clinching a playoff spot. All in less than a week. The first-place Liberty beat the two-time defending champion Aces 79-67 on Saturday, moving them to 23-4 and making the playoffs with still a month left in the regular season. They're the first team to clinch, and did so with their second win in Las Vegas this season. "It's just being excited to be back with our team," Stewart said Saturday of how her energy level has stayed so high despite having so much packed into a short period. "We did our job. We won a gold medal and did something really special. "This second half of the season is really important. And there's no excuses. Nobody cares if we just came off the Olympics and have a game four days later and a nine-hour time zone change. When you think about it, it's...

Mason Greenwood scored twice in his debut for Marseille in a 5-1 victory over Brest in their French league opener Saturday. Greenwood, the former Manchester United forward who made a controversial move to Marseille this summer, had a hand in all five goals as he also provided two assists and won a penalty that Elye Wahi converted. Greenwood's first Ligue 1 appearance was greeted with boos that echoed throughout Brest's Francis-Le Blé stadium every time he touched the ball. The forward, 22, was arrested in 2022 and later charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault. The case was dropped last year.   Brest, who finished third last season and are set to compete in the Champions League, struggled throughout the match. A missed penalty by Romain Del Castillo in the first half highlighted their lack of precision. "This was not our level," Brest head coach Eric Roy said. "We gave them...

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had a disastrous start in his return from a torn ACL when he threw a pair of first-quarter interceptions on Saturday in a 28-10 loss to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, including one that was returned for a touchdown. In his first quarter of game action since tearing the ACL in his right knee back in November, Jones threw two interceptions on his first three drives. He also almost threw an interception on his first pass of the contest. "Obviously first quarter didn't go how we wanted it," Jones told reporters. "Bad decision and a bad throw [on the interception for a touchdown]." Jones finished the contest 11-of-18 passing for 138 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He led a pair of scoring drives in the second half. But it was on the Giants' second drive of the contest when Jones made an ill-advised throw that proved costly. He was pressured by Houston's Derek Barnett on a dropback in the end zone and...

Eddie Nunez has agreed to a five-year deal to become athletic director at the University of Houston, the school announced Saturday. Nunez will leave the University of New Mexico for the Cougars and the Big 12 Conference. He was named the Lobos' athletic director in 2017, and his title was changed to include vice president in 2021. Nunez, who played basketball for former coach Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators, also worked for LSU's athletic department, and will now head a university trying to gain its footing in the clogged Big 12. He will be introduced Wednesday. "Eddie Nunez brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success during a time of great transformation in college athletics," Houston president Renu Khator said in a statement. "His leadership will be critical as we continue to elevate our athletics programs, enhance the student-athlete experience and build on the tremendous momentum at the University of Houston." In its first season in the new...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Patrick Mahomes hinted during the week that he wanted to throw a behind-the-back pass during a game. He delivered during Saturday's preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes went behind the back to Travis Kelce for an 8-yard gain and a first down on Mahomes' last drive of the game before he was pulled in favor of backup Carson Wentz late in the first quarter.  Mahomes recently completed a behind-the-back pass to running back Isiah Pacheco in a Kansas City Chiefs training camp practice and said afterward he would like to try one in a game. "There definitely is a possibility of it,'' Mahomes said this week. "If you do it, it's got to work.'' Mahomes said coach Andy Reid has been urging Mahomes to throw a behind-the-back pass for some time. "I'm telling you, he's all for it,'' Mahomes said. "It's me that's the one that's hesitant to do it in a game.''

Louisville receiver Caullin Lacy broke his collarbone during the final scrimmage of fall camp Saturday and will be out "an extended period of time," the school announced. Lacy, one of the top players to sign with the Cardinals through the transfer portal, was expected to be their No. 1 receiver. Last season at South Alabama, Lacy had 91 receptions for 1,316 yards -- both ranking No. 5 in the country -- and seven touchdown catches.   Louisville must replace its leading receiver from a year ago, James Thrash, who led the team with 69 catches for 858 yards and six touchdowns. Chris Bell finished second on the team last season and is back for the Cardinals; he is expected to take on a bigger role, and Louisville also has Alabama transfer Ja'Corey Brooks.

Former United States under-20 coach Mikey Varas will lead the U.S. men's national team on an interim basis during the upcoming September international window, a source confirmed to ESPN. Varas will be in charge even if Mauricio Pochettino is officially named manager of the USMNT before the window, giving Pochettino time to familiarize himself with the U.S. Soccer Federation and broader American soccer landscape. The U.S. will host Canada in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sept. 7 and New Zealand in Cincinnati three days later in a pair of friendlies. Previously, both The Washington Post and The Athletic reported that Varas would take over on a temporary basis. ESPN reported on Thursday that Pochettino has agreed to succeed Gregg Berhalter as the new permanent USMNT coach.  No final agreement has been signed between the two parties, sources told ESPN, and the USSF board of directors has yet to sign off on any deal. A regular board meeting is scheduled for...

Five-star offensive tackle David Sanders, the top uncommitted prospect in the 2025 class, committed to Tennessee on Saturday afternoon, landing with the Volunteers as the top-ranked prospect in the program's rising 2025 recruiting class and the highest-rated pledge of the Josh Heupel era. Tennessee beat Ohio State, Nebraska and Georgia in the chase for the No. 4 recruit in the 2025 ESPN 300, securing Sanders' pledge in the latest of a series of high-profile summer commitments for the Volunteers. Sanders, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound blocker from Charlotte, North Carolina, enters his senior season at Charlotte's Providence Day School as the reigning North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year after leading the program to its third straight NCISAA state title in 2023. With Sanders' decision made, five-star defensive tackle Elijah Griffin (No. 5 in the ESPN 300) becomes the top uncommitted prospect in the 2025 cycle, based on ESPN rankings. For...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Arden Key's six-game suspension under the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy has been overturned, a league source told ESPN on Saturday. After the possible suspension was announced July 30, the Titans decided to wait out the process and continued to have Key take all the first-team reps despite the looming punishment. Titans general manager Ran Carthon didn't sign any free agent outside linebackers as the team waited for the league's decision. Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons posted on X that Key had won his appeal, adding, "See you guys Sept 8." Key, along with the rest of the Titans' starters did not play in Saturday's 16-15 preseason win over the Seahawks. Titans coach Brian Callahan reserved comment on the report that Key's suspension was overturned, saying after the game that the appeal process is still in the league's hands. Key had six sacks last season, third most by a...

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith will not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders after suffering an allergic reaction Friday, the team announced. The Cowboys said in a release that Smith was continuing to recover and would not travel to Las Vegas. On Friday, they had left open the chance of Smith joining the team after initially announcing his medical issue that occurred before the Cowboys departed Oxnard, California. Smith, the Cowboys' 2023 first-round pick, earned praise from the coaches for his performance in the preseason opener last week against the Los Angeles Rams as he appears to have found a better fit in a traditional nose tackle role under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. He had a suspect rookie season with low confidence and light production, and he played just four snaps in the playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys acquired veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips from the...

Arsenal eased to a 2-0 win at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with goals by Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka getting their latest Premier League title challenge up and running on Saturday. It was far from a fluent display in the summer sunshine, but Mikel Arteta's side, once again regarded as the team most likely to halt Manchester City's domination, deserved the points. Havertz headed in from Saka's cross in the 25th minute, but the hosts never looked completely comfortable until Saka's clinical finish doubled their advantage in the closing stages. Wolves had their chances, with Rayan Aït-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes both failing to trouble Arsenal keeper David Raya from promising positions when the score was still 1-0. "I am really happy. With the first game, you have some uncertainty in how you will respond," Arteta said. "We had our moment after 1-0 when we were not in control, but after Saka's goal we were much...

IPSWICH, England --  Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said Mohamed Salah can continue his record-breaking run of scoring on the opening day of the Premier League season for years to come after he helped them to a 2-0 win at Ipswich Town on Saturday. Salah scored Liverpool's second goal and teed up their first for Diogo Jota on the hour mark as Slot got his tenure at the club off to a winning start in the post-Jürgen Klopp era. Salah's goal in the 65th minute meant he has now scored on the opening day of the season nine times, breaking the tie for record with Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer. His contract with Liverpool is up at the end of the season, and while Slot would not be drawn on questions pertaining to his talisman's future after the match, he said Salah's form is no surprise given the amount of work he puts in. "If [you] see what he does to keep his body as it is, there are many more years inside of him," Slot...