ew Page 5 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Report: Luka Doncic (leg) to return for Lakers on Christmas
Los Angeles Lakers fans will have one Christmas wish come to fruition when star guard Luka Doncic returns from a calf injury to play against the Houston Rockets on Thursday, according to an ESPN report.,Doncic departed early from a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday with a lower leg contus...

Knicks, Cavaliers tip off NBA's five-game Christmas slate
There are few sturdier NBA traditions than the New York Knicks playing on Christmas Day.,The Knicks hope a pair of familiar faces make it back for the customary clash Thursday when New York hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers to tip off the NBA's five-game holiday slate.,Both teams played Tuesday night, w...

With elimination looming, Ravens' Lamar Jackson misses practice
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed practice Wednesday with a back injury, putting his availability in question for Saturday's road game against the Green Bay Packers.,Jackson was knocked out of Sunday's 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots with a back injury in the second quarter.,T...

Report: Galaxy close to signing M Justin Haak
The Los Angeles Galaxy are finalizing a deal to sign free agent defensive midfielder Justin Haak, The Athletic reported on Wednesday.,Haak, 24, is a free agent after a breakout season in 2025 with New York City FC. ,He recorded one goal and four assists in 34 matches (all starts) last season. He has...

Veteran QB Josh Johnson to start for Commanders vs. Cowboys
Journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson will start for the Washington Commanders in their Christmas Day home game against the Dallas Cowboys.,Washington coach Dan Quinn also confirmed Wednesday that Jeff Driskel, who signed with the team on Monday, will back up Johnson. The Commanders are signing practi...

Raiders place TE Brock Bowers, S Jeremy Chinn on IR
The Las Vegas Raiders placed tight end Brock Bowers and safety Jeremy Chinn on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday.,The Raiders (2-13) are on a nine-game losing streak with two games remaining at home against the New York Giants (2-13) on Sunday and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18.,Bowers has ...

CFP ratings plummet 7% as games opposite NFL struggle again
While college football is big business, the NFL remains king as more evidence arrived from last weekend's television ratings.,Even the first round of the College Football Playoff last Friday and Saturday struggled to compete against opposing NFL regular-season games on the airwaves.,The four first-r...

Reports: RHP Pete Fairbanks reels in 1-year deal with Marlins
Right-handed reliever Pete Fairbanks agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Miami Marlins, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday.,MLB.com reported the deal includes a $1 million signing bonus, $1 million in incentives based on appearances and an acquisition bonus of $500,000 if h...

Hall of Fame golfer Jumbo Ozaki dies at 78
World Golf Hall of Famer Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki of Japan died Tuesday after a battle with colon cancer. He was 78.,Ozaki won 114 tournaments around the world, including a record 94 on the Japan Golf Tour between 1973 and 2002.,"He is an indispensable, one-of-a-kind figure in discussing men's golf, bo...

FSU QB Thomas Castellanos drops appeal, enters draft
Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos has dropped his petition for another year of eligibility and declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.,"To my family, friends, coaches, and teammates and everyone who has supported me along this journey, thank you for believing in me and pushing me to become the m...

Ben Simmons buys ownership stake in pro fishing team
Three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons has reeled in an ownership stake in the South Florida Sails Angling Club, a team that participates in the Sport Fishing Championship.,Simmons joined fellow NBA player Lonnie Walker IV as part of a group that owns 50% of the stake of the club, which SFC commissione...

Heat's Terry Rozier seeks to have government charges dismissed
Suspended Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is waiting to hear whether a federal court judge will dismiss the charges against him in a well-publicized sports gambling case.,The Athletic reported that an attorney representing Rozier filed a motion to dismiss the case earlier this month in the Eastern Div...

Report: Raiders placing Brock Bowers, Jeremy Chinn on IR
The Las Vegas Raiders are placing tight end Brock Bowers and safety Jeremy Chinn on season-ending injured reserve, ESPN reported Wednesday.,The Raiders (2-13) are on a nine-game losing streak with two games remaining at home against the New York Giants on Sunday and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18...

Suspension could cost Steelers' DK Metcalf more than $45M
DK Metcalf's two-game suspension for an altercation with a fan could void $45 million in the Steelers receiver's contract, according to multiple reports.,Metcalf, 28, signed a four-year, $132 million deal with Pittsburgh in March after being acquired from the Seattle Seahawks.,The contract includes ...

Spanish trio leads ESPN's 2025 women's soccer rankings
Spanish stars swept the top three spots in ESPN's annual year-ending ranking of the world's top-50 soccer players released on Wednesday.,Three-time defending Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati is No. 1 on the ESPN FC Women's Rank, followed by fellow Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas and Arsenal fo...

Report: Gamecocks LB Dylan Stewart to be among highest paid in '26
South Carolina linebacker Dylan Stewart is returning for his junior season and reportedly will rank among the nation's highest-paid players in 2026.,The All-Southeastern Conference edge rusher confirmed his decision to remain with the Gamecocks via a three-word message posted Tuesday on Instagram: "...

D.C. United sign veteran GK Sean Johnson through '27
D.C. United have signed free agent goalkeeper Sean Johnson, a veteran of more than 400 MLS matches.,The deal announced with Johnson, 36, on Tuesday night runs through June 2027.,Johnson won the 2021 MLS Cup with New York City FC and spent the past three seasons with Toronto FC.,"He brings valuable i...

Deer Valley World Cup races moved due to warm weather
World Cup freestyle skiing competition scheduled for January is relocating from the western United States to the northeast because of what U.S. Ski & Snowboard called unseasonably warm weather.,The Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, had been scheduled to host the aerials, moguls and dual moguls ...

Agent: Vikings G Henry Byrd lands 2-year extension
The Minnesota Vikings signed guard Henry Byrd to a two-year extension, his agency announced Wednesday.,Byrd, 26, made his NFL debut this season and has played a total of 12 special-teams snaps in two games.,"Congratulations to client Henry Byrd on signing a 2 year deal with the @Vikings," JL Sports ...

Bucs open 21-day window for DT Calijah Kancey
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened the 21-day practice window for defensive tackle Calijah Kancey on Wednesday.,Kancey went on injured reserve on Sept. 17 with a torn pectoral muscle that required what was reported at the time to be season-ending surgery.,The Buccaneers (7-8), who are one game behind t...