National Sports

By AP ANN ARBOR, Michigan (AP) — Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant is skipping his final college season to enter the NFL draft. Grant, a key part of the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship team, announced his decision Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter. Fellow Michigan interior lineman Mason Graham had already declared for the

By KYLE HIGHTOWER – AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — If Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has given any thought to the possibility of clinching a playoff berth in his first season with the team with a win at New England on Saturday, he isn’t letting it show. “Just attacking, that’s our mindset.

By JOSH DUBOW – AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When the San Francisco 49ers used a third-round pick to draft Jake Moody last year, the hope was it would settle their kicking position for years to come. A shaky second half to Moody’s second season with San Francisco has put that

By JAMES ROBSON and STEVE DOUGLAS – AP Soccer Writers Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes’ latest red card compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. There were no such problems Thursday for Liverpool, which rallied to a 3-1

By The Associated Press Arizona (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6) Saturday, 8:15 p.m. EST, NFL Network BetMGM NFL odds: Rams by 6 1/2. Against the spread: Cardinals 9-6; Rams 8-7. Series record: Rams lead 50-41-2. Last meeting: Cardinals beat Rams 41-10 in Glendale, Ariz. on Sept. 15. Last week: Cardinals lost to Carolina 36-30,

By AP NEW YORK (AP) — Right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga is guaranteed $5 million in his one-year contract from the New York Yankees as he returns from Tommy John surgery and could earn up to $10.5 million over two seasons. Loáisiga gets a $500,000 signing bonus and a $4.5 million salary next season as part of

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. – AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams sat out practice Thursday with a hip ailment that makes his status for the game Sunday at Buffalo uncertain. Cornerback Sauce Gardner (hamstring), right tackle Morgan Moses (knee) and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle)

By SCHUYLER DIXON – AP Sports Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers and free agent designated hitter Joc Pederson have agreed on a contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said Monday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical. The Rangers

By The Associated Press Las Vegas (3-12) at New Orleans (5-10) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL odds: Raiders by 1 Against the spread: Raiders 6-9; Saints 6-9 Series record: Tied 7-7-1 Last meeting: Saints beat Raiders 24-0 on Oct. 30, 2023, at New Orleans. Last week: Raiders beat Jaguars 19-14; Saints lost to

By AP SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is “alert” and conscious after being taken off the field on a stretcher during the team’s 1-0 win at Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday, manager Julen Lopetegui said. The game was delayed for around eight minutes as Fabianski received treatment on the

By TOM WITHERS – AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Even after leaving Cleveland, Carlos Santana remained a fan favorite and was warmly welcomed back as a visitor. He’s home again. Santana signed a one-year, $12 million contract and returned Monday for his third stint with the Guardians, who have an opening at first base

By AP PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies and right-handed pitcher Joe Ross finalized a $4 million, one-year contract on Monday. Ross can earn an additional $1 million in bonuses for days on the active roster: $333,333 each for 60 and 120, and $333,334 for 170. The 31-year-old Ross made 10 starts and 25 total

By AP BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox finalized an $18.25 million, two-year contract on Monday with left-hander Patrick Sandoval, who is recovering from elbow ligament surgery. Sandoval, 28, made 16 starts for the Los Angeles Angels this year, going 2-8 with a 5.08 ERA before tearing his UCL on June 21 against the Los

By KRISTIE RIEKEN – AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans certainly didn’t look like a playoff team in a rout by the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. With just one game left until the playoffs begin, the AFC South champions know they’ll have to get much better to be competitive in the postseason.

By The Associated Press Green Bay (11-4) at Minnesota (13-2) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL odds: Packers by 1. Against the spread: Packers 9-6, Vikings 10-4-1. Series record: Packers lead 66-59-3. Last meeting: Vikings beat Packers 31-29 on Sept. 29, 2024, in Green Bay. Last week: Packers beat Saints 34-0, Vikings beat Seahawks

By The Associated Press Carolina (4-11) at Tampa Bay (8-7) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, FOX. BetMGM Odds: Buccaneers by 8. Against the spread: Panthers 7-8, Buccaneers 9-6 Series record: Panthers lead 25-23. Last meeting: Buccaneers beat Panthers 26-23 in OT on Dec. 1, 2024, in Carolina. Last week: Panthers beat Cardinals 36-30 in OT; Buccaneers

By WILL GRAVES – AP Sports Writer Andy Kotelnicki likes to tinker. It’s just kind of his way. The Penn State first-year offensive coordinator is wary of growing stagnant. No matter how deep into the season it gets, there’s always time for a new wrinkle, a new play, anything to give an upcoming opponent a

By AP WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been shown a red card for the third time this season. The Portugal midfielder was sent off against Wolverhampton in the Premier League on Thursday after receiving a second yellow in the 47th minute. The score was 0-0 at the time and United

By JOHN ZENOR – AP Sports Writer Georgia Tech knocked off two Top 10 teams while Vanderbilt toppled then-No. 1 Alabama. The two opponents in Friday’s Birmingham Bowl have each taken highly ranked teams into multiple overtimes. They’re also led by mobile quarterbacks who throw few interceptions. There’s a reason that Vandy coach Clark Lea

By The Associated Press Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) at New England (3-12) Saturday, 1 p.m. EST, NFL Network BetMGM NFL odds: Chargers by 4 Series record: Patriots lead 27-16-2. Against the spread: Chargers 10-5, Patriots 6-8-1. Last meeting: Chargers beat Patriots 6-0 on Dec. 3, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. Last week: Patriots lost to Bills

By NOAH TRISTER – AP Sports Writer Now Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens can rest a bit. They’ve certainly earned it. Baltimore’s 31-2 rout of Houston on Wednesday capped a sweep of a grueling stretch of three games in 11 days. Baltimore looked like a Super Bowl contender while handling the Giants, Steelers and

By AP ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions are bringing back Teddy Bridgewater to give the team a veteran backup quarterback for their playoff run. Coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that the team signed Bridgewater as another backup with second-year player Hendon Hooker behind starter Jared Goff. The Lions have clinched a playoff

By DAVE SKRETTA – AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs earned a much-deserved extended rest after their Christmas Day rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which capped an unbeaten stretch of three games in 11 days and clinched them the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. That extended rest?

By MARK ANDERSON – AP Sports Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — Southern California opened its season at Allegiant Stadium with a victory over LSU that set up the Trojans for early contention for the College Football Playoff, but instead will end the year where they started. Texas A&M also had high hopes for a playoff

By WILL GRAVES – AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — The decorations outside Acrisure Stadium suggested Christmas. The play on the field by the home team hinted at another holiday entirely. Groundhog Day. Like Bill Murray in the iconic movie — set about 90 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh in Punxsutawney — it’s not that the