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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Embattled New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson played the best game of his NFL career on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, but he lamented the snap that got away. Wilson fumbled a shotgun snap at midfield with 7:24 remaining in the fourth quarter -- the Jets' final play in their 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Afterward, Wilson spoke briefly to the entire team in the locker room, taking responsibility for the defeat. "To be driving right there and to drop a snap -- I cannot do that," Wilson told reporters. "I lost us that game, and I can't do that." Several teammates consoled Wilson, whose faux pas occurred at a critical time -- facing a three-point deficit late -- against the defending Super Bowl champions. Still, his overall performance was a breakthrough that might have saved his job. After a week of intense scrutiny, including criticism from Jets legend Joe Namath, Wilson completed a career-high 28 passes on 39...

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes slid down at the New York Jets' 2-yard line, sealing a 23-20 win over the Jets on Sunday night, a decision that shifted tens of millions of dollars at sportsbooks around the nation. The Chiefs closed as 8-point favorites over the Jets and received overwhelming support from the betting public at sportsbooks. An hour before kickoff, 91% of the bets and 84% of the money wagered on the game's point spread were on Kansas City at Caesars Sportsbook. BetMGM and DraftKings also reported heavy action on the Chiefs. A Mahomes touchdown and extra point would've put the Chiefs up 10, enough to cover the spread with less than two minutes to play. He instead made the heady play to give himself up, allowing the Chiefs to kneel, run out the final seconds and secure the win. Bookmakers knew early last week that they'd need the Jets for a big decision in the Sunday night game. All week, money from the betting public had poured in on the...

At 13 years, 7 months, 13 days old, Sacramento Republic forward Da'vian Kimbrough became the youngest North American soccer player to make a professional debut, coming on in the 87th minute of the team's 2-0 win against the Las Vegas Lights on Sunday. Kimbrough, who has been with the Republic academy since 2021, signed a first-team contract with the club in August, becoming the youngest American to agree to a professional deal. He was named to the team's game-day squad on one other occasion. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The youngest player to previously appear in the USL Championship was Axel Kei, who did so for the Real Monarchs -- MLS club Real Salt Lake's second team -- in 2021, at 13 years, 9 months, 9 days. The youngest American soccer player to make a first-team debut was Freddy Adu, who did so for D.C. United at 14 years, 10 months, 1 day in 2004. Bayern Munich...

At 13 years, 7 months, 13 days old, Sacramento Republic forward Da'vian Kimbrough became the youngest North American soccer player to make their professional debut, coming on in the 87th minute of the team's 2-0 win against the Las Vegas Lights on Sunday. Kimbrough, who has been with the Republic academy since 2021, signed a first-team contract with the club in August, becoming the youngest American to agree to a professional deal. He appeared in the team's gameday squad on one other occasion. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The youngest player to previously appear in the USL Championship was Axel Kei, who did so for the Real Monarchs -- MLS club Real Salt Lake's second team -- in 2021, at 13 years, 9 months, 9 days. The youngest American soccer player to make their first-team debut was Freddy Adu, who did so for D.C. United at 14 years, 10 months, 1 day in 2004. Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies holds the USL...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- In the midst of the worst loss of his head-coaching career, Patriots coach Bill Belichick pulled starting quarterback Mac Jones with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter, saying it wasn't a benching and that Jones remains the team's No. 1 option. "I didn't think there was any point of leaving him in the game," Belichick said after his New England Patriots were blown out by the Dallas Cowboys, 38-3, at AT&T Stadium. The Patriots (1-3) host the Saints (2-2) on Sunday and Belichick said the plan is for Jones to start despite a disastrous performance against the Cowboys that included an interception returned for a touchdown, another interception thrown while backpedaling and one lost fumble returned for a touchdown. Jones, the 2021 first-round pick out of Alabama, finished 12-of-21 for 150 yards, with the three turnovers.   "Definitely disappointed in myself. I feel like I can play a lot better," Jones said. "I put a lot into...

LOS ANGELES -- It was a mostly silent and dazed locker room, deep in the maze that is SoFi Stadium, save for the huddled commiserations, exhaled exasperations and accompanying curses coming from frustrated Las Vegas Raiders players. A play here. A play there, said All-Pro Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, and the narrative would be different. Completely different. Instead, the Raiders lost another one-score game, falling to the Los Angeles Chargers 24-17 on Sunday, and their record in such games fell to 5-11 since the start of the 2022 season. They are 1-3 overall this season, riding a three-game losing streak, with two such defeats. Yeah, frustration is mounting. "It's undisciplined football, and this league is too competitive," Jacobs said. "It's too competitive and it's too many guys that's good out there to not do the little things right every play. Until we figure that out, this is going to be what it is. "It's frustrating, man. And I mean I...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The NFL's Most Valuable Player award has been given to a quarterback for each of the past 10 seasons. It's a fact that wasn't lost in the conversation in the San Francisco 49ers' locker room after their 35-16 win against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. But, after running back Christian McCaffrey piled up 177 yards from scrimmage, scored four times and set a franchise record for most consecutive games with at least one touchdown (13, including playoffs), left tackle Trent Williams was unafraid to say it might be time for that to change. "Hey, all them streaks come to an end eventually, right?" Williams said. "This might be the year. I can see it." On Oct. 20, it will have been one year since the Niners acquired McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers for second, third and fourth-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft and a fifth-round selection in 2024. At the time the Niners landed him, general manager John Lynch...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Just over 10 months ago, Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White made his return to football a year after tearing his left ACL. On Sunday, just four games into the 2023 season, White suffered yet another noncontact injury. White suffered what is believed to be a torn right Achilles in the third quarter of the Bills' commanding 48-20 win over the Miami Dolphins, sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington. Bills coach Sean McDermott said after the game that White is still being evaluated. An MRI is set for Monday. "He's been through a lot. And sometimes you wonder, right? Why things like that happen twice, you know, to someone," McDermott said. "I'm not saying what it is, what it isn't. I'm just saying like, you know, you just wonder why. "Because you watch him and how hard he's worked to get back. And yeah, you know, I just, I know he's a man of faith. And I know how strong he is. And you know, he will, he will rebound." White...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Rookie outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu sensed that a special performance from Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack was on the horizon. "He was on a different type of timing this week. He just seemed real happy. I knew what time it was," Tuipulotu told ESPN. "He was smiling a whole lot this week. I saw him dancing a whole lot this week, so I knew it was coming." Mack delivered in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders with a record-breaking revenge game against the team that drafted him in 2014. He sacked Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell six times, a franchise single-game record, two of which resulted in fumbles. Mack's six sacks were the most by a player against his former team since player sacks became an official stat in 1982. The Raiders had allowed just five sacks coming into this game, the seventh least in the NFL. But with their starter, Jimmy Garoppolo hurt, the Raiders turned to...

CHICAGO -- A spokesperson for the Chicago Bears said that wide receiver Chase Claypool was told not to attend Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos after being designated a healthy scratch. The Bears' messaging contradicts what coach Matt Eberflus said following Chicago's 31-28 loss when he confirmed that Claypool was not with the team at Soldier Field. "We told him that it was a choice, and he's at home right now," Eberflus said. Sunday marked the third time Claypool was inactive since he was traded to the Bears in November 2022 but the first time he missed a game for non-injury reasons. "When you look at actives or inactives every single week, what we do is we obviously evaluate meetings," Eberflus said. "We evaluate walk-throughs. We evaluate practice, and we do that every single week. And then we declare actives or inactives based on that. And this week, Claypool was inactive." The Bears had five inactives against Denver: Claypool,...

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles receiver A.J. Brown and other teammates noticed a more fiery Jalen Hurts in Sunday's 34-31 overtime win against the Commanders, which also marked Hurts' best performance of the season. "What did I see out of him? That fire. He kind of woke up a little bit," said Brown, one of Hurts' closest friends. "It gave everybody a boost. Most of the time, no matter if the game is on the line, he throws a great ball, he's going to be mellow. But that fire showed today and that desire." Hurts went 25-of-37 for 319 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, breathing life into a passing game that ranked 23rd heading into the week (198.7 yards per game). He had a pair of touchdown passes that traveled 25-plus yards in the air, both of which went to Brown, who finished with nine catches for 175 yards. Hurts was whistled for intentional grounding in overtime but responded with a 9-yard completion to DeVonta Smith that...

CHICAGO -- It wasn't easy, it wasn't how he planned it, and it might not have even been suitable for framing, but Sunday's 31-28 victory for the Denver Broncos over the Chicago Bears will always be Sean Payton's first with the franchise. Owner/CEO Greg Penner presented Payton a game ball after the Broncos' comeback victory. Denver trailed 28-7 with four minutes, 11 seconds left in the third quarter. Payton grew up and played high school football in Naperville, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, before playing at Eastern Illinois University. "Greg was great,'' Payton said. "They wanted me to talk a little bit and I've been lucky enough the last five times we've been here, we've won, been in that locker room. ... Hopefully, it's the first of many relative to where we're going; we have a lot of work to do still, but we can enjoy this.'' For almost three quarters Sunday, the Broncos looked as if the hangover of the historic 70-20 loss to the ...

DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera made a backhanded stop, stepped on first base and smiled on the final play of his career. The crowd roared, Cabrera's kids came out on the field, and one of the best hitters of all time shed some tears before the Detroit Tigers closed the season with a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. "They give me a chance to say goodbye," Cabrera said. "I'm going to appreciate this moment for the rest of my life." The game also marked the end of Terry Francona's career. Cleveland's manager, who led Boston to a pair of World Series titles, is set to retire this week. "I don't think I need to be eulogized," Francona joked. "Maybe after my doctor's appointment tomorrow, you never know." Francona said the day belonged to Cabrera. It most certainly did. The only player to win the Triple Crown in more than a half-century went 0-for-3, with a walk in his last plate appearance.   "I was kind of lost in the game because I can't...

PHOENIX - On Saturday night, the Houston Astros celebrated clinching a playoff spot with T-shirts and a subdued toast. One day later, after rallying to claim a bigger prize in their crosshairs, the Astros held an all-out locker room rager of cigars and champagne-and-beer showers that left puddles on the plastic-covered floors. A season of injuries and inconsistencies ended with another division title. Even for a team that won the World Series last fall, that's worth celebrating. The Astros, with help from the Seattle Mariners, rallied to clinch their third straight AL West title, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 on Sunday behind Cristian Javier's six strong innings and Alex Bregman's two-run homer. "A lot of people wanted to know what it's like if the Astros didn't win the division," Bregman said before popping the cork on a champagne bottle. "I guess we'll never know." The Astros and the Texas Rangers finished with identical...

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- It'll be the WNBA Finals matchup anticipated since February: The so-called "superteam" New York Liberty and defending champion  Las Vegas Aces will duke it out for the 2023 WNBA championship, with the former clinching their spot in the Finals on Sunday with a 87-84 win over the  Connecticut Sun in Game 4 of their semifinal series.  "I think it's good. That's the narrative everyone wanted at the start," Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. "I didn't particularly like the superteam thing ... [but] it's going to be a great series and it's a promotion for the WNBA, isn't it? It's New York, we haven't done it for so long, but we're playing the champions from last year. I think it's going to be a really competitive series and hopefully more and more people turn their eyes into the game and we can continue to grow it." Game 1 of the Finals, a best-of-five series for which No. 1 seed Las Vegas holds home-court advantage, tips Oct. 8 at 3...

Duke junior quarterback Riley Leonard has a high right ankle sprain and has a realistic chance of returning later this month for the Blue Devils, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Leonard is expected to miss multiple weeks, sources told ESPN. Duke has a bye this week before hosting NC State (Oct. 14), then playing at Florida State (Oct. 21) and at Louisville (Oct. 28). His return vs. NC State is uncertain, sources told ESPN. Leonard suffered the injury late in the Blue Devils' 21-14 loss to then-No. 11 Notre Dame, and he left the field on crutches -- a macabre ending where Leonard's injury on a strip sack essentially ended the game. He got sacked on a clean play by Notre Dame's Howard Cross, and Leonard's ankle clearly twisted at an awkward angle. Leonard needed help from teammates to leave the field and wasn't putting pressure on his right foot. He later went to the injury tent, where Notre Dame quarterback Sam...

LOS ANGELES -- Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Jerry Tillery, a former first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Chargers, was ejected after taking a shot at quarterback Justin Herbert on the sidelines. With about nine minutes remaining in the second quarter at SoFi Stadium, Herbert scrambled for a 3-yard gain and had already given himself up with one foot out of bounds when Tillery blasted him. And while Raiders Pro Bowl defensive end  Maxx Crosby, in pursuit, threw up his hands in exasperation, the players on the Chargers sideline surrounded Tillery. "He's lucky he got out of there alive," former Raiders right tackle Lincoln Kennedy said on the Las Vegas radio broadcast. The 15-yard penalty allowed the Chargers to march further downfield; three plays later, Herbert hit Keenan Allen for a 7-yard touchdown. Last December at SoFi Stadium, Tillery had a penalty that kept the Los Angeles Rams' game-winning drive alive when...

NEW YORK -- For the fifth time in six years, the Mets are in the market for a new manager. Buck Showalter was fired Sunday after a disappointing season in which baseball's highest-spending team tumbled from contention by midsummer. The 67-year-old Showalter said before Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies that he will not return next year, and a few minutes later the fourth-place Mets said the team had decided on the change. New York is 74-87 and entered Sunday 29½ games behind National League East champion Atlanta. "I was honored to get a chance to manage a second New York team. I'm proud of what the Mets did. We won close to 180 games in two years. Especially last year, as much fun as I've ever had in the game. It reminded me why I've always loved this kind of work," said an emotional Showalter, who piloted the Yankees from 1992 to 1995. "I wish things could have gone better this season because the Mets fans deserve that. In my heart,...

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Jonquel Jones scored 25 points, including five in the final minute, and New York earned its first trip to the WNBA Finals in 21 years with an 87-84 win over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The former Sun star added 15 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Liberty, who will face defending champion Las Vegas in a matchup of the league's two so-called "super teams" that starts on Oct. 8. League MVP Breanna Stewart led New York with 27 points and Betnijah Laney added 21 in the Game 4 clincher of the best-of-five series. MVP runner-up Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists for Connecticut. It was her first triple-double of the postseason after recording a record six during the regular season. Tiffany Hayes had 15 points and DiJonai Carrington added 14 for the Sun, who were trying to make it back to the Finals for a second consecutive season.   A 3-pointer from Stewart with 2 minutes...

HOUSTON -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett left Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans with a knee injury. Pickett was sacked as he spun out of a collapsing pocket on a fourth-and-1 dropback from the Texans 33 with 1:16 remaining in the third quarter. Pickett tried to elude the Texans' pressure, spinning away from it but into defensive end Jonathan Greenard, who came around the outside of rookie left tackle Broderick Jones. Greenard wrapped Pickett up and spun him around. Pickett clutched his left knee after the sack, rocking on the ground until Steelers medical personnel got to him. Pickett, who completed 15 of 23 passes for 114 yards with one interception, initially needed help off the field and put his arms around athletic trainers for about half of the walk back to the bench. He made it to the blue medical tent under his own power, walking gingerly. After being evaluated in the tent for more than five minutes,...

Slugger and team captain Aaron Judge has opinions on what the New York Yankees need to do to improve after this lost season -- from the manager to the team's analytics department to his teammates -- and he wasn't shy in expressing them Sunday. "There's some bigger-picture ideas and philosophies that I think maybe need to change," Judge, who wasn't in the lineup for the season finale, told reporters before Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. "I've talked mostly with Hal [Steinbrenner], more than [GM Brian Cashman]," Judge said. "I'm looking forward to having some meetings with Hal and Cash, both in the room, and kind of all of us voicing our opinion." He added later: "We have a good group of guys in here. I'm excited to build off what we've got here, and if we can add a couple of more pieces down the road this winter, then we'll be in a good spot." The Yankees, after reaching the American League Championship Series in three of the past six...

The Portland Trail Blazers traded All-Star guard Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, elevating the Eastern Conference arms race. The Celtics are sending center Robert Williams III and guard Malcolm Brogdon in the deal, they announced. A 2024 first-round pick via Golden State and a 2029 first-round pick is also heading to the Blazers, sources said. The Trail Blazers are stacking assets in the wake of the Damian Lillard blockbuster to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, a deal that brought them Holiday with an intention to trade him to the league's highest bidder over the weekend. The Celtics were an aggressive suitor for Holiday, 33, and are expected to work to sign him to a long-term deal with free agency looming in the summer of 2024. The acquisition of Holiday could vault the Celtics over the Bucks as the preseason favorite in the Eastern Conference. Holiday is considered one of the league's best two-way...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Just over 10 months ago, Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White made his return to football a year after tearing his left ACL. On Sunday, just four games into the 2023 season, White suffered yet another non-contact injury. White injured his right Achilles in the third quarter of the Bills' commanding 48-20 win over the Miami Dolphins, and coach Sean McDermott said after the game that he is still being evaluated. "He's been through a lot. And sometimes you wonder, right? Why things like that happen twice, you know, to someone," McDermott said. "I'm not saying what it is, what it isn't. I'm just saying like, you know, you just wonder why. "Because you watch him and how hard he's worked to get back. And yeah, you know, I just, I know he's a man of faith. And I know how strong he is. And you know, he will, he will rebound." White suffered the injury while covering wide receiver Tyreek Hill on a fourth-and-1 play in...

HOUSTON -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans with a knee injury. Pickett was sacked as he spun out of a collapsing pocket on a 4th-and-1 dropback from the 33 with 1:16 remaining in the third quarter. Pickett tried to elude the Texans' pressure, spinning away from the pressure and into defensive end Jonathan Greenard, who was came around the outside of rookie left tackle Broderick Jones. Greenard wrapped Pickett up and spun him around. Pickett clutched his left knee after the sack, rocking on the ground until Steelers medical personnel got to him. Pickett, who completed 15 of 23 attempts for 114 yards with one interception, initially needed help off the field and put his arms around athletic trainers for about half of the walk back to the bench. He made it to the blue medical tent under his own power the rest of the way, walking gingerly. After being evaluated...

Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse of the Red Sox pitching staff who bounced back after giving up a season-ending home run to the Yankees in the 2003 playoffs to help Boston win its curse-busting World Series title the following year, has died. He was 57. The Red Sox announced his death in a statement Sunday. Wakefield had brain cancer, according to former teammate Curt Schilling, who disclosed the illness on a podcast last week without Wakefield's consent. The Red Sox confirmed an illness at the time but did not elaborate, saying Wakefield had requested privacy. "It's one thing to be an outstanding athlete; it's another to be an extraordinary human being. Tim was both," Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said in the team's statement. "I know the world was made better because he was in it." Said Red Sox manager and ex-teammate Alex Cora on Sunday: "We lost a brother, a teammate, a family member. One of the best teammates I ever had. ... Of all the guys I played...

NEW ORLEANS -- The highly anticipated rematch featuring Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans and New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore was cut short Sunday with Evans leaving the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Evans who will not return to the game, had caught all three of his targets for 40 yards, with two of them -- each 18-yard completions from quarterback Baker Mayfield -- coming against Lattimore. Evans also drew a pass interference call on Lattimore that aided the Bucs' first touchdown. The injury appeared to happen when Evans was running a post route against Lattimore with 1:43 to go before halftime -- one play before rookie and Louisiana native Trey Palmer hauled in a 1-yard touchdown to make it 14-3 at the half. Second-year wideout Deven Thompkins replaced Evans, who has been off to one of the better starts of his career with three touchdowns in the first three games. Evans...

Tim Wakefield, the first-baseman-turned-knuckleball-pitcher who helped the Boston Red Sox win two World Series titles, has died of brain cancer at age 57, the team announced Sunday. Wakefield made public his brain cancer diagnosis late last month.  "Tim's kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball," said Red Sox owner John Henry in a statement. "He not only captivated us on the field but was the rare athlete whose legacy extended beyond the record books to the countless lives he touched with his warmth and genuine spirit. He had a remarkable ability to uplift, inspire, and connect with others in a way that showed us the true definition of greatness. He embodied the very best of what it means to be a member of the Boston Red Sox and his loss is felt deeply by all of us."   Drafted as an infielder by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth round of the 1988 draft, Wakefield's professional start got off to a slow start as he hit just .189 in 54 minor...

SEATTLE -- Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh apologized to his teammates and coaches Sunday for his strong comments about the team's commitment to winning after the Mariners were eliminated from postseason contention. Raleigh spoke for about 90 seconds and did not take questions, a day after Seattle lost to Texas and was eliminated from postseason contention. "Obviously yesterday was a really emotional day for everybody. I just want to apologize to my teammates, my coaches, fans. It wasn't a time to talk about what-ifs in that scenario," Raleigh said. "That being said, I'm not going to apologize for wanting to win and wanting to bring a World Series to the city. They deserve it, the fans do and our organization does, and I'm committed to doing that."   Raleigh expressed his frustration with Seattle falling short after Saturday's 6-1 loss to Texas. The Mariners snapped a 21-year playoff drought last season and entered this year with the expectation of making it two...

NEW ORLEANS -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting safety Ryan Neal suffered a concussion on the opening drive of Sunday's game at the New Orleans Saints and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Neal was attempting to tackle the Saints' Rashid Shaheed on a screen pass and collided with Shaheed, wide receiver Lynn Bowden and teammate Zyon McCollum, with Neal tumbling underneath Bowden. Neal was able to walk off the field with assistance from the training staff. He was first evaluated in the medical tent and then was taken to the locker room before he was declared out. He was replaced by Dee Delaney, who had an interception last week vs. the Eagles. Delaney had stepped in for injured Jamel Dean, who suffered a neck/shoulder injury and did not make the trip to New Orleans.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans with a rib injury. Higgins did not come out of the locker room for the start of the second half. He had two catches for 19 yards before he was knocked out of the game. The fourth-year receiver out of Clemson was looking for a bounce-back performance after a disappointing Week 3 outing against the Los Angeles Rams. He had just two catches on eight targets for 21 yards in Cincinnati's 19-16 victory on Monday night.

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- Zach Johnson indicated he wouldn't change a thing about America's preparation and plan for the Ryder Cup despite a 16½-11½ loss to Europe at Marco Simone Golf Club. The U.S. went into the Ryder Cup looking to end Europe's 30-year unbeaten run on home soil. Europe captain Luke Donald said before the event that his team was the underdog, but it was the hosts that sprinted to an early lead across the first two days and held off an American fightback Sunday to reclaim the Ryder Cup. Speaking after the competition Sunday, Johnson said he was still processing the three days and would love to start the whole week again. "Four years from now, hopefully we'll implement a better process certainly than I did and we can show up in Ireland, obviously retain it, get it back in New York [at Bethpage Black in 2025], but keep it once we go back to Ireland," Johnson said. "So playing on foreign soil, I mean, I wouldn't have it any other way as the...

Buck Showalter told reporters Sunday that he will not return as the New York Mets' manager next season. The 67-year-old Showalter made the announcement before Sunday's game against the  Philadelphia Phillies. Showalter's Mets were one of Major League Baseball's biggest disappointments this season, entering Sunday with a 74-86 record despite boasting the majors' highest payroll ($355 million on Opening Day). They are 29½ games behind the National League East champion  Atlanta Braves. He was named the NL Manager of the Year last season, leading the Mets to a 101-61 record and the top wild-card spot. The Mets, however, lost to the San Diego Padres in three games in the wild-card round. New York is expected to hire David Stearns as president of baseball operations above general manager Billy Eppler, and Showalter's departure clears the way for Stearns to make his manager pick. "We are heading in a new direction, with a new President of Baseball...

Georgia's hold on No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll loosened Sunday as the Bulldogs received a season-low 35 first-place votes out of a possible 62 while extending their streak atop the rankings to 16 straight weeks. The Bulldogs needed a late touchdown to escape with a win at Auburn on Saturday, and that sent many in the media panel looking for a new No. 1 team. Georgia had 55 first-place votes and 1,562 points last week but was down to 1,501 points in this week's AP Top 25. No. 2 Michigan got 12 first-place votes and 1,436 points but nearly was passed by No. 3 Texas, which received 10 first-place votes and 1,426 points. The Wolverines and Longhorns won big Saturday. Ohio State kept its spot at No. 4 and received one first-place vote. No. 5 Florida State received the other four first-place votes. Neither the Buckeyes nor Seminoles played this weekend. No. 6 Penn State and No. 7 Washington also...

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder says he did "a terrible job of taking care of the ball" in Sunday's 23-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Ridder threw interceptions on back-to-back plays in the loss, with the first getting returned 61 yards by Jacksonville cornerback Darious Williams for a touchdown. On the next offensive play, Ridder's pass intended for tight end Kyle Pitts was picked off by Jaguars safety Andre Cisco. It's the first time a quarterback has thrown interceptions on back-to-back offensive plays since Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did it in Week 13 last season against the San Francisco. Ridder now has three interceptions over the past three games (one against Green Bay in Week 2) after not throwing an interception in his first five starts, dating back to last season. "Those are tough lessons for a young quarterback," Falcons coach Arthur Smith...

The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to trade All-Star guard Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics, elevating the Eastern Conference arms race, sources told ESPN on Sunday morning. The Celtics are sending center Robert Williams III, guard Malcolm Brogdon, a 2024 first-round pick via Golden State and a 2029 first-round pick to the Blazers, sources said. The Blazers are stacking assets in the wake of the Damian Lillard blockbuster to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, a deal that brought them Holiday with an intention to trade him to the league's highest bidder over the weekend. The Celtics were an aggressive suitor for Holiday, 33, and are expected to work to sign him to a long-term deal with free agency looming in the summer of 2024. The acquisition of Holiday could vault the Celtics over the Bucks as the preseason favorite in the Eastern Conference. Holiday is considered one of the league's best two-way guards, and...

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- Tommy Fleetwood has never won a PGA Tour event in the United States, but the Englishman sure has broken plenty of American hearts when the Ryder Cup is played on European soil. Fleetwood won the clinching point for the European team with a 3-and-1 victory over Rickie Fowler in the 44th Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on Sunday. The Europeans needed 14½ points to win back the Ryder Cup, and Fleetwood's win after Fowler conceded on the 16th hole gave them a 15-10 lead with three matches left on the course in their eventual 16½-11½ victory. It was the American team's seventh straight Ryder Cup defeat outside the U.S. It last won in a road match at the Belfry in Warwickshire, England, in 1993. "This is the best," European team captain Luke Donald said. "This is why the Ryder Cup is so special to me and to these guys, because of these moments. We play for each other and we get to share in that success together, and we get to...

CLEVELAND --  Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is inactive for Sunday's game against the Ravens with a right shoulder injury. Watson threw briefly on the field Sunday during pregame in front of Browns officials before the decision was made to make him inactive. He suffered the injury while running the ball last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans and was limited in practice all week. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will get the start. "I'm ready for it. Very confident in my preparation for the week," Thompson-Robinson told ESPN on Friday. The Ravens are 22-7 (.759) against rookie quarterbacks under coach John Harbaugh, recording 34 interceptions and 82 sacks. This marks the 21st different Browns starting quarterback that the Ravens will have faced in 47 career meetings. Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick out of UCLA, became Watson's backup during the preseason after the Browns traded Joshua Dobbs to the ...

CHICAGO -- Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool is inactive for Sunday's game against the Broncos. It will be the first missed game this season for Claypool, who expressed frustration Friday with his usage in the offense. The Bears are also making an adjustment to their depth chart at quarterback, where rookie Tyson Bagent will now back up  Justin Fields. Nathan Peterman served as Fields' primary backup in the Bears' first three games but is inactive against the Broncos. Claypool said Friday that he did not think he has been put in the best position to showcase his skill set, saying he has "been adapting to the new system and my new role in the system and trying to make the most out of it." Claypool's comments came weeks after he drew criticism -- and subsequently apologized to the coaching staff and teammates -- for a lack of effort in the opener against the Green Bay Packers. His lack of execution and effort with...

NEW ORLEANS -- Saints quarterback  Derek Carr is active for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers after spraining the AC joint in his right shoulder last week. A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Saints had been preparing to start Carr, barring a pregame setback. Carr had been listed as questionable with his injured throwing shoulder, sustained last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Carr left that game in the third quarter to get X-rays and did not return. He said earlier in the week that his playing time would depend on how functional he could still be. "If it was just up to me, I'd just be like, 'Yeah, I'm playing. I'm going out today.' [The coaches would] probably have other words than that," Carr said Wednesday. "So you've got to work together. [Coach Dennis Allen] and I talked, and we're on the same page. ... This is about winning, and this is about the team. But if I feel like I can help us win and I'm confident landing on it and...

Most of the world's best golfers are competing in the Ryder Cup outside Rome this weekend, but PGA Tour members Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim of South Korea captured something just as meaningful. By helping South Korea win its first team gold medal in 13 years at the Asian Games in China on Sunday, Im and Kim became exempt from a mandatory 21 months of military service before age 35. Any South Korean athlete who wins an Olympic medal or gold medal at the Asian Games is exempt from the obligation. It was the first year that professionals were eligible to compete in the Asian Games. "I think I should be able to stay focused even more on the PGA Tour," Im told reporters in China, according to Yonhap News Agency. "I feel like I can have a really long and successful run there. I think this will help me so much mentally." Im, Kim and amateurs Jang Yu-bin and Cho Woo-young coasted to a 25-stroke victory over Thailand for the team gold medal at West Lake International Golf...

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- Rory McIlroy denied a report that he met with American caddie Joe LaCava at the Ryder Cup to clear the air Sunday, one day after their disagreement on the 18th green spilled into a parking lot at Marco Simone Golf Club. According to a report from NBC Sports, LaCava, who caddies for Patrick Cantlay, sent a text message to someone on McIlroy's team Saturday night. "Love you guys, I have nothing but respect," LaCava wrote in the text, according to the report. NBC Sports also reported that McIlroy and LaCava then met before Sunday's singles matches, which the European star and world No. 2 disputed. "I haven't met Joe," McIlroy told an NBC Sports reporter after defeating Sam Burns 3 and 1 in his singles match. When a reporter asked whether there was no clear-up of what took place Saturday, McIlroy repeated himself. "I was focused. I was very focused," McIlroy said Sunday. "I let it fuel me. I didn't let it take away from what's...

CLEVELAND --  Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Ravens with a right shoulder injury, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Watson threw briefly on the field Sunday during pregame in front of Browns officials before the decision was made to make him inactive. He suffered the injury while running the ball last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans and was limited in practice all week. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will get the start in his place. "I'm ready for it. Very confident in my preparation for the week," Thompson-Robinson told ESPN on Friday. Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick out of UCLA, became Watson's backup during the preseason after the Browns traded Joshua Dobbs to the Arizona Cardinals. Watson had his best game in a Browns uniform last weekend, completing 27 of 33 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 27-3 victory.

The two VAR referees involved in Luis Díaz's incorrectly disallowed goal in  Liverpool's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Saturday have been removed from remaining fixtures this weekend. PGMOL, the body in charge of refereeing in England,  admitted that Díaz had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside after the VAR, Darren England, and assistant VAR, Dan Cook, wrongly thought the goal had been given by the on-field officials. The striker thought he had put Liverpool in front in the 34th minute after he latched onto a through-ball from  Mohamed Salah and scored, only for the flag to go up for offside. The VAR team incorrectly thought the onfield decision was "goal," quickly identified that Díaz was onside and told the onfield team "check complete" to confirm the goal. But when referee Simon Hooper was told this, he understood the assistant's offside decision as being correct. That meant that rather than the decision being changed to goal,...

Most of the world's best golfers are competing in the Ryder Cup outside Rome this weekend, but PGA Tour members Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim of South Korea captured something just as meaningful. By helping South Korea win its first team gold medal in 13 years at the Asian Games in China on Sunday, Im and Kim became exempt from a mandatory 21 months of military service before age 35. Any South Korean athlete who wins an Olympic medal or gold medal at the Asian Games is exempt from the obligation. It was the first year that professionals were eligible to compete in the Asian Games. "I think I should be able to stay focused even more on the PGA Tour," Im told reporters in China, according to Yonhap News Agency. "I feel like I can have a really long and successful run there. I think this will help me so much mentally." Im, Kim and amateurs Jang Yu-bin and Cho Woo-young coasted to a 25-stroke victory over Thailand for the team gold medal at West Lake International Golf...

CHICAGO -- Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool will be inactive against the Broncos on Sunday, a source confirmed to ESPN. It will be the first missed game this season for Claypool, who expressed frustration Friday with his usage in the offense. The Bears are also making an adjustment to their depth chart at quarterback, where rookie Tyson Bagent will now back up  Justin Fields, according to a source. Nathan Peterman served as Fields' primary backup in the Bears' first three games. Claypool said Friday that he did not think he has been put in the best position to showcase his skill set, saying he has "been adapting to the new system and my new role in the system and trying to make the most out of it." Claypool's comments came weeks after he drew criticism -- and subsequently apologized to the coaching staff and teammates -- for a lack of effort in the opener against the Green Bay Packers. His lack of execution and...

Injured New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers rejoined the team Saturday, attended the evening meeting, and will be present for Sunday night's home game against the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium, a source has confirmed. Rodgers, who tore an Achilles tendon in Week 1, underwent surgery Sept. 13 and had been rehabbing in the Los Angeles area, near his home. He alerted the team about a week ago that he might return for the game, but he first needed medical clearance before he could fly. Rodgers is able to walk on crutches, but he's not expected to be on the sideline because of safety reasons. He will watch from a private box. In recent days, Rodgers' teammates said they looked forward to his return. On "The Pat McAfee Show," Rodgers said he talks to quarterback Zach Wilson every day. He's also been texting and FaceTiming teammates. Wilson, who will make his third start, has struggled mightily since replacing Rodgers. Jets coaches are...

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- European star Rory McIlroy and American caddie Joe LaCava reportedly met at the Ryder Cup to clear the air Sunday, one day after their disagreement on the 18th green spilled into a parking lot at Marco Simone Golf Club. According to a report from NBC Sports, LaCava, who caddies for Patrick Cantlay, sent a text message to someone in McIlroy's team Saturday night. "Love you guys, I have nothing but respect," LaCava wrote in the text, according to the report. McIlroy and LaCava then met before Sunday's singles matches, according to NBC Sports. McIlroy became upset because LaCava was standing in his putting line and wouldn't move. LaCava was waving his hat while celebrating Cantlay's 43-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. Cantlay had three straight birdies to help defeat McIlroy and England's Matt Fitzpatrick 1 up in the final four-ball (best ball) match. TV cameras later captured Ireland's Shane Lowry pushing...

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- European star Rory McIlroy and American caddie Joe LaCava met before the singles matches at the Ryder Cup to clear the air Sunday, one day after their disagreement on the 18th green spilled into a parking lot at Marco Simone Golf Club. According to a report from NBC Sports, LaCava, who caddies for Patrick Cantlay, sent a text message to someone in McIlroy's team on Saturday night. "Love you guys, I have nothing but respect," LaCava wrote in the text, according to the report. McIlroy became upset because LaCava was standing in his putting line and wouldn't move. LaCava was waving his hat while celebrating Cantlay's 43-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. Cantlay had three straight birdies to help defeat McIlroy and England's Matt Fitzpatrick 1 up in the final four-ball (best ball) match. TV cameras later captured Ireland's Shane Lowry pushing McIlroy into a car while he shouted at someone in the parking lot....

With Jimmy Garoppolo ruled out due to a concussion and not making the trip to Los Angeles, the Raiders have decided to start rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell against the Chargers on Sunday, league sources told ESPN. The Raiders are opting to go with O'Connell, a fourth-round draft selection, over veteran Brian Hoyer, who last won a start in October 2016. They both received reps during practice last week while Garoppolo was in the concussion protocol, but O'Connell got the majority -- if not all -- of the reps by the end of the week, sources said. O'Connell will make his first NFL start and attempt the first passes of his pro career in an AFC West showdown at SoFi Stadium against a Chargers defense that enters Sunday giving up an average of more than 450 yards per game. O'Connell was a preseason standout this summer, drawing comparisons from some NFL scouts and executives to Brock Purdy, another late-round pick who got the...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- With Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer ruled out for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, safety Damar Hamlin is expected to be on the team's active roster for the first time this season. Hamlin has been a healthy scratch for the team's first three games due to the number of defensive backs on the roster and special teams members but has fully participated in practices since late in OTAs. He participated in all three of the team's preseason games. Poyer was ruled out Friday with a knee injury, which he suffered in the Bills' 37-3 win over the Washington Commanders. The injury led Poyer to miss the entire week of practice. Backup safety Taylor Rapp, a free agent addition this offseason, is expected to start in his place alongside veteran safety Micah Hyde, who is also dealing with a hamstring injury but does not carry an injury designation going into the game. Sean McDermott described Poyer's injury on...