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Chelsea take first step towards bombshell deal for Liverpool star

Chelsea are hoping to push forward on a deal for one Liverpool star. They've made the first steps at Xabi Alonso's request.

Liverpool don’t do many deals with Chelsea but there have been a few over the years. Maybe the most successful to Anfield was Daniel Sturridge in 2013.

Though, depending on how you categorise it, Rio Ngumoha may end up being the no.1. Liverpool signed him as a youth player so not technically a transfer, but he’s the latest star to play in the Reds’ first-team having joined from Chelsea.

But what about going the other way? Liverpool have sold three players to the Blues in the Premier League era, the first being Yossi Benayoun in 2010.

In fact, strangely, all three deals came within a span of 13 months. The biggest was Fernando Torres, following Benayoun for a British transfer record fee in January 2011. Raul Meireles then moved the following summer for a lot less money.

Since then? Nothing. But Chelsea hope to change that.

Chelsea take first step towards Florian Wirtz

TeamTalk reports that Chelsea feel there’s an opportunity to sign Florian Wirtz. The German hasn’t reached the heights people expected since joining Liverpool in 2025 and there’s certainly an easy link to the Blues.

Wirtz’s peak form came under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. He was a two-time player of the year under the Spaniard, winning the Bundesliga. Alonso would quite like to work with him again and has apparently instructed Chelsea to start the process.

That just means keeping tabs on the situation for now, and there haven’t been any formal moves. But the expectation is that Chelsea are just waiting for any kind of signal that Liverpool would be willing to do business.

It should go without saying but it would be monumentally stupid for Liverpool to entertain that. There’s no question that Wirtz hasn’t lived up to expectations just yet, but that’s been in a struggling team that doesn’t seem fit for him.

That’s starting to change and we’ve seen a real rise in his influence over the last few weeks. It’s just not the time to let go.

Not to mention the fact that Wirtz probably does fulfil his potential at Chelsea when working under Alonso. It would be a deal that weakens Liverpool with the potential to enormously strengthen a rival - that’s not really worth the money.

So while Chelsea will take every step they can towards this deal, the Reds shouldn’t ever pick up the phone.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illini fans are itching to see their preseason All-American selection back in action.

Approaching the final stages of recovery for a foot injury that’s kept him out since the beginning of August, David Mirkovic did not see the court during Illinois’ exhibition win over the Cincinnati Bearcats last week.

Illinois faces Baylor in an exhibition matchup Oct. 23 to mark its first game at State Farm Center this season, and Illini fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see the star back in orange and blue.

In Wednesday’s media availability, head coach Brad Underwood noted that they’re simply trying to play it safe.

“We always want to air on the side of patience with him in terms of making sure he’s ready for the for the long haul and that nothing reoccurs,” Underwood said.

But on a more positive note, he noted that it allows him to experiment with lineups and get the younger guys some early minutes. Exhibitions like these allow Underwood to build a shared mentality with his roster and find out what works and what doesn’t.

“It’s great opportunity for some of these young guys to continue to grow,” Underwood said. “I think I’ll look at more combinations than I will just random substitutions getting guys in the game. I expect us to be a team that plays a lot of guys throughout the season, but especially in these exhibitions.”

Although Mirkovic is still not quite ready, Underwood’s words should encourage Illini fans.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 13: Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) GettyThe Colts could send one of their better players to the NFC Getty

The Indianapolis Colts have been crumbling each passing week.

But with Chris Ballard out the door, interim GM Ed Dodds could be looking to shuffle around the roster.

Part of those moves could involve running back Jonathan Taylor.

Colts Trade Pitch Acquires Package From New York Giants

GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 18: Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball against Cedric Gray #33 of the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 18, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Austen Bundy of FanSided proposed a significant trade between the Colts and the Giants.

Here’s how it would shake out:

Colts receive:

• Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE)
• Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB)
• 2027 Second-Round Pick

Giants receive:

• Jonathan Taylor (RB)

As noted by Bundy, “Irsay and the new GM would really want a fresh slate for the team for this to happen. A second-round pick next year helps them find a new playmaker on either side of the ball. They could even move Thibodeaux a second time for more draft capital. It’s a lot of risk on Indianapolis’ part but the environment for such a risk to be taken is starting to brew.

“There’s a little bit of a Saquon Barkley factor as well with Taylor deserving a change of scenery to chase a championship (something that may become more likely if he elevates a team like New York).”

Taylor had a productive 2025 campaign and finished the season with 323 carries for 1,585 rushing yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry through 17 games.

He posted 18 touchdowns.

So far this season, he has registered 122 carries for 492 yards, averaging 4.0 yards per carry with seven touchdowns across six games.

This article was originally published on HEAVY

The post Indianapolis Colts Blockbuster Trade Pitch Sends Jonathan Taylor to NFC Contender appeared first on HEAVY.

ATLANTA — The Golden State Valkyries are not overreacting. At least that’s what they said. They have to, or else the WNBA Finals series they trail 2-1 is as good as already lost. 

The buzzwords in the organizational word cloud that once underscored their success are now in disarray. Gabby Williams described their defense as undisciplined after allowing 97 points — nearly 20 more than their postseason average — to the Atlanta Dream in Game 3. Tiffany Hayes wants more fight in their tank to best a team that she said “wanted it more.” Veronica Burton voiced a bit of surprise that their composure has fallen short, allowing the Dream late surges to pull away. 

Head coach Natalie Nakase, for a second straight game, questioned the delivery and understanding of a game plan built on all three. Ahead of Game 2, she said she “anticipated” a full four quarters. Then before Game 3, she promised their “best fight.” 

“Yeah, sometimes promises aren't kept,” Nakase said on the heels of back-to-back double-digit losses. 

Trailing 2-1 in an expanded best-of-seven series is not inherently a major problem. A comeback is doable. Of the 64 times a team went up 2-1 in the NBA Finals, 14 teams came back from the early deficit. Nakase experienced it first hand when, as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2020, they collapsed despite a 3-1 series lead. 

“It is a long series,” center and three-time Las Vegas Aces champion Kiah Stokes told reporters on a Zoom call on Thursday. “I think we’re still very positive. We know we can fix [it]. A lot of it is dealing with ourselves, so we just got to kind of look in the mirror first and then move forward.” 

The concern is more that the Valkyries have not looked anywhere close to themselves, can’t currently use their record billion-dollar valuation to buy any desperately needed buckets and might be slogging through the rest of the series with an injury to their main scorer. 

Williams came up limping holding her left knee after a Game 1 fourth-quarter collision with Dream point guard Jordin Canada. She said afterward it was a “long physical game, but I’m OK.” Asked directly after Game 3 if her knee, which had a bag of ice on it, was OK, she said “yes.”  

The underappreciated forward proved early in the Valkyries’ postseason run she can be and is an elite bucket-getter worth having the ball in the final minutes. She opened the series with an electric 26 points, despite shooting 36.4%. In the losses, she’s been quiet, inefficient overall (8 of 33) and nearly nonexistent from the 3-point line (4 of 14). 

The Valkyries have insisted the shots will start falling, that the looks are the ones they want. But when a team made it here on offense-optional mode anyway, facing a similarly elite defense winning the battle of styles by speeding one up and snatching possessions, can that be counted upon?

The Valkyries were 34.8% from the floor in Game 3, a number boosted merely by finding their stroke from range (12 of 30). Their scoring drought to start the game stood as the margin for much of the contest, until the Dream doubled their 7-point lead in the final three minutes of the third quarter with a 12-2 run. 

It’s a team of the collective built on the strength of, as Nakase said again on Thursday, it being “anyone’s night.” Yet it’s been no one’s lately. They took as many field goal attempts as Atlanta, but made 10 fewer baskets. They gave up 22 points off 17 turnovers, feeding directly into the Dream’s grasp. They were slow defensively, while Atlanta finally cracked the series’ offensive code after frustratingly low 30% shooting nights from all. 

“You shoot, what, 49%? I mean, you win games,” Dream leader Angel Reese said. 

Certainly, these are things that could be fixed by the Valkyries returning to their principles and locking in with a sense of urgency they said they had, but hasn’t always come across.  

The series set up to be one decided at the margins, and some are less controllable. After the Dream took five more free throws in Game 1, a 68-64 Valkyries victory, they are winning the free throw battle by a significant mark of +16 in Game 2 and +12 in Game 3. Stokes’ answer was clear: “Don’t foul.” 

“We can't control what the refs call, but we can try to make it clear to not foul,” Stokes said after Game 2. “But that's on us. We just can’t be reaching and getting really dumb fouls.” 

The turnaround to Game 3 was tighter than originally scheduled. While typically teams would have a travel day and practice day before Game 3, the game was played two days after Game 2 to allow for it to be moved to State Farm Arena. Nakase said players’ rest and recovery will be at the forefront of Thursday’s schedule. Teams are scheduled to practice on Friday with an early 1 p.m. ET tip on Saturday. Game 5 is on Monday at Chase Center (8 p.m. ET, USA Network). 

It gifts Nakase time to figure out what’s truly behind the uncharacteristic play and what button she needs to press to fix it. She’s a big believer in listening. In huddles, in the locker room, in crunch moments like these that can bring them closer. She’s noticed them falling off a “fine line” of doing too much themselves versus trusting the balanced team approach that brought them to their first Finals in the franchise’s second season. 

After Game 3, her plan was to listen to them individually rather than in groups and go through various film sessions in line of individual, group, team. She mentioned directly that players might be confused by the game plan and that it was up to her to be more clear. 

“[It’s about] control what we can control and just make sure for us, me as a coach, is that I’m delivering a more efficient game plan,” Nakase said on Thursday. “That’s on me. I’ve got to come with a really aggressive game plan that the players all feel comfortable with.” 

Burton indicated on Thursday that players were aware and comfortable with what the coaching staff expected. 

“At the end of the day, if we’re not disciplined to it and to what we talk about doing, then we can’t put so much on the coaches,” Burton said. 

To deliver on it correctly and consistently every possession is what creates champions. To this point, the Valkyries haven’t leveled up. Their best option is to look ahead at the next opportunity to back up expectation.  

BEREA ― Sometimes the most important questions are the most simple ones as well. Then again, what's a complicated question for someone who was caught by teammates doing his enviromental science homework on the team charter flight.

For Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, there hasn't been much complicated about his first year-plus in the NFL. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year has picked right up in his second season where he left off when 2025 ended.

If there's been anything that's confounded the former (and current, apparently) biochemistry major during his time with the Browns, it's been something seemingly out of his control. That would be injuries, of which the latest is an ankle injury he suffered in Week 5 at the New York Jets.

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"I mean, it's better than last week," Schwesinger said Oct. 22, as the Browns prepare for a trip to face the Tennessee Titans. "So that's just how it goes. You got to maintain things like that and try and get them as better as you can throughout the week."

The ankle injury is the latest thing that would've hampered, apparently, normal football players. However, it seems like Schwesinger merely gains superpowers from when he's not 100%.

The high ankle sprain Schwesinger suffered in Week 8 as a rookie only led to arguably his best four-game stretch of play in 2025. The quad injury he suffered in the first half of a Week 17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't cost him a single defensive snap in the game, although he did go on injured reserve for the following week's season finale.

This time, all Schwesinger did was make a team-high 13 tackles and create the game-changing fumble in the Browns' win over the Baltimore Ravens. So, clearly there's a connection: You won't like an injured Carson Schwesinger.

"I don't know if there's a correlation there," Schwesinger said. "Obviously last year it was a lot of learning, and the more you play and see things better and things like that. And I think too, just this year's the same thing. Missed some time in camp. And so first couple weeks getting the eyes back and things like that and just continue trying to get better."

Which leads to the chance encounter Schwesinger had on the Browns' charter flight to Chicago for their preseason opener. Defensive end Jared Verse was nearby and was peeking in at what was on his teammate's screen.

What Verse saw was not what he expected to see. Or, considering who it was, it was exactly what he expected to see.

"He's probably one of the smartest people I've ever been around," Verse said. "We were going to Chicago, everybody's on the plane kind of doing their own thing and he's doing advanced calculus on his laptop and I'm like, 'Bro, stop.' But, no, he's just a very smart person."

There was a shake of the head and a minor eye roll out of Schwesinger when Verse's revelation was relayed to him. And, because there's a level of perfectionist to him, he had to set the record straight.

"Yeah, he's wrong," Schwesinger said. "I was doing homework, but I was trying to take some classes, so that was it. I'm not doing them now."

Schwesinger might have more placed on hos shoulders this week, even as his right ankle continues to heal. His running mate at linebacker, Quincy Williams, missed practice Oct. 22 due to an injury, although it's hard to say what his prognosis will be for the Titans game.

Together, those two had formed one of the better linebacker tandems in the league, especially as Williams gained more comfort in his new surroundings after signing with Cleveland in the offseason. So, making up for any potential absence, if there even is one, will just mean more for Schwesinger to handle.

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Then again, this was someone who was handling a high-level college course while on a charter flight to play a preseason game. So maybe it wouldn't be too much for him.

"I'm not really surprised from watching his film last year, from hearing what I heard about him before I got here," Verse said. "But then once I got here being around him, you understand everything. He sees the defense so differently."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Carson Schwesinger has answers to tests presented by injury

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Jonathan Taylor trade rumor details astronomical asking price for Giants originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Giants are widely viewed as a team that might have interest in a trade for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.

But if that's the case, it's going to be astronomically costly.

According to Easton Butler of Packer Report, Taylor can be had, but the Colts are looking for a first-round pick and more for the superstar running back.

"The Colts are opening to trading some key players, following the firing of GM Chris Ballard. One of the players is RB Jonathan Taylor, but the price wont be cheap. Per sources, the Colts are looking for a 1st + more for the star RB," he reported.

Why Colts could trade Jonathan Taylor

As Butler notes, the Colts could be in fire sale and rebuild mode after firing general manager Chris Ballard, a move that was long overdue.

If that's the case, it's going to be multiple years before the Colts are good again, so it doesn't make much sense to hold on to Taylor.

Instead, the Colts should strike while the iron is hot and get something for Taylor, who could fetch a very good return in a competitive market, and that return will greatly assist in Indy's rebuild.

That said, we're extremely skeptical about the Colts getting that big of a return for a player at a position that has been devalued over the years.

But if there's any back who could, it's Taylor, who is one of the truly elite players at his position in the NFL.

Why Giants could trade for Jonathan Taylor

Imagn Images

The price notwithstanding, it's not hard to see why the Giants could have interest in the Colts running back.

Head coach John Harbaugh loves to run the football and right now his running backs room is a mess.

Cam Skattebo has been ineffective this season and he's currently in the dog house for fumbling. Behind him is Tyrone Tracy, who is not a lead back.

New York also had the declining Najee Harris, but he has since been cut after complaining about how the Giants deployed their backs in Week 6.

How Jonathan Taylor can help Giants

Taylor would be a game-changer for the Giants' offense. Not only is he a fantastic runner, Taylor is also a very good pass-catcher.

He would make Jaxson Dart's life much easier in the years ahead because of his ability to take games over.

The fine line the Giants have to walk is giving up significant draft capital when the team is still building.

Lest we forget, this is just Year 1 of Harbaugh's tenure and while Big Blue is in first place right now, it's not because the Giants are a very good team.

They've had a soft schedule and could easily have a few more losses if things didn't bounce their way. Adding to that, the division is a total disaster right now.

But, playing devil's advocate for a second, running backs as good as Taylor don't become available very often and he's under contract through 2028, so this isn't a win-now move only.

Taylor can still help this team for at least a few more years, which is something the Giants will surely weigh.

New York Rangers star Ron Duguay, one of the NHL's most colorful personalities in the '70s and '80s, has died at age 69. What was the cause? Getty

Ron Duguay, the Sudbury, Ontario-born winger who made his name in a New York Rangers sweater, died Thursday at age 69, Newsweek reports. His partner, former Alaska Gov. and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, posted a farewell message on Instagram.

“It’s with a shattered heart, but also deep peace knowing Ron is with Jesus now,” Palin wrote. “He fought so hard. Love never ends,” as quoted by Newsweek.

Duguay’s daughter, Shay Thomas, delivered the news as well.

“Our hearts are broken. We love you forever, Dad,” Thomas wrote, as quoted by Newsweek. The Rangers, who made Duguay a first-round pick in 1977, remembered him as “one of the most popular players in franchise history.”

But what was the cause of Duguay’s death less than four decades past the end of his NHL playing career?

Ron Duguay’s Cause of Death and Cancer Timeline

“Duguay revealed in February that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in late 2024,” WBAL-TV reported. “He said the cancer spread beyond his colon and required surgery involving his appendix and gallbladder.”

It was that bout with cancer that caused Duguay’s death about two years later.

Duguay learned of the disease in December 2024, at age 67, and told almost no one for more than a year, according to a report by The Hockey Beast. By the time the family went public in February, the cancer had reached Stage 4 and spread to his liver.

Surgeons removed his appendix and gallbladder. Chemotherapy followed, along with a hepatic pump. Then came July, when Duguay fainted at home, knocked out teeth and landed in the hospital, according to Fox News reporter Scott Thompson.

Doctors found severe dehydration, internal bleeding and an ulcer, all tied to pressure building inside his liver. Thomas noted that the pressure was tied to “surgery, chemotherapy, and the pump.”

Duguay lived in Florida but sought treatment in California, near his daughters, who started a GoFundMe in February.

“I find it extremely hard asking for funds for all these costs I’m going through,” Duguay said at the time, as quoted by Yahoo!. “Normally, I’m helping others.”

The median age at colon cancer diagnosis for men is 68, according to Healthline. Nine of every 10 patients are older than 50, according to Mayo Clinic, though diagnoses in younger adults keep climbing.

Stage 4 is the hardest to beat. Only 13 percent of patients live five years past that diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society figures cited by Healthline, and doctors rarely cure it. His family called the cancer aggressive, according to CTV News.

Ron Duguay’s Rangers Career, Family and Sarah Palin

Duguay was born July 6, 1957, in Sudbury, Ontario, and piled up 134 points for the hometown Sudbury Wolves in 1975-76, according to Hockey DB. The Rangers drafted him 13th overall in 1977. He skated in the 1979 Stanley Cup Final.

Over a career that ran through 1989, he suited up for the Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings. He played 864 games, scoring 274 goals with 346 assists. He later worked as an MSG Network analyst on Rangers broadcasts.

Duguay married model Robin Bobo in December 1983, and they had two daughters, Thomas and Amber Stavros, before they divorced. He wed supermodel Kim Alexis in 1993. They had a son, Noah, and divorced in 2016, according to People magazine. His grandchildren include Aiden, Jayden, Cole, Nora and Ranger.

In disco-era New York, he frequented Studio 54, appeared in Sasson jeans ads and was linked to such glamorous celebrity women of the era as Cheryl Tiegs, Bianca Jagger, Cher, Patti LuPone and Farrah Fawcett.

His best-known later partner is Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. They went public around 2022, after her divorce, and she stayed with him through the illness. Palin, 62, posted a photo of herself holding his hand in a hospital bed days before his death and asked for prayers, according to Newsweek.

Palin said a celebration of Duguay’s life will be announced at a later time.

This article was originally published on HEAVY

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Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz on the sideline during a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 13, 2026. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz shared details about the team’s recent meeting with league officials about security measures for their trip to Paris. The NFL revealed on Tuesday that it will heighten security given the social unrest and protests going on in France.

“We had an NFL security meeting. Which, I’m sure every team when you travel overseas, you have a meeting,” Kuntz said on his podcast. “Basically, they told us that, ‘Yeah, there’s riots going on. This is why they’re rioting. It’s not a threat in our area. We have tripled the security now. Everything’s gonna be fine. Your families are gonna be safe.’ So, they’ve advised us that it’s gonna be safe.”

Sunday’s contest between the Steelers and New Orleans Saints will be the first-ever NFL game in France.

“They’re not missing out on this,” Kuntz said. “Us playing in Paris for the first time ever. First football game ever in Paris. We’re just employees. We do what our employer says.”

Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz at training camp on Aug. 6, 2026. – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The Steelers have cancelled their Steelers House fan event in Paris ahead of Sunday’s game against the Saints at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Nicki Ewell, NFL vice president for global events, said the decision was made by the club. She told The Associated Press at NFL House on Thursday that the NFL distributed the message to fans because they worked together to promote the event.

Protests have swept across France over the last month. It started as a student-led protest, but it has grown into a broader anti-government movement. 

On Saturday, over 550,000 demonstrators took to the streets to protest high living costs, inflation, public spending cuts, and poor conditions in schools, according to Al Jazeera.

Protesters turned violent on Saturday, setting fire to historic and public buildings—including the 143-year-old town hall in Limoges, the tourism office in Lyon, and parts of Marseille’s city hall. Dozens of shops were looted and burned in cities like Paris and Bordeaux.

French President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency meeting with top government officials on Sunday. France has announced nightly curfews “for as long as necessary” in Paris and other cities

“There’s nothing more important from our standpoint than the teams’ security, the fans’ security — everybody involved with this game,” NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said at the fall league meetings on Tuesday, via the Associated Press. “Obviously being very vigilant in everything we do, in all of our planning on an hour-by-hour basis, working closely with the two teams.”

Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy addressed concerns over the trip to Paris during his Monday press conference.

“I’m obviously very aware. I mean, that’s part of the normal planning anytime you go abroad. So that’s no different with this particular opportunity to play in Paris. The team is excited about playing over there. But we’re in contact with the league,” McCarthy said. “We had a Zoom call today with the league office, which is the normal protocol before you go to there. … So, yeah, we feel like we have a really good plan. We are aware of the situations over there, and have a lot of confidence in our plan.”

McCarthy said he spoke to the players about the situation.

“That’s really what today’s team meeting was for. We had a Zoom call with the league office. Mr. Rooney was in there,” McCarthy said. “I went through the whole plan.”

Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker is well aware of the protests in France.

“I’m just gonna play the game, but I’m just saying from online what I seen, you know what I mean? It looks crazy out there, but I mean, I guess everybody has a plan,” Brisker said.

Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe contributed.

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Read more at Steelers Now

Seattle Mariners catcher Mitch Garver

Mitch Garver is calling it a career.

Garver, 35, announced his retirement on Thursday according to a report from MLB.com.

A power-hitting catcher and DH, Garver played 10 Major League seasons from 2017 to 2026. He spent the first half of his career with the Minnesota Twins, where he enjoyed the best season of his career in 2019 with 31 home runs, a .995 OPS and an AL Silver Slugger award.

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After a strong half-decade with the Twins, Garver was traded to the Texas Rangers in 2022 and helped them win their first World Series title in 2023. He spent his final three seasons with the Seattle Mariners, retiring with a career .229/.325/.432 batting line, 110 homers and 10 WAR.

While injuries often limited Garver's playing time and he was never an All-Star, he was one of the best-hitting catchers in baseball for a decade when healthy. 

More MLB: Red Sox Shake Up Coaching Staff With Multiple Reassignments

Motorsport photo

As IndyCar moves closer to a return to racing outside North America, Penske Corporation executive Jonathan Gibson said the series’ international push has been supported by years of inbound interest from promoters over the last half-decade.

Speaking at the Autosport Business Exchange in New York, Gibson, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Penske Corporation, pointed to IndyCar’s international driver lineup and global television reach.

“IndyCar historically has had a significant presence, you know, throughout South America, obviously Canada,” Gibson said. “And there's been some international races overall. If you think about it, our grid, we represent 13 countries amongst our drivers. And so from a driver standpoint and then our TV packages that we have around the world are obviously quite strong.”

Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan RacingLouis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

That reach has also been accompanied by interest from international promoters, marking the first sustained push to take IndyCar outside North America since its 2013 visit to São Paulo, Brazil, and its last European fixture in 2007.

“Over the last four or five years, we've had certain tracks and markets reach out to us,” Gibson revealed. “And, you know, we've had some serious dialogue as of late.”

The growing stack of inbound inquiries across that timeframe highlights a diverse range of international suitors:

Argentina: Inbound interest culminated in Juncos Hollinger Racing leading high-profile promotional demonstrations in November 2022 and August 2023 at the Autódromo de Buenos Aires and Termas de Río Hondo with Argentine driver Agustín Canapino. Conversations to resurrect a race in the country—following the 1971 USAC event at Rafaela—gained serious traction before a presidential election and government change at the end of 2023 put talks on hold.

Mexico: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City reached out and was in serious contention to host a round during the 2026 season. While the project was ultimately scrapped due to scheduling conflicts with the FIFA World Cup and other factors, demand remains immense, fueled by Monterrey native Pato O’Ward, the series’ most popular driver.

Colombia & Brazil: Brazil has actively remained in the mix over the past few years, while Colombia emerged on the radar more recently. Interest from the region reached a high point when Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char publicly claimed the city had secured an event for April 2028, though IndyCar officials subsequently poured cold water on those assertions.

Japan: Outreach and ongoing dialogue have also centered on Japan, anchored by major corporate partners with heavy footprints in both North America and Japan, including Bridgestone, Honda, and series title sponsor NTT Data. Honda also owns Motegi and Suzuka, though any return would utilize a road course configuration as Motegi's oval is no longer usable. IndyCar last ran a non-points event at Motegi in 2011.

Now, those years of background dialogue appear to be reaching a direct breakthrough. Motorsport.com confirmed on Monday that Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has reached an agreement to host an IndyCar round starting in the summer of 2027, bringing the championship to five-time champion Alex Palou’s home country. An official announcement is expected this Friday. 

Addressing where those discussions currently stand, Gibson signaled that an official deal is imminent.

“I think we're pretty close,” Gibson said. “You have to stay tuned.”

When pushed on a specific timetable for when fans and teams can expect formal confirmation, Gibson kept his answer concise: “Pretty soon.”

Read Also: Autosport Business Exchange New York Examines the Forces Driving Racing’s Next Era of Growth in America Lando Norris makes big business move with investment in £500m hospitality company Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"

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ROCHESTER, NEW YORK - JULY 29: C.J. Gardner-Johnson #22 of the Buffalo Bills gets his fingers taped up during training camp at St. John Fisher University on July 29, 2026 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images) GettyBuffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. GettyCJ Gardner-Johnson suffered an injury. Getty

The Baltimore Ravens might be more than a week away from facing the Buffalo Bills in Week 8, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t big news affecting the game.

Bills defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson was ejected from the team’s Week 6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders for spitting. The NFL suspended Gardner-Johnson for one game for the incident. Since Buffalo has a bye in Week 7, he would miss the Ravens game.

Gardner-Johnson has appealed his suspension to the NFL and has finally received a decision. It will impact the Ravens in the game.

Baltimore Ravens Got Final Verdict on C.J. Gardner-Johnson Suspension

GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12: C.J. Gardner-Johnson #22 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a play against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium on October 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

NFL Senior Vice President of Football & International Communications Michael Signora shared the league’s final decision on Gardner-Johnson. The Ravens will have one less Bills player to worry about.

“Hearing officer Jordy Nelson, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA, has upheld the one-game suspension of C.J. Gardner-Johnson.”

Hearing officer Jordy Nelson, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA, has upheld the one-game suspension of C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) October 22, 2026

In six games this season, Gardner-Johnson has racked up 26 tackles, 2 pass deflections, and 1 interception. This will be the first game he has missed all season.

Gardner-Johnson has previously played for five teams in the regular season. He won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. Gardner-Johnson was with the Ravens last season for a short time before asking to be released and being granted it.

Ravens Won’t Be Facing C.J. Gardner-Johnson in Week 8

GettyORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 27: C.J. Gardner-Johnson #22 of the Buffalo Bills sits injured on the field after being hurt on the play against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

The Ravens are catching a bit of a break here with Gardner-Johnson being out. Buffalo also has Sam Franklin Jr. appealing his one-game suspension for spitting in the Raiders game.

Baltimore’s offense will likely welcome not having to face Gardner-Johnson, who has been known as a ball hawk in the secondary. This will certainly change the Ravens’ offensive approach.

Whether Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley starts at quarterback by then, the Ravens will take more deep shots. Guys like Zay Flowers and rookie Ja’Kobi Lane should have a ton of success through the air.

Baltimore is more focused right now on securing a win against their AFC North rival, the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s a big one for the Ravens after coming off a 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.

A win over Cincinnati will give the Ravens a leg up in the division. It will move them closer to taking back the AFC North lead from the Browns.

Over the next week, a lot can change for the Ravens between the Bengals game and the Bills game. Regardless, the Week 8 game plan will be simple: attack the side of the field where Gardner-Johnson was covering.

This article was originally published on HEAVY

The post Ravens Hear NFL’s Final Decision on C.J. Gardner-Johnson Before Bills Game appeared first on HEAVY.

For more than a decade, the Treasure Coast High School and Vero Beach High School football teams have battled to determine who would walk away with a district title.

One of those two programs has won a district championship every year since 2014. That streak will continue Friday night when the rivals face off for the District 8-6A title at 7 p.m. at South County Regional Stadium in Port St. Lucie.

"It's common territory," Vero Beach head coach Lenny Jankowski said of another winner-take-all game against Treasure Coast. "We've had many games with a lot at stake."

Vero Beach (7-1, 2-0 District 8-6A) enters seeking its third consecutive district championship. Treasure Coast (5-3, 2-0) is looking to capture its first district title since 2023 and complete one of the area's most impressive turnarounds.

More: TCPalm Super 10: Area football rankings leading up district title games

The game also showcases two coaches who have done exceptional jobs this season.

Treasure Coast head coach Irvin Jones has guided his team to this championship opportunity after a winless 2025 campaign. The Titans appeared headed in a similar direction after dropping their first two games before reeling off five consecutive victories. That streak ended last week with a one-score loss at John Carroll Catholic.

What makes the turnaround even more remarkable is that Treasure Coast entered the season without a player who had experienced a varsity victory.

"You can see that improvement has happened throughout their season," Jankowski said of Treasure Coast. "They've played their best football here in the second half of the season."

If you ask Treasure Coast's players, their best game occurred during the preseason.

The Titans blanked Sebastian River 32-0 in the Kickoff Classic on Aug. 14. Because of the team's performance against the Sharks, senior linebacker Tyler Freeman said the Titans never stopped believing they could compete for a district championship. The players maintained that belief even after a 34-2 loss at Jensen Beach on Aug. 27 dropped them to 0-2.

"We always believed from the start of the season that we could do it," Freeman said. "We can fight through anything. When we came together, we knew we could put our minds to whatever.

"People were down at the moment, but we knew we had to push through. We had the rest of the season ahead of us, so we had to keep pushing. We knew we were fighting for bigger things."

Treasure Coast ripped off four straight wins by a combined margin of 142-6 before pulling off its most dramatic victory of the season. Senior defensive back Shanard Williams blocked a go-ahead field goal as time expired to lift the Titans past Fort Pierce Central on Oct. 9.

According to Freeman, the biggest change wasn't tactical but mental.

"Our attitudes, most of all," he said. "We knew what the bigger picture was, and we were fighting for each other."

Across the field, Jankowski has kept his team atop the Region 2-6A rankings despite losing Notre Dame commit Champ Monds to a season-ending injury.

In Monds' absence, Jankowski has had to teach and adjust the offense on the fly for freshman quarterback Makai White. Vero Beach has responded by winning its last five games, collecting victories in a variety of ways, from special teams contributions to strong situational football, even as Jankowski waits for all three phases to click at once.

"I think we're still searching to play our best game and put it together in all three phases," he said.

The defense, however, has remained the foundation of Vero Beach's success. Allowing fewer than eight points per game during its current five-game winning streak, the Indians have repeatedly come up with game-changing plays on that side of the ball.

Against Fort Pierce Central on Sept. 25, sacks by Josiah Taylor and Dontallis Render helped seal a pivotal victory. Earlier in the season, Render came up with a fourth-quarter interception against Mainland that swung momentum and helped propel Vero Beach to another signature win.

Kaden Huggins has emerged as one of the leaders of that unit. The junior edge rusher leads the team in total tackles (54) and sacks (5.0) and is tied with Render for the team lead in tackles for loss (12.5).

"I just know I gotta go make a play," Huggins said. "Once it's time to go, let's go make plays."

Once again, Vero Beach and Treasure Coast will battle to determine the district champion. Both teams know the winner will have earned it after a hard-fought contest.

"I feel like we've got to out-physical them," Huggins said. "They've always been a physical team."

Freeman added: "I feel like it's going to be a dogfight."

FHSAA Week 10/SSAA Week 11 previewDistrict 8-6A - Vero Beach (7-1, 2-0 district) at Treasure Coast (5-3, 2-0 district)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: South Regional County Stadium

Last Week: Vero Beach - Bye; Treasure Coast - 21-14 loss at John Carroll Catholic

Maxpreps rankings: Vero Beach (80.46) - first in Region 2-6A, fourth in Class 6A, 24th overall; Treasure Coast (45.55) - ninth in Region 2-6A, 39th in Class 6A, 210th overall

Key players: Vero Beach - Deion Jackson (LB, Sr.), Dontallis Render (DL/OL, Sr.), Marcus Melbourne (WR, Sr.), Josiah Taylor (DL/OL, Jr.), Kaden Huggins (LB, Jr.); Treasure Coast - Eldrick Warren (LB, Jr.), Andre Mackey (RB, So.), Elyansky Pierre (LB, Jr.), Tyler Freeman (LB, Sr.), Adam Serieux (RB, Jr.)

Last meeting: Oct. 24, 2025 - Vero Beach 49, Treasure Coast 0

Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Vero Beach 17, Treasure Coast 7

Audience prediction (sure to be right): Vero Beach (80%)

District 13-4A - Fort Pierce Westwood (5-3, 3-1 district) at Jensen Beach (6-2, 4-0 district)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Jensen Beach High School

Last week: Fort Pierce Westwood - 42-3 win vs. Sebastian River; Jensen Beach - 51-0 win vs. Legacy

Maxpreps rankings: Fort Pierce Westwood (35.89) - 13th in Region 4-4A, 54th in Class 4A, 294th overall; Jensen Beach (57.56) - seventh in Region 4-4A, 20th in Class 4A, 110th overall

Key players: Fort Pierce Westwood - Jermaine Walker (WR, Sr.), Jakeim Ellison (DB, Sr.), Malachi Francois (LB, Jr.), Elize Pierre (QB, So.), James Strowbridge (OL, Sr.); Jensen Beach - Alex Thornton (LB/RB, Sr.), Jalen Webley (WR/DB, Sr.), Dre Lott (QB, Jr.), Gage Wilson (ATH, Jr.), Kellen Farro (DL, Jr)

Last meeting: Sept. 5, 2025 - Jensen Beach 44, Fort Pierce Westwood 8

The skinny: The Panthers are the only thing standing between the Falcons and their fourth district title in the last five years. With a win, Jensen Beach would claim the championship outright. But a loss would set up a three-team tie between the two and Heritage. The highest-ranked team at season’s end would win via tiebreaker. 

Following a shutout loss earlier in the month to Treasure Coast, the Panthers have found their offense by dialing up 89 combined points in wins against Port St. Lucie and Sebastian River. Elize Pierre has shined along the way, as the sophomore quarterback has accounted for 11 touchdowns.

Conversely, Jensen Beach continues to cement itself with one of the best defenses in the state. In all six of their wins, the Falcons have not allowed an opponent to score more than three points. That includes last week’s victory over Legacy where the Jensen Beach defense outscored the opponent 14-0 thanks to two Alex Thornton Pick 6’s. 

Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Jensen Beach 35, Fort Pierce Westwood 14

Audience prediction (sure to be right): Jensen Beach (69%)

District 10-1A - John Carroll Catholic (6-2, 2-0 district) at Benjamin (2-5, 0-1 district)

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Theofilos Field

Last week: John Carroll Catholic - 21-14 win vs. Treasure Coast; Benjamin - Bye

Maxpreps rankings: John Carroll Catholic (63.68) - second in Region 4-1A, seventh in Class 1A, 76th overall; Benjamin (45.0) - fifth in Region 4-1A, 21st in Class 1A, 218th overall

Key players: John Carroll Catholic - Sean Tatum (OL, Sr.), Andrew Pisani (OL, Jr.), K.J. Davis (Sr, WR), Kameron Barber (ATH, Jr.), Felix Jackson (RB, Sr.); Benjamin - Markel Etienne (CB/WR, Jr.), Jayden Cosby-Mosley (LB, Sr.), Zaydin Fleuridor (QB, Fr.), Colin Murphy (DE, Jr.), Gabe Bowens (RB/LB, Jr.)

Last meeting: Oct. 24, 2025 - John Carroll Catholic 41, Benjamin 31

The skinny: Like Jensen Beach, the Rams can avoid a three-team tiebreak and capture the district title with a road win over the Buccaneers. 

The two teams met last year, with John Carroll coming away with the victory behind 280 rushing yards and six touchdowns from since-graduated running back Jeremy Pittman. Senior running back Felix Jackson will look to replicate that performance. The senior running back rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown during the team’s win last week over Treasure Coast. 

The Rams may want to prioritze running just simply because it’s their strength and worked in the past, but also because Benjamin rushes the passer fairly well. In just seven games, Benjamin has recorded 35 sacks. Colin Murphy leads the team with nine sacks.  

Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): John Carroll Catholic 42, Benjamin 21

Audience prediction (sure to be right): John Carroll Catholic (86.3%)

District 8-6A - St. Lucie West Centennial (1-7, 0-2 district) at Fort Pierce Central (4-3, 0-2 district)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Lawnwood Stadium

Last week: St. Lucie West Centennial - 50-0 loss at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy; Fort Pierce Central - 42-3 loss vs. Bishop Verot

Maxpreps rankings: St. Lucie West Centennial (21.09) - 16th in Region 2-6A, 75th in Class 6A, 445th overall; Fort Pierce Central (51.43) - eighth in Region 2-6A, 30th in Class 6A, 156th overall

Key players: St. Lucie West Centennial - Dakary Boswell (QB, Sr.), Elijah Mathurin (LB, Sr.), Cameron Medlin (DB, Sr.), Bradley Paul (OL, Sr.), Malik Jefferson (RB, Jr.); Fort Pierce Central - A.J. Hill (WR, Sr.), Drew LaPlante (QB, Sr.), Kevin Dixon (RB, Sr.), Jarimyah Owens (LB, Sr.), Chad DeVries (DB, Sr.)

Last meeting: Oct. 23, 2025 - Fort Pierce Central 34, St. Lucie West Centennial 32

The skinny: This matchup features two teams in desparate need of ending losing streaks. Following a three-game slide, the Cobras are clinging to a postseason spot. The team is ranked eighth in Region 2-6A, just ahead of St. Cloud for the region’s final at-large berth. 

Meanwhile, the Eagles have two streaks that’d like to stop. They’ve dropped their last seven games and been held scoreless through their last five games.

Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Fort Pierce Central 42, St. Lucie West Centennial 0

Audience’s prediction (sure to be right): Fort Pierce Central (85.8%)

St. Edward’s (5-4) at Master’s Academy (2-7)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Master’s Academy

Last week: St. Edward’s - 53-6 win vs. Leonard; Master’s Academy - 21-3 loss at Atlantic-Port Orange

Maxpreps rankings: St. Edward’s (27.42) - 24th in SSAA, 371st overall; Master’s Academy (-3.8) - 38th in SSAA, 502nd overall

Key players: St. Edward’s - Dylan Colontrelle (QB, Jr.), Triston Scent (ATH, Fr.), Chase Colotrelle (ATH, So), Daniel Clemente (DL, Sr.), Alex Rojas (LB, Jr.); Master’s Academy - Joshua Namvar (Sr.), Banks Swearingen (So.), Troy Borcheller (Jr.), Jackson Fromag (Fr.), Tyde Modert (Jr.)

Last meeting: Oct. 24, 2025 - St. Edward’s 15, Master’s Academy 

The skinny: The second chapter in this newly-formed rivalry takes place at Master’s Academy. The Patriots will welcome to their campus a St. Edward’s team that appears to be hitting their stride. 

The Pirates won their last three games, highlighted by putting up a season-best 53 points in a rout over Leonard last week. Dylan Colontrelle returned to action in that game after missing the previous two games due to injury. The junior quarterback had no rust on the field, as he completed 11 of 13 passes for 232 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns.  

Conversely, Master’s Academy was held to single digits for the third time this season after falling at Atlantic-Port Orange. 

The two teams had a similar disparity in performance heading into last year’s contest, but the St. Edward’s narrowly outlasted Master’s Academy at home. 

Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): St. Edward’s 29, Master’s Academy 13

Audience’s prediction (sure to be right): St. Edward’s (59.3%)

Other games this weekDistrict 12-5A - Martin County (4-4) at Palm Beach Gardens (3-5), 6:30 p.m.

Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Martin County 14, Palm Beach Gardens 7

Audience’s prediction (sure to be right): Palm Beach Gardens (51.8%)

District 12-5A - South Fork (6-2) at Seminole Ridge (1-7), 6:30 p.m.

Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): South Fork 31, Seminole Ridge 14

Audience’s prediction (sure to be right): South Fork (69%)

District 13-4A - Sebastian River at Port St. Lucie, 7 p.m.

Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Port St. Lucie 28, Sebastian River 14

Audience’s prediction (sure to be right): Sebastian River (57.2%)

Tradition Prep (1-6) at Satellite (8-0), 7 p.m.

Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Satellite 49, Tradition Prep 0

Audience’s prediction (sure to be right): Satellite (77.8%)

Lemon Bay (7-2) at Okeechobee (3-6), 7 p.m.

Predictions unavailable.

Patrick’s 2026 predictions (sure to be wrong): 71-22

Audience’s 2026 predictions (sure to be right): 66-27

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.  

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Treasure Coast Week 10 football preview: District titles are on the line

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Bears’ Caleb Williams could expose Mike Vrabel’s Patriots after perfect 24-for-24 clean-pocket day originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Caleb Williams handed Mike Vrabel a math problem in Atlanta. Williams missed Weeks 3 through 5 with a hamstring injury. In his first game back, the Chicago Bears quarterback was perfect whenever the Falcons left him alone, going 24-for-24 for 248 yards on those snaps, according to Next Gen Stats.

His full line read 30-of-36, 305 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. Williams connected on each of his first dozen throws and walked away with NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Chicago and New England both arrive at 4-2 for Thursday’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Soldier Field.

Will Compton, the former NFL linebacker, spelled out Vrabel’s dilemma on ESPN’s “Get Up.”

“Mike Vrabel, I don’t know how you’re going to win this football game pressuring Caleb Williams,” Compton said. He labeled the Bears passer “one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL against the blitz.” His fix was a four-man rush. Compton did get the number wrong, citing a “26 for 26” clean-pocket mark instead of the actual 24.

Williams’ season splits back up the broader point. Against non-blitz looks, he completes 87.5% of his passes, tops in the league. With nobody in his face, he ranks first again at 84.7%. Once pressure arrives, that figure falls to 50.0%, seventh in the NFL.

Put those numbers side by side and Vrabel’s path narrows. Pressure rattles Williams. Extra bodies, on their own, haven’t. New England needs its front four to win their matchups without help so the rest of the defense can stay in coverage. That’s a big ask against a quarterback who leads the NFL in completion percentage (72.5%) and CPOE (+9.8%).

Tom Brady Praise and Drake Maye’s Battered Line Raise Stakes for Caleb Williams vs. Patriots

The warmest praise for Williams this week came from the Patriots’ own past. Tom Brady, who attended the Atlanta game, ranked the Bears seventh in his FOX Sports power rankings. He pointed to 30 completions, 40 minutes of possession, and no interceptions.

“That’s the kind of football that brings a tear to my eye,” Brady said. “Caleb Williams, he really didn’t miss a beat. He looked great, just like he did in the opener.”

Rob Gronkowski, Brady’s former Patriots tight end, stayed loyal to Foxborough. On “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams, he was asked to choose between the No. 1 and No. 3 picks of the 2024 draft. He went with the New England quarterback.

“I’m gonna go with Drake Maye. I just like the touch on his ball…” Gronkowski said.

That debate may matter less than Maye’s protection. New England lost three starting linemen against the New York Jets on Sunday: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Ben Brown and right tackle Morgan Moses. Two are out, and Moses is questionable.

Compton flagged it: “Drake Maye, you’re going to have to win the football game when you’re down three starting offensive linemen.”

Here’s the wrinkle I like. Maye admires Williams for slipping pressure, and he may need that exact skill Thursday.

“He’s special in the way he can move and kinda escape and evade pressure,” Maye said of Williams.

Williams returned the compliment, calling Maye’s mobility a long-running weapon and adding, “we’ve gotta be able to bottle him up.”

This is their second NFL meeting. Vrabel isn’t taking Williams lightly, even though Williams looked slightly slower in Atlanta. 

More NFL news:

• Shedeur Sanders predicted to lose Browns QB battle as Watson favored to start despite rookie's camp push
• 49ers' secondary faces a real reckoning at camp as stribling quietly builds ROY buzz
• 49ers' cheapest bet in 2026 might be a zero-star recruit from Georgetown playing linebacker on $4.88 million
• Shedeur Sanders could thrive in Todd Monken's offense despite lacking Lamar Jackson's legs

Two of boxing's most exciting fighters, David Benavidez and Vergil Ortiz Jr., will be sharing the stage later this year.

Benavidez, the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion, will fight Polish WBC titlist Michal Cieslak on Dec. 5 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. And in the co-feature, Ortiz will end a 13-month layoff against former champion Keith Thurman.

The pay-per-view doubleheader will be available on DAZN and Amazon Prime Video, and it will also be part of the DAZN Ultimate subscription.

Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs), a three-division world champion, surged through the pound-for-pound rankings in May after his impressive sixth-round destruction of Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez.

Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) captured the WBC interim title by stopping Jean Pascal in June 2025. He hasn't fought since, but he received the biggest news of his career when he was upgraded to full champion in September after Noel Mikaelian's title was stripped.

Ortiz Jr. (24-0, 22 KOs) is the WBC interim super welterweight champion, but his Dec. 12 fight with Thurman will be contested at the middleweight limit — and it is expected Ortiz will continue his career at 160 pounds.

Ortiz was last in action when he knocked out Erickson Lubin in two rounds last November. He was in negotiations to face Jaron "Boots" Ennis in one of boxing's most anticipated fights, but Ortiz found himself tangled in a legal battle with his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy, instead.

Ortiz and Golden Boy ultimately settled and agreed to complete the three fights remaining on their promotional deal beginning in December.

Thurman (31-2, 23 KOs), a former unified welterweight champion, is looking to bounce back from his one-sided KO defeat to WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora in March. Thurman, 37, has been inactive in the last few years and has not recorded a significant win since his unanimous decision victory over Mario Barrios in February 2022. He will be a heavy underdog against Ortiz.

Andoni Iraola, you genius: He's found Liverpool a superstar

Liverpool handed Andoni Iraola several problems this season. The Reds' head coach has found a genius solution, however.

Andoni Iraola took over Liverpool in the summer but things weren't made easy for him. The squad just isn't balanced, for one, with glaring problems in midfield, defence and attack.

The main midfield issue? A lack of a defensive midfielder. And arguably, a lack of real options in the side - the club sold Curtis Jones without replacing him and asked Iraola to rely on Trey Nyoni.

The defensive issues are different. They're more long-term - only Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are contracted to Liverpool at centre-back beyond this season and one of those hasn't played in over a year.

Then there's the attack, which is different once again. The options are there but they're unbelievably lopsided. Four left-wingers, zero right-wingers, and that's asked Iraola to be creative.

Andoni Iraola's Rio Ngumoha genius

The solution to finding a right-winger is to convert a left-winger. That much is obvious. It's easier said than done, however, as all of Liverpool's options are right-footed and all prefer to cut inside.

They can't naturally do that from the other flank and it's why I didn't believe Rio Ngumoha could play that role. He's raw, still learning the game, and so asking him to do something completely different to what got him into the first-team seemed mad, quite honestly.

Ngumoha likes to cut inside and work a shot at goal. Maybe a pass into the box. Cutting inside from the right means being on his left and suddenly a shot at goal isn't all that viable.

Iraola, though, stuck to his guns and persisted with Ngumoha on the right. It has paid dividends. The teenager is more dangerous than ever, learning to consistently get to the byline and split defences, rather than cutting inside in front of them.

It's a far, far more dangerous skill than just working the ball onto your shooting foot. Villarreal saw that first hand as they had no real idea of how to stop Ngumoha - he could drive on the outside of them, quickly getting them all running back towards their own goal.

A cut-back led to Alexis Mac Allister scoring, while he also demonstrated his ability to switch flanks with a first-half assist from the left for Ronald Araujo. (Even if that one did rely on some shocking defending).

But Iraola's insistence that Ngumoha can learn to play on the right has proven to be genius. Liverpool have a better player as a result - someone who asks serious questions of defences and bring an entirely new element to the team.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said NBA star Lebron James should apologize after accusing the Philadelphia 76ers forward of disrespecting the United States for stretching and imitating his free-throw motion during the national anthem.

Trump lashed out at James, a long-time target of the president, in an Oct. 22 post on Truth Social, which included a video clip of James as the national anthem was sung before the Oct. 20 game between the 76ers and New York Knicks.

"While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!" Trump said in the post. "I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE. LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!"

For part of the anthem, James is seen moving his arms in the form of a golf swing, then imitating a basketball shot, while the rest of his teammates are standing still with their heads down or looking at the singer.

More: Trump calls LeBron James 'maybe a racist' compared to Michael Jordan

Over the years, Trump has repeatedly criticized James, who campaigned for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and has backed Trump's two other Democratic opponents for president since.

Speaking in the Oval Office in July, Trump suggested that James could be "racist" as he remarked that Michael Jordan was the superior basketball player.

"Michael Jordan is a guy that’s a friend of mine. Play golf with him. He’s a really good guy,” Trump said. “I think Lebron is – maybe he’s a racist. Maybe he doesn’t like Trump. But I only like people that like me. So I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”

More: As LeBron James got older, the NBA got younger

The back and forth between the two men goes back years earlier.

In 2018, James criticized Trump in a CNN interview with host Don Lemon, accusing the president of "using sports to kinda divide us, and that's something that I can't relate to."

Trump fired back on what was then Twitter that James had made Lemon look smart despite Lemon being what the president called "the dumbest man on television."

James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, entered his 24th season this year and first with the 76ers after spending the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. In the 76ers' 106-100 victory over the Knicks, James scored 14 points, while collecting nine rebounds and seven assists.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump accuses LeBron James of disrespecting US during national anthem

OTTAWA — William Eklund was excited for October.

Eklund was healthy going into Ottawa Senators training camp, unlike the previous off-season with the San Jose Sharks, when he had suffered a scary wrist injury.

Looking ahead at the schedule, he was going to face the Sharks, the organization that made him the No. 7 pick in the 2021 Draft, twice, at Canadian Tire Centre and SAP Center, in the opening month of the season. The Sharks had traded Eklund in June, along with prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda, to the Senators for the No. 9 pick of the 2026 Draft.

The New York Islanders and younger brother Victor were also coming through Ottawa for the first Eklund “Bowl”.

But on Oct. 8, just four games into the new season, Eklund suffered an ugly-looking ankle injury.

“S*** happens,” Eklund said.

He’s out 10-12 weeks after ankle surgery.

So wait ‘til next year (to face the San Jose Sharks)?

Eklund spoke on Thursday morning about getting traded, how the Sharks trading Fabian Zetterlund taught him about the business side of hockey, and if there’s any frustration after another serious injury.

Eklund, on his injury:

Obviously, didn’t want to be injured, but s*** happens in this game. Try to recover as fast as I can. You play the game, it’s such a fast game out there. Things like this happen, you get frustrated for sure, but right now it’s just about recovery.

Eklund, on watching Ottawa beat the Panthers in Brady Tkachuk’s return:

Great. They played really good out there, proud of them. It was pretty special, obviously, it was pretty cool to see these fans go like that. It was really cool.

Eklund, on whether he was surprised by the San Jose Sharks trading him after signing an extension:

I can’t say I’m surprised, yes or no. Obviously, it’s a business out there, we all know that, we’re all part of this game. Of course, there’s a chance it can happen and now it happened. But I’m really happy that I’m here, in Ottawa. We have a great team here.

Eklund, on Fabian Zetterlund’s reaction to the trade:

He was happy. I called him pretty much right away, he was happy with that, we enjoy spending time together.

Eklund, on feeling healthy before his injury:

It felt great. Obviously, I haven’t had that in a while, I feel like the full summer helped me a lot. I felt really good coming into training camp, good in the first couple of games here. It makes it even more frustrating, but it’s part of the game. You just have to be mentally in it, so trying to do my best here.

Eklund, on the whiplash of getting news of the trade, but it’s to Ottawa and with best friend Zetterlund:

It’s my first time getting traded, so you get shocked at first. When I heard it was Ottawa, I’ve heard only good things about this group. Right now, as you can tell, it’s very true. It’s a big family in there. We care a lot about each other. I felt great coming here.

Eklund, on the closeness of the Ottawa locker room:

We have really good depth in our group. Overall, we’re playing really good hockey and we stand up for each other. We play good hockey.

Eklund, on catching up with his former San Jose Sharks teammates:

I’ll talk with them a little bit, catch up a little bit. Saw Wenny yesterday a little bit. Good group of guys in there too.

Eklund, on watching his brother Victor succeed with the New York Islanders:

For sure. I know he’s been working really hard for it, this summer was the hardest work I’ve ever seen him. Extremely proud of him, doing really good things out there. I’m happy for him to be in the NHL.

Eklund, on his injury timeline:

I’m recovering. Timeline wise, I’m not going to go into that, it’s not a question for me. I’m trying to do my best everyday to get back with the guys.

Eklund, on his disappointment leaving San Jose after several years with the Sharks:

It’s a business. I had really good years there, I appreciate everybody there. They took me into that city, the fans took me in really good. I appreciate all the guys, all the staff that had me there. We’re going forward here, new team here, I’m happy here. I’m not going to go into it more further than that, but I’m happy with my time in San Jose.

Eklund, on whether the Sharks moving up in the draft lottery affected his outlook, that they might draft fellow winger Ivar Stenberg:

My mind wasn’t there, to be honest. In the offseason, you’re just so focused on getting better yourself, getting better to come back in good shape and be good when you go back. It wasn’t in my thoughts really, so I can’t say yes or no for that.

Eklund, on finding his own role in Ottawa and being compared to Brady Tkachuk’s production:

We’re completely different players, first of all. I’m just coming in here trying to do my thing and bring the best game I can from San Jose to here. I think I’ve been doing that in my first games, just kind of be my own player and be a great teammate. Go out there and do the best I can for the team.

Eklund, on the disappointment of missing the chance to face the Sharks today:

Yes, it is. I’d like to be out there today. But, next time.

Eklund, on Zetterlund’s trade teaching him about the business of the game:

You learn as a younger player, in this league how it works, that it’s a business and everything can happen, everything is open. That was probably the first eye-opening moment for me, and now you kind of know how it is and you accept it. We’re all players and we accept it.

Eklund, on if there’s any frustration from having another serious injury:

I haven’t missed games at the NHL level [because of my injuries]. This is the first time I’ve missed games in the NHL. That part sucks, because when you’re [hurt] in the off-season, you can still get back and play with the guys. But now, not being there in the locker room and being out there on the ice with the boys is the most frustrating part. I’m just happy that they won yesterday, wishing them success here.

Eklund, on missing anticipated games against San Jose and his brother Victor this month:

You can’t really control this stuff. I would love to do that, when the schedule came out these were games you wanted to play and it sucks a little, but now we’re here and I’ve got to accept it. It is what it is.

Eklund, on a potential Sharks-Senators 2029 Stanley Cup Final:

I would love that. Yeah, I would love that.

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Real Madrid veteran continues to keep the team afloat as defensive problems persist

Thibaut Courtois continues to bail out Real Madrid, and his latest performance against RB Leipzig offered another reminder of his importance to the team.

Four first-half saves prevented the German side from taking control before Bernardo Silva’s goal turned the game in Real Madrid’s favour.

Yet the result did little to hide a worrying pattern: the Spanish giants are giving opponents too many opportunities to test their goalkeeper.

With Courtois’ contract approaching its expiry, keeping him at the club has become one of the easier decisions facing the hierarchy and a renewal is already close to being finalised.

Courtois gives Real Madrid a lifeline

The defining moment against Leipzig came in the 27th minute, when Rômulo unleashed a powerful effort that Courtois somehow pushed around the post.

The Belgian did more than get a hand to the ball. He directed it away from danger, preventing a rebound and forcing the Bundesliga club to settle for a corner.

Christopher Nkunku also found himself through on goal, only for Courtois to make himself enormous and deny the forward in a one-on-one situation. A strong attempt from Baku brought another intervention.

Courtois was brilliant against RB Leipzig. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)

These were not routine saves that looked impressive. Each one came at a point when Leipzig had an opportunity to punish Real Madrid’s defensive lapses.

Courtois kept the score under control long enough for his teammates to make their quality count at the other end.

The statistics behind Real Madrid’s reliance on Courtois

The pattern is becoming familiar. Real Madrid can still turn games with their attacking quality, but they are increasingly dependent on Courtois to prevent difficult spells from becoming costly ones.

The goalkeeper’s workload puts that dependence into perspective.

At the time of the Leipzig match, Courtois had faced 59 shots on target across the season and saved 45, giving him a save rate of approximately 76%. He had recorded only two clean sheets, against Malaga and Villarreal, both at the Bernabeu.

The problem is not confined to one difficult evening. Atlético Madrid had managed nine shots on target against Real Madrid, while Inter recorded eight and Rayo Vallecano seven.

Leipzig’s four first-half efforts placed that period among Courtois’ busiest opening 45 minutes of the campaign, surpassed only by the five shots on target he faced against Rayo.

New contract imminent. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

There have been quieter games, of course. Against Málaga, Real Madrid conceded just one shot on target, and that came after half-time. But such performances have not been the norm.

The figures point to a team that can still win matches while allowing opponents too many chances. Courtois’ interventions have softened the consequences, but a 76% save rate cannot guarantee that every dangerous attempt will be stopped.

Real Madrid must improve

Courtois’ latest performance was not an isolated moment of brilliance but another reminder of how much the team relies on him when their defensive organisation breaks down.

The more pressing concern is what happens in front of him. If Real Madrid want to be more reliable in major matches, they must stop asking their goalkeeper to deliver extraordinary saves just to keep ordinary results within reach.

Motorsport photo

Esteban Ocon agrees that his Haas replacement Rafael Camara deserves his chance to be in Formula 1, but feels he does not deserve to be without a seat for 2027.

Camara's signing was confirmed last week as the Brazilian steps up from F2 - where he is currently the championship leader. Although Oliver Bearman is yet to be officially announced by Haas as staying at the team, the American outfit is hoping to extend his deal.

With no real opportunities left on the 2027 grid barring any surprise exits, Ocon's options are slim and the 30-year-old is most likely looking at a reserve deal to keep his hand in - rather than making a switch to a different category.

Ocon was adamant that his performances were not the reason for his departure, but once more would not be drawn on the specific reasons why Haas chose not to extend his deal.

"I can't say very much. What I will say is that Rafa deserves a shot in F1. I think he's shown in the categories that he's very good," he said ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix.

"But I don't deserve to be out of F1 at the same time. That's it. I'm coming here to do the best job I can, trying to exploit the maximum out of the car.

"As I said, I deserve to be here in Formula 1. There are many circumstances why I'm not here next year. But they are not the performance reasons. I've won everything in every category.

Rafael Camara joins Haas F1 Team for 2027Rafael Camara joins Haas F1 Team for 2027

"I've done in go-karts, in Formula Renault, in Formula 3, in GP3, in F1. In all these categories I've won races. Just thinking from a sports perspective, I deserve to be in F1. I believe that this is not my last year in F1."

Ocon's focus, then, was on ensuring that he could continue to deliver in his final races for Haas and assist the team in its fight to retain seventh in the constructors' championship - it is currently seven points clear of Audi.

Although he'd received public support following the news that he was out of a drive for 2026, Ocon stated that he didn't need private support from his fellow drivers - and nor had he received anyway.

"Of course I talk to some of the guys in private life," the Frenchman added. "Lance came to speak to me for example. But I didn't receive any messages from anyone.

"They haven't texted me - supportive in the press. It's fine. It's not the end anyway. I'm not calling for any support from any drivers or whatever. That's not what I need. It's a difficult world for everybody in a way.

"We are all living in that same thing. If you don't perform for three races, you are the worst. If you perform in three good races, you are the best. So, that's the difficulty of the sport."

Read Also: Did Haas make the correct decision in signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027?

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Barney Stewart was one of West Brom's summer signings after scoring 12 league goals for Falkirk in Scotland last season [Getty Images]

West Bromwich Albion striker Barney Stewart scored his first goal for the Baggies in only his second start to trigger Saturday's comeback win against Blackburn Rovers.

The Albion summer summer signing, wearing the revered Baggies' number nine shirt, then admitted he was not at all daunted by all the Albion number nines who have gone before him.

From England striker Derek Kevan in the 1950s, to Jeff Astle in the 1960s, to Cyrille Regis in the 1970s to Bob Taylor in the 1990s.

Three of them are even revered in song - "Astle is our king, and Cyrille Regis too and Super Bobby Taylor."

No pressure then?

But it is a pressure that 22-year-old Stewart, London-born to Scottish parents, was happy to take on when he arrived from Falkirk in June.

"It's a pressure I'm happy to have as I am a number nine," he told BBC Radio WM.

"I actually asked for the number nine shirt. I don't know why you wouldn't want it."

Barney Stewart's first goal in English league football arrived against Blackburn Rovers in the 19th minute at The Hawthorns [Getty Images]

Having also dabbled with rugby union, Stewart was playing for Heriot-Watt University near Edinburgh in Scotland's fifth tier, while studying for a sports science degree, when Falkirk came in for him in 2024.

Before that, he had been in QPR's academy and played under-18s football for Hayes & Yeading - an amalgamation of the club Regis originally came from in 1977.

But he did well enough with Falkirk in the Scottish top flight last season to earn his move back south.

"It was not the usual route," he said. "I never had a proper look at professional football until I came to Scotland.

"But I got offered my chance with Falkirk and I always wanted to be a footballer so I was happy to take any path possible.

"I gave it a go but I knew clubs were sniffing after me, so it was a route into football.

"It's another step-up now but I knew that when I came here and it's been a case of having to be a bit patient.

"I'm possibly the most impatient person I know so I put a lot of pressure on myself. But it was nice to be part of a comeback victory. And now it's up to me."