NFL
Charles' debut Sunday?
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles could make his season debut Sunday night at Pittsburgh, though Coach Andy Reid acknowledged that it would depend on how he practices this week. Charles has not played since tearing the ACL in his right knee in Week 5 last season. The Chiefs have the week off following the Steelers game, so holding the four-time Pro Bowl running back out would essentially give him two more weeks. But conversely, getting him onto the field for a taste of action would also mean extra time to recover afterward. The Chiefs have been cautious in getting Charles onto the field. Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West have proven to be solid replacements over the past season.
Seahawks to sign Spiller
The Seattle Seahawks are expected to sign veteran running back C.J. Spiller with the team running out of depth at running back. The team said Wednesday that Spiller's signing likely would not be finalized until today. Seattle Coach Pete Carroll later confirmed the intent to sign Spiller in a conference call with New York media. Seattle still has to release someone from its 53-man roster to clear a spot for Spiller, who was released by New Orleans on Sept. 13. Seattle has been thinned at running back because of injuries to Thomas Rawls (shin) and C.J. Prosise (hand).
Grades mostly up
A new diversity report gives the NFL a high grade for its racial hiring practices and a C+ for its gender hiring efforts in 2016. In its report released Wednesday, The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport gave the league its seventh consecutive A on racial hiring practices and a combined grade of B for hiring minorities and women. The second consecutive C+ indicates that the NFL still has a long way to go in improving hiring opportunities for women, but it's a dramatic improvement from two years ago, when the grades were abysmal. Dr. Richard Lapchick, director of the institute, is the primary author of the report card that independently evaluates the NFL's racial and gender hiring practices at both league and team levels.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Saban: QB a question
Alabama Coach Nick Saban said Wednesday that he doesn't know if backup quarterback Blake Barnett will remain with the team. Saban said the redshirt freshman came to see him before Wednesday's practice "with some concerns about his future." He said he hasn't received a final decision on Barnett's plans. A report by Alabama Media Group cited unidentified sources saying Barnett is transferring and has left the program. Barnett started the Tide's opener against Southern California, but lost the battle for the job to freshman Jalen Hurts after that for the top-ranked Crimson Tide. Barnett has completed 11 of 19 passes for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns in three games. The Tide also have quarterbacks Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell behind Hurts.
Order dismissal sought
A woman who accused former Auburn tight end Landon Rice of rape has asked a judge to dismiss a protective order against him without prejudice. The woman filed the request in Lee County (Ala.) Circuit Court on Wednesday. A hearing on a judge's temporary protective order is scheduled for Tuesday. The filing said Rice has not attempted to contact the woman directly or indirectly since the order was issued on Sept. 15 and that Rice's lawyers have said he would not attend any university events or come onto the campus. Rice's attorneys filed a response saying the order should be dismissed with prejudice because the woman had no grounds to file for a protective order. They said the defense side "does not represent that Defendant voluntarily agrees not to be present on Auburn's campus or attend any University events." Auburn has dismissed the freshman from the team. Rice hasn't been charged. The Associated Press does not name alleged victims in sexual assault cases.
BASKETBALL
Lavender is '6th woman'
Los Angeles Sparks center Jantel Lavender has been named the WNBA's sixth woman of the year, the league announced Wednesday. She is the first Sparks player to win the award, which was first given out in 2007. This came a day after Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike was named the league's most valuable player. Lavender averaged 18.2 minutes and 9.6 points per game off the bench this season, and scored in bunches with her mid-range jump shot. The 6-4 center received 26 votes from a panel of 39 sportswriters. She helped the team to a 26-8 regular-season finish and the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs.
MOTOR SPORTS
Brazil race unconfirmed
Organizers of the Brazilian Grand Prix say they are surprised that motor sport's governing body has not confirmed the race at the Interlagos track for the 2017 Formula One calendar. In a provisional calendar for 2017 published earlier Wednesday, the FIA put an asterisk indicating "subject to confirmation" for the Brazilian GP, scheduled for Nov. 12. In a statement, the organizers of the Sao Paulo race said they were "surprised on Wednesday with the publication of the provisional calendar," adding that "there is a valid contract until 2020" and that it would be rigorously complied with "as it always has in these 45 years." Brazil first hosted Formula One in 1972, although the race did not count for that year's world championship. It will stage the penultimate race of this season on Nov. 13. The races in Canada in June and in Germany, in July, are also marked as to be confirmed for next year.
NFL
Cowboys’ Bryant fractures bone in knee
FRISCO, Texas — Dez Bryant has a slight hairline fracture in a bone in his right knee, though Dallas Coach Jason Garrett said the receiver might not miss a game.
Bryant didn’t practice Wednesday, three days after getting hurt in a victory over Chicago, and the same day the team got back results of an MRI.
“We’ve had players with this kind of injury who missed no time in the past and other players who have missed up to a week or more than that,” Garrett said. “We’ll see how he does. When he comes in [today], see how he feels and we’ll make our evaluations there as we go forward.”
Bryant injured the knee on his first catch on the opening series against the Bears, but came back in the first quarter. He caught his first touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter of the 31-17 victory.
Bryant missed seven games last year after breaking his foot in the opener. He also dealt with knee and ankle injuries last season.
“We’re just going to run our game,” said rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, who has started the first three games while Tony Romo recovers from a broken bone in his back. “Nothing is really going to change whether Dez is or isn’t there. He’d be great to have out there, obviously. He gets a lot of attention. But our game plan continues to work.”
The 2014 All-Pro went down awkwardly on his right leg when he was tackled by Bears linebacker Christian Jones. Bryant finished with three catches for 40 yards a week after getting season highs of seven receptions for 102 yards.
“He got his workout in around noon today,” Garrett said. “Looked like he was moving around pretty good. We’ve got a number of guys who have injuries on our team. What we do is they come in, they go to the trainers and say, ‘Hey, this is how I’m feeling.’ We’ll keep making our determinations based on the work that they do have.”
Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith missed practice also after being inactive against the Bears when a back injury flared up late last week.
The Cowboys, who visit San Francisco on Sunday, have placed rookie defensive end Charles Tapper (back) on injured reserve and signed offensive lineman Emmett Cleary.
Sports on 09/29/2016