NFL
Broncos place Flacco on IR
Joe Flacco's Denver debut lasted half a season. The Broncos placed the veteran quarterback they acquired from Baltimore on injured reserve Friday and promoted rookie QB Brett Rypien from their practice squad to back up new starter Brandon Allen (Fayetteville, Arkansas Razorbacks). Coach Vic Fangio said even though Flacco doesn't need surgery on the herniated disk in his neck, he requires six weeks of rest. "At best it was six weeks where he could do nothing -- when I say nothing, absolutely nothing -- he would need probably two weeks to get back and a good chance that it would be eight of doing nothing and then another week or two to get ready," Fangio said. "You guys can do the math, so it became an easy decision." Flacco threw for 1,822 yards with six touchdown throws and five interceptions for the Broncos (2-6), who acquired him for a fifth-round pick from Baltimore, where he spent his first 11 seasons and was the Super Bowl MVP after the 2012 season after beating Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on the road. Flacco was sacked 26 times behind Denver's porous offensive line.
Seahawks claim WR Gordon
Wide receiver Josh Gordon has joined the Seattle Seahawks a day after being released off injured reserve by the New England Patriots. Seattle claimed Gordon off waivers Friday. He joins a crowded receiver group in Seattle, which was already carrying seven receivers on its active roster. Gordon was among New England's leading receivers this season, with 20 catches for 287 yards and a touchdown through six games. But he was placed on injured reserve last week with knee and ankle injuries. His tenure with New England was over a week later. Gordon was reinstated by the NFL in August after having been suspended indefinitely in December 2018, missing the final three games of last season for violations of the league's substance abuse policy. It ended what had been a strong year for Gordon, who had 40 catches for 720 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.
Chiefs' QB questionable
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is questionable against the Minnesota Vikings, raising the possibility the league MVP could return after missing just one game to a dislocated kneecap. Mahomes practiced on a limited basis throughout the week, just as he did last week. But rather than being listed out, as he was for the Green Bay Packers, he was given the official injury designation that means it is uncertain whether Mahomes will play.
Lions' DB out vs. Raiders
The Detroit Lions have ruled out defensive back Tracy Walker for Sunday's game at Oakland because of a knee injury. Defensive tackle Mike Daniels (foot) is doubtful, and cornerback Darius Slay (hamstring) is questionable. The team said Slay was a full participant in practice Friday. Daniels has missed the past four games, and Slay missed last weekend's win over the New York Giants. Walker was hurt in that game against New York.
GOLF
Three share Champions lead
Miguel Angel Jimenez birdied the final two holes Friday for a 6-under 66 and a share of the first-round lead in the Invesco QQQ Championship, the second of three events in the PGA Tour Champions' Charles Schwab Cup playoffs. Coming off a victory two week ago in Virginia in the playoff opener, Jimenez joined Billy Mayfair and Woody Austin atop the leaderboard at Sherwood Country Club. The 55-year-old Spaniard had eight birdies and two bogeys, rebounding from a bogey on the par-3 15th with birdies on the par-3 17th and par-4 18th. Jimenez has two victories this season and is 10th in the season standings, with the top 36 advancing to the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship next week at Phoenix Country Club. Mayfair is 46th in the standings, leaving him fighting to get into his hometown event.
Todd surges late in Bermuda
Brendon Todd birdied his last four holes Friday for an 8-under 63 and a share of the lead with Harry Higgs and Scottie Scheffler after the second round of the PGA Tour's inaugural Bermuda Championship. Todd finished on the front nine at hilly Port Royal Golf Club, also birdieing Nos. 2 and 4. Higgs shot a 65, closing with a birdie on the par-4 18th. Scheffler, the first-round leader after a 62, had a 69. They were at 11-under 131. Todd won the 2014 HP Byron Nelson Championship for his lone PGA Tour title. He regained his tour card in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.
NBA
Curry out at least 3 months
Stephen Curry will miss at least three months for the ailing Warriors because of a broken left hand that required surgery, the toughest blow yet in an already difficult season for struggling Golden State following five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals. Curry underwent surgery Friday on the hand and second metacarpal of his index finger, and the team said he will miss at least three months but is expected to make a full recovery. The Warriors said the surgery was performed by Dr. Steven Shin at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. An update on his progress is planned after three months, which would be early February. If he makes that timeline or close to it, Curry would have about 30 games remaining in the regular season.
TENNIS
Djokovic moves into semis
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic sped into the Paris Masters semifinals by demolishing seventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1, 6-2 on Friday. Djokovic, who lost to the Greek player three weeks ago in the Shanghai quarterfinals, did not concede a break point. It could have been an even quicker victory considering he led the first set 5-0, 40-0, but Tsitsipas saved three set points and held serve. Djokovic, last year's runner-up, is bidding for the year-ending No. 1 ranking. He next plays U.S. Open semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov, and leads the unseeded Bulgarian 8-1 in their career meetings with the only defeat coming on outdoor clay six years ago.
BASEBALL
Mets hire Beltran as manager
NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran, two years removed from his playing career and with no managerial experience, has been picked by the New York Mets to replace Mickey Callaway.
A person familiar with the Mets' decision told The Associated Press about it Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not made an announcement.
A nine-time All-Star during 20 major league seasons, Beltran played for the Mets from 2005-11.
He interviewed to become New York Yankees manager after the 2017 season, when Aaron Boone was hired, and spent this season as an adviser to Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman.
"At the beginning it's a little bit overwhelming. There's a lot of information that you have to digest," Beltran said after he was interviewed by the Yankees two years ago. "Being a player and being able to play this game for such a long time, I have seen a lot, and I have seen the importance of what players need in the clubhouse."
The 42-year-old Beltran becomes the first minority to fill one of the eight major league manager vacancies this offseason. Those jobs filled are: the Chicago Cubs (David Ross), Kansas City (Mike Matheny), the Los Angeles Angels (Joe Maddon), Philadelphia (Joe Girardi) and San Diego (Jayce Tingler). Pittsburgh and San Francisco remain open.
Beltran will be the fourth of the current managers born in Puerto Rico, joining Boston's Alex Cora, Toronto's Charlie Montoyo and Washington's Dave Martinez.
Sports on 11/02/2019