Off the wire

 In this Oct. 18, 2019, file photo, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young looks at the scoreboard during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, in Evanston, Ill.
In this Oct. 18, 2019, file photo, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young looks at the scoreboard during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, in Evanston, Ill.

NFL

Saints' guard out 6 weeks

New Orleans Saints starting left guard Andrus Peat has had surgery to repair a broken arm and is expected to be sidelined about six weeks, said a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the extent of Peat's injury and his surgery has not been announced. The 2018 Pro Bowl selection was injured during the first half of Sunday's 26-9 loss to Atlanta. Peat was New Orleans' first-round draft choice in 2015 and has started 59 of the 64 career games he's played. The former Stanford offensive tackle has played both at guard and tackle for New Orleans. His primary role has been as starting left guard since 2016, but he also has slid over to play tackle when there have been injuries at that position. The Saints (7-2), who visit Tampa Bay (3-6) this Sunday, lead the NFC South Division by two games and aim to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

Texans claim Hargreaves

Vernon Hargreaves' time spent unemployed was brief and, likely to his satisfaction, he's now headed to a contending team. The former first-round pick of the Buccaneers is off to Houston, where he's been claimed by the Texans. Tampa Bay cut Hargreaves earlier this week after he was benched mid-game Sunday due to a lack of hustle. In his three-plus-season career, he's recorded just two interceptions, though one of those came this season.

Stafford misses practice

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford seems to be a step closer to missing another start. Stafford did not practice with teammates Wednesday, a few days after hip and back injuries stopped his streak of 139 consecutive starts counting the playoffs. Stafford watched as quarterbacks Jeff Driskel and David Blough took snaps. Later in the day, Driskel said he was simply preparing to play as he does each week. "I'd say the biggest difference for me is all you guys standing around my locker," he said while surrounded by reporters. Driskel played in place of Stafford in a 20-13 loss to Chicago, giving Detroit its fifth loss in six games. He was 27 for 46 for 269 yards -- all career highs -- with a touchdown and an interception in his sixth career start. The Lions (3-5-1) host the Dallas Cowboys (5-4) on Sunday, when Driskel is expected to get another chance to start.

Jets' Bell out with illness

New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell sat out practice with an illness, but is expected to be OK in time for the team's game at Washington on Sunday. Bell is also listed on New York's first injury report of the week as dealing with sore ribs and a knee ailment. He hurt his ribs last Sunday in the Jets' 34-27 win over the Giants, but didn't believe it was anything serious. Bell tweaked his knee two weeks ago at Miami, but tests came up negative.

NBA

Pistons' Thomas undergoes surgery

The Detroit Pistons guard Khyri Thomas had surgery on his right foot and will be out at least six weeks. The Pistons said Wednesday that Thomas had the procedure on the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. They say rehabilitation will begin immediately and that Thomas will be re-evaluated for a status update in six weeks. Thomas had missed the Pistons' last two games due to a stress reaction in his right foot. Thomas was the 38th overall pick in the 2018 draft. He played in just two games so far this season. He averaged 2.3 points in 26 games last season.

Hawks' Huerter injures shoulder

Hawks guard Kevin Huerter is returning to Atlanta after injuring his left shoulder in a victory over Denver. The team announced Wednesday that Huerter underwent an MRI in Denver after being hurt the previous night in a 125-121 victory over the Nuggets. Physicians in Atlanta will determine the extent of the injury. Huerter was ruled out of tonight's game in Phoenix and seems unlikely to play on the rest of the West Coast road trip, which concludes with weekend games in Los Angeles against the Clippers and the Lakers. Huerter was fouled by Denver's Nikola Jokic while going up for a shot. The second-year player immediately grabbed his shoulder and winced in pain before heading to the locker room. X-rays taken at the arena were negative.

Nets sign Shumpert

The Brooklyn Nets have signed Iman Shumpert, adding the veteran guard to their roster with Wilson Chandler on the NBA's suspended list. Shumpert helped Cleveland win the 2016 NBA title and has also played for the Knicks, Sacramento and Houston. He returns to New York, where he began his career as a first-round pick of the Knicks in 2011. Chandler is suspended for the first 25 games of the season without pay after testing positive for Ipamorelin, a drug that increases the release of growth hormone.

TENNIS

Nadal rallies at London

Rafael Nadal saved a match point at 5-1 down in the third set before rallying to beat Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (4) at the ATP Finals in London on Wednesday, keeping alive his chances of advancing from the group stage. The Spaniard looked headed for a second consecutive loss at the season-ending tournament but won five games in a row to go 6-5 up in the deciding set. In the tiebreaker, Medvedev missed a routine forehand to hand Nadal a match point and then sent a backhand just wide. That shot was initially called in. The win gives Nadal a 1-1 record after two matches, while Medvedev fell to 0-2. In the late match, Stefanos Tsitsipas beat defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2 for his second consecutive win, a result that guarantees him a place in the semifinals.

MOTOR SPORTS

Tifft leaves Front Row

Matt Tifft has parted ways with Front Row Motorsports to focus on his health after suffering a seizure at the track late last month. Tifft felt ill before practice at Martinsville Speedway and has not been in the car since his health scare. Tifft said then that tests showed a brain tumor he had removed three years ago has not returned. Tifft had a brain tumor removed in 2016 but returned to race the next year. He said in January he had been stabilized to the point he needed only annual checkups. Tifft said Wednesday he can't commit to racing full time in 2020. The team has not announced the driver lineup for next season. John Hunter Nemechek drove the final three races of the season for FRM.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Buckeyes' DE out vs. Rutgers

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State star defensive end Chase Young will be held out of one more game as punishment for breaking NCAA rules by accepting a personal loan.

The penalty was announced by Ohio State in a statement Wednesday. The school had sought immediate reinstatement from the NCAA.

The situation worked out as well as it could have for the second-ranked Buckeyes. Young, a preseason All-American and the nation's leader in sacks, was held of the 73-14 rout of Maryland last week and will miss Saturday's game against 50-point underdog Rutgers.

He'll return for showdowns with No. 9 Penn State and No. 14 Michigan to end the regular season.

Ohio State announced the day before its game with Maryland that Young would be held out amid concerns he violated NCAA rules by taking a loan last year from someone he describes as a "family friend" for living expenses. Young explained his "mistake" in a tweet and said the loan had been paid back.

"This is the example of the culture of compliance we have at Ohio State," Athletic Director Gene Smith said Wednesday.

"I also want to commend Chase Young and let him know how proud we are of him," Smith said. "He took responsibility for his actions, cooperated throughout the process and understood and accepted that there would be consequences."

Smith said that based on the circumstances of the loan, the NCAA "would use its leadership capacity to take an understanding approach on behalf of all student-athletes who find themselves in a similar position, and it certainly did just that."

Sports on 11/14/2019

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