Sports

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Odell Beckham Jr.’s comeback is closer to completion. Beckham, who has slowly increased his activities since the Browns opened training camp last month, took his first snaps in team drills during Thursday’s practice — a major step in his return from season-ending knee surgery. Beckham was

By ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — College football programs are transitioning from traditional paper tickets to digital ticketing. Many fans like the feel of holding a ticket in their hand and hanging on to them as keepsakes. Others welcome the convenience of having a barcode on their smartphone scanned at

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Running back Saquon Barkley participated in 7-on-7 drills for the first time this preseason during the final day of joint practices between the Giants and Patriots. It was the latest step in his nine-plus months of rehabilitation from surgery after he suffered a torn ligament

By JIM VERTUNO AP Sports Writer AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says he’s not ready to name either Casey Thompson or Hudson Card his starting quarterback. The No. 21 Longhorns wrapped up training camp Thursday ahead of their Sept. 4 season opener against No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette. Sarkisian says Thompson and Card are

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks center Kyle Fuller appears to have the upper hand in a competition with Ethan Pocic for the starter’s job. It could be that Fuller will win the gig by default, although the coaches have been very encouraged by his development and command of

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have waived receiver Javon Wims. Wims was drafted in the seventh round by Chicago in 2018. He had 28 receptions for 266 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons. The NFL suspended Wims for two games in November for punching New Orleans Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. And

By JEREMY REISMAN Associated Press ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Lions coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes will be using the team’s final preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Friday night to make their last decisions on the regular-season roster. Campbell, in his first year as Lions head coach, believes most of

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer The Philadelphia Flyers have signed top center Sean Couturier to an eight-year contract extension worth $62 million. Couturier counts $7.75 million against the salary cap with his contract that begins after next season and runs through 2029-30. He won the Selke Trophy in 2020 as the NHL’s best defensive

By ANDREW DESTIN Associated Press SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — The team from Honolulu is just a couple of wins away from securing its second Little League World Series championship since 2018 and the fourth for Hawaii in 16 years. The team has been in a COVID-19 bubble since Aug. 6, just before the start

By ALAIN POUPART Associated Press MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and most of the other Miami Dolphins starters will sit out the team’s exhibition finale Sunday at the Cincinnati Bengals. Several starting offensive linemen will likely see action. Tagovailoa has had a strong training camp. He’ll finish the preseason 24 for 34

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken have already begun introducing the basics of hockey to schools and youth programs in the area before the team even takes the ice for its first NHL season this fall. The Kraken are doing something a bit different from what other teams have

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — James Morrison shot a course record 10-under 60 to lead by three strokes after the first round of the European Masters. The 36-year-old Englishman started in the first playing group at 7:40 a.m. at scenic Crans-sur-Sierre club. Morrison had nine birdies and an eagle while dropping just one shot. He set

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer The Champions League group stage will see a clash of two of the richest clubs after Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City were drawn together on Thursday. Both are yet to win Europe’s top prize despite all their funding from the sovereign wealth of Gulf states. Qatar-backed PSG was

CLEVELAND (AP) — Sidney Lowe has been added to Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s staff as an assistant. This will be Lowe’s second stint with the Cavs. He coached under Mike Fratello from 1994-99. The team made three playoff appearances in that stretch. Lowe spent the past three seasons as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons.

ISTANBUL (AP) — The draw has been made for the group stage of the Champions League. Group A is Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Leipzig and Club Brugge. Group B is Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Porto and AC Milan. Group C is Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Besiktas. Group D is Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Shakhtar

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer Novak Djokovic will begin his bid to win the U.S. Open for a men’s-record 21st major tennis championship and to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam by facing a player who comes through qualifying. Djokovic’s potential path could include 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori in the third round, Wimbledon runner-up Matteo

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Lewis Hamilton can clinch a record-extending 100th win at this Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. It is where fellow F1 great Michael Schumacher won the first of his 91 races on his favorite track 30 years ago. The 36-year-old Hamilton has won 78 of his

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (AP) — Forward  Jo Smith has transfered to Seton Hall from Chipola College in Florida and will be eligible to play this season. Coach Kevin Willard announced Smith has signed a grant-in-aid offer. Smith played in 24 games last seson with three starts and shot 65.9% from the floor. The Selma, Alabama,

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City left back Benjamin Mendy has appeared in court to face charges of rape and sexual assault. Mendy spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth at Chester Magistrates’ Court in northwest England. No pleas were entered as the charges were put to the 27-year-old France international