Ravens sign WR Shemar Bridges to practice squad

The Ravens signed wide receiver Shemar Bridges to their practice squad

The Baltimore Ravens have tried to find different contributors at the wide receiver position in 2022. They opted not to address the position over the course of free agency or the draft outside of signing veteran wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and bringing in multiple undrafted free agents.

One of the undrafted free agents signed was wide receiver Shemar Bridges out of Fort Valley State. Bridges excelled during training camp and the preseason, but got injured and was waived with an injury settlement following training camp after being placed on injured reserve. On Wednesday, Baltimore announced that they officially signed Bridges back to their practice squad.

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Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins returns to practice after long absence

Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins returned to practice after a long absence

The Baltimore Ravens have been missing running back J.K. Dobbins in their offense over the past few months. Dobbins returned from a torn ACL suffered before the 2021 season in Week 3 of the 2022 season, but underwent another surgery and was placed on injured reserve after a few games back.

On Wednesday before Baltimore’s Week 13 matchup with the Denver Broncos Dobbins returned to practice, opening up his 21-day practice window to be activated from injured reserve. Once fully healthy, he will re-join a running back room that includes Gus Edwards, Kenyan Drake, Justice Hill and more.

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Ravens release first injury report for Week 13 matchup vs. Broncos

The Baltimore Ravens released the first injury report for Week 13.

The Baltimore Ravens return home to face the Denver Broncos in Week 13, looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12.  The Broncos might be disappointing this season, but they still have an elite pass defense and will look to find answers during the contest.

Baltimore released their first injury report for their Week 13 matchup with Denver on Wednesday. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was limited last week with a hip injury, but so far this week he was limited with a quad issue. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey missed a few snaps in Week 12 with an ankle injury, and was limited during Wednesday’s practice Tight end Nick Boyle as well as offensive linemen Daniel Faalele and Patrick Mekari missed the session with illnesses.

Tight end Isaiah Likely, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and safety Kyle Hamilton all returned to practice after missing Week 12, a good sign for all three after logging a limited session each. Defensive end Calais Campbell, outside linebacker Justin Houston and cornerback Marcus Peters all had rest days.

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Michigan State basketball gets blitzed by Notre Dame, 70-52

MSU got blitzed by Notre Dame in the Big Ten/ACC challenge

The long gauntlet the Michigan State Spartans ran to open the 2022-23 is finally over, and you could tell by the performance the Spartans had on Wednesday night.

The Spartans showed up flat, tired and looked like a team that was battered and bruised, dropping their Big Ten/ACC Challenge contest to Notre Dame in South Bend, 70-52.

The Spartans got blitzed to open the game by Notre Dame 3-pointers, and it was a storm the Spartans couldn’t weather. Before you knew it MSU was down 31-13 in the first half and they could never recover.

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Cormac Ryan torched MSU in the first half, scoring 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting, almost outpacing the Spartans, as the Fighting Irish led 42-24 at the break.

Michigan State made an attempt to comeback in the second half, taking a 24-point deficit and cutting it down to 14, but that is all they could do, and Notre Dame ran away with the contest.

AJ Hoggard led the way with 15 points for Michigan State while Joey Hauser and Tyson Walker added 12 a piece.

Michigan State will be back in action on Sunday when they open up Big Ten play against Northwestern.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

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Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan on UGA playing in-state CFP game, expansion and more

Peach Bowl president Gary Stokan joins us!

Peach Bowl president and CEO, Gary Stokan, joined UGA Wire via the “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” podcast this week to talk about this year’s College Football Playoff semifinal game in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

If Georgia beats LSU this weekend in the SEC Championship game and finishes as the No. 1 team in the nation heading into the playoffs, the Bulldogs will make their first Peach Bowl playoff appearance.

The all-but-hometown Bulldogs are familiar with the trip to Atlanta for SEC championships, as well as this year’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game versus Oregon.

On what the game means to the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta:

“Atlanta is the fourth largest convention town in the United States, only behind Orlando, Chicago and Las Vegas, not necessarily in that order. And to be the fourth largest convention town and to have, this year, four of the six largest conventions be college football games – Two Chick-fil-A kickoff games, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the SEC championship – That’s how important college football is to Atlanta.”

“That’s one of the reasons they call us the capital of college football with the College Football Hall of Fame here and soon to have the national championship in 2025 here and another semifinal and 2025. We’ve got some great games coming up along with our Clemson Georgia Chick-fil-A kickoff game to open up the 2024 season.”

On what it means for Georgia football to have an opportunity to appear in a playoff game in its home state:

“If the season, like you said, were to end today, we’d have No. 1 Georgia against probably No. 4 USC tonight. It’s great to have Georgia. I know that Kirby and Georgia is trying to make this a December to remember with winning the SEC championship and then coming in and winning the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl if they were to play in it in the semi final here.”

“It was great to have Georgia and Georgia Tech in our Chick-fil-A kickoff games as we always want to support our local teams. But to have a semifinal game is really special to the all the whole of college football. And to have as we’ve had the last two times, with hosting No. 1 vs. No. 4, it’s very special when you can have that kind of game to end the season in Atlanta.”

On the College Football Playoff expansion:

“There’s two parts of it right. There’s 2024 and 2025, which they’re trying to get done early. What they’re trying to do is expand to 12 as the president’s want them to do early, meaning it would be pushed to 2024. 2025 doesn’t change for us, because we have a semifinal either way. 2024 would add a quarterfinal game for us, where you’d have either No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 playing against another team, five through 12. That’s really the only change for us.”

“Now the other change would be that the semifinal would move to probably Jan. 8 or 9 on a Thursday or Friday. And the quarterfinal games would probably take place Jan. 1 or 2. And we’ve cleared all that with the hotels with the stadium, so we’re ready to go. We’ve signed the agreement. If they can move forward in 2024 or 2025.”

On why the expansion was put in place:

“I think a few reasons, No. 1 I think there’s a desire by the commissioners and the presidents who were in control of the CFB to add participation. They wanted more schools involved. They wanted more players to have the opportunity to play in the playoff format. When you look at the NCAA basketball, you’re talking about 68 teams. There’s a lot more participation and the opportunity in football with only four, there’s not as much. And I think geographically it became the same teams with Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan.”

“They want to do spread the opportunity across the country and it’s great for college football, which is the second most favorite sport in this country only behind the NFL. We’re stronger when we’re east, west, north and south with all the conferences having competitive teams. Having USC, Michigan, Ohio State, along with TCU, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Clemson, and Alabama; representation across the country only makes for great viewing great opportunities.”

“I think that was the main reason why they wanted to do it. Obviously, there’s the opportunity financially, to negotiate new TV deals, and to really probably add another partner to on the TV side, which would promote college football even more during the season. “If you have more than just what they have now on ESPN, who do who does a great job, but if you added a Fox, let’s say, or CBS and NBC they would promote the game even more. And then I think the other opportunities financially when you sign, you know, 12 team playoffs, there’s more money there to spread to the schools.

“When you talk about participation, too, you’re talking about teams that now will have an opportunity even in October and November to still be part of potentially getting to a 12 team playoff. Whereas if you lose two games by October, there’s never been, in nine years, a team with two losses to make it to the CFP.”

On how the expansion could impact name, image and likeness opportunities:

“Well, I certainly think there’ll be a trickle down to help the players in more ways than one, not only participation, but the opportunity to have name, image and likeness come into play, because there’ll be more teams in a playoff format. I think there’s no doubt that the benefit is to the players and really, I think it’s a win for everybody. A win for the fans, win for the media and for the players, the coaches and for the schools. I don’t see really any downside to it. And it will continue to grow the sport and keep the sport growing regionally, as well with younger players, because now all of a sudden, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Utah, out on the West Coast, those kids will grow up and see those teams play in playoff formats. They’ll say, hey, I want to be a part of that. At a younger age, they’ll stay in college football. Again, I think there’s a great trickle down from the opportunity to have this 12 team playoff.”

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Great Kansas, Chargers quarterback John Hadl dies at 82

A great college and pro quarterback, John Hadl has died at the age of 82

John Hadl, one of the legends of the American Football League, died Wednesday at the age of 82.

Hadl played college football at Kansas.

 As a sophomore in 1959, in his first season of collegiate eligibility, Hadl led the NCAA in punting (45.6 yards per punt) and set KU records for the longest punt (94 yards, which still stands) and the longest interception return (98 yards, which stood until 2007).

…With Hadl running the offense, the Jayhawks were ranked in the top-20 his junior and senior years and finished the two-season span 14-5-2. He wrapped up his Kansas career leading his team to the program’s first-ever bowl victory, a 33-7 decision over Rice in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.

His No. 21 is one of three Kansas football numbers to be retired (Gale Sayers No. 48 and Ray Evans No. 42).

His pro career was part of the high-flying Chargers teams of the early AFL.

Hadl played 11 seasons for San Diego before stints with the Rams, Packers, and Oilers. He wore an unusual number for a quarterback: 21, which made him unique.

Hadl was a backup on the Chargers’ 1963 AFL Championship team, He led the AFL in passing three times in his career.

He finished with 33,503 yards passing, 244 touchdown passes, and an 82-75-9 record as a starting QB. He was also the 1971 NFL Man of the Year.

Week 13 injury report: Cowboys still sick, Elliott healed ahead of Colts game

Dallas’ running back is at full health, but new names to the injury report show the Cowboys haven’t shaken the bug just yet. | From @KDDrummondNFL

For the first time since Week 7, Ezekiel Elliott is not on the Cowboys’ practice report. Elliott suffered a hyperextended knee in the win over the Detroit Lions and it forced him to miss the games surrounding Dallas’ Week 9 bye. He returned in Week 11’s win over Minnesota but returned to form in Week 12 when he was the leading rusher with 92 yards on just 16 carries in the win over the New York Giants. Now, Elliott is no longer even listed as having limited participation as Dallas releases their first report for Sunday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

All is not completely well, though. Dallas has two new names joining the list, as the illness that ran through the defensive side of the locker room persists. This week, though, there’s a member of the offense down with the cold, too. Here’s a look at both Dallas and the Colts’ initial injury report for Week 13.

Sixers react to Tobias Harris leaving with illness in loss to Cavaliers

The Philadelphia 76ers react to losing Tobias Harris to an illness in a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Philadelphia 76ers had a miserable night in The Land on Wednesday; they were blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers, 113-85, to begin a three-game road trip. The Cavs scored 44 points on 16-for-17 shooting in the second quarter, and the Sixers had no response.

If there was one player who encapsulated the night for Philadelphia, it was Tobias Harris. After an efficient string of games, Harris finished 0-for-7 and scored just three points.

Harris left in the third quarter with an illness, after the Cavaliers had built a 33-point lead. The illness concerns the Sixers, who are already playing without James Harden and Tyrese Maxey and just had Joel Embiid return.

“I don’t know,” coach Doc Rivers told reports. “He kind of didn’t want to say anything. So I found out in the middle of the game. Right when I found out, I took them out and told him to go back. We weren’t gonna win the game. Why have him out on the floor?”

This sounds like a situation the Sixers will have to keep an eye on. There are two more games on this trip before Philadelphia returns home. The Sixers take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. It remains to be seen how Harris’ health will hold up over the next few days.

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Boston Celtics unfazed by courtside visit from Prince and Princess of Wales

It was “just another game” for the Boston Celtics despite hosting the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were in house for Boston’s big win Wednesday night.

On Wednesday evening, the Boston Celtics played host to the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Kate Middleton. With a royal couple in attendance, the Celtics secured a 134-121 victory against the visiting Miami Heat, Boston’s fifth straight win.

Prince William and Princess Catherine sat courtside alongside Celtics owners Wyc Grousbeck and Steven Pagliuca, Boston mayor Michelle Wu, governor-elect Maura Healey and Celtics great Satch Sanders. The royal couple is visiting Boston as part of a larger trip centered around the Earthshot award ceremony on Friday.

Despite the tremendous fanfare, the Boston Celtics didn’t pay the royal visitors much mind.

UFC free fight: Sergei Pavlovich steamrolls Derrick Lewis in 55 seconds

Ahead of his pivotal clash with Tai Tuivasa, relive Sergei Pavlovich’s finish of Derrick Lewis at UFC 277.

It took [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] less than a minute to make his mark in the UFC heavyweight division.

Looking to make it four straight, Pavlovich faced former title challenger Derrick Lewis this past July at UFC 277.

Pavlovich cracked Lewis with a few big rights, which had “The Black Beast” on shaky legs. Pavlovich unleashed a flurry of punches until Lewis hit the mat face down. Referee Dan Miragliotta jumped in, but as soon as the fight was waived off, Lewis made his way back up and protested the stoppage.

Pavlovich (16-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) returns to action Saturday when he takes on [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) on the main card of UFC on ESPN 42, which takes place at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Before he faces Tuivasa, relive Pavlovich’s finish of Lewis in the video above.