Month: January 2025

Tee Higgins reveals injury update after exit vs. Steelers

A Tee Higgins injury update from the Bengals WR himself.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was one of the big players to suffer an injury during Saturday night’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Higgins entered that game with an ankle injury and ultimately didn’t finish it, exiting early, being declared questionable by the team and never taking the field again.

After the game, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported that Higgins revealed he has been paying through a high-ankle sprain. But the star wideout said he had “no choice” but to play through it if the Bengals make the playoffs.

So, good and bad updates on the Higgins front. He’s dealing with a tricky injury of unknown severity, especially after being forced from a game in which he had already caught four passes for 53 yards.

Still, if Higgins thinks he will be able to play through it during a possible playoff matchup with Buffalo a week from now, that can only be viewed as good news.

To his credit, there was never any doubt about Higgins going out there and giving the team everything he’s got despite it risking a possibly market-resetting contract in free agency this upcoming offseason.

Unfortunately for Higgins and the Bengals, whether they make the playoffs is now out of their hands — they need the Jets and Chiefs to win on Sunday to sneak into the playoff bracket.

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Bengals players take aim at Aaron Rodgers as playoff hopes hinge on Jets QB

Bengals players shared thoughts (and bribes??) about the Jets QB.

For the Cincinnati Bengals, all eyes now turn toward the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets.

Exiting Saturday night’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season finale, those are the teams that must win on Sunday for the Bengals to sneak into the playoffs.

Some Bengals players have plans to offer up a little motivation for the Chiefs and Jets, too.

Offensive tackle Oralndo Brown Jr. played for the Chiefs and said he’d send out a little message or two—and joked about how he might help motivate Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“I’m sending out a mass (bleeping) text,” said Orlando Brown said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Hopefully everybody takes care of business. Some guys who haven’t been playing but are going to get the opportunity are going to be hearing from me. My message to (Jets quarterback) Aaron Rodgers is I’ll get his next Peru trip.”

Brown isn’t alone — Joe Burrow offered insight into how he feels about Rodgers: “I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. Watching him growing up, he was one of those guys that you love to watch, and when Monday Night, Sunday Night Football came around, you were hoping that he was on it. Hopefully he can help us out tomorrow and break out a big-time game for us.”

Rodgers’ Jets take on the Miami Dolphins, while Kansas City’s backups visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday, with both games kicking at 4:25 p.m. ET. If the Jets and Chiefs win, the Bengals will sneak into the playoffs after winning five straight.

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Is Isiah Pacheco playing today? Injury updates for Chiefs RB

#Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is dealing with a rib injury. Here are the latest updates. 

Running back Isiah Pacheco is dealing with an injury to his ribs after the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

Will Pacheco’s condition affect his ability to play in Kansas City’s final regular season game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, January 5?

Isiah Pacheco injury update

Pacheco did not participate in any of the Chiefs’ practice sessions this week and is officially designated as OUT for Kansas City’s matchup against the Broncos.

How long will Isiah Pacheco be out?

The Chiefs will be resting their starters in Sunday’s regular-season finale. As such, Pacheco is expected to miss Kansas City’s Week 18 game but is likely to return to his starting role when the playoffs begin later this month.

Chiefs RB depth chart

Veteran rusher Samaje Perine and rookie tailback Carson Steele are set to lead the Chiefs on the ground on Sunday when Kansas City squares off against Denver.

Is Patrick Mahomes playing today? Status updates for Chiefs QB

The Chiefs will rest key starters, including QB Patrick Mahomes, against the Broncos today.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to rest a host of starters against the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon. Because they have already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, this matchup is a meaningless game for the Chiefs.

Consequently, a few banged-up starters — including star quarterback Patrick Mahomes — will not play against the Broncos in Week 18.

Patrick Mahomes injury update

Mahomes (ankle) was limited in practice all three days this week and he was listed as “doubtful” on the team’s final injury report. He will likely be inactive against Denver.

How long will Patrick Mahomes be out?

After last playing on Christmas Day, Mahomes will have a long break while Kansas City rests during the first week of the NFL playoffs. The Chiefs won’t play again until Jan. 18 or Jan. 19, so Mahomes will have plenty of time to recovery before KC’s playoff game.

Chiefs QB depth chart

With Mahomes sidelined, the Chiefs are set to start Carson Wentz against the Broncos. Chris Oladokun will likely serve as their No. 2 QB in Denver with Mahomes available as an emergency third-string QB.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (TV map). The Broncos can clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs with a win in Week 18.

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UNC football star edge rusher invited to 2025 NFL Combine

NFL dreams are one step closer for this UNC defensive standout.

Though defense proved to be an issue for the UNC football team during its 2024 season, there were a few players who gave Tar Heel Nation something to be proud about.

One of those players happens to be Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina’s fifth-year edge rusher from Hartwell, Ga.

Rucker missed several games earlier this year while recovering from an injury, but ended his final collegiate season with 30 tackles (16 solo), eight tackles for loss, six sacks and three quarterback hurries.

Rucker won’t be suiting up for UNC anymore, but his chances of playing professional football look increasingly more likely.

On his X account Friday, January 3, Rucker shared that he was invited to the NFL Combine.

This year’s Combine, a 4-day event that gives collegiate prospects chances to shine in front of NFL teams during a series of drills, will take place Thursday, February 27-Sunday, March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Rucker’s best 2024 outing came in North Carolina’s 41-14 stomping of Virginia, in which he set season-highs of eight tackles (five solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and picked off his lone pass.

Rucker is certainly deserving of a spot at the combine, as he proved to be one of college football’s most dangerous pass-rushers in five seasons as a Tar Heel. Rucker, a Second Team All-ACC selection in 2023, recorded 180 total tackles, 100 solo tackles, 38.5 tackles for loss, 22 sacks, four forced fumbles and passes deflected apiece, one fumble recovery and one interception.

I’m curious to see where Rucker goes in the NFL Draft. I project him being a mid-later round pick, but if NFL teams watched Rucker like we did for five years at UNC, they know they’ll be getting a productive, high-motor player who has an immense passion for the game.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Let the boys be boys: Every slam KO in UFC history

Check out some insane slam knockout highlights from the last 30 years in the UFC.

It’s been more than 30 years since Onyx dropped “Slam” into our earholes, and it remains a classic.

And for all that time, we’ve gotten occasional slam finishes in MMA that are so brutal that they make you say “But, but, but wait, it gets worse!”

The UFC has compiled all the slam knockouts in its history into one video – including some truly bizarre endings. From old-school Matt Hughes and Tito Ortiz to modern era, take a look at some once-in-a-blue-moon endings in the video above.

How to watch Lady Vols versus Oklahoma today: Time, TV channel

Here is how to watch the Lady Vols versus Oklahoma basketball on Sunday, including time, channel, TV schedule and streaming info.

No. 13 Tennessee (13-0, 1-0 SEC) will host its first Southeastern Conference game of the 2024-25 basketball season on Sunday. Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

The Lady Vols will host No. 10 Oklahoma (12-2, 0-1 SEC) at Food City Center.

Tennessee leads the all time basketball series against Oklahoma, 6-1, dating to 2002.

The Lady Vols opened SEC play with a, 91-78, win at Texas A&M. Tennessee enters Sunday’s contest as the only Division I school with undefeated men’s and women’s basketball teams.

READ: 2024-25 Tennessee Lady Vols basketball roster

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Here is how to watch the Tennessee-Oklahoma basketball game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information.

What channel is Tennessee vs. Oklahoma game on? Time, TV schedule

TV channel: ESPN

Start time: 3 p.m. EST

Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Rebecca Lobo (analyst) will be on the call.

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Tennessee Lady Vols 2024-25 basketball results

Oct. 31 Carson-Newman (Exhibition — W, 135-49)

Nov. 5 Samford (W, 101-53)

Nov. 7 UT Martin (W, 90-50)

Nov. 12 Middle Tennessee State (W, 89-75)

Nov. 16 Liberty (W, 109-93)

Nov. 26 Western Carolina (W, 102-50)

Dec. 4 Florida State (W, 79-77)

Dec. 7 Iowa (W, 78-68 — Brooklyn, New York)

Dec. 14 North Carolina Central (W, 139-59)

Dec. 18 at Memphis (W, 90-75)

Dec. 20 Richmond (W, 92-67 — West Palm Bech, Florida)

Dec. 21 Tulsa (W, 102-61 — West Palm Beach, Florida)

Dec. 29 Winthrop (W, 114-50)

Jan. 2 at Texas A&M (W, 91-78)

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

T.J. Watt with crazy stat line in loss to Bengals

Watt had an empty stat line for the first time this season.

2024 has been a down season for Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt in terms of sacks. Going into Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Watt had 11.5 sacks and was well off pace to lead the league for a fourth time.

However, what Watt did against the Bengals was something no one could have expected. Watt was completely shut out by Cincinnati. That’s right. No sacks, no quarterback hits, no tackles for loss and not even a tackle. This is the first time this season Watt was completely shut out statistically.

In Week 10, Watt had zero tackles and zero sacks but he did have two quarterback hits and one pass defended. The Bengals schemed up stopping Watt on Saturday night and it worked perfectly.

All that attention on Watt, it did allow other players to have good games. However, this was a huge win for Cincinnati and still another failing of Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin who couldn’t find a way to get Watt involved on defense at all.

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Is Travis Kelce playing today? Injury updates for Chiefs TE

#Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is was listed on Kansas City’s injury report this week. Here are the latest updates. 

Tight end Travis Kelce was among several Kansas City Chiefs stars to be listed on the defending Super Bowl champions’ Week 18 injury report.

Kelce was dominant in Kansas City’s victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day but was officially designated as doubtful to participate in the Chiefs’ matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Travis Kelce injury update

On Friday, Kelce was listed on Kansas City’s injury report with a non-injury related (coaching) designation, which is a clear indication that he will get some well-deserved rest when the Chiefs face off against Denver on January 5.

How long will Travis Kelce be out?

Kansas City is set to rest many of their starters this week, and Kelce’s status for the playoffs will not be impacted by his injury designation this week.

Chiefs TE depth chart

Noah Gray is expected to move up the Chiefs’ depth chart to take Kelce’s place as Kansas City’s starting tight end in Week 18.

Will Hailee Steinfeld be at Josh Allen’s game for Bills-Patriots on Sunday in Week 18?

Will we see Josh Allen’s fiancée on Sunday in Week 18?

Taylor Swift isn’t the only famous significant other of an NFL player.

Actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld is dating Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen — and now they’re engaged!! — and even though we’ve seen only glimpses of the pair together, they’re a couple. And earlier in 2024, we saw Steinfeld cheer on Allen during a Monday night game.

Which brings us to this question: will she attend Sunday’s Bills game against the New England Patriots in Week 18?

It’s a road game, for what it’s worth, so that might not help. So maybe she won’t attend? We’ve seen no indication either way.

We’ll see!

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