Kids in Flint are getting $25 vouchers …

Kids in Flint are getting $25 vouchers to buy produce at the Flint Farmers Market. Through an expanded partnership with the Michigan State University-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, FlintNOW, an initiative by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, and the national Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced they will distribute $325,000 worth of gift certificates for fruits and vegetables all Flint children, starting Friday, Nov. 8.

In a statement, Gores, a Flint native, …

In a statement, Gores, a Flint native, praised the NBPA Foundation and NBA players from around the country for investing in Flint and its children. “We are expanding the program and bringing more people together because kids in Flint deserve our support more than ever,” said Gores. “I’m proud of the way the NBA and players throughout the league continue to step up. Healthy food and good nutrition can make a real impact on the day to day lives of children and their families.”

“When China says to the NBA, the …

Chiefs send OL Martinas Rankin to IR, sign OT Jackson Barton

The Kansas City Chiefs have sent Martinas Rankin to IR and signed an offensive tackle from the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.

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The Kansas City Chiefs made a pair of roster moves on Monday. Following the report that offensive lineman Martinas Rankin suffered a season-ending knee injury, we now have some clarity on that situation. According to the NFL’s transaction report, the team has opted to place Rankin on the injured reserve list.

Rankin joined the Chiefs this season in a trade that sent running back Carlos Hyde to the Texans. He’d been starting at left guard since Week 6 after Andrew Wylie suffered an ankle sprain. The move to place Rankin on IR suggests his season is over.

In a corresponding move, the Chiefs have signed a rookie offensive tackle from the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad. Jackson Barton was a seventh-round draft pick by Indianapolis out of Utah. His brother Cody plays linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. Jackson was making well over the weekly minimum on the practice squad, with the Colts shelling out $20,000 a week to keep him there. That alone shows you what they thought of him.

Barton didn’t make the 53-man roster out of the preseason and spent the first 10 weeks of the season on the Indianapolis practice squad. At 6 feet 7 and 302 pounds, Barton is a big body that is better suited playing tackle than he is in the offensive interior. He has experience playing both left and right tackle.

Given the injury concerns for the Chiefs, Barton might have to get up to speed quickly. Eric Fisher has been out recovering from a groin injury, and Mitchell Schwartz was dinged up in Week 10. If Barton fills a similar role to Rankin in Kansas City, expect him to be listed on the depth chart as the backup right tackle with the ability to fill in at other spots as well.

Texans re-sign DL Joel Heath, waive OL Dan Skipper

The Houston Texans are bringing back defensive lineman Joel Heath. They waived offensive tackle Dan Skipper to sign him.

The Houston Texans have brought back a familiar face. The organization they have re-signed defensive lineman Joel Heath. In a corresponding move, Houston waived offensive lineman Dan Skipper.

Heath, 26, was waived by the Texans on Aug. 31 during final cuts. He previously signed with Houston in 2016 after going undrafted out of Michigan State.

In his three seasons as a Texan, Heath logged 30 games, including 15 starts. A 6-6, 310-pound lineman, he amassed 34 combined tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss in his first stint in Houston.

Heath struggled with knee injuries over the last two seasons. He worked out with the New England Patriots on Oct. 31.

Skipper, 25, signed with the Texans off the Patriots’ practice squad on Oct. 16. A 6-10, 320-pound lineman, he saw the bulk of his snaps with the Texans — in three games — as a jumbo package tight end. If he clears waivers, he is eligible to sign with the Texans’ practice squad.

Nate Reuvers Named Big Ten Player of the Week

Nate Reuvers was named by the Big Ten as its player of the week.

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It’s only been two games but Nate Reuvers certainly has been impressive in the early goings as he’s averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.5 blocks.

This is the first time in Reuvers career where he has been recognized as player of the week by the Big Ten. Reuvers is the first Wisconsin player to earn this recognition since Ethan Happ who did it last season (Dec. 10, 2018).

In Wisconsin’s season opener against Saint Mary’s Reuvers finished the game with 22 points, tying a career-high while also registering six rebounds and four blocks. Reuvers was able to follow that up by registering his second career double-double against Eastern Illinois as he finished the game with 14 points and 14 rebounds in addition to having nine blocks.

Reuvers has been Wisconsin’s most consistent scorer as he’s shooting 46.2 percent (12-for-26) from the field and has made at least one three in each game. In addition, Reuvers 6.5 blocks per game rank second nationally behind Marquette’s Theo John who’s averaging eight blocks per game.

Wisconsin will host Marquette on Sunday at noon as the game can be seen on FS1. Before the Badgers square off with their in-state rival in the Golden Eagles the Badgers will play McNeese State on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Chiefs sign OT Jackson Barton off Colts practice squad

Jackson Barton joins the Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed offensive tackle Jackson Barton off of the Indianapolis Colts practice squad on Monday.

Barton was a seventh-round pick with the Colts in the 2019 NFL Draft but didn’t make the initial 53-man roster during final cuts following the preseason. Barton will now be moved to the Chiefs active roster.

Barton attended Utah where he spent most of his time at left tackle. He also saw some work at right tackle as well during college.

Barton likely wasn’t going to see the active roster for the Colts anytime soon. Though he has great size for the position, his pad level and inconsistent technique made him a project.

Davis says shoulder is ‘fine’ and hopes to play Tuesday at Phoenix

Davis added that he won’t know for sure that he will play against the Phoenix Suns until going through shoot around on Tuesday.

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Anthony Davis told reporters after the Los Angeles Lakers first loss in over two weeks that he does feel discomfort in his shoulder fairly often when he’s playing after aggravating it on a block attempt in Sunday’s game against the Toronto Raptors. But come Monday afternoon, Davis was already past his discomfort while also admitting he’s not 100 percent sure he will play Tuesday night against a strong Phoenix Suns group.

Davis told reporters on Monday that he hopes to play Tuesday at Phoenix but won’t make the final call on whether he will play until he goes through shoot around in Phoenix, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.

Davis also suggested that his shoulder is much better than it was when he initially injured it on a missed dunk during the team’s victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 27, according to Mike Trudell for Lakers.com.

We can forgive Davis for holding saying two disconnecting thoughts at once because it seems like his shoulder is going to be a day-to-day thing as the season goes on, so his outlook on his shoulder will likely vary from one day to the next.

Until Sunday night’s game, Davis had gone quite a while without enduring a shoulder discomfort but it’s been something he’s had to deal with for a long time. He had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder after the 2015-16, but it’s his right one that is currently ailing. Either way, it looks like it will be something he’s going to deal with all season. Sometimes like Monday, it will be simple for Davis. But as Sunday showed, there will be complicated moments as well.

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