Michigan State women rise to No. 16 in AP poll

The Spartans face a tough test on the road against Notre Dame this week.

The Michigan State women’s basketball team has gotten off to a solid start this season.

The Spartans are 2-0 with easy wins over Eastern Michigan and U of D Mercy. With that start MSU has risen to No. 16 in the latest AP poll. The Spartans were No. 17 in the preseason poll.

Oregon, Baylor, Stanford, UCONN and Texas A&M make up the current top five. Michigan State is the second-highest-ranked Big Ten team being No. 8 Maryland.

After a breezy start to the season the ladies will have a huge early test this week as they hit the road to take on No. 15 Notre Dame–last year’s national finalist–this Thursday.

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Report: Chiefs LG Martinas Rankin’s knee injury believed to be season-ending

Martinas Rankin’s injury appears to be a serious one that could cost him the remainder of the 2019 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs fear the worst with left guard Martinas Rankin’s knee injury.

According to a new report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the belief is that Rankin’s knee injury will end his 2019 season. Rapoport described the injury as an injury to his patella. He also says the Chiefs are still awaiting the results of an MRI.

Rankin joined Kansas City via Houston in a player-for-player trade involving RB Carlos Hyde. He’s actually been a bright spot along the offensive line after struggling early in his career with the Texans

The Chiefs have suffered multiple injuries along the offensive line this season. Their starting left guard, Andrew Wylie, suffered an ankle injury in Week 5. Rankin filled in for Wylie, starting the last five games for the Chiefs, beginning with their Week 6 game against Houston.

Now it appears the remainder of his 2019 season is in doubt and losing him will be a big blow to Kansas City’s offensive line depth.

“…Rankin hurt his right knee,” Reid said following Sunday’s loss. “We’ll know more tomorrow once we get the MRI.”

Andy Reid was brief on Sunday when it came to Rankin’s injury, but you already knew this had the chance to be serious when the cart came out for Rankin during the game. Pending MRI results it appears like this promising young player will have to focus on his rehab and recovery moving forward.

Part of the reason that Rankin was so appealing in trade is because of his contract. He’ll remain under team control through 2021 at the very least. There’s no reason to believe that he won’t be able to return to action for Kansas City next season and pick up right where he left off.

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Broncos QB Drew Lock will return to practice this week

Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (thumb) will practice for the first time since August on Tuesday.

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (thumb) will return to practice this week, coach Vic Fangio confirmed during his Monday press conference.

Lock injured his thumb during a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 19. He was then placed on injured reserve and hasn’t practiced for nearly three months.

Once Lock returns to practice, it will trigger a 21-day window for the team to make a decision about his future. If the QB is not activated from IR to the 53-man roster within three weeks, he will spend the entire year on reserve.

NFL teams are allowed to bring back two players from IR per season. Fangio didn’t guarantee that Lock will be one of those two players this year.

“[He’s] one of the two that we can bring off IR — but that doesn’t [necessarily] mean he’ll be activated,” Fangio said.

One of the other candidates to return in 2019 is receiver Tim Patrick (hand). Fangio said the team will make a decision on Patrick later this week.

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How will the Saints respond to Marshon Lattimore’s hamstring injury?

The New Orleans Saints lost CB Marshon Lattimore to a hamstring injury against the Atlanta Falcons, and he’ll reportedly be out a few weeks.

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The New Orleans Saints secondary took a big hit on Sunday, in addition to the passes Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan sent soaring over their heads. Per a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, top cornerback Marshon Lattimore strained his hamstring and is recovering with treatment from the team’s athletic staff. He’s considered “week-to-week,” so his availability is in doubt at least for the near future.

Hamstring injuries plagued Lattimore in college at Ohio State, though he’s managed them very well since the Saints drafted him. This would be his first extended absence since his 2017 rookie year when he missed three games with a concussion and ankle injury.

In his place, the Saints promoted slot corner P.J. Williams to Lattimore’s spot on the boundary and brought rookie defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson back onto the field to fill in for Williams. Williams did well in the pinch-hitting role, helping limit Falcons star receiver Julio Jones to three receptions on nine targets — though one of those catches was the biggest play of the game, a 54-yard grab-and-go in which a late tackle by free safety Marcus Williams stopped what would have been a touchdown.

With Lattimore sidelined, the Saints are going to stress the definition of “bend but don’t break” defense. He’s their most impactful defender, able to shift the entire defense schematically when playing at his best. But New Orleans can’t assume he’ll be ready for next week’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and their talented receiving duo of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.

So expect the Saints to sign a veteran cornerback. Backup Ken Crawley was waived two weeks ago, opening the door for several experienced tryouts including Kayvon Webster (who spent the summer on New Orleans’ 90-man roster), Captain Munnerlyn, and Johnson Bademosi. Bademosi’s experience on special teams gave him the edge, and he’s already played 33 snaps on the punt and kickoff coverage units in two games.

The Saints need added depth at the position with Lattimore out, even if they don’t expect to start any new faces. Williams, Gardner-Johnson, and Eli Apple should remain the starting rotation, though backup Patrick Robinson could get on the field once he’s recovered from his own hamstring injury. They were fortunate that this wasn’t a season-threatening injury for Lattimore, and fans should have some optimism that he’ll return to the lineup sooner rather than later.

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Top recruiting battles headed into basketball’s Early Signing Period

From Blue Blood battles to mid-majors trying to steal five-stars, we take a look at the top recruiting battles headed in to the Early Signing Period.

Months before elite college basketball programs duel on the hardwood they duke-it-out in high school gyms and in the living rooms of the top high school basketball players trying to lure them to their school.

From Duke and Clemson’s 11th hour battle for Zion Williamson to North Carolina’s fight with Oregon and others to land Cole Anthony, the recruiting trail has seen tumultuous battles over the years.

Recruiting: 2020 Chosen 25 Basketball Recruiting Rankings

Here’s a look at the top down-to-the-wire battles in college basketball recruiting for the 2020 class.

Prolific Prep (California) guard Jalen Green (Photo: Rick Managan)

Jalen Green
School: Prolific Prep (Napa, California)
Position: Combo Guard
Height/Weight: 6-5/180
Considering: Auburn, Memphis, Oregon, Fresno State, USC

The Buzz: Green originally said that he would make his announcement on Christmas Day, but now he’s reportedly planning to hold off until after his season ends. Green, ranked No. 3 in the Chosen 25, has already taken visits to each of his five schools and is receiving the full-court press not just from the coaches, but committed recruits at each school. Sharife Cooper, an Auburn commit who is ranked No. 2 in the Chosen 25, told USA Today Sports he “is coming hard” after Green.

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Derrius Guice is “itching” to go for Week 11 against the NY Jets

Guice has finally been removed from the IR and will take the field this week as the team prepares to host the Jets.

Week 11 is finally here, and the Washington Redskins get one of their best players back on the field at long last. After sitting out the last eight games, second-year running back Derrius Guice is ready to get back in the mix.

While Adrian Peterson has once again been great in Guice’s absence, it will be a two-man show going forward as the team looks to split the workload between them, though they haven’t yet said who will see the brunt of the load.

Guice has yet to play a full game in his young career, as two consecutive knee injuries have kept him sidelined.

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Bears open as 6.5-point underdogs vs. Rams in Week 11

While the Bears are coming off a 20-13 victory over the Lions, Vegas isn’t confident in Chicago’s chances against the Rams in Week 11.

The Chicago Bears (4-5) will travel to Los Angeles for a Week 11 primetime contest against the Rams (5-4), where they’ll be looking to continue their winning ways against a Rams team coming off a loss.

This will be the Bears’ first meeting with the Rams in California since Jan. 2, 1994.

While the Bears are coming off a 20-13 victory over the Detroit Lions (3-5-1), Vegas isn’t confident in Chicago’s chances against the Rams.

The Bears have opened as 6.5-point underdogs against the Rams, according to BetMGM.

Chicago has been favorites in every game they’ve played this season except two — the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9 and now against the Rams in Week 11.

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