NFL:
On Thursday Night Football, New England shut out Houston 27-0. Jacoby Brissett, the first rookie starting quarterback for New England since 1993, passed his first test last night -- big-time. The 23-year-old rookie third-stringer completed 11 of 19 passes for 103 yards, and ran for 48 yards and a 27-yard touchdown as the Patriots moved to 3-0 with a 27-0 rout of the Houston Texans.
On Sunday, the Giants take on Washington in the Meadowlands at 1 p.m., Arizona faces Buffalo at1 p.m., and the Jets go head to head with Kansas City at 4:25 p.m.
Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin has called for a review of training policies for law enforcement across the country, after two more fatal police shootings of black men this week. Baldwin says the message NFL players are trying to send with their actions during the national anthem now needs follow through. Baldwin, whose father is a police officer, says the situation has reached a point where action is needed.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has undergone knee surgery for a torn meniscus. The club reports no additional issues were found. The former league MVP injured his right knee in Sunday night's game against Green Bay. It's not clear whether the Vikings' all-time leading rusher will return this season.
In other NFL news:
— Cleveland rookie receiver Corey Coleman could miss six weeks because of a broken hand. He was injured in practice Wednesday when he banged his hand on a defender's helmet. The first-round draft pick visited a hand specialist and was told he does not need surgery but will need four to six weeks to recover.
— Saints coach Sean Payton says cornerback P.J. Williams is expected to make a full recovery by this offseason from a traumatic blow to the head that occurred during Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
— Outside linebacker O'Brien Schofield has re-signed with the Falcons. He was a fourth-round pick by Arizona six years ago and started 10 games with Atlanta in 2015. Schofield played for the Cardinals and Seattle for five seasons before signing with Atlanta. He had 28 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble last season.
— Raiders cornerback David Amerson is expected to play in Sunday's game against Tennessee, one week after suffering a mild concussion. Amerson has been limited all week in practice.
— Local officials and the NFL are monitoring the situation in Charlotte before the Panthers' scheduled home game this Sunday with Minnesota. The city has been rocked by violent protests and Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency Wednesday night and has sent the National Guard in to help restore peace.
MLB:
In baseball, it’s eight in a row for the Red Sox. Boston topped Baltimore 5-3 to extend their lead in the AL East to 5 ½ games over second place Toronto, Tampa Bay blanked the Yankees 2-0, Cleveland beat Kansas City 5-2, Detroit doubled up Minnesota 4-2, the Angels shut out Houston 2-0, and in another game it was Detroit over Minnesota 9-2.
In the National League, the Mets bested Philadelphia 9-8 in 11 innings, Atlanta doubled up Miami 6-3, Milwaukee won against Pittsburgh 3-1, San Francisco won against San Diego 2-1, and it was the Dodgers over Colorado 7-4.
The Boston Red Sox won their eighth in a row, 5-3 over Baltimore last night to finish a four-game sweep of the fading Orioles. The Red Sox own a five-and-a-half game lead over Toronto in the American League as David Price won his 17th game for Boston. Baltimore fell seven games out and dropped below Detroit for the second AL wild card.
NBA:
NBA players are being urged to reach out to league and union officials to try and come up with ways to create "positive change" in communities around the country. It's a move that comes in response to protests in other sports about racial oppression and other social matters.
The Bucks have acquired forward Michael Beasley from Houston for backup point guard Tyler Ennis in a deal that beefs up Milwaukee's frontcourt depth. The 6-foot-9 Beasley averaged 12.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 20 games last season for Houston. He was playing in China before signing with the Rockets, where he won his league's Foreign MVP Award while playing for the Shandong Golden Stars. The deal could signal that the Bucks intend to keep 6-foot-11 Giannis Antetokounmpo as a primary ball-handler, a position in which he thrived last season.
World Cup – Hockey:
The United States wrapped up a disappointing, winless performance at the World Cup of Hockey with a 4-3 loss to the Czech Republic last night. Team USA had lost earlier to Team Europe and Canada and the Americans finished seventh among eight teams, ahead of only Finland.
NCAA:
In top 25 college football, the real Clemson Tigers showed up last night in their 26-7 win at Georgia Tech in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Heisman Trophy candidate Deshaun Watson was 32 of 48 for 304 yards, including two TD passes.
A former Syracuse University football player accused of attacking two former teammates at a spring barbecue has been arrested for trespassing on campus. The Post-Standard of Syracuse reports that Naesean Howard, who was dismissed from the football team in 2014, was arrested by Syracuse University's public safety department on Wednesday. Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi had issued a protective order earlier in the day for current defensive backs Chauncey Scissum and Corey Winfield after the 20-year-old Howard had been frequently spotted near the football complex. Howard is facing assault charges stemming from an incident in which he is accused of stabbing Winfield and Scissum at the barbecue in April. Howard, a Syracuse native, is being held at Onondaga County Justice Center.
PGA:
Dustin Johnson has put himself in position to add a FedEx Cup title to his U.S. Open crown with an opening 4-under 66 at the Tour Championship. Johnson entered the season-ending event No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings after winning the BMW Championship. He's tied for the first round lead with Hideki Matsuyama and Kevin Chappell. Jason Day is also in the hunt for the FedEx Cup title, sitting fifth in the standings. He heads up a group of golfers who are one-shot off the pace. Defending Tour Championship winner Jordan Spieth is in a group two shots back.
NHL:
Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane says he needs to be more careful when putting himself in situations that might lead to off-ice trouble. He says it's about "picking my spots better." At the same time, Kane blames his latest legal problems on something that "happens to athletes or people in a position such as myself." Kane spoke Thursday when Sabres players reported for the start of training camp. The comments were his first publicly following a tumultuous offseason during which he was arrested for allegedly grabbing women by the hair and neck during an altercation at a Buffalo bar. The 25-year-old is also being sued by a woman claiming he seriously injured her during an attack in the player's hotel room in December. Kane pleaded not guilty to the charges stemming from the bar altercation. He filed a counterclaim against the woman suing him, calling her allegations "a sham."
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