FOOTBALL
Mahomes likely to start
Patrick Mahomes took the majority of first-team reps in practice Thursday, even though he remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, raising expectations that he will start in the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills. Mahomes was initially listed as a full participant when he returned to practice Wednesday, but the Chiefs quickly corrected his status to limited because he remains in the protocol. He must be cleared by team physicians and an independent neural consult before the reigning Super Bowl MVP can be a full participant in practice or play in a game. Mahomes sustained the concussion when he was tackled on a quarterback option midway through the third quarter of the Chiefs’ 22-17 divisional-round win over Cleveland. Chad Henne finished the game with Matt Moore backing him up. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire practiced for the second consecutive day as he comes back from a high-ankle sprain he sustained in Week 15, as did wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who has been out with a calf injury since Week 16.
Former Packers GM dies
Ted Thompson, whose 13-year run as Green Bay Packers general manager included their 2010 Super Bowl championship season, has died. He was 68. The Packers announced Thursday that Thompson died the previous night at his home in Atlanta, Texas. The team said it was contacted by a direct family member. Thompson announced in May 2019 he had been diagnosed with an autonomic nerve disorder. He was the general manager from 2005-17 and drafted many notable players on the current roster, including two-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Eagles plan to hire Sirianni
Nick Sirianni’s success working with various quarterbacks with different styles comes in handy in his new job. The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. Sirianni was the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts the past three seasons. The 39-year-old Sirianni previously served as an assistant coach with the Chiefs and Chargers. The Eagles fired Doug Pederson following a 4-11-1 season, less than three years after he led the team to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title.
GOLF
Kang leads at LPGA opener
Danielle Kang managed to steal some of the spotlight from the Korda sisters on Thursday as the LPGA Tour opened its 71st season with a winners-only field at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Kang and Lopez each shot a, 7-under 64 for a one-shot lead over Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda and Gaby Lopez (Arkansas Razorbacks) at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando. Kang is coming off a two-win season last year that was shortened by the covid-19 pandemic, winning back-to-back in Ohio when the LPGA resumed after a five-month shutdown. Stacy Lewis (Razorbacks) is tied for fifth after a 5-under 66.
Hagy on top at Express
Brandon Hagy didn’t find out he was in the field at The American Express until three days before it started. The Californian then left no doubt he belonged. Hagy took the first-round lead Thursday with an 8-under 64 on the Nicklaus course in La Quinta, Calif., staying one shot ahead of South Korea’s Byeong Hun An in the opening tournament of the PGA Tour’s West Coast swing. Hagy racked up 10 birdies, including three streaks of three in a row. He capped the round with a calm birdie putt on the 18th. Austin Cook (Jonesboro, Arkansas Razorbacks) is tied for 15th following a round of 4-under
- Andrew Landry (Razorbacks) shot a 2-under 70, which places him in a tie for 61st place.
McIlroy 8 under at Abu Dhabi
Rory McIlroy again put himself in contention to win an event where he has had so many near misses, shooting an 8-under 64 Thursday in the first round of the season-opening Abu Dhabi Championship. In 10 appearances in Abu Dhabi, McIlroy has finished second on four occasions and third three times. The four-time major champion endured the third winless season of his professional career in 2020, but shrugged off a fog delay of almost three hours to start 2021 with eight birdies.
BASKETBALL
Cavs deal Porter to Rockets
Kevin Porter Jr. is no longer a problem for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland has agreed to trade the troubled forward to the Houston Rockets for a future draft pick, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday night. The Cavs will send Porter, the 2019 first-round draft pick who hasn’t played this season and recently had an outburst in the team’s locker room, to the Rockets for a protected second-round pick. Porter’s days with the Cavs reached a breaking point late last week when he became upset after learning his space in the locker room had been given to newly acquired forward Taurean Prince.
BASEBALL
Astros, Castro reach deal
Catcher Jason Castro has agreed to a $7 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. This will be Castro’s second stint with the team after he was selected in the first round of the 2008 amateur draft by the Astros and spent his first six MLB seasons with the team. Castro, 33, played for both the Angels and the Padres last season where he appeared in 27 games and hit .188 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI. Castro had his best years with the Astros where he 617 games and was named to the All-Star game in 2013. He hit .232 with 62 home runs and 212 RBI in his six seasons in Houston.