NFL

RotoExpertsFANTASY PLAYS: Potential waiver pickups for Week 7By SCOTT ENGELThe Steelers, Packers, Seahawks and Raiders have byes this week, and the real roster management challenge begins.Four or more teams will be off in each of the next five weeks. This is the stretch where depth either really pays off...

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman goes on IR with groin injuryFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman is going on injured reserve, another major setback for a team that already has lost several key players.Coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday that Freeman's groin injury was more serious...

AP Sports ColumnistColumn: How about some other sports for Conor McGregor?By TIM DAHLBERGConor McGregor couldn't win his fight, though he seemed to help the Dallas Cowboys win theirs.Just ask Jerry Jones, who had reason to be smitten with the UFC star after the team Jones owns blew out Jacksonville...

AP Pro Football WriterThielen it: Vikings star on record-setting receiving paceBy DAVE CAMPBELLEAGAN, Minn. (AP) Last week during team drills with the Minnesota Vikings, Adam Thielen stretched out his body and dived to try to catch an off-target pass.Thielen immediately questioned aloud the wisdom of his decision to...

AP Pro Football WriterJets' Maye has broken thumb, Enunwa sprained ankleBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.NEW YORK (AP) The Jets could be without two of their top playmakers on offense and defense for a while.Safety Marcus Maye has a broken right thumb that could sideline him for a few weeks,...

AP Sports WriterJaguars insist 'nobody's panicking' despite lopsided lossesBy MARK LONGJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) All that preseason hype surrounding Jacksonville's defense has come to a hasty halt.The Jaguars (3-3) allowed 802 yards and 70 points in consecutive losses to Kansas City and Dallas, hardly the kind of performances Jacksonville's...

AP Sports WriterStruggling Buccaneers fire defensive coordinator Mike SmithBy FRED GOODALLTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Mike Smith is out as defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, replaced by linebackers coach Mark Duffner.Riding a three-game losing streak and not showing any signs of being able to fix a porous unit...

AP Pro Football WriterDenver's deficiencies in the trenches big part of skidBy ARNIE STAPLETONENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) The Denver Broncos are hurting in the trenches, where they lost their best offensive lineman, guard Ronald Leary, to a season-ending torn Achilles and are the first team in NFL history to...

AP Sports WriterGase: Miami's Tannehill might return this week against LionsBy STEVEN WINEDAVIE, Fla. (AP) The most prolific game of Brock Osweiler's career may have been a cameo.Or not.With Ryan Tannehill nursing an injury to his throwing shoulder, it was uncertain Monday whether Osweiler will get another start...

AP Sports WriterSteelers ready to plow forward with - or without - BellBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Le'Veon Bell's stall inside the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room has been untouched for months. The Pittsburgh Penguins jersey. The black-and-yellow Jordans. Sweatpants. Cleats. His shoulder pads. Everything remains the same as it...

AP Pro Football WriterTitans' offense struggling with extended touchdown droughtBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans made a coaching change after winning their first playoff game in 14 years to rev up Marcus Mariota and the offense.So far, the Titans have taken a major step backward...

AP Sports WriterSeveral players contributing to Ravens' stellar defenseBy DAVID GINSBURGOWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) The Baltimore Ravens are playing team defense so well, it's almost impossible to pick the best of the bunch.Eight different players had a least one of Baltimore's team-record 11 sacks on Sunday in Tennessee....