8/11 Sports Brief

Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori passes physical as he nears return from ankle surgery

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori has passed his physical. It’s an important step toward being activated from the physically unable to perform list. Seattle is hoping Emmanwori will be ready to play in the season opener on Sept. 9. The Seahawks host New England in a Super Bowl rematch to open the 2026 NFL schedule. Emmanwori suffered a low ankle sprain four days before the Super Bowl, but played through the injury to help Seattle win the title. Now in his second season, he began training camp on the PUP list after undergoing offseason ankle surgery.

Fever coach Stephanie White says divisiveness ‘will not win’ during pregame rant

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White has had enough of the conversations around the WNBA this season that aren’t about basketball. On Tuesday, she finally lashed out. The 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year and one of the original Fever players angrily defended herself after she was criticized for her response to DiJonai Carrington’s flagrant foul on Sophie Cunningham, and pleaded with people to focus on the sport and not the continual sideshows. White says: “The hate, the fearmongering, the divisiveness that’s trying to hijack our league will not win.”

CBS Sports president says there’s no timeline for a decision on Tony Romo’s future

NEW YORK (AP) — CBS Sports president David Berson says he does not have a timeline for a decision about the future of Tony Romo. Romo is on leave from his job as the network’s lead NFL analyst following his arrest last month in Wisconsin on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. Berson spoke to reporters during a network event on Tuesday. He said the decision to place Romo on leave was intended to shift attention toward the games and away from his legal situation. Analyst JJ Watt will join play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on CBS Sports’ lead NFL team during Romo’s absence.

Blake Snell fans 10 in 6 innings in return for the Dodgers after a 3-month elbow injury layoff

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Snell struck out 10 batters in six innings in his return to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers after being sidelined for three months with elbow issues. He struck out the side in the first against the Kansas City Royals. Snell allowed one run and three hits in six innings before leaving with the game tied 1-1. The Dodgers went on to win 5-4 in 10 innings. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is returning from an injury in the second half for the third consecutive season. The NL West-leading Dodgers are looking for him to quickly get back on track.

Vikings pick Murray as their starting QB over McCarthy, giving him the rest of camp to get ready

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have chosen Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback over J.J. McCarthy in the widely expected conclusion to what coach Kevin O’Connell pledged was a true competition. The announcement gives Murray a full month of full-time repetitions with the first-team offense before the regular season begins on Sept. 13. O’Connell and general manager Nolan Teasley met with both players in the morning to discuss the decision. An earlier decision on the starter was always going to be ideal for Murray as he’s learning a new system after spending his first seven NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

LeBron James will play his first game with the 76ers against champion Knicks on NBA opening night

NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron James will play his first game with Philadelphia 76ers on the NBA’s opening night against the defending champion New York Knicks. The Oct. 20 game at Madison Square Garden will be part of a tripleheader, when the Knicks raise a banner to celebrate their first championship since 1973 and James kicks off the final stop in his career. He will return to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Christmas, after Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs return to New York for an NBA Finals rematch to open a five-game schedule. The NBA unveiled those games Tuesday. The full schedule will be released Thursday.

Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy optimistic Stephen Curry will finish career with Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have every indication Stephen Curry would like to stay with the team for the remainder of his career, and they plan to make that happen for the two-time NBA MVP. It’s what the 38-year-old Curry has said he would like to do, hoping to play at least a couple more years. Whether a new contract will get done right away remains to be seen. Curry becomes eligible for a two-year extension Aug. 29.

Taylor Walls homers from each side of the plate to make Tampa Bay Rays history

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Taylor Walls homered from each side of the plate in a 12-4 victory at the Athletics on Tuesday night, becoming the first switch-hitter to do that twice for the AL-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Walls also accomplished the feat on April 18, 2023, at Cincinnati. The 30-year-old shortstop hit his first homer Tuesday left-handed in the fourth inning off Athletics starter Mason Barnett. Walls went deep as a right-handed hitter off reliever Brady Basso in the sixth, helping Tampa Bay win its eighth straight game.

Reds rally late, beat the White Sox 5-4 in the 10th to spoil pope hat giveaway night

CHICAGO (AP) — Elly De La Cruz drove in automatic runner Matt McLain with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning as the Cincinnati Reds snapped a three-game skid with a 5-4 comeback win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night. The Reds rallied from three runs down in the eighth inning after White Sox starter Sean Burke allowed only one run on three hits in seven innings. The White Sox drew 38,113, their ninth sellout, for a unique giveaway: team-branded papal-style hats in honor of Pope Leo XIV, a lifelong White Sox fan who attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series as Father Robert Prevost. Sister Mary Jo Sobieck threw out the first pitch.

Bears safety Coby Bryant to miss four to six months after knee surgery

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant will miss four to six months after he had surgery on his injured left knee. Bryant was signed to a $40 million, three-year deal as a free agent this offseason, was expected to be an important part of a revamped Chicago secondary. Coach Ben Johnson said Bryant had surgery Friday without disclosing details of the injury. He did not rule out the possibility that Bryant would return this season. Former Dallas and Tennessee safety Xavier Woods was signed last week and has been practicing with the starters in Bryant’s spot.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice: 30 days in a Texas jail a ‘learning experience’ after probation violation

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has described his 30 days spent in a Texas jail as a “learning experience” and a “reality check.” He was jailed in May for violating probation related to a car crash. Rice spent his time rehabbing from knee surgery and watching comedian Kevin Hart on TV to stay positive. He was released in June and resumed training with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who also was coming back from knee surgery. Rice has been productive when available, but injuries and suspensions have limited his play. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and has much to prove this season.