Yardbarker

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

EXPERTISE:

NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Premier League, MLS, US Soccer, UFC

Yadier Molina returning for 19th season with Cardinals

In total, the veteran who turned 39 years old last month has appeared in  2,120 career regular-season contests with the Cardinals, behind only Lou Brock (2,289) and Stan Musial (3,026).

Jared Dudley joining Mavericks coaching staff

Dudley averaged 7.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in 904 regular-season contests during his lengthy career. 

USTA announces Mental Health Initiative for 2021 U.S. Open

These are important steps for the WTA and ATP as they look to both  protect the overall health and well-being of athletes and also prevent  players from pulling out of competitions for reasons related to mental health.

Mets' Francisco Lindor returns from strained right oblique

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is back, even if his return might be too little, too late for the Amazins.

Paris Saint-Germain reject $188M offer from Real Madrid for Kylian Mbappe?

Lionel Messi signed with PSG as a free agent earlier this month to join an attack that already featured Mbappe and Neymar, but it's understandable the Parisians might want to avoid losing Mbappe for nothing next year if the  22-year-old is serious about relocating to Madrid when his deal expires.

Jerry Jones says getting COVID-19 vaccine is part of the 'common good'

The Cowboys announced over the weekend that 93% of their active players as of that time (80 of 86) were considered fully vaccinated. Every member of the coaching staff is vaccinated.

Sean Payton has no time frame to name Saints' starting QB

Payton and company still have time to evaluate film and also leave Green Bay coaches curious about who will be New Orleans QB1 for that Week 1 clash.

Jaguars rookie RB Travis Etienne out for season with foot injury

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback and first overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence will be without a familiar face and a former Clemson teammate for his debut NFL season. 

Premier League clubs not releasing players to red-listed countries for World Cup qualifying

Word broke Monday that Liverpool will not release star forward Mohamed Salah for Egypt's World Cup qualifiers in September because his nation is on England's

Auburn DC Derek Mason recovered from breakthrough COVID-19 bout

Mason also used his Twitter to encouraged those who haven't yet been vaccinated to get their shots.

LSU requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test to attend games

LSU is the first SEC institution to announce such a strict attendance policy for the upcoming season.

Denmark captain, medics to receive UEFA President's Award for saving Christian Eriksen

Denmark team captain Simon Kjaer and the medical staff that saved Eriksen's life at Euro 2020 will be honored by the UEFA president. 

Andy Dalton is Bears' Week 1 starter, Justin Fields to start vs. Titans in preseason finale

Head coach Matt Nagy remains committed to starting Dalton in Week 1. 

Cowboys go to virtual format, add three to COVID-19 list

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins were sent home early from Saturday's preseason loss to the Houston Texans

Browns' Cody Parkey on injured reserve with quad problem

Chase McLaughlin becomes the undisputed starting placekicker for Cleveland as of Monday.

Yankees lefty Zack Britton goes on IL with strained elbow

Britton didn't make his season debut until June 12 after he required arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone chip in his left elbow in March.

Kylian Mbappe linked with unknown English Premier League club?

Paris Saint-Germain are widely viewed as huge winners of the summer transfer window after the Ligue 1 giants secured the services of Lionel Messi earlier this month.

Vikings' Everson Griffen to apologize to Kirk Cousins for controversial tweets

Veteran pass-rusher Everson Griffen spent the first 10 seasons of his NFL career playing for the Minnesota Vikings and rejoined the club Monday after largely unsuccessful stints in Dallas and Detroit.

Could Tottenham reject offer of £150M from Manchester City for Harry Kane?

Tottenham won their first two matches of the league campaign without Kane in the starting lineup.

Patrick Reed hospitalized with bilateral pneumonia, out of BMW Championship

The 31-year-old is currently No. 9 in the rankings, meaning he will  miss out on earning automatic qualification by sitting in the top six

Cowboys to start QB Cooper Rush in preseason finale vs. Jaguars

Interestingly, Rush is currently listed fourth on the club's unofficial depth chart behind Dak Prescott, Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci.

Premier League confirms 16 new positive COVID-19 tests

The Premier League is not naming players or clubs in its weekly COVID-19 updates.

Roger Goodell wants Bills to stay in Buffalo, get new stadium

The commissioner wants the Bills to stay in Buffalo. 

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer pushes players to get vaccinated against COVID-19

The Vikings had an epidemiologist speak with players Monday about the safety of the vaccines to encourage unvaccinated individuals to get their shots ahead of the regular-season opener at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 12.

Packers QB Jordan Love returns to practice after shoulder injury

It's unknown exactly how much work the 2020 first-round draft pick will complete leading up to Saturday's preseason finale at the Buffalo Bills. His status for that contest is up in the air as of the start of the week.