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

Cleveland ace Shane Bieber wants to return from injury this season

There remains no timeline for Bieber's return, largely because Cleveland has little reason to rush him back into action unless the first-place Chicago White Sox shockingly stumble down the stretch.

49ers to play Trey Lance along with Jimmy Garoppolo this season?

San Francisco opens the preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 14, and Lance should receive more snaps than Garoppolo on that occasion and throughout exhibition games.

Clemson's Justyn Ross cleared to return from career-threatening issue

Ross recorded 66 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019 and was projected to be a top-10 selection in some mock drafts before he was sidelined indefinitely. 

Oakland's Ramon Laureano suspended 80 games for PED violation

Oakland outfielder Ramon Laureano has been suspended 80 games without pay for testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug Nandrolone.

Texans' Anthony Miller on Deshaun Watson: 'The show must go on'

Watson  could be made unavailable to play for the foreseeable future as he's facing 22 lawsuits alleging acts of sexual assault and misconduct and 10 criminal complaints.

Terry Bowden steps away from UL-Monroe to care for ailing father Bobby

Bobby Bowden is suffering from pancreatic cancer. University of Louisiana Monroe head coach Terry Bowden, Bobby's son, has temporarily left the program to spend time with his family.

Kevin Durant will remain with Nets on four-year, $198 million extension

Durant, 32, originally joined the Nets in the summer of 2019, but he missed the subsequent season while recovering from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in that year's NBA Finals. He is currently representing Team USA in the Summer Olympics held in Tokyo. 

Kawhi Leonard reportedly staying with Clippers on new deal

Leonard, a five-time All-Star, averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists across 52 regular-season games with the Clippers in 2020-21.

Lionel Messi to sign with Paris Saint-Germain next week?

Messi was almost immediately linked with reigning Premier League champions Manchester City and Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in rumors following Thursday's announcement from Barcelona.

Raiders' Carl Nassib 'met with nothing but love and support' since coming out

While speaking with reporters Friday, Nassib admitted he was stunned by the massive worldwide reactions to his announcement and added his teammates have been supportive throughout the entire process. 

Patriots' Cam Newton won't say if he's vaccinated against COVID-19

The one-time NFL Most Valuable Player returned to the Patriots via a one-year contract he signed in March, but that was before the club spent pick No. 15 of the 2021 draft on Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Mac Jones.

Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward on IL with index finger inflammation

Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward continues to endure a season he'd probably prefer to forget.

Ravens activate Lamar Jackson from COVID-19 list

Ravens running back Gus Edwards also tested positive for the coronavirus in late July but returned to work Friday.

Rams head coach Sean McVay: 'Zero chance' Matthew Stafford takes preseason snap

While this certainly isn't the first trip around the NFL for veteran signal-caller Matthew Stafford, he's only officially been with the Los Angeles Rams since he joined the franchise via a March trade from the Detroit Lions.

Harry Kane denies skipping training, vows to report to Tottenham Saturday

This is Kane's first public statement since reports surfaced at the start of the week he was facing "a significant fine" for what Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy deemed a breach of contract.

Florida Gators staying in hotel while attempting to avoid COVID-19 issues

The Florida Gators endured a serious and concerning COVID-19 outbreak last fall that temporarily threatened their season and reportedly included head coach

Eagles in 'no rush' to name Jalen Hurts starting QB

Through the first full week of August, it's been heavily presumed Hurts and not Flacco will be Philadelphia's QB1 come September. 

Zach Aston-Reese staying with Penguins on one-year deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins held onto one of their own for at least one more season on Thursday. 

Bill Belichick on Patriots QBs: 'Competition makes us all better'

Newton sits comfortably atop the depth chart heading into the preseason opener, and it's unclear if Jones can perform well enough over the next several weeks to leapfrog the 32-year-old. 

Gary Sanchez latest Yankees player positive for COVID-19

The New York Yankees cannot avoid COVID-19 issues and headaches this summer.

Packers' Jordan Love 'super excited' for first NFL in-game snaps

Love is itching to take the field when Green Bay opens the exhibition portion of the calendar against the Houston Texans on Aug. 14. 

Juventus Women apologize for tweet with racist gesture

Anton Toloui of Sky Sports and others shared screenshots of the deleted post and called for the individual or persons responsible to be removed by the club.

Texans' Jonathan Owens 'was sick' watching girlfriend Simone Biles struggle at Olympics

Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens, Biles' boyfriend, reflected on his experience watching Biles pull out of the team competition while speaking on Thursday. 

Roger Federer pulls out of two tournaments, U.S. Open status in doubt?

Missing that tournament could prove to be a brutal blow for Federer, as he, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are all tied for the men's all-time record with 20 career Grand Slam trophies heading into the year's final major.