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

Jets' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee isn't on the team anymore

Cornerback Pierre Desir is among the list of names and will represent the Jets, but New York cut him in November. Desir is now with the Ravens.

Ravens' Dez Bryant goes on reserve/COVID-19 list, out for Browns game

Baltimore improved to 7-5 with a convincing 34-17 win over Dallas. It's unknown if Bryant will be cleared to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 20.

Panthers All-Pro RB Christian McCaffrey likely out for Denver game

McCaffrey was limited in practice on Wednesday because of a sore quad he suffered while attempting to come back from the shoulder injury he on Nov. 8.

Texas-Kansas football game canceled due to COVID-19

Texas defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 69-31 last Saturday to improve to 6-3 overall. The Jayhawks, meanwhile, remain a winless 0-9. 

Browns cleared to permit fans for 'MNF' game vs. Ravens

The Browns have allowed roughly 12,000 patrons for recent home games, the last of which was a 22-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 22. Cleveland.

Official for Paris-Saint Germain-Istanbul Basaksehir match claims he's not racist

Players from both teams said they heard Coltescu use a racial slur aimed at Basaksehir's Cameroonian assistant manager Pierre Webo during Tuesday's game.

Former Pro Bowl safety Darian Stewart retires

One-time Pro Bowl safety Darian Stewart, who helped the Denver Broncos topple the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 as part of Denver's "No-Fly Zone" secondary, won't be joining a new team. 

Boston College opts out of bowl game, ends season at 6-5

The Eagles went 5-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference play and traded wins and losses across 10 of 11 weeks during the season. 

Ravens WR Dez Bryant tested negative for COVID-19 twice

The Ravens haven't yet placed Bryant on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of a Monday night divisional showdown at the Cleveland Browns.

Jets rookie WR Denzel Mims out vs. Seahawks due to family emergency

The New York Jets' attempt to defeat the Seattle Seahawks and avoid going 0-13 just got all the more difficult.

West Virginia football pauses, game vs. Oklahoma canceled

This is the second time a game between the two schools had to be called off because of concerns related to the health crisis.

Titans place first-round pick Isaiah Wilson on reserve/NFI list

The tumultuous rookie season of Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson appears to be over.

Texans' Deshaun Watson holds nothing against Bears for not drafting him

Despite what could have been, Watson feels no ill will toward the club that passed on him.

SMU Mustangs to play in Frisco Bowl

The SMU Mustangs will play one more football game this year. 

Kyler Murray not worried about Cardinals offense heading into Giants game

Despite a poor run of form and the fact that Murray is likely no longer even an MVP afterthought, the signal-caller believes his offense is close to righting the ship.

James Harden must produce six consecutive negative COVID-19 tests before joining Rockets

Harden recently violated NBA coronavirus-related protocols when he attended parties and social gatherings in Atlanta and Las Vegas without wearing a face covering. 

Could Carolina Panthers be punished for COVID-19 outbreak?

Carolina discovered no new positive test results overnight into Tuesday, but the NFL could still fine the Panthers or strip the organization of a draft pick for violations of health and safety protocols.

Browns QB Baker Mayfield earns FedEx Air Player of the Week honors

Mayfield tossed four touchdowns in the first half and ended the Tennessee game with 334 passing yards, a passer rating of 147.0 and a total QBR of 87.6.

Columbus Crew confirm new positive COVID-19 case ahead of MLS Cup final

Columbus Crew mixed some concerning news with positivity ahead of Saturday's MLS Cup final against the Seattle Sounders.

Former UFC star Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson signs with Bellator

Former UFC title contender and knockout artist Anthony "Rumble" Johnson is back, but not in the way most expected.

Purdue, Indiana mutually agree to cancel game due to COVID-19

Both teams are dealing with COVID-19 issues.

NC State men's basketball pauses, cancels at least one game

NC State is set to play at the Louisville Cardinals on Dec. 16, and the status of that game is unknown.

Washington pauses football activities, Oregon game in question due to COVID

If the Huskies cannot safely field a team, they would be named winners of the Pac-12 North and go through to the conference championship game on Dec. 18. It is, however, unknown if a COVID-19 outbreak or other virus-related issues would prevent Washington from taking the field so soon after its pause. 

Giants 'optimistic' QB Daniel Jones can play vs. Cardinals

Jones injured his right hamstring in the third quarter of the 19-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 29.

Report: Big Ten amends rule, plans for Ohio State-Northwestern conference championship game

The Big Ten is amending a previously announced rule that mandated schools must complete a minimum of six contests during the pandemic-shortened campaign to be eligible for the league title game.