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

Chiefs place star DT Chris Jones on reserve/COVID-19 list

The Chiefs have placed defensive tackle Chris Jones on the reserve/COVID-19 list. It's believed Jones was deemed a "close contact" of an infected individual but hasn't yet tested positive for the coronavirus. 

Panthers All-Pro RB Christian McCaffrey on pace to return vs. Chiefs

Carolina Panthers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey is headed toward making a much-anticipated return for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Air Force-Army game off due to coronavirus issues

Army is open to scheduling a different opponent for this weekend if one is available on short notice.

Eagles safety Marcus Epps tests positive for COVID-19

Philadelphia is in the middle of its bye week following last Sunday's 23-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys, meaning players were scheduled to be off from Thursday through the end of the weekend.

Washington-California game canceled due to coronavirus

California explained the cancellation came because the Bears cannot safety field a team following the discovery of at least one active COVID-19 case and subsequent quarantines.

Lions coach Matt Patricia mum on if QB Matthew Stafford will play vs. Vikings

Stafford came into close contact with an infected individual not associated with the Lions but hadn't yet tested positive, a claim repeated by Stafford's wife, Kelly, via her Instagram story.

Werder Bremen prevent Josh Sargent from playing in USMNT friendlies

A U.S. Soccer Federation spokesperson told Carlisle that no replacement for Sargent had been selected as of Thursday afternoon.  

Brian Flores addresses Tua Tagovailoa's future with Dolphins

Flores added that the remainder of the season for the 4-3 Dolphins is more about helping Tagovailoa grow as an NFL starter than about the 22-year-old earning his keep in the lineup. 

Minnesota defensive coordinator Joe Rossi to miss Illinois game after positive COVID-19 test

Per Big Ten guidelines, Rossi must isolate for a minimum of 10 days and then produce negative test results while reporting no symptoms before he's welcomed back to football activities.

Navy-Tulsa football game postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases

Tulsa added that this is the team's fourth postponement of the season related to the pandemic. The Golden Hurricane host the SMU Mustangs on Nov. 14. 

Jets' Sam Darnold on pace to start vs. Patriots despite missing practice

The 23-year-old previously missed two games this fall because of the shoulder and failed to impress upon his return to the lineup.

UFC planning Stephen Thompson-Geoff Neal fight for Dec. 19 card

The UFC is close to signing a welterweight contest between Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson (15-4-1) and Geoff Neal (13-2). 

QB Josh McCown signing with Houston Texans

41-year-old quarterback Josh McCown is putting pen to paper on an agreement with the Houston Texans to join their active roster.

Blue Jackets winger Gustav Nyquist out 5-6 months after shoulder surgery

The Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed on Wednesday that winger Gustav Nyquist underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a labral tear of his left shoulder. Nyquist is expected to make a full recovery in five to six months, according to general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.  The operation occurred at the Cleveland Clinic.

Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky suffered shoulder injury in loss to Saints

Any Chicago Bears fans out there hoping that head coach Matt Nagy will go back to former first-round draft selection Mitchell Trubisky as his starting QB should pump the brakes on those wishes.

Ravens' Lamar Jackson vows to get the ball to WR Marquise Brown

Brown complained on Twitter after he recorded one catch, a three-yard touchdown pass from Jackson, in the Ravens' loss to the Steelers. Jackson put the blame on himself while speaking with reporters on Wednesday. 

Giants claim WR Dante Pettis off waivers

Pettis didn't tally a single reception with the 49ers this year and was only targeted once.

NBA, NBPA expected to agree on 72-game season with Dec. 22 start date

The Dec. 22 start date allows for games to be played and televised nationally on Christmas and also presents a timeline for the completion of the NBA Finals before the 2021 Summer Olympics

Lions place QB Matthew Stafford on reserve/COVID-19 list

Stafford could be cleared by this coming Sunday's game at the division-rival Minnesota Vikings as long as he reports no symptoms and consistently tests negative through the midweek.

Browns GM Andrew Berry: Baker Mayfield 'has done a nice job'

Mayfield has 15 touchdown passes with seven interceptions and is 12th in the NFL with a total QBR of 73.2.

Broncos cancel practice after OT Darrin Paulo tests positive for COVID-19

Vic Fangio has not yet decided if he will add a Saturday practice to the schedule as he did ahead of last weekend's game against the Chargers.

Georgia safety Richard LeCounte out of hospital after dirt bike accident

LeCounte was riding a dirt bike when it struck a vehicle on Saturday. LeCounte spent time in intensive care and is likely to miss at least a few weeks because of a shoulder injury as well as cuts and bruises.

Packers' Aaron Rodgers 'excited' about challenge of playing without top RBs vs. 49ers

Veteran Tyler Ervin and practice-squad player Dexter Williams are in line to be Green Bay's lead backs versus the Niners. While many would view the situation as a setback, Rodgers appears to be anticipating the occasion. 

Conference USA reschedules seven football games postponed due to coronavirus

Conference USA added that its title game remains scheduled for Dec. 18 and will be hosted by the team holding the best regular-season conference winning percentage. 

Falcons' Takkarist McKinley 'will definitely be held accountable' after trade tweets

After notching 13 sacks across his first two seasons, McKinley tallied 3.5 last season and has only one quarterback takedown across four games this year.