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

New York Mets linked with All-Star catcher James McCann

McCann joined the Chicago White Sox in December 2018 and enjoyed two impressive seasons, one of which being the pandemic-shortened 60-game campaign, with the club.

Ryan Day: Ohio State will be 'short-handed' against Michigan State

Day recently tested positive for the coronavirus and won't be permitted to coach on the sideline, something he said will make the Michigan State contest "the hardest three hours of my life." 

Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov wants MMA to be Olympic sport

Nurmagomedov added that he believes there are "big chances" MMA is included in the 2028 Olympics held in Los Angeles. 

Colts activate DL Denico Autry off reserve/COVID-19 list

Autry is in the middle of the best season of his career and leads the Colts with six sacks.

UFC featherweight Yair Rodriguez suspended six months for USADA violation

While active and in the USADA pool, all fighters are obligated to inform the agency of their location at all times using a smartphone app.

BYU to face Coastal Carolina in top 25 clash after Liberty cancels due to COVID-19

Coastal Carolina added that ESPN's "College GameDay" will broadcast live from its campus ahead of the game scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET and air on ESPNU. 

Braves non-tender one-time All-Star Adam Duvall

Duvall made his first and, to date, only All-Star appearance in 2016 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, and he joined the Braves via a trade in July 2018.

Las Vegas Bowl canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

Had the game gone on, it would have featured a Pac-12 opponent facing a team from the Southeastern Conference. Big Ten programs will also participate in future editions of the bowl. 

48 NBA players are positive for COVID-19 in first testing round of new season

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the NBA and NBPA confirmed that 48 of 546 players tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of training camp sessions between Nov. 24-30.

Deshaun Watson campaigns for Texans to re-sign WR Will Fuller

The fifth-year option of Fuller's contract will expire during his six-game suspension, and Deshaun Watson made it clear that he wants one of his favorite targets to stay put. 

Bears to start QB Mitchell Trubisky vs. Lions

Trubisky possesses a total QBR of 54.2 for the campaign, which, according to ESPN, would have him ranked 26th overall among eligible signal-callers. 

Report: Yankees to tender a contract to catcher Gary Sanchez

The Yankees will tender a contract to Sanchez before Wednesday's deadline for arbitration-eligible players. It's projected that Sanchez will earn a salary of $5.5 million for the 2021 season. 

Giants QB Daniel Jones 'feeling better' but unsure about Seahawks game

Both the Giants and Washington Football Team are 4-7 and sit atop the NFC East standings, but Big Blue holds the tiebreaker thanks to sweeping Washington earlier in the season. 

Houston-SMU football game postponed again due to COVID-19?

The Cougars haven't played since a 56-21 win over the South Florida Bulls on Nov. 14. 

NFL medical chief defends playing Ravens-Steelers game despite COVID-19 outbreak

The league used intensive contact tracing tools, which include video surveillance, to determine which Baltimore personnel could travel to Pittsburgh.

Eagles activate Pro Bowl TE Zach Ertz, place Pro Bowl RT Lane Johnson on IR

Ertz suffered a high ankle sprain in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 18 and hasn't played since.

Cowboys to have 'live film session' during Ravens game

Because of the delay between games, the Cowboys must assume the majority of Baltimore players on the reserve/COVID-19 list will be available by Tuesday evening. 

Michigan-Maryland game canceled due to COVID-19

Additionally, Michigan is pausing all team activities and won't return to the practice field until Monday at the earliest. 

Colts activate RB Jonathan Taylor off reserve/COVID-19 list

Taylor was deemed a "high-risk close contact" last week after his girlfriend tested positive for the coronavirus. While the 21-year-old produced a negative test result, he nevertheless had to isolate away from team activities.

Lions place Desmond Trufant, Danny Shelton on injured reserve

Trufant tallied 20 total tackles, one interception, a sack and four passes defended in his first six games with the Lions after signing a two-year contract in the offseason. 

Australian Open start delayed to Feb. 8 due to pandemic

Tennis Australia will charter flights for players and coaches, and mandatory 14-day quarantines will begin only once individuals arrive at the bubble site.

TCU to host Louisiana Tech for Dec. 12 football game

The TCU Horned Frogs (4-4 overall) intend on reaching a 10th regular-season game by the middle of December.  TCU's program announced on Tuesday that it will host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (4-3) on Dec.

Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, Ohio State stay atop College Football Playoff rankings

The top four spots of the College Football Playoff rankings remained the same for the second consecutive week, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio

Ravens cleared to travel for Wednesday showdown with Steelers

Baltimore starting quarterback and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson is among the players who have tested positive and won't be eligible to take the field on Wednesday.