National Sports

Sports briefs

Williams is

‘week to week’

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson is leaving open the possibility that Caleb Williams could play in Week 3 against Philadelphia. Williams left Sunday’s 9-3 loss to Minnesota with a right hamstring injury.

The third-year quarterback got hurt on a scramble deep in Vikings territory with about 7 1/2 minutes left. Johnson says he doesn’t think Williams will practice this week, but he isn’t ruling him out for the matchup with the Eagles next Monday night.

After the home game against Philadelphia, the Bears take on the New York Jets on Oct. 4 before visiting the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 11.

Penix Jr.

ready to play

ATLANTA (AP) -- A struggling Atlanta Falcons offense in desperate need of improved production at quarterback will have Michael Penix Jr. make his first start in Thursday night’s game at Green Bay.

The Falcons suffered a 34-3 loss to Carolina in Sunday’s home opener. In Cooper Rush’s two starts, the Falcons have been held to one touchdown and 16 points. Penix has been recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Doc Rivers

joins NBC

(AP) -- Doc Rivers turned down an offer to become an NBA analyst for NBC after retiring as a player in 1996 because he couldn’t promise then-NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol that he wouldn’t become a coach.

With Rivers now insisting that his Hall of Fame coaching career is over, the time seemed right for him to join NBC. The network announced on Monday that Rivers will be an analyst on games this season across NBC, Peacock and NBCSN along with the possibility for some studio work.

Rivers has previously worked as an NBA analyst for Turner Sports and ESPN/ABC.

Murray returns

for Vikings

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray has been cleared from the NFL concussion protocol and will return to action this week at Tampa Bay.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that Murray will be back in the starting lineup for the game against the Buccaneers. Carson Wentz relieved him in the season opener against Green Bay and started in his place at Chicago on Sunday.

Murray’s debut for Minnesota on Sept. 13 lasted just 11 plays. A hit to the side of his head from the lowered shoulder of Packers safety Javon Bullard forced him out of the game with a concussion.

MLB enters

final week

(AP) -- Major League Baseball’s postseason is rapidly approaching, with the Los Angeles Dodgers seeking a third-straight World Series title. It remains to be seen how much some of the game’s biggest stars will be able to participate come October, though.

The Dodgers are once again among the best teams in the big leagues, and they’ll have several challengers in October, including the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays. All three teams could finish the regular season with 100 wins or more. Los Angeles is there even though four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani’s health is a concern.

NC football

under watch

(AP) -- Bill Belichick’s tenure at North Carolina is under scrutiny after a recent loss to Clemson. The Tar Heels were close to a 3-0 start, but Clemson outscored them in the final minutes to win 28-20.

Belichick faces questions about his leadership, especially after his son and his general manager resigned amid an investigation into the program.

Despite challenges, Belichick insists the team is improving. North Carolina has a tough schedule ahead, including games against Notre Dame and Miami.

WNBA seedings

up for grabs

NEW YORK (AP) -- With the WNBA entering the final week of the regular season, the playoff seedings are undecided. The eight teams that will play in the postseason were decided a few weeks ago, but none of positions have been clinched yet.

Minnesota and Golden State are still vying for the top overall seed and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. Las Vegas is in the driver’s seat for the No. 3 seed.

Then it really gets tight with only two games separating fourth-place Atlanta from eighth-place Dallas. The Wings, Liberty and Mystics all have the same record as of Monday.

Mariota steps

in at QB

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders this weekend after Jayden Daniels went down with a dislocated left elbow. Coach Dan Quinn says Daniels had imaging done Monday and will see specialists Tuesday and Wednesday.

Quinn says he might have an update on Daniels on Thursday or Friday. The injury in Sunday’s loss at Dallas came on a broken play at the end of the first half. Daniels used his non-throwing arm to brace his fall and in doing so injured the elbow.

A similar thing happened last November, when Daniels dislocated the same elbow during a game against Seattle.