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Ben Johnson doesn't announce starting QB for Week 4, but rules out Caleb Williams
While signs are pointing toward Tyson Bagent starting at quarterback for the Bears on Friday, head coach Ben Johnson did not confirm that would be the case during his Friday press conference. piekny-pies.pl
The only definitive piece of information Johnson gave on Friday was that Caleb Williams will not play in the Week 4 matchup, declaring the QB out with his hamstring injury.
Williams has not practiced this week.
But for the rest of the QBs this week, Johnson remained tight-lipped. PFT reported earlier on Friday that Bagent has been taking first-team reps this week.
"We’ll find out on Sunday," Johnson said when asked directly who's starting.
Later, Johnson noted that he feels comfortable with either Bagent or Case Keenum — who beat the Eagles on Monday night — behind center.
"Honestly, I feel really good about the whole room," Johnson said. "I don’t know that there’s a bad choice, or a wrong choice. We’re very, very fortunate that we’ve got guys we believe in, and the whole team believes [in]. It’s not just the coaching staff, the whole team believes in everybody in that room. And so, it’s one of those things that, you can’t go wrong. You just want to make sure you’re doing right by all the guys on the team and you’re putting yourself in the best position to win a ballgame. So, I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks like on Sunday."
While Bagent may be set to resume his role as QB2 after clearing concussion protocol, there is reason to consider Keenum after how well he played on Monday night.
"There is such a thing as playing the hot hand — that is real," Johnson said. "And we’re certainly taking that into consideration. And yet, there’s a body of work that goes into it as well. So, there’s a lot of factors at play. We certainly have talked about it as a coaching staff. Honestly, it’s split — you just ask each coach one-on-one what they think, it’s split. Once again, I don’t know that there’s necessarily a right answer or a wrong answer in terms of how we go about this thing.
"I know both of them are well prepared to play and win a game for us here."
It's Unclear When Braves Ace Chris Sale Will Face Dodgers In NLDS
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss reported to Truist Park on Thursday determined to avoid asking ace starter Chris Sale if he'd be available for relief duty only two days after making a start in the National League Wild Card Series opener. "I didn’t want to put him in that position because I knew that even if he was hanging, he would tell me yes," Weiss said. "So I was not going to bring it up." Weiss didn't have to worry. Sale was not going to make Weiss ask. "Literally, as soon as I stepped in my office this afternoon, he was sitting in the chair across from my desk, and he looked at me, and he said, ‘I feel amazing.’ That's what he said. I said, ‘Well, let’s talk.’" That talk led to Sale recording the final four outs of the Braves' clinching 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night. Sale, the starter in Atlanta’s 5-3 win in Tuesday’s series opener, struck out Bryce Harper to end the eighth and closed out the win in the ninth by striking out Bryan De La Cruz and pinch-hitter Otto Kemp. "I was hoping he only had to go one, but he had to get to four outs," Weiss said. "But what a warrior, man. This guy, I’ve run out of superlatives for Chris Sale. Been talking about him all year. He’s one of the best I’ve ever been around. When you take everything into consideration; teammate, competitor, performer, work ethic, all those things, he’s as good as I’ve ever been around." Weiss said the discussion with Sale in his office did not include any mention of how pitching in relief on Thursday night could affect the left-hander's availability for a possible start on Sunday in Game 2 of the NL Division Series at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even without the work in relief to close the Wild Card Series, four days' rest would be less than Sale was often given in the regular season, when he was 14-9 with a 2.16 ERA. Sale, 37, often was given extra rest and that helped him stay strong and record 200 strikeouts in 162 2/3 innings. When asked if Sale was an option for Sunday's game, Weiss said, "I don't know. I have no idea. We weren't even worried about that. We haven't even talked about that. We didn't look past tonight." The Braves had Sale and Tyler Mahle start the first two games against the Phillies. Mahle allowed only one run in seven innings in Wednesday's 4-3 loss in 10 innings despite suffering an abdominal pull during his pregame warmup. Weiss was concerned Mahle wouldn't be able to make the start and said Mahle felt better Thursday though still felt some discomfort. Reliever Ray Kerr allowed only one hit in 3 1/3 scoreless innings in the opener on Thursday night and likely will be part of the Braves' plans against the Dodgers. Kerr's strong performance against the Phillies was an important boost for the Braves' depleted rotation. "I was feeding off the crowd from the first pitch of the game," Kerr said. "They motivated me to keep going, throw even harder, throw even more. Every time I threw a strike, they were yelling, so I have to give it up to the fans." Left-hander Martin Perez would have been part of the postseason rotation before landing on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 24 with lower back inflammation. The Braves also have lost starting pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez and Hurston Waldrep this season. Weiss said "There’s nobody on the planet that had us" in the postseason when the injuries included such projected frontline starters as Schwellenbach and Strider. "Nobody had us making the playoffs," Weiss said. "These guys have overcome so much. ... It’s guys like Ray Kerr and everybody else that step up and perform when the stakes are highest. It’s such a great group." Right-hander Bryce Elder threw off the mound on the Braves' workout on Monday before the start of the Wild Card Series and could be close to returning from the injured list after having surgery on his right knee on Sept. 7. Other possible options include AJ Smith-Shawver and JR Ritchie. Following games Saturday and Sunday in Los Angeles, the best-of-five division series shifts to Atlanta on Tuesday and Wednesday, if necessary. A fifth game, if necessary, would be played in Los Angeles.
Rugby Players Face £2.8m Legal Fees by October
The costs are a direct result of delays caused by what the judge described as the 'contradictory and misguided approach' of Rylands Garth, the players' previous solicitors. The case remains 'in crisis' with urgent need for fee settlement to continue in its current form.
Christian Gonzalez, Christian Barmore ruled out for Patriots
The Patriots will be missing a couple of defensive starters in Buffalo on Sunday.
Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters at his Friday press conference that cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore have been ruled out for Week 4. Both players are dealing with shoulder injuries that kept them from practicing this week.
Gonzalez had eight tackles and five passes defensed in the first three weeks of the season. Charles Woods is expected to start in his place against the Bills.
Barmore has four tackles, a sack and three quarterback hits this season. Milton Williams, Cory Durden, and Joshua Farmer will take on more responsibility on the defensive line with Barmore out of action.