FOOTBALL
Williams 'week to week'
Chicago Bears Coach Ben Johnson called Caleb Williams' right hamstring injury a "week-to-week" situation while offering a largely positive update a day after the quarterback was helped off the field and carted to the locker room. Williams left Sunday's 9-3 loss to Minnesota after he got hurt on a scramble deep in Vikings territory with about 7 1/2 minutes left. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft was replaced by Tyson Bagent. Johnson said he doesn't think Williams, 24, will practice this week, but he isn't ruling him out for Chicago's matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles next Monday night. After the home game against Philadelphia, the Bears (1-1) take on the New York Jets on Oct. 4 before visiting the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 11. Playing in a steady rain at Soldier Field in Chicago, Williams was 15 for 26 for 138 yards with an interception. He also had five carries for 42 yards against Minnesota.
Ertz, Eagles reunite
The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing back fan favorite tight end Zach Ertz, three people familiar with the situation told the Associated Press. Ertz will join the practice squad in hopes of shoring up a tight end room depleted by injuries, the people said Monday on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced. Ertz's return comes with multiple Eagles tight ends dealing with injuries. Dallas Goedert is expected to miss several weeks with an MCL sprain suffered in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Tennessee Titans, one person told the AP. Backups Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra also are injured. Ertz spent his first eight seasons with the Eagles, earning three Pro Bowl appearances, and made two key plays late in their Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots after the 2017 season. He played three seasons for Arizona after being traded in 2021 and spent the last two in Washington. The 35-year-old suffered a torn ACL with the Commanders in December, but has been cleared to play. Ertz is fifth on the NFL's career list for catches by a tight end with 825 and his 8,952 yards receiving are eighth. He's scored 57 touchdowns.
Maddox's year over
Detroit Lions safety Avonte Maddox needs season-ending foot surgery, another setback for a secondary that is missing injured safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. "That hurts," Coach Dan Campbell said Monday. Maddox was injured Thursday night in a 41-31 loss at Buffalo. The 30-year-old has started games in each of his nine NFL seasons. He is in his second year with the Lions after playing in Philadelphia for seven seasons. Joseph and Branch are out indefinitely. Detroit (1-1) hosts the New York Jets (1-1) on Sunday.
A&M loses WR Bussey
Texas A&M wide receiver Terry Bussey will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a lower-body injury in Saturday's 31-21 loss to Kentucky, Coach Mike Elko said Monday. Bussey slipped and fell without contact while returning the opening kickoff and went down in pain. He was taken from the field on a cart after being attended to by athletic trainers. Entering Saturday, Bussey, who also worked on the kickoff and punt return teams, had seven receptions for 92 yards, ranking second on the team in receiving yards behind Isaiah Horton. Bussey was named the Aggies' offensive player of the week after his Week 2 performance in a 48-20 victory over Arizona State, where he had four catches for 58 yards. Arkansas faces Texas A&M at 6 p.m. Central on Oct. 3 in College Station, Texas.
Johnson's '26 likely done
Arizona Cardinals starting cornerback Will Johnson could miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a neck injury against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Coach Mike LaFleur made the announcement during his news conference on Monday, adding that he didn't have any more information and wasn't sure if the 2025 second-round pick out of Michigan will need surgery. Johnson left the game in the second half but it was unclear when he suffered the injury. The Seahawks pulled away over the final two quarters for a 31-7 win. Johnson started the first two games of the season and was emerging as a key piece in the Cardinals' defense. He has 8 tackles, 1 pass defended and 1 fumble recovery this season. Veteran Starling Thomas is in line to get more playing time without Johnson in the lineup.
Surgery for Saints' Banks
New Orleans Saints left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is scheduled to undergo ankle surgery and will be out indefinitely, NFL Network reported Monday. Banks, 22, was carted off late in the third quarter of a 24-17 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. An MRI on Monday confirmed a severe high ankle sprain, according to the report. Banks is now set to miss game action for the first time since New Orleans selected him ninth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. He started all 17 games last year as a rookie and started the first two games this season. Asim Richards, 25, replaced Banks and will likely step into the starting lineup in his absence. A fifth-round draft pick by Dallas in 2023, Richards has played in 38 games (five starts) over the last four seasons.
Georgia injuries
Coach Kirby Smart said he expects running back Nate Frazier to be back for No. 2 Georgia's game against Oklahoma on Saturday after leaving its 45-17 victory over Arkansas with what Smart described as a "ding." Frazier exited the game in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury. Smart said afterward the running back could have returned. Frazier rushed for 75 yards and 1 touchdown on 14 carries, bringing his totals to 202 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns through three games. The Bulldogs finished the game with 254 rushing yards. Quarterback Gunner Stockton ran for 97 yards. Chauncey Bowens rushed for 39 yards and three touchdowns. Smart was less certain answer about the status of defensive back Tyriq Green, edge rusher Chase Linton and receiver Isiah Canion. "They'll all be back soon," he said.
BASKETBALL
Batum, 37, retires
Versatile forward Nicolas Batum is retiring following an 18-year NBA career and a long stint with the French national team. The 37-year-old Batum announced his retirement in a social media video with his son on Monday. Batum played two seasons in the French league before being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. The 6-7 forward spent seven seasons in Portland before playing the next six with Charlotte. Batum spent most of his final six seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, with a short stint in Philadelphia in 2023-24. He also was a stalwart on French national teams that won silver medals in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. Batum averaged 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 37% from three-point range during his NBA career.