Sports
Why Jermaine Burton Won’t Travel With Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton (81) runs onto the field before the NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.PHOTO USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Friday that rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton will not travel with the team to their Week 18 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He has already been ruled out as a coach’s decision, but the Bengals did not immediately announce the reason for his benching.
Internet sleuths revealed that while the third-round rookie is suspended from the Bengals, he is also facing eviction and a lawsuit from his landlord. Not only was Burton left at home, but his home does not even want him there. That’s a tough pill to swallow for Burton, who has had an incredibly troubled start to his NFL career.
According to records from the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, Radius Acquisition LLC filed an eviction case against Burton “and all occupants” of his apartment on December 23. They are also seeking $2,506.33 from him. A court date is set for January 24 to address the issue.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Radius Acquisition was seeking $10,000 “to compensate plaintiff for injury to the premises above and beyond ordinary wear and tear.”
Sounds like he could have wrecked the apartment that the Bengals put all of their rookies in upon being drafted—but that’s just a theory. It remains unclear whether or not the eviction, lawsuit and suspension from the Bengals are all connected.
In November, Burton went viral for a photo that surfaced of him at a casino after being benched for missing a team walkthrough. In his defense, it’s easy to get caught up in Las Vegas as a 23-year-old.
The Bengals selected Burton in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the 80th player selected overall.
But the selection did not come without plenty of red flags. After transferring from Georgia to Alabama, the Crimson Tide were upset by Tennessee in 2022. At the conclusion of that game, Volunteers fans stormed the field, and Burton struck a woman who was celebrating in the head.
With uncertainty surrounding star receiver Tee Higgins’ future in Cincinnati, the Bengals likely hoped that Burton would be a younger, cheaper and more serviceable replacement considering his upside.
That has not worked out as he had just four receptions for 107 yards in his rookie season. He has caused more headaches than passes caught so far, and that’s typically not a recipe for a fruitful NFL career.
Sports
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).
Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.
In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.
Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.
“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram initially was listed as questionable to play due to right heel inflammation. He was downgraded to doubtful when the NBA released its official injury report early in the afternoon.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Less than 24 hours after taking a fastball to the helmet, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was penciled into the starting lineup for the Astros’ series finale on Sunday at Boston.
Facing an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, Walker was drilled over his left eye by a 93.3 mph fastball on Saturday that broke his helmet and sent the biggest piece flying 10 feet toward the backstop.
With the Astros leading 6-3 in the ninth, they took precautionary measures and removed Walker in favor of pinch runner Brandon Shewmake.
“I feel OK,” Walker told reporters afterward. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”
Clearly Walker felt good enough to fill the cleanup spot for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox. Walker has appeared in every game this year for the Astros — starting all but one — and the 35-year-old has been producing some career numbers.
His .309 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage all represent career bests. He has delivered eight homers and 26 RBIs through 34 games, which put him on pace for a career-high 38 homers and 124 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
