Sports
Panthers bench QB Bryce Young in favor of Andy Dalton
Sep 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) prepares to pass in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Two weeks into the new season, the Carolina Panthers benched former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and promoted Andy Dalton to starting quarterback Monday.
The Panthers (0-2) have scored a combined 13 points in their first two games under new head coach Dave Canales. Young threw for just 84 yards on 26 pass attempts in Sunday’s 26-3 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He also tossed an interception.
Young, 23, became just the third player in the past 20 seasons to average 4 or fewer yards per pass play in four straight starts, according to ESPN. He has zero touchdowns against three INTs in two games this season.
Canales said after the game that Young would remain the team’s starter in Week 3 at the Las Vegas Raiders (1-1). He changed his mind less than 24 hours later.
“I just owe it to all the guys, the coaches, the staff, the players, everybody involved to be really critical about what we put on film, about what I’m seeing and to make sure that I’m constantly making the best decision for the team every week,” Canales said.
“And it happens to be the quarterback position and so it’s loaded that way, but it’s every position and it’s all the guys. And I was able to stand in front of the team and challenge all the guys that we all have to step up our passion for what we’re doing to play.”
Canales said a number of parties discussed the move but declined to reveal the extent to which team owner David Tepper was involved in the decision.
“Ultimately this comes on me,” Canales said. “My No. 1 responsibility is to help the Panthers win. This move, I believe, puts us in the best position to do that this week.”
Dalton, 36, is a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback with a record of 83-78-2 in 14 seasons. He has thrown for 38,511 yards and 246 TDs against 144 INTs for five teams, most notably the Cincinnati Bengals (2011-19), who drafted him in the second round in 2011.
As a journeyman backup and fringe starter, Dalton has made starts for the Dallas Cowboys (2020), Chicago Bears (2021), New Orleans Saints (2022) and Panthers (one start in 2023).
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Dalton told reporters. “I’m excited about what’s ahead. It’s a tough situation. I’ve been on both sides of it. It’s hard on everybody.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rockies place RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (back spasms) on 15-day injured list
Jun 26, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images The Colorado Rockies placed right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano on the 15-day injured list on Saturday due to back spasms.
He was scheduled to start Saturday’s game against the visiting San Francisco Giants. The move was retroactive to Wednesday.
Rookie left-hander Sean Sullivan was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque and started Saturday’s game in Denver in place of Sugano.
In other moves, Colorado placed right-hander Seth Halvorsen (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Wednesday, and selected the contract of right-handed reliever and two-time All-Star Jordan Romano from Albuquerque.
Sugano, 36, went unbeaten in five June starts, going 4-0 with a 6.58 ERA. His team gave him a combined 40 runs of support in those four wins.
He is 8-4 with a 4.80 ERA, 23 walks and 48 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings over 16 starts in his first season with the Rockies. He made his major league debut in 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles and went 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA in 157 innings over 30 starts.
Sullivan, 23, walked away with a no-decision on Monday after allowing five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Miami Marlins. He entered Saturday 0-2 with an 8.64 ERA, nine walks and 12 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings in four starts for Colorado this season.
He was 5-3 with a 5.60 ERA, 19 walks and 50 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings over 11 starts at Albuquerque. The Rockies selected Sullivan in the second round of the 2023 draft out of Wake Forest.
Halvorsen, 26, is 0-1 with a 4.74 ERA, 15 walks and 17 strikeouts in 19 innings over 21 relief appearances this season. Colorado selected Halvorsen in the seventh round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee.
Romano, 33, made 11 relief appearances earlier this season for the Los Angeles Angels and went 0-2 with four saves, a 10.13 ERA, six walks and 12 strikeouts in eight innings.
The Angels released him on April 27 and he signed with Colorado on May 6.
Romano has a career 22-23 record with 117 saves and a 3.92 ERA in 291 games, all in relief, with the Toronto Blue Jays (2019-24), Philadelphia Phillies (2025) and Angels (2026). He was an All-Star with the Blue Jays in 2022 and 2023.
He was 1-1 with one save and a 3.72 ERA in 10 relief appearances with the Rockies’ Rookie (one game) and Triple-A (nine) affiliates this year.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Predators' new acquisition Mavrik Bourque gets 6-year, $33M deal
Apr 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque (22) looks on before the game between the Stars and the Wild in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Nashville Predators on Saturday announced a reworked contract for newly acquired forward Mavrik Bourque, who signed a six-year, $33 million deal.
The Predators traded for Bourque on July 1, also acquiring defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Dallas Stars in exchanged for a pair of draft picks: a second-rounder in 2027 and a third-rounder in 2028.
Bourque, 24, was a first-round selection (No. 30 overall) of the Stars in 2020. His playing time has steadily increased since. After appearing in one game as a rookie in the 2023-24 campaign, he recorded 73 appearances in Year 2 and 82 games last season, when he recorded career highs of 41 points, 20 goals and 21 assists.
He notched one goal for Dallas in last season’s playoffs and is a former MVP in the AHL, leading that league in points (77) in 2023-24.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Patrick Ewing, Steve Clifford joining Wizards staff
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Former New York Knicks player Patrick Ewing is seen prior to game five of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Patrick Ewing is returning to the coaching ranks, joining the Washington Wizards as an assistant to head coach Brian Keefe, ESPN reported on Saturday.
Ewing, 63, had been serving as an ambassador for the New York Knicks, with whom he starred from 1985-2000. His first coaching position came as an assistant with the Wizards in 2002-03 before holding the same role with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets.
Ewing will likely be called upon to share his expertise with veteran stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis while helping 2026 No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa adjust to NBA life. Ewing was also a No. 1 overall pick, in 1985 by the Knicks.
Per the report, former NBA head coach Steve Clifford is also joining the Wizards as a coaching advisor, a role he had held with the Phoenix Suns since August 2025.
For Ewing and Clifford, 64, it’s a reunion as the former Knicks legend was on head coach Clifford’s staff with the Bobcats/Hornets from 2013-17.
Along with the Bobcats/Hornets (2013-18, 2022-24), Clifford coached the Orlando Magic (2018-21). He was an assistant with the Knicks, Magic, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers before being hired by the Bobcats.
An NCAA champion in 1984 at Georgetown, Ewing returned to his alma mater as its head coach in 2017 and guided the Hoyas to the Big East tournament title at Madison Square Garden in 2021. He was relieved of his duties in 2023.
Ewing, who had his No. 33 jersey retired by the Knicks in 2003, leads the franchise in points, rebounds, blocks, steals and games played, and helped lead New York to the postseason in his final 13 seasons.
–Field Level Media
Rockies place RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (back spasms) on 15-day injured list
Predators' new acquisition Mavrik Bourque gets 6-year, $33M deal
