Sports
Colts get solid relief QB play from Joe Flacco to hold off Steelers
Sep 29, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon (32) recovers a ball fumbled by Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images With an early injury to Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco entered the game and led the Indianapolis Colts over the surging Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 Sunday in Indianapolis.
After passing for 71 yards and rushing for 24 yards, Richardson left the game for Indianapolis (2-2) after a 14-yard run where DeShon Elliot hit the quarterback and dislodged the ball. The Colts recovered the loose ball, but the quarterback left the game for two plays to recover from the hit.
When Richardson returned, he attempted a designed rush to his left but went to the ground holding his right hip in pain. Richardson left the game for treatment but was later ruled out by the Colts.
In Richardson’s place, Flacco threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Flacco had patience in the pocket and completed 16 of 26 passes, including the Colts’ final touchdown drive where the veteran Super Bowl champion had three completions on third and long situations and eventually found Andrew Ogletree to give the Colts a 24-10 lead with 14:42 left.
The Colt had built a 17-0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Taylor, a 4-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to Josh Downs and a 33-yard Matt Gay field goal.
The Steelers got on the board with a 50-yard field goal from Chris Boswell to close the first half down 17-3.
Pittsburgh (3-1) battled back, scoring on three consecutive offensive drives, cutting the deficit to three points on a Justin Fields to Pat Freiermuth 8-yard touchdown with 3:40 to play.
After the Steelers got the ball back, an errant snap went off the facemask of Fields and although the Steelers recovered, Fields had two incomplete passes on the final three plays to give the Colts the ball back with 29 seconds remaining.
Taylor rushed for 88 yards for the Colts and added a touchdown behind an offensive line that didn’t include starting center Ryan Kelly, who missed the game as a late scratch due to a neck injury. 2024 fourth-round draft pick Tanor Bortolini started in his place.
Fields struggled early for Pittsburgh, but recovered to throw 312 yards with a touchdown pass and added two touchdowns on the ground (both during the second-half comeback attempt) with 55 yards rushing. What hurt the first-year Steelers quarterback was the play of the offensive line. Fields was sacked four times, resulting in 30 lost yards.
The Fields performance was needed for a Steelers backfield who lost both Cordalle Patterson and Najee Harris to injury in the defeat.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
