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Joe Flacco takes saddle for Colts, to start against Vikings

Syndication: The TennesseanIndianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco (15) gets in position against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024.

A midseason quarterback change frequently signals trouble for a franchise.

It will be up to Joe Flacco to prove that this time is an exception.

Flacco, 39, will take over at quarterback when the Indianapolis Colts (4-4) visit the Minnesota Vikings (5-2) on Sunday night in Minneapolis. The 17-year veteran will replace second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was benched this week after an inconsistent start to the season.

Colts coach Shane Steichen said the switch would not be a short-term move.

“Joe will be our quarterback going forward,” Steichen said. “I feel like Joe gives us the best chance to win. … I’m just looking at where we’re at with the team. We’re at .500. It’s my obligation to 53 players in the locker room to win football games.”

The Colts will try to do just that on the road against a Vikings team that is suddenly desperate for a victory. Minnesota started the season with five straight wins before dropping back-to-back games against the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.

During the skid, the Vikings lost a key player as standout left tackle Christian Darrisaw suffered a season-ending knee injury. The team wasted little time to respond, acquiring left tackle Cam Robinson and a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft from the Jacksonville Jaguars for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026.

Robinson did not make it north in time for the Vikings’ first practice of the week but there is a chance that he will make his team debut Sunday.

“If he’s ready to go and prepared, I’d like to get him in the mix there,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “If for whatever reason, either situational or something where we hold him out and give him a full week of prep next week, we’ll see how it goes. I think we have a good plan in place.”

The Vikings feel more confident that veteran tight end T.J. Hockenson will make his season debut after missing the first seven games recovering from knee surgery. Hockenson, 27, had 95 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games last season.

“I think T.J. is ready to play,” O’Connell said. “He’s as good as he’s looked since we got him here. And that’s saying something considering the impact he made right away in (2022), and the season he was having last year at the time he was hurt. He’s a huge part of our offense, our system.”

The Colts hope to say the same for Flacco, who has a 102.2 passer rating this season compared with a 57.2 passer rating for Richardson. Flacco has thrown for 716 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception this season.

Jonathan Taylor leads the Colts’ ground game with 454 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Alec Pierce has a team-high 394 receiving yards and three scores.

For the Vikings, Sam Darnold will make his eighth start of the season. He has posted a 107.2 passer rating while throwing for 1,610 yards with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Aaron Jones has 501 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his first season with the Vikings. Justin Jefferson is dominating at wideout again this season with 41 catches for 646 yards and five touchdowns in seven games.

This is the first meeting between the teams since Dec. 17, 2022, when the Vikings emerged with a 39-36 victory in overtime. In that game, the Vikings overcame a 33-point deficit, making it the largest comeback win in NFL history.

–Field Level Media

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Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship

LPGA: CPKC Women's Open - First RoundAug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Australia’s Hannah Green held off Auston Kim on Sunday to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore for the second time.

Green, the 2024 champion, balanced three birdies and three bogeys on an eventful back nine to finish with a 3-under 69 and a final score of 14-under at Sentosa Golf Club. The 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner tapped in for bogey at the 18th for her seventh LPGA Tour title.

“When I did win Singapore two years ago, I went on to win two other tournaments that season and pretty much had my best season on tour,” said Green, 29. “So having a win so early in the season gives me a bit more flexibility with the tournaments that I can play. So I’m hoping that this puts me in good stead for the rest of the year.”

Green was at 16-under after birdies at the first, 11th and 13th holes and an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole. Her birdie at the par-3 15th helped her survive a bogey-bogey finish.

“I knew that I had enough of a lead to be able to get away with making mistakes coming down the stretch. But I think 15 was the real turning point,” she said.

First- and second-round leader Kim nearly chased down her first title, matching the low round of the day with a 67 to finish one shot behind Green in the 72-hole, no-cut tournament.

Kim carded six birdies and an eagle at No. 8, but a bogey at the par-3 15th proved costly for the 25-year-old American.

“Overall, I think it was a really solid week,” Kim said. “A great way to start the year. I hit a lot of bad shots but I also hit a lot of good ones, and it was really confidence boosting. I hit all these bad shots, and I didn’t feel like I had anything chose to my A game, but I was still able it pull off a result like this and play some really solid golf.”

Australia’s Minjee Lee (72 on Sunday), Angel Yin (71) and France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (68) tied for third place at 11-under with South Korea’s Haeran Ryu (72) another shot back in solo sixth.

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand finished with a 73 and tied for 31st at 2-under, one shot behind defending champion Lydia Ko (72) of New Zealand.

–Field Level Media

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Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season

MLB: Spring Training-St. Louis Cardinals at Houston AstrosFeb 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

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Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race

NASCAR: Truck Series ChampionshipOct 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

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