The News Tribune from Tacoma, Washington • B4

4B THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24 2020Sports THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Two-time Pro Bowl halfback Devonta Free- man has signed with the New York Giants and might play this weekend. The Giants announced the move Wednesday, a day after 2018 NFL Of- fensive Rookie of the Year Saquon Barkley was placed on injured reserve with a torn anterior cru- ciate ligament in his right knee. Freeman, who was released by the Atlanta Falcons earlier this year, was at practice Wednes- day. Coach Joe Judge hopes to have him ready for game at MetLife Stadium against the San Francisco 49ers (1-1).

The Giants also will be getting running backs Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman ready to play. Lewis carried the load Sunday after Barkley was hurt in the second quar- ter. Gallman was in- active, but he looked good in training camp. Freeman played his first six NFL seasons for the Falcons. The Giants also placed wide receiver Sterling Shepard on injured re- serve with turf toe.

He also was hurt in the sec- ond quarter of the 17-13 loss to Chicago. He is eligible to be reinstated to the roster after missing three games. Freeman has played in 77 regular-season games with 59 starts, and five postseason games. He has rushed for 3,972 yards and 32 touch- downs, adding 257 recep- tions and 11 TDs. Jets: The New York Jets signed wide receiver Josh Malone to the active roster Tuesday after he was elevated from the practice squad for the first two games.

The team also an- nounced it placed cor- nerback Arthur Maulet on injured reserve and released linebacker Paul Worrilow from the prac- tice squad. The Jets also signed linebackers Bryce Hager and Noah Daw- kins, and offensive line- man Blake Hance, to the practice squad. College football Minnesota WR wants to opt back in: Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman has decided to opt back in for the 2020 football season in light of the Big resumption of fall competition, con- tingent on the star junior gaining the necessary eligibility clearance. Coach P.J. Fleck con- firmed Tuesday that Bateman, who won the receiver of the year award in 2019, has rejoined the Gophers for practice.

Because Bateman previously signed with an agent Blake Baratz of the Minneapolis-based Institute for Athletes in anticipation of declar- ing for the next NFL draft, his playing status remains tenuous. The university obtained per- mission from the student athlete reinstatement staff for Bateman, who made his opt-out announcement Aug. 4, to practice. Now the two sides must work toward a resolution for him to potentially regain eligibility this fall. Boston White out for season: Boston College receiver Kobay White will miss the sea- son after having surgery on his ACL.

White was the leading receiver last sea- son, with 29 catches and five touchdowns. He did not play in the season-opener against Duke on Saturday. Golf Thomas delivers again: Justin Thomas won his six-hole singles match and was closest to the pin on the decisive final hole as he and Tiger Woods won an exhibition match Tuesday that served as the grand opening of the Woods- designed Valley Golf Course at Big Cedar Lodge. The televised event was called the Valley Cup, after the course Woods designed in the Ozarks. It was the first public course in the United States for Tiger Woods Design.

The money raised went to the Payne Stew- art Family Foundation. The course at Big Cedar Lodge was named in honor of Stewart, who died in a plane crash in October 1999. The match had a Ryd- er Cup theme because the matches were sched- uled for this week until being postponed. Tho- mas and Woods, who partnered in last Presidents Cup, took on Rory McIlroy of North- ern Ireland and Justin Rose of England. College basketball Texas State coach resigns: Texas State coach Danny Kaspar has resigned three months after a former player accused him of making racist remarks.

Athletic director Larry Teis announced Tuesday that accepted Kas- resignation and that assistant coach Terrence Johnson will take over the program for the up- coming season. In June, former guard Jaylen Shead tweeted that Kaspar disparaged players with racist com- ments in practices. The tweet was later deleted. Shead transferred to Washington State last year. Texas State launched an investigation into the allegations.

The uni- versity said in a news release Tuesday that it would not make any additional statements. College softball Texas Tech coach resigns: Texas Tech softball coach Adrian Gregory resigned Tues- day, saying only that it was to part amid a report that the program is the subject of school inquiry into the well-being of its players. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt announced the move without explana- tion. Gregory had just completed her sixth season at Texas Tech. According to USA Today, Texas Tech is conducting an internal review assess the overall culture and stu- dent-athlete within the softball pro- gram, focusing in part on allegations that Gregory grabbed three players.

ASSOCIATED PRESS SPORTS IN BRIEF With Barkley out, Giants sign veteran Freeman AP file photo Two-time Pro Bowl halfback Devonta Freeman has signed with the New York Giants, who lost Saquon Barkley because of a torn ACL in his right knee. AP file photo Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman opted out of the 2020 season amid concerns about the coronavirus, but now wants to opt back in. CHICAGO Billy Donovan on the market for long hard- ly a shocker given won everywhere coached. That headed to Chicago might be a surprise, only be- cause big and bold moves have been few and far between for the team. Then again, these the same old Bulls.

Chicago struck it big Tuesday, hiring Donovan and landing one of the top candidates on the market to lead a rebuilding team with an overhauled front office. Donovan, 55, spent the past five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He replaces Jim Boylen, who was fired after the Bulls finished 22-43 and were one of the eight teams that qualify for the restart at Walt Disney World. In a statement, Donovan thanked ownership and said looking forward to working with new exec- utive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas. excited to partner with Arturas as we work together on behalf of this historic he said.

The Bulls came into the season with their sights set on a playoff spot. They were 11th in the Eastern Conference when play was stopped in March and decided they needed new leadership. Chicago hired Karniso- vas as executive vice presi- dent of basketball oper- ations in April out of Den- front office and shift- ed John Paxson into an advisory role. The Bulls also brought in general manager Marc Eversley to replace the fired Gar For- man, and they let Boylen go last month. Donovan went 243-157 as coach of the Thunder and reached the playoffs each year.

He was a final- ist for NBA Coach of the Year this season after his team outperformed expec- tations and pushed the Houston Rockets to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. But with his contract expiring, the Thunder announced two weeks ago he would not return, say- ing it was a mutual deci- sion. Before his time with the Thunder, Donovan coached for 19 seasons at the University of Florida, winning two NCAA titles. are very pleased to welcome Billy and his family to the Chicago Karnisovas said. success that he has sustained over the course of his coaching career puts him on a different level.

We feel his ability to help his players reach their potential, both individual- ly and collectively, will mesh well with our roster. Whether as a player or as a coach, he has won every- where his career has taken him, and we hope that will continue here in Donovan inherited All- Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook when he was hired before the 2015-16 season. Oklahoma City reached the Western Conference Finals, squan- dering a 3-1 lead against Golden State. NBA Bulls hire former Oklahoma City coach Donovan BY ANDREW SELIGMAN Associated Press Billy Donovan COSTA MESA, CALIF. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor missed last game because a team doctor accidentally punctured his lung, according to a per- son familiar with the case.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condi- tion of anonymity Wednesday because of medical restriction issues. Coach Anthony Lynn said Taylor is still not and that rookie Justin Herbert will get his second NFL start on Sun- day against the Carolina Panthers. Lynn said he angry about what occurred because the mistake intentional. were complica- tions with the shot but I know the man (who gave it). People make mistakes.

It is something we will talk about Lynn said. Herbert was the Char- surprise starter in last 23-20 over- time loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Lynn said he find out until less than five minutes before kickoff that Taylor would be unable to play. Herbert said he found out he was playing right as the Chargers were lining up to receive the opening kickoff. Taylor was taken to the hospital due to difficulties breathing after Lynn said he had a reaction to an injection.

Taylor was re- leased Sunday night and was at the com- plex on Monday. The NFL Players Associ- ation said on Wednesday that they have been in contact with Taylor and his agent and have started an investigation into the matter. ESPN first report- ed the punctured lung. Taylor was briefly on the injury report Friday due to a rib injury he suffered in the Sept. 13 opener against the Cincin- nati Bengals.

He was taken off it, though, after fully participating in practice and taking all of the snaps with the first team. Lynn did not have an update on status on Monday. He said that if Taylor was he would be the starter on Sunday against Carolina. However, with a punc- tured lung, the 10-year veteran is expected to be out indefinitely. Herbert, the sixth over- all pick in draft, became the ninth quarter- back since the merger to throw for over 300 yards in his debut, but he threw an interception late in the third quarter that the Chiefs converted into a tying touchdown.

AP writer Barry Wilner contributed to this story. EMILEE CHINN AP Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor passes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals on opening weekend. NFL Source: Team doctor punctured Tyrod lung BY JOE REEDY Associated Press support, the College Ath- lete Bill of Rights could be used as the foundation for a future House bill. framework will ensure that college ath- letes can receive equitable compensation, are protect- ed by stronger health and safety standards, and can hold the NCAA to account when they fail them in any of these said Scha- kowsky, who supported Northwestern football attempt to union- ize in 2015. The NCAA is in the pro- cess of changing its rules to permit athletes to earn money off their names, images and likenesses for things like endorsements Rep.

Jan Schakowsky, chairwoman of the House Commerce Subcommittee, is backing the College Athlete Bill of Rights craft- ed by a group of Demo- cratic senators. Schakowsky, was set Wednesday to an- nounce her support for the legislative framework put forth by Sens. Corey Book- er of New Jersey and Rich- ard Blumenthal of Con- necticut last month. The plan calls for col- lege athletes to be permit- ted to earn money for their names, images and like- nesses with and much more. The senators also want to ensure for the athletes long-term medical cov- erage and treatment, en- forceable medical stan- dards, academic freedom and revenue sharing agreements with the NCAA and college confer- ences.

The Bill of Rights was backed by seven other senators, including Demo- crats Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a frequent NCAA critic, and vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris of Cali- fornia. With and appearances. The association has asked for help from Con- gress to relieve pressure from state lawmakers. California, Florida, Col- orado, Nebraska and New Jersey have already passed bills. would take effect in 2021.

Federal lawmakers have said they intend to get involved but that is not likely to happen until after the election. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida already introduced an NCAA- friendly bill that would shield the association from legal challenges to its name, image and likeness rules. COLLEGES Schakowsky backs Athlete Bill of Rights BY RALPH D. RUSSO Associated Press.