Health
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, bottom, falls forward after tackling Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers (23) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Inglewood, Calif., Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Cards' Baker evaluated for concussion following collision

Jan. 17, 2022 11:02 PM EST

FILE - Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving looks up at the fans at TD Garden after they defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 4 during an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Boston, in this Sunday, May 30, 2021. Athletes have been put at center court of arguments over COVID vaccines. The NFL's Aaron Rodgers, the NBA's Kyrie Irving, and tennis's Novak Djokovic, have each become cultural touchstones in the cultural controversy. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics 5/30/2021

Jan. 14, 2022 09:39 AM EST

FILE - Protesters rallying against COVID-19 vaccination mandates and in support of basketball player Kyrie Irving gather in the street outside the Barclays Center before an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Charlotte Hornets, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in New York. From the NBA's Kyrie Irving missing the first months of the Brooklyn Nets' season before making a partial return, to the NFL's Aaron Rodgers going from revered veteran to polarizing figure, to a diplomatic standoff over tennis star Novak Djokovic's exemption to play in the Australian Open, sports figures have found themselves cheered and jeered as the most famous faces in fights over vaccine mandates and refusals. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Charlotte Hornets at Brooklyn Nets 10/24/2021

Jan. 14, 2022 09:39 AM EST

FILE - Fans of Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic react outside Federal Court ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Athletes have been put at center court of arguments over COVID vaccines. The NFL's Aaron Rodgers, the NBA's Kyrie Irving, and tennis's Novak Djokovic, have each become cultural touchstones in the cultural controversy. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair, File)
Australian Open Men Singles

Jan. 14, 2022 09:39 AM EST

FILE - Defending men's champion Serbia's Novak Djokovic practices on Margaret Court Arena ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Athletes have been put at center court of arguments over COVID vaccines. The NFL's Aaron Rodgers, the NBA's Kyrie Irving, and tennis's Novak Djokovic, have each become cultural touchstones in the cultural controversy. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Australian Open Men Singles

Jan. 14, 2022 09:39 AM EST

FILE - People walk by a Nike advertisement featuring Colin Kaepernick on display, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in New York. While sports have always been indivisible from politics and public conflicts, there has been a major ground shift in the years since Michael Jordan made public neutrality on all non-sports issues an essential part of his brand. Now, there is almost an expectation of advocacy, especially with the precedent set by Colin Kaepernick's protests and the embrace by many of the Black Lives Matter cause. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
In vaccination battles, pro athletes become proxy players

By Andrew Dalton Jan. 14, 2022 09:37 AM EST

FILE - This is a general overall interior view of SoFi Stadium as the Los Angeles Rams takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. A late-season surge in COVID-19 cases had the NFL in 2021 looking a lot like 2020, when the coronavirus led to significant disruptions, postponements and changing protocols. The emerging omicron variant figures to play a role all the way through the playoffs, including the Super Bowl in Los Angeles, where California has always been aggressive with policies to combat the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
Super Bowl organizers say game is staying in Inglewood

By Greg Beacham Jan. 13, 2022 05:15 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, right, grabs a pass in the end zone for a touchdown as Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Tevaughn Campbell defends during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Chiefs have Kelce, Hill vs Steelers this time around

By Dave Skretta Jan. 13, 2022 03:27 PM EST

FILE - Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III makes an initial appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court in Las Vegas, on Nov. 3, 2021. A lawyer for Ruggs’ girlfriend Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington , said Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 he’ll appeal a Las Vegas judge’s decision to grant prosecutors access to the woman’s medical records after a fatal high-speed crash that cost Ruggs his spot on the team. In court filings, the attorney maintains Kilgo-Washington is not charged with a crime and her health information is protected by federal and state doctor-patient confidentiality laws. Ruggs is charged with felony driving under the influence causing death and substantial bodily injury, and two counts of felony reckless driving. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP, Pool, File)
Attorney to appeal Vegas ruling in Ruggs crash records case

By Ken Ritter Jan. 13, 2022 02:59 PM EST

FILE - This is a general overall interior view of SoFi Stadium as the Los Angeles Rams takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. A late-season surge in COVID-19 cases had the NFL in 2021 looking a lot like 2020, when the coronavirus led to significant disruptions, postponements and changing protocols. The emerging omicron variant figures to play a role all the way through the playoffs, including the Super Bowl in Los Angeles, where California has always been aggressive with policies to combat the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
NFL regular-season ratings increase 10% over last season

By Joe Reedy Jan. 12, 2022 12:45 PM EST

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) leave the field after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. The Colts won 22-16. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Late-season collapse proves costly, Colts miss playoffs

By Michael Marot Jan. 10, 2022 05:45 PM EST

An injured Seattle Seahawks free safety Quandre Diggs grimaces as he is attended to by Seahawks training and medical staff during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Seahawks' Diggs carted off field; Saints' Hill hurts foot

By The Associated Press Jan. 09, 2022 08:44 PM EST

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) scores a touchdown in front of Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) after catching a pass in the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Browns place Pro Bowl corner Ward on COVID-19 reserve list

By The Associated Press Jan. 08, 2022 12:35 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates a 1-yard touchdown by running back Darrel Williams during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Brady, Rodgers, Mahomes make unusual season feel normal

By Rob Maaddi Jan. 06, 2022 04:48 PM EST

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) passes between Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Anthony Barr (55) and defensive end D.J. Wonnum during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Bears place quarterback Fields on reserve/COVID-19 list

By The Associated Press Jan. 06, 2022 02:21 PM EST

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) passes between Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Anthony Barr (55) and defensive end D.J. Wonnum during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Vikings host Bears with no playoff stakes, coach uncertainty

By The Associated Press Jan. 06, 2022 01:13 PM EST

New York Jets' C.J. Mosley (57) strip sacks Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Mosley takes MVP turn for Jets as playmaker, team leader

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Jan. 05, 2022 06:20 PM EST

Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Mixon (28) celebrates a touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Parsons, Mixon latest stars added to COVID-19 list

By The Associated Press Jan. 05, 2022 05:54 PM EST

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins throws a touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Cousins returns from COVID-19 absence to Vikings for finale

By Dave Campbell Jan. 05, 2022 04:52 PM EST

FILE - This is a general overall interior view of SoFi Stadium as the Los Angeles Rams takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. A late-season surge in COVID-19 cases had the NFL in 2021 looking a lot like 2020, when the coronavirus led to significant disruptions, postponements and changing protocols. The emerging omicron variant figures to play a role all the way through the playoffs, including the Super Bowl in Los Angeles, where California has always been aggressive with policies to combat the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
NFL looks at contingency sites for Super Bowl amid COVID-19

Jan. 05, 2022 04:28 PM EST