3:46 PM ET HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have signed running back Rex Burkhead to a contract extension through the 2022 season, sources told ESPN on Friday. Burkhead, 31, was playing on a one-year, $1.5 million deal after joining Houston in June. In 15 games this season, Burkhead has run for 403 yards and three
4:05 PM ET GREEN BAY, Wis. — Don’t tell Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur that Sunday’s regular-season finale at the Detroit Lions is a meaningless game even though his team wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs last week. His decision to play quarterback Aaron Rodgers confirms as much. While it’s
5:05 PM GMT The 2025 Rugby League World Cup will take place in France, the French Rugby League federation confirmed on Friday. French prime minister Jean Castex will hold a full launch of the event on Jan. 11 in Paris. The tournament will be the 17th edition, and returns to France, where the first World
4:17 PM ET Bellator has penned a deal with a controversial former college wrestling standout. Earlier this week, Bellator signed Pat Downey III, a former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, to a contract, the promotion confirmed with ESPN on Friday. Downey, 29, has yet to make his MMA debut. He will compete in Bellator’s middleweight
2:09 PM ET The UFC is finalizing a five-round main event between former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos and rising contender Rafael Fiziev for Feb. 19, multiple sources told ESPN. Contracts have not been signed, but both sides have agreed to the matchup. The 155-pound contest will headline the UFC Fight Night event in Las
1:13 PM ET The UFC is booking a heavyweight contest between Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa for its pay-per-view event next month, officials confirmed to ESPN. Contracts have not been signed, but the promotion is close to finalizing the matchup for UFC 271 on Feb. 12 in Houston. Lewis (26-8) is a former two-time title
4:39 PM ET Former Texas quarterback Casey Thompson, who started 10 games in 2021, is transferring to Nebraska. Thompson announced his decision Friday on Twitter after visiting Nebraska’s campus earlier in the week. He led the Longhorns with 2,113 pass yards and 24 touchdowns with nine interceptions, while completing 63.2% of his passes. The junior
4:39 PM ET INDIANAPOLIS — As the College Football Playoff management committee prepares to continue its discussions on Saturday about expanding the current four-team format, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren told ESPN he remains steadfast in his belief that the Power 5 conference champions should automatically qualify for a spot in the future. Saturday’s meeting
1:20 PM ET TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, who led the team with 10 sacks this season prior to suffering a knee injury in Week 16, will be out again this week due to the injury and testing positive for COVID-19, coach Bruce Arians announced Friday. The team has not placed him
3:31 PM ET PITTSBURGH — Just one day after he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson was activated off it Friday. Johnson, who leads the team with 1,100 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches on 100 receptions, is a key piece of the offense for the Steelers’ regular-season finale