Tua Tagovailoa out for Week 17 vs. Patriots

The Miami Dolphins will be without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots due to a concussion, head coach Mike McDaniel announced Friday, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.

Veteran passer Teddy Bridgewater is set to start under center.

Tagovailoa entered the concussion protocol Monday when he self-reported symptoms to team doctors following last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers. McDaniel later confirmed Wednesday that the signal-caller did suffer a concussion in the matchup.

Sidney Crosby named Order of Canada

Sidney Crosby's home country gave him one of its highest honors Thursday, elevating the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar to the Order of Canada.

Governor General Mary Simon named Crosby one of 32 new officers and 99 new appointments to the Order "for being one of the greatest hockey players of all time and for supporting community service initiatives for youth."

Crosby has long been one of the NHL's brightest stars. The future Hall of Famer has a lengthy resume of accomplishments, including many on the international stage. Most memorably, he scored the "Golden Goal" in 2010, helping Canada defeat the United States in overtime to win that Olympic tournament.

Devin Booker out 4 weeks

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker suffered a left groin strain in the first quarter of Sunday's loss to the Denver Nuggets and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced Wednesday.

Booker left the game after just four minutes due to the injury and didn't return. Before Sunday, the three-time All-Star missed three consecutive games due to a groin injury, though it's unclear if the ailment he sustained against Denver is an aggravation of the same issue.

Connor Bedard ties World Junior record

Connor Bedard tied the Canadian world juniors record for most points in a single game after putting up seven in the host country's 11-2 rout of Germany on Wednesday.

Bedard joins Dave Andreychuk, Brenden Morrow, Mike Cammalleri, and Gabriel Bourque as the only Canadians to accomplish the feat.

Braves sign Sean Murphy

Another piece of the Atlanta Braves' core is sticking around for the long haul.

The Braves announced Tuesday the signing of catcher Sean Murphy to a six-year, $73-million extension. The agreement, which delays his eventual free agency by at least two years, also includes a $15-million club option for 2029 with no buyout.

Murphy signed his extension less than a month after Atlanta acquired him from the Oakland Athletics in a three-team trade. He continues a trend of Braves stars forgoing arbitration and free agency in favor of signing a long-term deal with the club that began after general manager Alex Anthopoulos took over in 2018.

Antti Raanta lifts Hurricanes to victory

Antti Raanta made 24 saves for his first shutout since March and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0 on Tuesday night for their ninth consecutive victory.

Martin Necas, Jesper Fast, and Jordan Martinook scored to help the Hurricanes extend their franchise-record points streak to 15 games.

Luka Doncic career high 60 points

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic recorded a career-high 60 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 126-121 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

Doncic's performance is the first 60-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist game in NBA history, according to ESPN's Stats & Info.

The Mavericks were down nine points with 33 seconds remaining when Doncic scored six points, including the game-tying basket off an intentionally missed free throw.

J.J. Watt announces his retirement

Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt announced Tuesday that the 2022 season will be his last in the NFL.

Watt tweeted that Sunday's overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was his final home game in the league. Arizona, which has already been eliminated from playoff contention, visits the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers in its final two games this campaign.

Denver Broncos fire coach Nathaniel Hackett

The Denver Broncos fired Nathaniel Hackett on Monday after the club went 4-11 through his 15 games as head coach.

"Following extensive conversations with (general manager) George (Paton) and our ownership group, we determined a new direction would ultimately be in the best interest of the Broncos," team owner Greg Penner said in a statement. "This change was made now out of respect for everyone involved and allows us to immediately begin the search for a new head coach."

Penner will lead the search for the team's next head coach, with additional support coming from the ownership group. The owner added he has confidence in Paton as general manager.

Tua Tagovailoa in concussion protocol again

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol, head coach Mike McDaniel announced Monday.

The 24-year-old's status for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots is in question.

McDaniel said he's unsure when Tagovailoa got injured and that no one recognized issues during the Dolphins' 26-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon. The quarterback self-reported to team doctors after beginning to experience symptoms Monday.

John Carlson out after slap shot to the head

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson was released from a hospital Saturday and will be out for an indefinite period of time, the club announced.

The Capitals' medical staff is still looking after Carlson, who was taken to hospital Friday night following a slap shot to the side of the head less than a minute into the third period. He left the game and didn't return.

Anthony Davis out indefinitely

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis is out indefinitely due to a stress injury in his right foot, the team announced Friday.

The diagnosis was given after further consultation with the team's physicians and outside specialists.

However, Davis has experienced less pain in his injured foot over the past several days and is expected to rest it for another 7-to-10 days before being re-evaluated

Miles Austin suspended for gambling

New York Jets wide receivers coach Miles Austin has been suspended for at least one year for violating the NFL's gambling policy, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Rich Cimini.

Austin's attorney Bill Deni released a statement per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo confirming the suspension is for wagering on "table games and non-NFL professional sports." However, gambling on any sport is prohibited for NFL personnel, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Blue Jays acquire Daulton Varsho from Diamondbacks

The Toronto Blue Jays announced they acquired outfielder Daulton Varsho from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday for top catching prospect Gabriel Morenoand outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Varsho, 26, is coming off a breakout campaign during which he split time at catcher and outfield. He hit .235/.302/.443 with 27 homers and 16 stolen bases while ranking 99th percentile in outs above average and 97th percentile in outfield jump, according to Baseball Savant.

The left-handed hitter posted a 121 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers but a 52 wRC+ against southpaws. He's under team control through the 2026 campaign, and is projected to earn $2.8 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility.

Alex Ovechkin scores goal 802

Alex Ovechkin has sole possession of second place on the NHL's all-time goals list.

The Washington Capitals sniper scored goals No. 801 and 802 on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets, passing the legendary Gordie Howe.

Brittney Griner released from Russian prison

Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, American officials said. The swap, at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine, achieved a top goal for President Joe Biden, but carried a heavy price — and left behind an American jailed for nearly four years in Russia.

The deal, the second such exchange in eight months with Russia, procured the release of the most prominent American detained abroad. Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose monthslong imprisonment on drug charges brought unprecedented attention to the population of wrongful detainees.

Aaron Judge signs 9 year $360M with Yankees

Aaron Judge has rendered his verdict.

The New York Yankees are re-signing the reigning American League MVP to a nine-year, $360-million deal, a source told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Chicago Cubs sign Cody Bellinger

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a one-year, $17.5-million contract with former National League MVP Cody Bellinger, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Bellinger's deal contains a mutual option for 2024 that can be bought out for $5.5 million, according to Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times. He'll earn a base salary of $12 million next year.

Nathan MacKinnon out 4 weeks

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon is expected to miss approximately four weeks with an upper-body injury, the team announced Tuesday. 

MacKinnon appeared to be in discomfort after taking a shot in the first period of Monday's clash against the Philadelphia Flyers. He also took a couple of hits from Scott Laughton next to the Flyers' bench.

The star didn't return to the contest after logging just five minutes of ice time. The Avs lost the game 5-3.