Thomas Bryant Out For Three Weeks
Wizard’s center Thomas Bryant will be out for three weeks due to a foot injury. Tests following Sunday’s loss against the Clippers showed a stress reaction. Currently, Bryant averages 13.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1 block per game this season. He reported pain in his foot following Sunday’s game.
Wizards coach Scott Brooks remains hopeful. “Hopefully, we get news then,” he said, referring to the three-week timeline. As a result of Bryant’s injury, the Wizards moved rookie forward Rui Hachimura to the center spot against the Magic with Davis Bertans starting at forward.
Bengals Activate Ross Off Injured Reserve
Bengals wide receiver John Ross returned to the lineup this week after being out for 8 weeks. Back in Week 4, Ross suffered an injured sternoclavicular joint in their loss against Pittsburgh. Ross was cleared for practice back in November. As a result, the Bengals waived Daimon Willis for the second time this season.
“It’ll be good to get John back, and he certainly brings a speed element that will be helpful,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Monday. Before his injury, Ross caught 16 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns in the first four games of the season. As such, he was gearing up for his best NFL career start.
Braves Sign Cole Hamels To $18M Deal
The Atlanta Braves signed LHP Cole Hamels to a 1-year, $18M deal on Wednesday. Hamels joins a rotation headed by Mike Soroka and including Max Fried and Mike Foltynewicz. Last season, he suffered injury after injury. Before receiving an oblique strain, his ERA hovered around 3.00. When he returned, however, it stayed closer to 5.79.
“Trying to correct things while I built up the arm strength was a recipe for disaster,” said Hamels. “This is the first time I’m going into free agency, and I don’t want that in the back of teams’ heads, how I finished.”
Evander Kane Fined $5,000
Sharks forward Evander Kane received a $5,000 fine for elbowing Capitals’ Radko Gudas. “It’s a high hit. It’s a reviewable penalty. The league will deal with it from there,” Capitals coach Todd Reirden said. “But it’s the type of stuff we’re working to remove from the game.”
With five minutes left in Tuesday night’s game, Kane and Gudas were skating to a loose puck. Kane then raised his right glove and struck Gudas in the head. The on-ice officials reviewed the hit and determined that Kane would receive a five-minute major for elbowing as well as a game misconduct.
Gamecocks QB Ryan Hilinski Out For Surgery
South Carolina’s starting QB Ryan Hilinksi will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. A release from the school stated that a surgery date for the 6-foot-3 freshman starter hasn’t been scheduled. However, they expect him fully healthy when the Gamecocks start offseason workouts next month.
