TALKING POINTS

Editor’s Note

Due to an earlier deadline of 8 p.m. throughout the pandemic, some stories might not make it into the print edition of the Valley Press. Please see the following story online at www.avpress.com: NFL Playoffs — Browns at Steelers.

McVay: Rams expect Donald to play vs Packers

LOS ANGELES — All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald is expected to play for the Rams on Saturday in Green Bay after injuring his ribs in Los Angeles’ playoff victory at Seattle.

Rams coach Sean McVay also said Sunday night that quarterback John Wolford and receiver Cooper Kupp are likely to be available for Los Angeles (11-6) against the Packers despite getting hurt against the Seahawks.

McVay said he doesn’t expect to name a starting quarterback this week for the Rams’ showdown with the top-seeded Packers (124), preferring to wait until game day for the second straight week.

Wolford left Lumen Field in an ambulance after getting hurt early in his second career start while taking a low hit to the head from Seattle’s Jamal Adams. Wolford’s injury turned out to be a stinger, and he returned to the stadium for the postgame celebration.

Longtime starter Jared Goff took over and led the Rams to the win, but went 9 for 19 less than two weeks after undergoing surgery on his right thumb.

“It affected him yesterday,” McVay said. “If you watch the game, it did. It might not have been painful, but it was something that he did a great job battling. There were things he’s typically able to execute where it seemed like (the thumb injury) was a factor.”

McVay said he expects both quarterbacks to be available in Green Bay, but he will monitor their progress before deciding on a starter.

The coach also said the Rams are much more likely to have a third quarterback active against the Packers after Los Angeles had only two in uniform in Seattle. Veteran Blake Bortles and rookie Bryce Perkins are the Rams’ other two quarterbacks.

English wins Kapalua in playoff for 1st victory in 7 years

KAPALUA, Hawaii — Harris English went more than seven years without winning on the PGA Tour, and he didn’t mind going one extra hole to win the Sentry Tournament of Champions on Sunday.

English missed a 10foot eagle putt in regulation on the par-5 18th hole at Kapalua for a 4-under 69 to force a playoff with Joaquin Niemann, and he ended it on the 18th with a 6-foot birdie.

Niemann, who closed with a 64, pulled his approach enough to tumble down the steep, shaggy hill. His full swing from thick grass got him to the fringe, but he

missed the birdie putt.

English capped off his remarkable turnaround at a tournament he ordinarily wouldn’t be allowed to play. The Tournament of Champions is for winners only from the previous year, but the field was expanded to include anyone who reached the Tour Championship because of the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down the PGA Tour for three months.

The fact English made it to the Tour Championship was proof of turning around his game. He ended the previous season without a full card and mired in a slump that dropped him to No. 369 in the world. He did everything last year but win, and he took care of that in the first event of the new year.

Now the 31-year-old from

Georgia is among the top 20 in the world, and guaranteed a return to Kapalua next year.

Wizards lose Bryant to torn ACL in left knee

WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards likely will be without center Thomas Bryant for the remainder of the season because of a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Bryant is one of only two players who started all 10 games so far this season for the Wizards. He got hurt after incidental contact with two Miami players during the first quarter of the Wizards’ loss to the Heat on Saturday night.

An MRI performed Sunday confirmed the partial tear. The Wizards have not announced when Bryant will have surgery or given an exact timeline for his recovery, but the rehabilitation process following ACL tears and surgery typically take several months at a minimum.

“I just know one thing about TB: He’s a great kid that works hard, plays with passion, gives you everything he has,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said.

Bryant has averaged 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds on 65% shooting this season.

Kenin beats Putintseva to reach Abu Dhabi quarterfinals

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin of the United States came back from match point down to beat Yulia Putintseva and reach the quarterfinals of the Abu Dhabi Open on Sunday.

Kenin posted 57 unforced errors to Putintseva’s 43 but still prevailed 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 over the 13th-seeded Putintseva.