Stafford throws passes in Rams’ camp practice opener

IRVINE — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw to receivers in practice Sunday for the first time since Los Angeles’ Super Bowl victory.

Stafford had an injection in his throwing elbow early in the offseason to treat an unspecified injury with which he played late last season. He avoided any serious throws during minicamps and organized team activities, but he was throwing again in the opening practice of the Rams’ training camp at UC Irvine.

“It feels good to get out there, just knock some rust off it a little bit, stress it and see how it reacts,” Stafford said.

Stafford said he has gradually ramped up his throwing activity in recent months, and he threw the ball in informal workouts before training camp. Along with the usual camp work, he must build a rapport with new receiver Allen Robinson, who joined Los Angeles as a free agent shortly before the team traded Robert Woods to Tennessee.

“Just trying to progress back into it,” Stafford said. “That was kind of what my time between OTAs and camp was. It’s a little bit of a process, but you’ve just got to sit there and go with it.”

Stafford and the Rams have repeatedly said he should be ready well in advance of Los Angeles’ regular season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 8 at SoFi Stadium. Rams coach Sean McVay typically doesn’t allow his key starters to play at all in the preseason.

McVay also announced Sunday that the Rams decided not to put Jalen Ramsey on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, allowing the All-Pro cornerback to participate in the walk-through portions of training camp practices. Ramsey had surgery on his shoulder during the offseason, and the Rams said Saturday he would start the year on the PUP list.

Rookie safety Quentin Lake is on the PUP list while the team monitors a knee injury, McVay said. Finau wins 3M Open by 3 with late surge, Piercy collapse

BLAINE, Minn. — Tony Finau erased a five-shot deficit with 11 holes to play with a 4-under 67 to win the 3M Open by three shots for his second PGA Tour title in the last year.

Finau received plenty of help from Scott Piercy, who fell out of the lead with a triple bogey on the 14th hole and shot 41 on the back nine for a closing 76.

Finau finished at 17-under 267 with a bogey on the final hole at TPC Twin Cities.

Sungjae Im (68) and Emiliano Grillo (71) tied for second at 270. James Hahn surged up the board with a 65 to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place at 271 with Tom Hoge (70) and Piercy, who had set the 54hole tournament record.

Piercy bogeyed four of six holes before leaving his shot from a fairway bunker in the sand on the par-5 14th, and hitting the next one in the water on his way to a triple bogey. Piercy missed a 5-foot par putt on the next hole and hit his tee shot into the water on the par-3 17th.

Finau led by as many as four shot at the end.

Pete Rose to appear on field in Philadelphia next month

PHILADELPHIA — Pete Rose will make an appearance on the field in Philadelphia next month for the first time since receiving a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball.

Rose agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989 after an investigation for MLB by lawyer John Dowd found Rose placed numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team.

Baseball’s career hits leader will be part of Phillies alumni weekend, and will be introduced on the field alongside many former teammates from the 1980 World Series championship team on Aug. 7.

Larry Bowa, the starting shortstop on the 1980 team, said during Saturday night’s television broadcast of the Cubs-Phillies game that Rose, 81, would appear at the event. A Phillies spokesperson confirmed Bowa’s statement.

Rose has made appearances for ceremonies in Cincinnati since being banned.

His application for MLB reinstatement was rejected by Commissioner Rob Manfred in 2015. Rose applied again in 2020.

A 17-time All-Star, Rose got 826 of his 4,256 hits during his five years playing for the Phillies from 1979-83.

Wiebes wins on Champs-Elysees as women’s Tour returns

PARIS — Lorena Wiebes of the Netherlands sprinted to victory on Sunday in the first stage of the women’s Tour de France which returned after a 33-year absence.

The Team DSM rider struck in the last 150 meters of the 82-kilometer (51-mile) circuit in Paris to beat former Olympic champion Marianne Vos to the line on the Champs-Elysees.

Wiebes punched the air in celebration.

“I’m really happy that I was finally able to race on the Champs-Elysees,” Wiebes said. “It was a hard race, a fast one. It feels really special to ride here around Paris and even more special to wear the yellow jersey.”