Ruling favors Elliott
A federal judge has blocked Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension for a domestic violence case, with Friday’s decision setting the stage for a potentially lengthy legal fight with the NFL. Last year’s league rushing leader was already cleared to play in the opener against the New York Giants on Sunday night before the ruling by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant. The judge agreed with players’ union lawyers that Elliott didn’t receive a “fundamentally fair” hearing in his appeal, and he granted the NFL Players’ Association request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction blocking the league’s punishment. Elliott was suspended by league commissioner Roger Goodell in August after the league concluded he had several physical confrontations last summer with Tiffany Thompson, a former girlfriend. Prosecutors in Ohio didn’t pursue the case, citing conflicting evidence. The 22-year-old Elliott denied Thompson’s allegations in sworn testimony during an appeal hearing last week.
› KANSAS CITY — One of the biggest season-opening wins in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs came at the expense of their All-Pro safety.
Eric Berry ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s 42-27 victory over the New England Patriots, ending his season and leaving the Chiefs without one of the most visible and vocal leaders on defense. But the former University of Tennessee standout has a history of overcoming serious hurdles in his NFL career. He missed most of the 2011 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee but started 16 games the next season. And after he missed the final 10 games of the 2014 regular season while undergoing treatment for lymphoma, he again started every game the following season. Last season, Berry made 77 tackles, picked off four passes and returned two for touchdowns, and he was a big reason why the Chiefs went 12-4 and won their first AFC West title since 2010.
› NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans starting cornerback
LeShaun Sims has been ruled out of Sunday’s season opener against Oakland because of an injured groin. Sims was hurt in a special teams drill Monday and has not practiced since. That could leave first-round draft pick Adoree Jackson starting. On Friday, Titans coach Mike Mularkey refused to say who will start, saying only there is enough depth to overcome Sims’ injury and Jackson will play.
GOLF
› INDIANAPOLIS — Lydia Ko shot an 8-under 64 Friday to join Lexi Thompson atop the Women in Tech Championship leaderboard with one round left in the 54-hole LPGA Tour event at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course. Thompson shot a 66 to match Ko at 15-under 129. Candie Kung was a stroke back after a 64. Former Baylor School standout Brooke Pancake followed her opening 73 with a 72 and missed the cut.
› CHIBA, Japan — Glen Day and Kevin Sutherland each shot a 7-under 65 to share the lead Friday after the opening round of the Japan Airlines Championship, the first PGA Tour Champions event in Japan. Though winless on the 50-and-older tour, Sutherland has had at least a share of the first-round lead in three of his past four events. They were a stroke ahead of Scott McCarron, who has 69.