Patrick Mahomes practices, set to start in AFC Championship Game.

FOOTBALL Mahomes likely to start

Patrick Mahomes took the majority of first-team reps in practice Thursday, even though he remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, raising expectations that he will start in the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills. Mahomes was initially listed as a full participant when he returned to practice Wednesday, but the Chiefs quickly corrected his status to limited because he remains in the protocol. He must be cleared by team physicians and an independent neural consult before the reigning Super Bowl MVP can be a full participant in practice or play in a game. Mahomes sustained the concussion when he was tackled on a quarterback option midway through the third quarter of the Chiefs’ 22-17 divisional-round win over Cleveland. Chad Henne finished the game with Matt Moore backing him up, and the two veteran journeymen would be next in line if Mahomes was not cleared to play. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire practiced for the second consecutive day as he comes back from a high-ankle sprain he sustained in Week 15, as did wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who has been out with a calf injury since Week 16.

Former Packers GM dies

Ted Thompson, whose 13-year run as Green Bay Packers general manager included their 2010 Super Bowl championship season, has died. He was 68. The Packers announced Thursday that Thompson died the previous night at his home in Atlanta, Texas. The team said it was contacted by a direct family member. Thompson announced in May 2019 he had been diagnosed with an autonomic nerve disorder. He was the general manager from 2005-17 and drafted many notable players on the current roster, including two-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He acquired 49 of the 53 players on the Packers’ 2010 championship team. Thompson spent more than two decades in the Packers’ front office and was the team’s director of pro personnel when the Packers won the Super Bowl for the 1996 season and captured the NFC title the following year.

Eagles plan to hire Sirianni

Nick Sirianni’s success working with various quarterbacks with different styles comes in handy in his new job. The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. Sirianni was the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts the past three seasons. He worked under Coach Frank Reich, who was offensive coordinator in Philadelphia when the Eagles won the Super Bowl three years ago. The 39-year-old Sirianni previously served as an assistant coach with the Chiefs and Chargers. The Eagles fired Doug Pederson following a 4-11-1 season, less than three years after he led the team to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title.

GOLF Kang leads at LPGA opener

Danielle Kang managed to steal some of the spotlight from the Korda sisters on Thursday as the LPGA Tour opened its 71st season with a winners-only field at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Kang and Lopez each shot a, 7-under 64 for a one-shot lead over Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda and Gaby Lopez (Arkansas Razorbacks) at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando. Kang is coming off a two-win season last year that was shortened by the covid-19 pandemic, winning backto-back in Ohio when the LPGA resumed after a five-month shutdown. Stacy Lewis (Razorbacks) is tied for fifth after a 5-under 66.

Hagy on top at Express

Brandon Hagy didn’t find out he was in the field at The American Express until three days before it started. The Californian then left no doubt he belonged. Hagy took the first-round lead Thursday with an 8-under 64 on the Nicklaus course in La Quinta, Calif., staying one shot ahead of South Korea’s Byeong Hun An in the opening tournament of the PGA Tour’s West Coast swing. Hagy racked up 10 birdies, including three streaks of three in a row. He capped the round with a calm birdie putt on the 18th. Austin Cook (Jonesboro, Arkansas Razorbacks) is tied for 15th following a round of 4-under 68. Andrew Landry (Razorbacks) shot a 2-under 70, which places him in a tie for 61st place.

McIlroy 8-under at Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy again put himself in contention to win an event where he has had so many near misses, shooting an 8-under 64 Thursday in the first round of the season-opening Abu Dhabi Championship. In 10 appearances in Abu Dhabi, McIlroy has finished second on four occasions and third three times. Apart from one missed cut, he has only one finish outside the top 10 — tied for 11th place in 2008 in his first appearance. The four-time major champion endured the third winless season of his professional career in 2020, but shrugged off a fog delay of almost three hours to start 2021 with eight birdies.

BASEBALL Astros, Castro reach 2 deal

Catcher Jason Castro has agreed to a $7 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. This will be Castro’s second stint with the team after he was selected in the first round of the 2008 amateur draft by the Astros and spent his first six MLB seasons with the team. Castro, 33, played for both the Angels and the Padres last season where he appeared in 27 games and hit .188 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI. Castro had his best years with the Astros where he 617 games and was named to the All-Star game in 2013. He hit .232 with 62 home runs and 212 RBI in his six seasons in Houston.