PAC-12 cancels Washington State-Stanford game

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun says the school has nine football players in COVID-19 protocols and four players had to be put into the protocol Friday morning leading to the cancellation of the Cougars’ game at Stanford.

Chun said as of last weekend, the Cougars had zero players in their COVID protocols and the first positive test came early in the week. The four positives Friday morning kept the Cougars from reaching the Pac-12 mandate of 53 scholarship players available.

Chun said it was too early to know whether next Friday’s Apple Cup against rival Washington will be played as scheduled.

“We’re going to get through tomorrow as planned and come Sunday we’ll start making our daily assessments about where our roster is at and where we’re at with everything related to trying to field a team on Friday,” Chun said.

NFL

SAINTS NAME HILL STARTER » With quarterback Drew Brees out at least three weeks, the New Orleans Saints have turned to a familiar face under center, Taysom Hill. The jack-of-alltrades was named the starter over Jameis Winston on Nov. 20, replacing Brees who was placed on IR. Brees suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung in the Saints win over the 49ers in Week 10.

MCKINLEY FAILS SECOND PHYSICAL » The San Francisco 49ers have waived defensive end Takkarist McKinley after he failed a physical. The Niners claimed McKinley off waivers earlier this week after he failed a physical in Cincinnati but then cut him Friday after he failed their physical as well. McKinley was a first round pick by the Falcons in 2016. He had 17½ sacks, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 49 career games. The Browns had placed claims on McKinley twice.