Raiders win the Hall of Fame game
The Las Vegas Raiders gave coach Josh McDaniels a successful homecoming in his debut on their sideline.
Josh Jacobs, rookie Zamir White and Austin Walter ran well on a rainsoaked field and the Raiders routed Jacksonville 27-11 in the Hall of Fame game Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, spoiling coach Doug Pederson’s first game with the Jaguars.
Derek Carr and Davante Adams warmed up but they didn’t get a chance to play their first game together since Fresno State. Carr, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, and Adams, the All-Pro receiver acquired in blockbuster trade with Green Bay, were among many starters who sat out for both teams.
Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence wore a backward cap on the sideline while third-string quarterback Jake Luton was started.
The NFL’s first preseason game began 40 minutes late due to severe weather that forced fans to seek shelter.
• Diontae Johnson watched the wide receiver market explode during the offseason. The dollar amounts were so staggering they were impossible for Johnson to ignore as he entered contract negotiations with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“You see the numbers,” Johnson said. “But I wasn’t trying to look at everybody’s pockets.”
Johnson was trying to get back to his job. One he returned to full time after agreeing to a new three-year contract worth more than $39 million. That’s a lot of money to be sure, just not on par with some of the other megadeals his higher-profile brethren have signed in recent weeks.
That’s fine by Johnson.
“I took the right deal,” said Johnson, a Pro Bowler for the first time in 2021 after posting career highs in receptions (107), yards (1,161) and touchdowns (eight).
• NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has handed off Deshaun Watson’s discipline case to a lawyer with league connections and expertise in domestic violence and sexual assault.
Goodell chose former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey to hear the league’s appeal of the sixgame suspension without pay given to Cleveland’s quarterback, whose playing status hangs in the balance.
Watson was suspended this week by independent disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, who concluded he violated the league’s personal conduct policy after being accused of sexual misconduct by two dozen women in Texas.
The league wanted further discipline and appealed Robinson’s ruling on Wednesday. Watson had just finished practice and was still on the field when he learned of the league’s move.
Huh shoots career-best 61
John Huh wasn’t expecting the lowest round of his PGA Tour career in the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., and he had no complaints about the score or the timing.
Huh made seven of his eight birdie attempts from 10 feet or closer and holed a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th hole at Sedgefield for a 9-under 61, giving him a two-shot lead over Sungjae Im in the final tournament of the regular season.
“It’s kind of strange because like earlier I mentioned, I wasn’t really feeling great with my game and (to) shoot my career low, it’s kind of weird,” Huh said. “Sort of mixed feelings, but I’ll take this any day.”
Huh needed a round like this. He is No. 120 in the FedEx Cup — with some wiggle room because of the defectors to Saudi-funded LIV Golf — and only the top 125 advance to the lucrative postseason next week and are assured a full PGA Tour card for next season.
“I know what’s on the line, I know how important this tournament would be,” Huh said. “At the same time you’ve just got to go and play and I think I did that really well today.”
Peter Malnati and Brandon Wu were at 64.
• Playing in borrowed clothes doesn’t seem to bother Jessica Korda at the Women’s British Open in Muirfield, Scotland.
Still waiting for her suitcase to arrive, Korda recovered from an early bogey to shoot a 5-under 66 in the first round, putting her one shot behind leader Hinako Shibuno of Japan.
Korda made four birdies and an eagle on the 17th despite missing her normal clothes after her luggage got stuck at an airport in Switzerland.
“If anyone knows anyone at the Zurich airport that would like to put my suitcase on the one flight a day that they have coming into Edinburgh, I’d deeply appreciate it,” Korda said. “I know where it is, I have an air tag on it. I can’t get anyone to actually go get it . ... Monday I wore Megan Khang’s pants. Tuesday, I wore my sister’s pants and Wednesday I wore Alison Lee’s pants. Today I’m wearing FootJoy pants.”
Shibuno, the 2019 champion, made birdies on the first three holes and went on to card eight in total in her 65.
Club America tops LAFC
Club America won in a seven-round penalty shootout over LAFC following a 0-0 draw late Wednesday in the nightcap of the SoFi Stadium doubleheader, which drew an announced crowd of 71,189.
“Thinking forward to the World Cup, this will be bananas,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said of SoFi Stadium. Club América manager Fernando Ortiz described the venue as “spectacular” and “fantastic” through a translator.
LAFC midfielder José Cifuente put his kick over the goal and up into the stands after America’s Emilio Lara converted his attempt.
The inability of the two Liga MX teams to score over a combined 180 minutes — the Galaxy beat Chivas 2-0 earlier — was a major topic of discussion in Ortiz’s post-match press conference. However, Cherundolo was cautious not to read too much into the results.
“I try not to talk in trends,” Cherundolo said. “I think we saw two interesting games tonight. Two different games, and all four teams were at an equal level tonight.”
Auburn QB Finley charged with eluding police
Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley was arrested after turning himself in on a misdemeanor warrant for attempting to elude a police officer.
Auburn assistant police chief Clarence Stewart said in a statement that Finley also received traffic citations and was booked at the Lee County Jail on $3,000 bond. The 20-year-old quarterback was later released.
Auburn coach Bryan Harsin said Finley will practice with the team when preseason camp opens today.
“We’re aware of what’s going on,” Harsin said.
• Novak Djokovic withdrew from the upcoming hard-court tennis tournament in Montreal because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and is therefore not allowed to enter Canada.