Quick hits
Rams’ Clay Matthews will miss at least a month after suffering broken jaw
LOS ANGELES — Linebacker Clay Matthews will undergo surgery for a broken jaw suffered during the Los Angeles Rams’ 30-29 defeat by the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night and will be sidelined at least a month, coach Sean McVay said Friday.
McVay said Matthews was injured near the end of the game when he was accidentally kicked in the jaw while attempting to tackle Seahawks running back Chris Carson.
“That’s not good for us,” McVay said. “That’s a big injury.”
Matthews signed with the Rams in March after playing 10 seasons for the Green Bay Packers. Against the Seahawks, he had one sack and five tackles. He also drew a roughing-the-passer penalty in the fourth quarter that kept alive a Seahawks drive.
Matthews, who had a career-low three sacks last season, has six sacks this season and 89 in his career.
“It’s something you just hate for him because of how productive he’s been for us and what he’s meant to our team and all the things that he’s done,” McVay said. “It’s going to be a big loss. Guys are going to be asked to step up in his absence.”
Samson Ebukam, a third-year pro, will start in Matthews place, McVay said.
“He’s done some good things,” McVay said. “Samson’s been a productive player for us over the last handful of years, and I think he’s done a nice job really supplementing Dante (Fowler) and Clay on the edge. But now, obviously, he’ll be asked to step up in a bigger role and play more snaps. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times
Sparks fire Toler after profanity-laced tirade
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Sparks have fired executive vice president and general manager Penny Toler in the aftermath of a profanity-laced tirade directed at players that included a racial epithet following a playoff loss in the WNBA semifinals.
The team announced Friday that Toler, a founding member of the WNBA as a player and the Sparks’ general manager for 20 years, has been relieved of her duties immediately. Managing partner Eric Holoman will take over her duties as the club searches for a replacement.
“On behalf of ownership and the entire Sparks organization, I’d like to thank Penny Toler for a successful and historic tenure with the organization,” Holoman said. “Penny is a foundational figure in the growth of the WNBA and helped lead our franchise to perennial playoff success and multiple titles. We wish her nothing but the best moving forward.”
The Sparks said in a statement that a national search for a new general manager would begin immediately.
Toler played for the Sparks from 199799. During her tenure as general manager the club won WNBA titles in 2001, 2002 and 2016 while qualifying for the playoffs 18 times. — Dan Loumena, Los Angeles Times
Joe Girardi to interview for Cubs’ managerial vacancy
CHICAGO — Cubs President Theo Epstein will interview Joe Girardi about the team’s managerial vacancy, the team announced Friday.
Girardi, the former Cubs catcher with 11 seasons of managing under his belt, is the fourth confirmed candidate to replace Joe Maddon, along with David Ross, Mark Loretta and Will Venable. Loretta, the team’s bench coach, interviewed Thursday; the other three will meet with the Epstein next week.
Girardi expressed interest in the job Wednesday in an interview with WSCRAM 670 but also said he mostly wants to manage somewhere.
Girardi, 54, who won a World Series ring in 2009 during his 10-year run as Yankees manager, also is considered a potential candidate for the Mets’ opening. He was unavailable for comment. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune