No new contract for Ekeler, but Chargers add incentives
The Chargers added $1.75 million in incentives to the contract of Austin Ekeler, a person not authorized to speak publicly said.
The development represents a truce in the running back’s dissatisfaction over his current deal. Ekeler is entering the final season of a four-year, $24.5-million contract that includes a 2023 base salary of $6.25 million. The deal ranks 13th in average annual value among NFL running backs.
Frustrated with the progress of talks on an extension, Ekeler was granted permission in March to seek a trade. Finding little interest, he instead was able to secure the extra incentives.
During his six years with the Chargers, Ekeler has 3,727 yards rushing, 3,448 yards receiving and 63 touchdowns in 89 games. He leads the NFL with 38 touchdowns the last two seasons.
Ekeler has led the Chargers in rushing in each of the last three years and has caught at least 54 passes in every season since 2019.
NFL owners voted for a oneyear trial of an enhanced touchback rule that gives the receiving team the ball at its 25 with a fair catch of a kickoff anywhere behind that yard line . ... Denver released kicker Brandon McManus.
Slovenian guard picks UCLA
UCLA’s men’s basketball team
received a verbal commitment from Jan Vide, a 6-foot-6 Slovenian guard. Should he sign with the Bruins, Vide would become the fourth player on the team with ties to Europe.
UCLA is recruiting three additional European players for its freshman class, including 7-3 center Aday Mara of Spain. Vide’s choice was confirmed by a person close to the situation on condition of anonymity because the player has not made his plans public.
— Ben Bolch
Former New Mexico State
basketball player Mike Peake will not face charges in a fatal shooting on a rival college’s campus last year, authorities said . ... Charles “Cotton” Nash, a three-time AllAmerica forward at Kentucky who played in the NBA, ABA and Major League Baseball, has died. He was 80.
Brianna Navarrosa beat the world’s top-ranked amateur, Rose Zhang, and USC knocked off reigning champion Stanford 3-1 in the NCAA women’s golf semifinals . ... Austin Overn hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and the goahead
triple in the sixth as USC scored the final five runs to beat UCLA 6-4 in pool play at the Pac-12 tournament.
Graham Rahal will get a chance to keep his 15-year streak of Indianapolis 500 starts intact, replacing injured Stefan Wilson in the Dreyer & Reinbold entry after failing to qualify for the race with his own team.
Dylan Samberg scored in overtime and the United States beat Sweden 4-3 to finish the group stage with a perfect record at the ice hockey world championship . ... The Calgary Flames promoted former player Craig Conroy to general manager.
LAFC midfielder Timmy Tillman has been approved by FIFA to change his national team affiliation to the United States from Germany . ... Catarina Macario won’t be ready to play for the U.S. in this summer’s Women’s World Cup as she recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament . ... The U.S. moved closer to the knockout stage at the Under-20 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Fiji.
TENNIS RESULTS
$606,124 LYON OPEN
At Lyon France
Surface: Red clay
SINGLES (first round)—Sebastian Baez (6), Argentina, d. Marton Fucsovics, Hungary, 6-4, 7-6 (5); Pablo Llamas Ruiz, Spain, d. Max Purcell, Australia, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-1; Pedro Cachin, Argentina, d. Gael Monfils, France, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
(Second round)—Francisco Cerundolo (4), Argentina, d. Juan Pablo Varillas, Peru, 6-2, retired; Jack Draper, Britain, d. Miomir Kecmanovic (5), Serbia, 6-4, 7-5; Brandon Nakashima (8), d. Arthur Rinderknech, France, 7-6 (6), 1-6, 7-5.
$606,124 GENEVA OPEN
At Geneva
Surface: Red clay
SINGLES (first round)—Ilya Ivashka, Belarus, d. Guido Pella, Argentina, 6-4, 7-5; Christopher O’Connell, Australia, d. Nino Serdarusic, Croatia, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (1), 6-1; Tallon Griekspoor (6), Netherlands, d. Stefano Travaglia, Italy, 7-5, 7-6 (3); Jeffrey John Wolf d. Hugo Dellien, Bolivia, 6-4, 6-2.
(Second round)—Alexander Zverev (3), Germany, d. Christopher Eubanks, 6-2, 6-3; Yibing Wu, China, d. Marco Cecchinato, Italy, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
$259,303 GRAND PRIX DE SAR LA PRINCESSE
At Rabat, Morocco
Surface: Red clay
SINGLES (first round)—Julia Grabher, Austria, d. Ysaline Bonaventure, Belgium, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2; Cagla Buyukakcay, Turkiye, d. Linda Fruhvirtova (7), Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-4; Tatjana Maria (8), Germany, d. Tatiana Prozorova, Russia, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-0; Timea Babos, Hungary, d. Irina Khromacheva, Russia, 6-4, 6-1; Leylah Annie Fernandez (5), Canada, d. Angela Fita Boluda, Spain, 6-3, 6-4; Lucia Bronzetti, Italy, d. Rebecca Peterson, Sweden, 6-4, 7-6 (4); Kamilla Rakhimova, Russia, d. Malak El Allami, Morocco, 6-3, 6-3; Alycia Parks (4), d. Anastasia Tikhonova, Russia, 6-3, 7-6 (6).
$259,303 STRASBOURG INTERNATIONAL
At Strasbourg, France
Surface: Red clay
SINGLES (first round)—Magda Linette (1), Poland, d. Cristina Bucsa, Spain, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
SINGLES (second round)—Anna Blinkova, Russia, d. Anna-Lena Friedsam, Germany, 6-4, 7-6 (11); Clara Burel, France, d. Kaia Kanepi, Estonia, 7-5, 7-6 (0); Emma Navarro d. Jil Teichmann (8), Switzerland, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Bernarda Pera (4), d. Kimberly Birrell, Australia, 6-4, 6-4.