Mater Dei's Young declared starting QB for the Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have their QB1.
Coach Frank Reich wasted no time naming rookie Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, the team's starting quarterback for the Sept. 10 opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
“When we decided to pick Bryce we imagined and saw the vision that we would be standing here today saying he is the QB1,” Reich said Wednesday.
The announcement came after the completion of the Young's first training camp practice at Wofford College, although the decision seemed imminent after he took over first-team reps from veteran Andy Dalton during organized team activities in June.
Young, a two-year starter at Alabama and the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner after starring at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, will become the first rookie to start a season opener for the Panthers since Cam Newton in 2011.
Reich vowed to be patient as Young develops as a rookie.
“We want to keep our expectations on the process and not try to make too much of any one play or any one game,” Reich said. “I think that is wisdom, that is good coaching and that is good playing. When we have a bad play, nobody is going to panic. And Bryce knows he is going to feel that from our staff. That has already been said: `Hey, you're the guy, let's go.' ”
Young called it “a huge blessing ” to be named the starter so early in camp.
“That means a lot, but for me it doesn't change my approach,” Young said. “I want to make sure I take things day by day. There are a lot of things that I want to keep growing in, keep improving in. We are all as a team in this together.”
• Aaron Rodgers took a pay cut and signed a new two-year, $75 million guaranteed contract with the New York Jets on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The four-time NFL MVP had nearly $110 million in guaranteed money remaining on his previous deal signed with Green Bay. But Rodgers is taking less money with New York — and reiterating his stay with the Jets is likely to last beyond just this season.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the team didn't announce the contract. NFL Network first reported the sides had agreed to a new deal after Rodgers confirmed earlier in the day he had agreed to a reworked contract.
• The Chicago Bears and tight end Cole Kmet agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract extension through 2027, a reward for a homegrown player coming off his best season. Kmet had 50 receptions for 544 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Las Vegas Aces bar Williams after arrest
Riquna Williams, a veteran WNBA player and member of last year's championship-winning Las Vegas Aces, has been barred from the team after her arrest on felony domestic violence charges involving a person authorities say is her spouse.
A judge on Wednesday allowed Williams, 33, to be freed from jail without bail less than a day after her arrest, but said she can have no contact with her alleged victim and must comply with alcohol monitoring pending another court appearance Aug. 2.
The Aces issued a statement acknowledging Williams' arrest and saying that she is “precluded from participating in team activities.”
“We condemn domestic violence of any kind,” the team said. “Our thoughts are with the parties involved in this situation.”
Williams faces five felony charges including multiple counts of domestic battery by strangulation, coercion with the threat or use of physical force and assault with use of a weapon, according to court records.
Lakers sign Fudge, waive Swider
The Lakers signed former Florida forward Alex Fudge to a two-way contract on Wednesday afternoon, filling their third and final two-way roster spot.
In a separate move to make room for Fudge on the roster, the Lakers requested waivers on Cole Swider, who spent last season with the team on a two-way deal.
The 6-foot-9, 192-pound Fudge, 20, was on the Lakers' summer league roster, averaging 3.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game over six games in Sacramento and Las Vegas.
He appeared in 61 games across two seasons at Florida (2022-23) and LSU (202122), averaging 4.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 16.8 minutes for his collegiate career.
Swider appeared in seven games for the Lakers last season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per game.
Aho gets $78 million from Hurricanes
A home-cooked dinner of salmon and vegetables prepared by his mother would have made it an excellent 26th birthday for Sebastian Aho, no matter what. Even better for Aho: It came with a lucrative contract extension.
The Carolina Hurricanes signed Aho to an eight-year deal worth $78 million on Wednesday, the richest contract handed out in the history of the franchise. Aho is now under contract through 2032.
“Birthday and an extension — it could be a lot worse,” Aho said on a video call. “This is the place I want to play.”