Panthers dump Reich as coach
The Frank Reich era in Carolina is over after only 11 games.
The Panthers fired their coach Monday following the team’s NFL-worst 1-10 start in his first year at the helm.
Panthers owner David Tepper announced the move hours after several news outlets reported he used a profanity as he was leaving the locker room following a 17-10 loss to the Titans Sunday.
Tepper hired Reich to fix one of the league’s worst offenses over the past few seasons and develop Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick whom he gave up four draft picks and top receiver D.J. Moore to acquire this past offseason.
Instead, the Panthers are assured a franchise-record sixth straight losing season.
The Panthers are 30-63 since Tepper bought the team from Jerry Richardson in 2018 for $2.275 billion and have never made the playoffs.
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will take over as interim head coach. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will become the playcaller, with senior assistant Jim Caldwell serving as his special adviser.
Tabor’s first move as interim coach was to fire quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and running backs coach Duce Staley, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the moves have not been announced.
McCown and Staley were handpicked by Reich to be assistants.
Bears outkick Vikings
Cairo Santos made a 30-yard field goal for Chicago with 10 seconds left, his fourth of the game after a miss on the opening drive, and the Bears had four interceptions of Joshua Dobbs in a defense-dominated 12-10 victory over the Vikings at Minneapolis.
Justin Fields lost two fumbles in the fourth quarter, but with excellent protection on third and 10 near midfield he hit D.J. Moore for 36 yards to put the Bears at the 13 with 55 seconds left. They drained the clock to set up the winning kick and stop a 12-game losing streak against NFC North opponents — including six in a row against the Vikings.
Moore had 11 catches for 114 yards for the Bears (4-8), who managed to win without a touchdown on the strength of a smothering defense. Dobbs threw the go-ahead score to T.J. Hockenson with 5:54 left.
Garrett escapes serious injury
Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett did not suffer structural damage to his left shoulder in Sunday's game at Denver, a positive development for a Cleveland team rocked by major injuries all season.
Garrett, who has 13 sacks for Cleveland's top-ranked defense, got hurt during the 29-12 loss to the Broncos. He continued playing despite having limited motion. He left the stadium with his arm in a sling.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said an MRI showed nothing major wrong in Garrett’s shoulder, the same one he sprained in a car crash last year.
Stefanski said it's too early to know if Garrett will be available Sunday when the Browns (7-4) face the Rams (5-6).
Stefanski also said rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson remains in concussion protocol after taking a nasty hit in the second half.
Rodgers, Jets return to work
The Jets returned to work and Aaron Rodgers was right there with them.
During a time of despair on the field for a struggling squad, the quarterback's regular presence around the team’s facility while rehabbing might provide a mental pick-me-up.
The Jets (4-7) are on a four-game losing streak and coming off a rough 34-13 loss to Miami Friday that included a Hail Mary attempt by New York at the end of the first half that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown.
Bills’ Lawson apologizes
Bills pass rusher Shaq Lawson apologized for shoving an Eagles fan behind the team’s bench Sunday after alleging the person was making threatening remarks about players and their families.
Lawson posted his apology on his Instagram account a day after a video showed him and five defensive teammates approach a spectator in the first row behind Buffalo’s bench during a 37-34 overtime loss at Philadelphia.
The video showed Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips walking up and exchanging words with the unidentified spectator, when Lawson followed and shoved the fan, who was wearing an Eagles shirt beneath his jacket.