Sports in brief for November 26

Woods will not compete at Hero World Challenge

(Reuters) — Tiger Woods will not compete in the Dec. 5-8 Hero World Challenge in Albany, Bahamas, the 15-times major winner said on Monday, extending his long absence from competition.

Tournament host Woods was not listed on the initial player field last month but had been widely expected to take one of three exemption spots for the competition, an unofficial event that features 20 of the world’s top players.

The American has not competed since he missed the British Open cut in July and subsequently underwent microdecompression surgery for nerve impingement on his lower back in September.

Jets not planning to shut down QB Aaron Rodgers

(Field Level Media) — Aaron Rodgers remains the quarterback for the New York Jets and there are no plans to shut him down because of nagging injuries, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said Monday.

Rodgers is “absolutely” the starting quarterback for the Jets (3-8) against the Seattle Seahawks (6-5), Ulbrich confirmed.

Responding to questions centered around reports Rodgers was bypassing medical tests for minor leg injuries — a swollen knee and a tender ankle — Ulbrich said there has been no discussion about shelving Rodgers.

“All I can say — and you’d have to ask Aaron if he’s fully healthy — but he’s better off today than he’s been as of late,” Ulbrich said. “So he’s definitely feeling healthier than he has for probably the last month, and a healthy Aaron Rodgers is the Aaron Rodgers we all love. So, excited about what that looks like.”

Rockets G Fred VanVleet fined $50K for outburst

(Field Level Media) — Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was fined $50,000 by the NBA for using “profane language” toward game officials near the end of a 104-98 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.

VanVleet scored eight points on 4-of-13 shooting in a game that was tied 96-96 with under a minute remaining.

The Trail Blazers finished off the victory by scoring the final five points, all from the free-throw line in the final 16 seconds.

VanVleet was called for an offensive foul with 4.3 seconds left and the Rockets trailing 103-98. He was then called for a technical foul and ejected. VanVleet pointed his finger toward all three referees as he left the court and extended his index finger near the face of one as he departed.

Panthers TE Ja’Tavion Sanders rejoins team after injury scare

(Field Level Media) — Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders rejoined the team on Monday after an injury scare in Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Carolina coach Dave Canales said Sanders was in the building the day after being taken off the field on a stretcher to the hospital for tests. According to Canales, the Panthers and medical personnel are still working through a full evaluation of the injury.

Sanders “avoided a really bad injury,” Canales said Monday.

Late in the second quarter Sunday, Sanders was brought down near the sideline after a 10-yard reception and at contact was flipped upside down. He landed directly on the top of his helmet as he went out of bounds on the tackle by cornerback Trent McDuffie. After receiving attention from the team’s medical staff, Sanders was strapped to a backboard and taken off the field on a cart with 40 seconds remaining in the first half. He was taken to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte for observation and later released Sunday afternoon.

Angels land LHP Yusei Kikuchi on $63 million pact

(Field Level Media) — Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi agreed to a three-year, $63 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, according to multiple reports Monday.

Kikuchi, 33, started 32 games with a record of 9-10 last season between the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros.

Houston acquired the southpaw prior to the trade deadline and he finished the season with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts (76 strikeouts, 14 walks) with the Astros. He totaled 206 strikeouts in 175 2/3 innings

Kikuchi joins a parade of veterans signed by the 99-loss Angels since the start of free agency. Their roster remake already includes right-hander Kyle Hendricks (Cubs), catcher Travis d’Arnaud (Braves) and infielder Kevin Newman (Diamondbacks) and trade acquisitions of slugger Jorge Soler and infielder Scott Kingery.

Prior to 2024, Kikuchi also made 32 starts in 2023 and 2019.

Signed by the Seattle Mariners in 2019, Kikuchi was 8-15 in his first two seasons

Suns expect Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal to play vs. Lakers

(Field Level Media) — Phoenix Suns stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are expected to return to action Tuesday night when the Phoenix Suns host the Los Angeles Lakers.

Both players have been dealing with strained left calf injuries. The Suns listed both players as probable for the game.

“Brad and Kevin did everything today,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said after Monday’s light workout. “So they came out of yesterday in a good place. … We’ll kind of wait to see how they feel, but we’re expecting that they’ll play, we’re hopeful that they’ll play and I think they’re excited to play.”

Durant has missed the past seven games and Phoenix is 1-6 without him. The Suns are 0-5 since Beal went down.

Tuesday will be the Suns’ first game since losing 138-122 at home to the New York Knicks on Wednesday to stretch their skid to five games.

Ravens star MLB Roquan Smith out vs. Chargers

(Field Level Media) — Baltimore Ravens star middle linebacker Roquan Smith is inactive for Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a hamstring injury.

Smith was injured in last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and missed practice all week. He was listed as questionable on Saturday’s injury report.