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Injury Watch: Yamal, Ter Stegen and others sidelined for World Cup 2026
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has suffered a hamstring injury but is expected to be fit for the tournament, while Germany's Marc-Andre ter Stegen faces fading chances of recovering in time for the opening matches.
Brazil's Rodrygo is ruled out after an ACL tear, and France striker Hugo Ekitike is out until 2027 following an Achilles rupture. Argentina's Cristian Romero is also sidelined with a knee injury, leaving international managers with difficult selection decisions ahead of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico tournament.
Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt arrested, charged with domestic battery
Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt has been arrested and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery. sweetbonanza.qpon
The Kansas City Star reports that an Overland Park, Kansas, police officer arrested Merritt at about 8:50 p.m. Wednesday and he was booked into the Johnson County jail at about 10:25 p.m. No bond has been set.
On Thursday morning, the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office filed a complaint accusing Merritt of “unlawfully, knowingly, or recklessly” causing bodily harm to a daughter, according to the report.
Merritt is due in court today.
The 54-year-old Merritt has been the Chiefs' defensive backs coach since 2019. He has previously held NFL coaching jobs with the Cardinals, Giants and Jets, and spent time as a college assistant coach. He was a 1993 seventh-round pick of the Dolphins and had a brief NFL playing career before going into coaching.
The Chiefs said they are aware of the arrest and have no comment. Merritt will likely be put on leave and the NFL will begin an investigation into a potential violation of the league's personal conduct policy.
The Ravens need better guard play. Here are the draft’s top options
There is little point in rehashing the Ravens’ sub-optimal horrible guard play over the last few years. Baltimore reunited with John Simpson in free agency to upgrade over Andrew Vorhees at left guard. There is no clear starter on the right side; 2025 third-round pick Emery Jones should have a shot at the starting job, but he barely played as a rookie and is no guarantee to be a Week 1 starter.
The Ravens could certainly look for an immediate upgrade at right guard in this year’s draft, which is fairly strong at the position. Fano and Rutledge even have potential center versatility, which would be huge after Tyler Linderbaum left Baltimore in free agency.
Here are Baltimore Beatdown’s top guard prospects in the 2026 draft with selected scouting notes:
1. Spencer Fano, Utah (No. 9 on Baltimore Beatdown’s Big Board)
Fano is a superb athlete that has full understanding of utilizing body to create displacement as a zone blocker. He took snaps at center at the Combine and projects best on the interior, where his functional athleticism and core strength give him a solid foundation to handle the position at the next level. He has the mobility to operate in space and the base strength to hold up against interior power, offering encouraging versatility as he transitions inside. Fano is also an efficient striker and can redirect players in pass protection. With continued technical development and the right coaching staff, he carries notable upside as a long-term starter at center or guard.
2. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State (No. 20 overall)
Ioane is most Ravens fans’ favorite option for the No. 14 pick. He is a stout pass protector with a refined ability to latch onto defenders in the run game and angle block them out of the frame. He is a solid, but not elite athlete, raising some minor questions about his fit in Declan Doyle’s scheme. Ioane’s lack of positional versatility is another negative that, in our eyes, makes him a less-than-ideal pick in the first round with the potential for another Tyler Linderbaum fifth-year option/franchise tag situation down the line.
3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon (No. 33 overall)
Consistent and reliable in pass protection. Displaces defensive linemen with heavy hands and notable upper-body strength. Brings an physical edge, finds work, and finishes blocks through the whistle.
4. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M (No. 53 overall)
5. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech (No. 60 overall)
Rutledge allowed just one sack and 12 pressures across 893 pass blocking snaps in his last two years at Georgia Tech, per Pro Football Focus. He is a heavy-handed, scheme-versatile guard who squares up defenders when blocking in space, especially as a puller or when finding work at the second level. Like Fano, Rutledge offers some potential as a center with enough functional strength and short-area movement skills to maximize his ‘phone booth’ blocking style. He also brings the toughness, base power, physicality, and scheme versatility the Ravens (should) prize in their linemen.
6. Gennings Dunker, Iowa (No. 94 overall)
Dunker is a solid athlete and a strong, pugnacious brawler in the trenches. His footwork and balance are issues, particularly out in space/on an island, but the requisite agility for Declan Doyle’s zone scheme is there. He has plenty of competitive toughness but a worrying injury history. Dunker is better suited for guard in the NFL but has the frame and experience to play right tackle if necessary. He does not profile as an immediate starter in Baltimore.
7. Jalen Farmer, Kentucky (No. 96 overall)
Farmer is a heavy-handed puncher with a boat-sized anchor in pass protection, with just five sacks and 28 pressures allowed in the last two years. In the run game, he is a strong downhill blocker on gap runs who is great at seeking contact and finishing. His age and athleticism offers an appealing developmental trajectory.
8. Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame (No. 126 overall)
9. Beau Stephens, Iowa (No. 130 overall)
A superb athlete that would fit seamlessly into Declan Doyle’s zone running scheme.
10. Keagen Trost, Missouri (No. 155 overall)
11. Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma (No. 158 overall)
12. Jeremiah Wright, Auburn (No. 177 overall)
13. DJ Campbell, Texas (No. 189 overall)
14. Micah Morris, Georgia (No. 195 overall)
15. Carver Willis, Washington (No. 196 overall)
UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart will not take new role after retirement
Outgoing University of Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart will no longer assume a new role after retiring June 30, officials announced in an April 23 release.
Barnhart announced his retirement in early March after nearly a quarter century in the role, adding that he would be accepting a new role as executive in residence of the UK Sport and Workforce Initiative. The move recently drew criticism from Gov. Andy Beshear, who commented on Barnhart's planned salary of nearly $1 million.
In a news release, UK president Eli Capilouto said Barnhart came to him with concerns that discussion of the role had become "a distraction" and decided stepping away would be in the best interest of the university.
"Mitch and his family care deeply about this institution and our state, and they want the focus to return to the work that matters most for our students and the Commonwealth," he wrote.
Barnhart said he was thankful for the opportunities given to him at UK and that his heart will continue to be "full of love" for the university.
"Work has already begun on the Initiative but recently it has become apparent that now is not the right time and we would never stand in the way of what we deem best," he said. "The world of sports is dynamic and ever-changing. It is my hope that this initiative will continue in the future."
This story may be updated.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mitch Barnhart announces retirement after criticism by governor
Elena Rybakina admits Madrid Open conditions already ‘challenging’ before first match
Fresh off her second title of the year in Stuttgart, Elena Rybakina heads to the Madrid Open with her sights set on more than just another trophy.
The world number two is closing the gap on Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings, with this tournament their first time crossing paths since Miami.
Elena Rybakina discusses difficult Madrid conditions ahead of title chase
Rybakina is set to play Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round of the Madrid Open, but she is happy she can acclimatise to the conditions quickly.
Having just played on indoor clay last week, the world number two thinks adjusting to Spain’s conditions could be tough.
“It’s challenging coming from indoor, it’s different clay court there and here is very fast. You need time to adapt,” she said.
“I will have a few more days and hopefully I will play a few matches here. I’m hoping to do better and better, we’ll see how it goes. It will be challenging, I would say.”
Rybakina’s victory against Karolina Muchova in the Stuttgart Open final marked her 25th win of the WTA Tour season so far.
Outside of her losses to Sabalenka, Rybakina has only been beaten three times this year and remains one of the most consistent players on tour.
Elena Rybakina’s impressive record on clay courts
Rybakina has only one Masters title or higher to her name on clay, but her overall record on the surface is still very impressive.
Rybakina boasts a 74% career win rate on clay, which actually tops her numbers on grass and hardcourts. She’s picked up 67 wins and five WTA Tour titles on the surface, including her biggest at the Italian Open in 2023.
At that tournament, she defeated an impressive list of opponents: Anhelina Kalinina, Jelena Ostapenko, Iga Świątek, Marketa Vondroušová, Anna Kalinskaya, and Jasmine Paolini.
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