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NBA Preview: Milwaukee Bucks (31-17) at Indiana Pacers (24-26)

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With both teams coming off tight games Wednesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks will travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers on Friday night in a Central Division battle.

Milwaukee hung on to beat the Denver Nuggets 107-99 on Wednesday as Denver was playing on the second night of a back-to-back and resting many of its key players, including two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks in his second game back from injury with 33 points and 14 rebounds. Jrue Holiday added 20 points and Pat Connaughton scored 19 points, a season high, while grabbing 12 rebounds.

Indiana was on the losing end of a high-scoring battle in Orlando on Wednesday, falling 126-120. The Magic held on after building a 46-29 cushion after the first quarter.

In the loss, Benedict Mathurin led the way with 26 points along with Buddy Hield’s 21 points and Myles Turner’s 22 points and 13 rebounds. Chris Duarte and T.J. McConnell also scored in double figures with 16 and 17, respectively.

The injured Tyrese Haliburton leads Indiana with 20.2 points and 1.8 steals per game and leads the entire NBA with 10.2 assists per game. Myles Turner leads the Pacers with 8.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

For Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo leads with 31.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Holiday leads the Bucks with 7.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game while Brook Lopez leads with 2.5 blocks per game.

Haliburton has not played since Jan. 11, missing eight games. He said Friday that the Pacers would re-evaluate his injury by the end of January and he hopes to return by then. Additionally, Andrew Nembhard is day-to-day for the Pacers and Daniel Theis missed Wednesday’s game with a knee injury.

Milwaukee played its first game without Bobby Portis on Wednesday after he suffered a right MCL and right ankle sprain Monday. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

MarJon Beauchamp is considered day-to-day for the Bucks with knee soreness while Serge Ibaka remains out as the team looks for a trade partner for him.

The Bucks and Pacers matched up earlier this season. The Bucks won their ninth straight in the series against the Pacers on Jan. 16, winning 132-119 in Milwaukee.

NFL Conference Championship Games Injury Report — Thursday

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CINCINNATI BENGALS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
CINCINNATI BENGALS
 
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayG Alex Cappa (ankle), DT D.J. Reader (not injury related – resting player), T Jonah Williams (knee)
 ThursdayG Alex Cappa (ankle), T Jonah Williams (knee)
 
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayLB Joe Bachie (foot), CB Tre Flowers (hamstring), DE Sam Hubbard (not injury related – resting player)
 ThursdayLB Joe Bachie (foot), TE Hayden Hurst (calf)
 
    FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayC Ted Karras (knee)
 ThursdayCB Tre Flowers (hamstring), DE Sam Hubbard (not injury related – resting player), C Ted Karras (knee), DT D.J. Reader (not injury related – resting player)
 
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
 
Practice Report
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayWR Mecole Hardman (pelvis)
 ThursdayWR Mecole Hardman (pelvis)
 
    FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayLB Willie Gay (toe), QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle), RB Jerick McKinnon (ankle)
 ThursdayLB Willie Gay (toe), QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle), RB Jerick McKinnon (ankle)
 
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
 
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayQB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot), RB Christian McCaffrey (calf), RB Elijah Mitchell (groin), T Trent Williams (not injury related – resting player)
 ThursdayQB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot), RB Christian McCaffrey (calf), RB Elijah Mitchell (groin)
 
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayDE Charles Omenihu (oblique), WR Deebo Samuel (ankle), CB Ambry Thomas (ankle)
 ThursdayDE Charles Omenihu (oblique), WR Deebo Samuel (ankle), CB Ambry Thomas (ankle)
 
    FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 ThursdayT Trent Williams (not injury related – resting player)
 
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
 The Eagles did not practice Wednesday. The Wednesday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayT Lane Johnson (groin), CB Avonte Maddox (toe)
 ThursdayCB James Bradberry (not injury related – resting player), WR A.J. Brown (not injury related – resting player), DT Fletcher Cox (not injury related – resting player), G Landon Dickerson (not injury related – resting player), DE Brandon Graham (not injury related – resting player), T Lane Johnson (groin, not injury related – resting player), C Jason Kelce (not injury related – resting player), CB Avonte Maddox (toe), DE Robert Quinn (not injury related – resting player), G Isaac Seumalo (not injury related – resting player), CB Darius Slay (not injury related – resting player), DE Josh Sweat (not injury related – resting player)

NFL AFC Conference Championship Preview: Cincinnati Bengals (14-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (15-3)

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AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
CINCINNATI BENGALS (14-4 – AFC NORTH – NO. 3 SEED) @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-3 – AFC WEST – NO. 1 SEED)
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 2023
TIME: 6:30 PM ET
STADIUM: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
REFEREE: Ron Torbert

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Bengals lead all-time series, 17-14
STREAKS Bengals have won past 2
LAST GAME 12/4/22: Chiefs 24 at Bengals 27
LAST GAME AT SITE 10/21/18: Chiefs 45, Bengals 10

PLAYOFF SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Bengals lead all-time series, 1-0
STREAKS Bengals won only meeting
LAST GAME 1/30/22: Bengals 27 at Chiefs 24 (OT)
LAST GAME AT SITE 1/30/22

BENGALS HEAD COACH: ZAC TAYLOR
PLAYOFF RECORD 5-1
VS. OPPONENT 3-0

CINCINNATI BENGALS
PLAYOFF RECORD 10-15
CHAMPIONSHIPS 0
LAST POSTSEASON
GAME W 27-10 at Buffalo (1/22/23 – AFC-D)
VS. COMMON OPPONENTS 3-0: Buf (1-0), TB (1-0), Ten (1-0)
PTS. FOR 26.1
OFFENSE 378.0
PASSING Joe Burrow: 414-606-4,475-35-12-100.8
RUSHING Joe Mixon: 210-814-3.9-7
RECEIVING Ja’Marr Chase: 87-1,046-12.0-9
PTS. AGAINST 20.1
DEFENSE 335.7
SACKS Trey Hendrickson: 8
INTs Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell: 4
TAKE/GIVE +6 (24/18)
PR Trent Taylor: 10.3
KR Trayveon Williams: 22.3
PUNTING (NET) Drue Chrisman: 47.8 (42.6)
KICKING Evan McPherson: 112 (40/44 PAT; 24/29 FG)

BENGALS TEAM NOTES
• CINCINNATI advanced to AFC Champ. Game in consecutive seasons for 1st time in franchise history & 4th time overall. Aims for 4th SB appearance.

• ZAC TAYLOR can become 1st Cin. HC ever to win 2 AFC Championships & 3rd HC in NFL history to appear in 2 SBs within 1st 4 seasons.

• BENGALS had 3 players selected to 2023 Pro Bowl Games: QB JOE BURROW, WR JA’MARR CHASE & DE TREY HENDRICKSON.

• CINCINNATI ranked 4th in NFL in total offense (378 yards per game).

BENGALS OFFENSIVE NOTES
• QB JOE BURROW has 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 100.8 rating in 2022 postseason & aims for his 4th in row overall in playoffs with 0 INTs. Is 3-0 with 9 TDs (8 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT & 121 rating in 3 career starts vs. KC, incl. 2021 AFC-C. Can tie Russell Wilson (6 wins) for most playoff wins by QB in 1st 3 seasons in SB era. Ranked 5th in NFL with 4,475 pass yards & tied-2nd with career-high 35 TD passes in 2022.

• RB JOE MIXON had playoff career-high 123 scrimmage yards (105 rush, 18 rec.) & rush TD last week. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in each of 6 career playoff games, incl. 115 scrimmage yards (88 rush, 27 rec.) in 2021 AFC-C vs. KC. Had 1,255 scrimmage yards (814 rush, career-high 441 rec.) in 2022, his 4th-career season with 1,250+ scrimmage yards.

• WR JA’MARR CHASE had 5 catches for 61 yards & TD last week & has rec. TD in 3 of his past 4 in playoffs. Has 513 career postseason rec. yards, 2nd-most ever by player in 1st 2 seasons. Has 4 rec. TDs in 3 career games vs. KC, incl. playoffs.

• WR TEE HIGGINS had 103 rec. yards in 2021 AFC-C vs. KC.

• WR TYLER BOYD had 5th-straight season with 750+ rec. yards (762).

• TE HAYDEN HURST had TD catch last week & has rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 in playoffs. Had rec. TD in his last game at KC (12/27/20 w/ Atl.).

BENGALS DEFENSIVE NOTES
• DE TREY HENDRICKSON led team with 8 sacks in 2022 & is 1 of 6 in NFL with 8+ sacks in each of past 3 seasons. Had 1.5 sacks in 2021 AFC-C vs. KC.

• LB LOGAN WILSON led team with career-high 123 tackles this season. Has 7+ tackles in each of 6 career postseason games.

• DE SAM HUBBARD had 2 sacks & FF in 2021 AFC-C vs. KC & aims for his 3rd in row vs. KC with sack, incl. playoffs.

• LB GERMAINE PRATT set career highs in tackles (99) & PD (10) this season. Has 3 PD in 2022 postseason. Had FF & FR in Week 13 meeting.

• S JESSIE BATES had career-best 4 INTs in 2022. Has 6 PD in 6 career playoff games & has PD in 2 of his past 3 vs. KC, including postseason.

• S VONN BELL had sack last week. Aims for 4th in row vs. KC with PD, incl. playoffs.

CHIEFS HEAD COACH: ANDY REID
PLAYOFF RECORD 20-16
VS. OPPONENT 2-6-

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
PLAYOFF RECORD 18-21
CHAMPIONSHIPS 3: 1960, 1969 (SB IV), 2019 (SB LIV)
LAST POSTSEASON
GAME W 27-20 vs. Jacksonville (1/21/23 – AFC-D)
VS. COMMON OPPONENTS 2-1: Buf (0-1), TB (1-0), Ten (1-0)
PTS. FOR 29.2
OFFENSE 413.6
PASSING Patrick Mahomes: 435-648-5,250-41-12-105.1
RUSHING Isiah Pacheco (R): 170-830-4.9-5
RECEIVING Travis Kelce (TE): 110-1,338-12.2-12
PTS. AGAINST 21.7
DEFENSE 328.2
SACKS Chris Jones: 15.5
INTs Juan Thornhill, L’Jarius Sneed: 3
TAKE/GIVE -3 (20/23)
PR Kadarius Toney: 6.1
KR Isiah Pacheco (R): 20.6
PUNTING (NET) Tommy Townsend: 50.4 (45.6)
KICKING Harrison Butker: 92 (38/41 PAT; 18/24 FG)

CHIEFS TEAM NOTES
• KANSAS CITY became 3rd team ever to appear in 5 consecutive Champ. games. Aims for 3rd SB appearance in 4 years & 5th in franchise history.

• ANDY REID makes 10th Champ. game appearance, tied-2nd most ever by HC, & has 20 career postseason wins, tied 2nd-most ever by HC.

• CHIEFS led NFL in total offense (413.6 yards per game) for 3rdconsectuive season & led in scoring offense (29.2 points per game).

• KANSAS CITY had 7 players selected to 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

CHIEFS OFFENSIVE NOTES
• QB PATRICK MAHOMES has 32 TDs (28 pass, 4 rush) vs. 3 INTs with 116.7 rating in 10 career home playoff starts, with 2+ TD passes in each of past 5. Has 90+ rating in each of 4 career starts vs. Cin., incl. playoffs. Led NFL with 5,250 pass yards & 41 TD passes in 2022, joining Drew Brees as only players ever with 2 career seasons of 5,000+ pass yards & 40+ TD passes. Aims for 6th in row overall with 105+ rating.

• RB JERICK MCKINNON led RBs with 9 rec. TDs in 2022, tied-most by RB in single season in SB era. Finished reg. season with TD catch in 6 straight games, incl. Week 13 vs. Cin., longest streak ever by RB.

• RB ISIAH PACHECO (rookie) rushed for 95 yards in playoff debut last week. Ranked 4th among rookie RBs with 830 rush yards & 2nd with 5 rush TDs, both 3rd-most ever by KC rookie. Had rush TD in Week 13 meeting.

• TE TRAVIS KELCE had 14 catches for 98 yards & 2 TDs last week, his 7th straight playoff game with 95+ rec. yards, longest streak in NFL history. Has 1,389 career postseason rec. yards, tied 3rd-most ever. Aims for 5th in row in playoffs with rec. TD. Had 10 catches for 95 yards & TD in 2021 AFC-C vs. Cin. Led TEs with 110 catches (tied 2nd-most ever by TE in single season) & 1,338 rec. yards (4th-most ever by TE in single season) in 2022.

• WR MARQUES VALDES-SCANTLING had rec. TD last week & aims for his 3rd in row in playoffs with TD catch. Had 71 rec. yards in Week 13 meeting.

CHIEFS DEFENSIVE NOTES
• DT CHRIS JONES ranked tied-4th in NFL with 15.5 sacks in 2022 & is 1 of 5 players with 7+ sacks in each of past 5 seasons.

• DE FRANK CLARK had 12th-career postseason sack last week, tied 4thmost since 1982. Had 6th-career season with 5+ sacks (5).

• DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS ranked 3rd among rookies with 6 sacks in 2022. Had sack in Week 13 meeting.

• LB NICK BOLTON led team with 10 tackles & had FR last week. Had 16 tackles in Week 13 meeting. Ranked 2nd in NFL with career-high 180 tackles in 2022, most by KC player in single season since at least 2000.

• CB L’JARIUS SNEED was 1 of 2 players in 2022 with 100+ tackles (108), 3+ sacks (3.5) & 3+ INTs (3). Aims for his 4th in row in playoffs with 9+ tackles.

NFL NFC Conference Championship Preview: San Francisco 49ers (15-4) at Philadelphia Eagles (15-3)

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NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (15-4 – NFC WEST – NO. 2 SEED) @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (15-3 – NFC EAST – NO. 1 SEED)
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 2023
TIME: 3:00 PM ET
STADIUM: Lincoln Financial Field
REFEREE: John Hussey

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER 49ers lead all-time series, 19-14-1
STREAKS Eagles have won 2 of past 3
LAST GAME 9/19/21: 49ers 17 at Eagles 11
LAST GAME AT SITE 9/19/21

PLAYOFF SERIES HISTORY
LEADER 49ers lead all-time series, 1-0
STREAKS 49ers won only meeting
LAST GAME 12/29/96: Eagles 0 at 49ers 14
LAST GAME AT SITE First meeting in Philadelphia

49ers HEAD COACH: KYLE SHANAHAN
PLAYOFF RECORD 6-2
VS. OPPONENT 1-2

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
PLAYOFF RECORD 36-22
CHAMPIONSHIPS 5: 1981 (SB XVI), 1984 (SB XIX), 1988 (SB XXIII),
1989 (SB XXIV), 1994 (SB XXIX)
LAST POSTSEASON
GAME W 19-12 vs. Dallas (1/22/23 – NFC-D)
VS. COMMON OPPONENTS
5-1: AZ (2-0), CHI (0-1), DAL (1-0), NO (1-0),
WAS (1-0)
PTS. FOR 26.5
OFFENSE 365.6
PASSING Brock Purdy (R): 114-170-1,374-13-4-107.3
RUSHING Christian McCaffrey (2022): 244-1,139-4.7-8
RECEIVING Brandon Aiyuk: 78-1,015-13.0-8
PTS. AGAINST 16.3
DEFENSE 300.6
SACKS Nick Bosa: 18.5
INTs Tashaun Gipson: 5
TAKE/GIVE +13 (30/17)
PR Ray-Ray McCloud: 10.8
KR Ray-Ray McCloud: 23.0
PUNTING (NET) Mitch Wishnowsky: 43.9 (39.7)
KICKING Robbie Gould: 131 (50/51 PAT; 27/32 FG)

49ERS TEAM NOTES
• SAN FRANCISCO advanced to NFC-C for 3rd time in 4 seasons & have 18 Champ. game appearances since 1970, most among all teams.

• KYLE SHANAHAN led SF to SB LIV appearance (2019 season) & NFC-C (2021 season) in 1st 2 career playoff runs as HC.

• 49ERS led NFL in total defense (300.6), scoring defense (16.3) & turnover margin (+13) & ranked 2nd in rush defense (77.7).

49ERS OFFENSIVE NOTES
• QB BROCK PURDY became 3rd rookie since 1970 (Joe Flacco & Mark Sanchez) to win 2 playoff games. Can became 5th rookie QB ever (Flacco, Shaun King, Ben Roethlisberger & Sanchez) to start Champ. game.

• RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY aims for his 4th postseasn game in row with TD & 9th in row overall in 2022 with TD, incl. playoffs. Ranked 3rd in NFL with 1,880 scrimmage yards (1,139 rush, 741 rec. – most among RBs), ranked 2nd among RBs with 85 catches & was 1 of 2 (Austin Ekeler) with 5+ rush TDs (8) & 5+ rec. TDs (5) in 2022.

• RB ELIJAH MITCHELL has 50+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his 5 playoff games.

• TE GEORGE KITTLE had 5 catches for 95 yards in NFC-D vs. Dal. Had 60 catches for 765 yards (5th-most among TEs) & career-high 11 rec. TDs (2nd-most among TEs) in 2022. Had 4 games with 2 rec. TDs in 2022, most by TE in season since 2015.

• WR BRANDON AIYUK has 65+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 playoff games. Set career highs with 78 receptions, 1,015 rec. yards & 8 rec. TDs in 2022.

• WR DEEBO SAMUEL has 741 scrimmage yards (459 rec., 282 rush – 92.6 per game) & 3 TDs (2 rec., 1 rush) in 8 career playoff games. Had 101 scrimmage yards (93 rec., 8 rush) in last reg. season meeting.

49ERS DEFENSIVE NOTES
• DL NICK BOSA Aims for his 4th playoff game in row with TFL. Had 2 sacks & FF in last reg. season meeting. Became 1st SF player since 1982 to lead NFL in sacks (career-high 18.5) & ranked tied-2nd with 19 TFL in 2022. Became 4th player since 1982 with sack in 13+ games (13) within single season.

• DL SAMSON EBUKAM had sack in NFC-D vs. Dal. & has 0.5+ sacks in 4 of his past 5 playoff games.

• DL ARIK ARMSTEAD has 6 sacks in 8 career playoff games. • LB FRED WARNER had 9 tackles & 2nd-career playoff INT in NFC-D vs. Dal. & has 5+ tackles in each of 1st 8 career playoff games. Led team with 130 tackles, his 5th-straight 100+ tackle season & had career-high 10 PD in 2022.

• LB DRE GREENLAW had career highs in tackles (127) & PD (6) in 2022. Aims for his 3rd in row in playoffs with 6+ tackles.

• DB JIMMIE WARD had 2 PD & TFL in NFC-D vs. Dal.

• CB CHARVARIUS WARD had career-high 87 tackles & 11 PD in 2022.

• S TALANOA HUFANGA set career highs in tackles (95), PD (9), TFL (5) & INTs (4) in 2022.

EAGLES HEAD COACH: NICK SIRIANNI
PLAYOFF RECORD 1-1
VS. OPPONENT 0-1

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
PLAYOFF RECORD 24-24
CHAMPIONSHIPS 5: 1948, 1949, 1960, 2017 (SB LII)
LAST POSTSEASON
GAME W 38-7 vs. N.Y. Giants (1/21/23 – NFC-D)
VS. COMMON OPPONENTS
4-3: AZ (1-0), CHI (1-0), DAL (1-1), NO (0-1),
WAS (1-1)
PTS. FOR 28.1
OFFENSE 389.1
PASSING Jalen Hurts: 306-460-3,701-22-6-101.6
RUSHING Miles Sanders: 259-1,269-4.9-11
RECEIVING A.J. Brown: 88-1,496-17.0-11
PTS. AGAINST 20.2
DEFENSE 310.5
SACKS Haason Reddick: 16
INTs C.J. Gardner-Johnson: 6
TAKE/GIVE +8 (27/19)
PR Britain Covey: 9.3
KR Boston Scott: 27.1
PUNTING (NET) Brett Kern: 40.8 (36.6)
KICKING Jake Elliott: 111 (51/53 PAT; 20/23 FG)

EAGLES TEAM NOTES
• PHILADELPHIA advanced to NFC-C for 1st time since 2017.

• NICK SIRIANNI has led Phi. to postseason in each of 1st 2 seasons.

• EAGLES have 35 rush TDs in 2022 (incl. postseason) & can tie 1962 Packers (37) for most rush TDs ever in single season, incl. playoffs.

• PHILADELPHIA has 75 sacks in 2022 (incl. postseason), 3rd-most ever by team in single season, incl. playoffs.

EAGLES OFFENSIVE NOTES
• QB JALEN HURTS had 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 112.2 rating in NFC-D vs. NYG. Became 3rd QB ever with 3,500+ pass yards (3,701), 20+ TD passes (22) & 10+ rush TDs (13) in single season, 2nd-most rush TDs by QB in single season in NFL history. Became 1st QB all-time with 10+ rush TDs in consecutive seasons. Ranked 4th among QBs with 760 rush yards. Had 272 yards (190 pass, 82 rush) & rush TD in last reg. season meeting.

• RB MILES SANDERS rushed for 90 yards in NFC-D vs. NYG. Had career highs in rush yards (1,269) & rush TDs (11) in 2022.

• WR A.J. BROWN had 88 catches for franchise-record 1,496 yards (4thmost in NFL) & 11 rec. TDs in 2022. Has 5+ catches, 80+ rec. yards & TD catch in 2 of his past 3 postseason games. Had 11 catches for 145 yards & rec. TD in his only career game vs. SF (12/23/21 w/ Ten.).

• WR DEVONTA SMITH led team with 6 catches for 61 yards & had rec. TD in NFC-D vs. NYG. Had career highs in catches (95), rec. yards (1,196) &
rec. TDs (7) in 2022. Brown & Smith were only pair of teammates each with 85+ catches & 1,100+ rec. yards this season.

• TE DALLAS GOEDERT had 5 catches for 58 yards & rec. TD in NFC-D vs. NYG. Aims for his 4th in row in playoffs with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards.

EAGLES DEFENSIVE NOTES
• LB HAASON REDDICK had 1.5 sacks in NFC-D vs. NYG. Ranked tied-2nd in NFL with career-high 16 sacks & ranked tied-1st with 5 FFs. Became 1st player since 1982 with 10+ sacks in 3 straight seasons with 3 different teams.

• DE BRANDON GRAHAM had sack last week. Had career-high 11 sacks in 2022. Has sack in 3 of his 5 career games vs. SF.

• DT JAVON HARGRAVE had career highs in sacks (11) & TFL (10) this season. Had 2 TFL in last reg. season meeting.

• DE JOSH SWEAT had career highs in sacks (11) & TFL (15) in 2022. Has sack in 6 of his past 7 games, incl. playoffs.

• DT FLETCHER COXhad sack last week. Has 7 TFL in 9 career playoff games.

• LB T.J. EDWARDS was 1 of 4 with 150+ tackles (159 – tied-6th in NFL) & 10+ TFL (10) in 2022.

• CB DARIUS SLAY (14 PD, 3 INTs) & CB JAMES BRADBERY (17 PD, 3 INTs) were only pair of teammates each with 14+ PD & 3+ INTs in 2022. Bradberry had INT in NFC-D vs. NYG.

• S C.J. GARDNER-JOHNSON ranked tied-1st in NFL with career-high 6 INTs

NFL Transactions 1-26-23

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The following are the NFL transactions for Thursday, January 26. Transactions will be published each day after they are circulated to NFL clubs. This public version will include waiver requests, assignments via waivers, terminations, free agent signings, reserve list and practice squad additions and deletions, and trades.

RESERVE LIST ADDITIONS

CHICAGO
    Stroman, GregDBVirginia Tech 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future

DALLAS
    Alarcon, IsaacTNo College 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future
    Green, SethTEHouston 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future

HOUSTON
    Hollman, Ka’darDBToledo 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future

NEW ORLEANS
    Baker, KawaanWRSouth Alabama 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future
    Connelly, RyanLBWisconsin 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future
    Forristall, MillerTEAlabama 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future
    Quevedo, AlexKCentral Oklahoma 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future
NEW YORK GIANTS
    Burgess, TerrellDBUtah 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future
    Sills, DavidWRWest Virginia 
         Free Agent Signing
         Reserve/Future

White Sox agree to terms with additional international free agents

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CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with 11 additional international free agents; catchers Angelo Hernández ($500,000), Stiven Flores ($250,000) and Elías Riera ($35,000), infielders Javier Mogollón ($75,000), Eyke Ugueto ($60,000) and Adrián Gil ($40,000), outfielder Marcelo Alcalá ($50,000), and right-handed pitchers Óscar Hernández ($75,000), José Malavé ($50,000), Jordany Chirinos ($50,000) and Fabián Ysalla ($50,000). 

Hernández, 17, is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound catcher from Maracay, Venezuela. He bats and throws right-handed. 

Flores, 17, is a native of Cumaná, Venezuela. The 6-foot, 180-pound catcher hits and throws right-handed. 

Riera, 16, is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound catcher from Maracaibo, Venezuela. He bats and throws right-handed 

Mogollón, 17, is a native of San Felipe, Venezuela. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound shortstop bats and throws right-handed. 

Ugueto, 16, is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound shortstop from La Guaira, Venezuela. He bats and throws right-handed. 

Gil, 17, is an infielder, who can play shortstop, second and third base. The 6-foot, 190-pound native of Caracas, Venezuela bats and throws right-handed. 

Alcalá, 16, is a native of El Tigre, Venezuela. The 6-foot-1, 178-pound outfielder hits and bats right-handed. 

Hernández, 16, is a right-handed pitcher from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. He is listed at 6-foot-4, 170 pounds. 

Malavé, 16, is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed pitcher. He is a native of Cumaná, Venezuela.   

Chirinos, 16, is a right-handed pitcher from Caja Seca, Venezuela. He is listed at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds. 

Ysalla, 18, is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. He is a native of Turmero, Venezuela. 

Earlier this month, the White Sox agreed to terms with seven other international free agents.

A’s trade LHP Irvin and RHP Virbitsky to Baltimore for INF Hernaiz

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OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s traded left-handed pitcher Cole Irvin and minor league right-handed pitcher Kyle Virbitsky to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league infielder Darell Hernaiz, the club announced today.

Irvin went 9-13 with a 3.98 ERA and .709 opponents OPS in 30 starts in his second season with the A’s last year after going 10-15 with a 4.24 ERA and .746 OPS in 32 starts in 2021.  He led the A’s in wins, losses, starts, innings pitched (181.0) and strikeouts (128) in 2022 and had career highs in innings pitched, strikeouts and home runs allowed (25).  The 29-year-old left-hander had career lows in ERA, opponents batting average (.251), on-base percentage (.293), slugging percentage (.416) and OPS.  Irvin ranked second in the AL in fewest pitches per inning (14.4), third in fewest strikeouts per nine innings (6.36) and sixth in fewest walks per nine innings (1.79).  He is 21-30 with a 4.40 ERA in 81 games, 65 starts, in his career.

Virbitsky was the A’s 17th round selection in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft and combined to go 7-7 with a 4.63 ERA and .270 opponents batting average in 23 games, including 22 starts, with Single-A Stockton and High-A Lansing last year.  He struck out 140 batters in 126.1 innings and walked 30.  The 24-year-old right-hander is 8-9 with a 4.49 ERA in 30 games, 25 starts, in two seasons as a professional.

Hernaiz was the Orioles fifth round pick in the 2019 draft and is rated as Baltimore’s 16th-best prospect according to MiLB.com.  He played for Single-A Delmarva, High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie last year and batted a combined .273 with 12 home runs, 62 RBI, 32 stolen bases and a .779 OPS in 105 games.  The 21-year-old right-handed hitter started 58 games at shortstop, 22 at second base, 19 at third base and two at designated hitter.  Hernaiz is a .274 career hitter with 20 home runs, 122 RBI, 59 stolen bases and a .737 OPS in 228 games in three seasons in the Orioles farm system.

Orioles transaction

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The Orioles have made the following transaction:

  • Agreed to terms with RHP Austin Voth on a one-year contract for the 2023 season, avoiding arbitration. The deal includes a club option for 2024.

White Sox invite 26 players to Spring Training

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CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on minor-league contracts with the following nine free agents: right-handed pitchers Keynan Middleton and Jesse Scholtens, left-hander Nate Fisher, catcher Sebastián Rivero, infielders Hanser Alberto and Erik González and outfielders Billy Hamilton, Jake Marisnick and Víctor Reyes.

All nine players, in addition to 17 others from within the organization, have received non-roster invites to the club’s spring training camp in Glendale, Ariz.

Right-handed pitchers Sean Burke, Declan Cronin, Edgar Navarro, Lane Ramsey and Matthew Thompson, left-handers Fraser Ellard, Samuel Peralta and Andrew Perez, catchers Adam Hackenberg and Evan Skoug, infielders Moisés Castillo, Luis Mieses, Colson Montgomery and Zach Remillard, and outfielders Yoelqui Céspedes, Oscar Colás and Adam Haseley received invites to major-league camp from within the club’s minor-league system.

Montgomery (No. 1), Colás (No. 2), Burke (No. 5), Thompson (No. 12), Céspedes (No. 16), Mieses (No. 20) and Hackenberg (No. 30) rank among the White Sox top prospects according to Baseball America. Montgomery (No. 39) and Colás (No. 89) also rank among the publication’s Top 100 prospects in baseball.

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Wednesday, February 15, including physicals and a workout. Position players will report and undergo physicals on Monday, February 20. The first full-squad workout also takes place on the 20th.

Pirates officially announce signing of No. 10 internationally ranked-prospect Jun-Seok Shim

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The Pittsburgh Pirates today officially announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Jun-Seok Shim (pronounced Joon-seuk) as a non-drafted free agent.

The 18-year-old Shim was ranked as the No. 2 pitcher (10th overall) by MLB Pipeline among players in this year’s international draft class. The Pirates have now signed two of the top 26 prospects from this year’s international draft class after the team also inked 17-year-old outfielder Raymond Mola from Peravia, Dominican Republic, to a contract on January 17.

“We are excited to add Jun-Seok to our organization and start him on his road to Pittsburgh,” said Pirates Director of International Scouting, Junior Vizcaino. “The ability for the Pirates to add a prospect like Shim speaks to our commitment to seek out and acquire the best talent worldwide.”

Shim joins the Pirates organization after an impressive prep career at Duksoo High School in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to having his 2022 season end prematurely due to an injury to his big toe, Shim posted a 1.42 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 19.0 innings in 2020. One year later, Shim did not allow an earned run in 14.1 innings before being sidelined with an elbow injury.

“As our relationship grew with Jun-Seok and his family, it became very evident on the caliber of person and competitor we are bringing into the organization,” said Pirates Director, Player Personnel Max Kwan. “He is a very confident young man that loves to compete and wants to be challenged. We are impressed with his frame, how well he moves, and his innate ability to spin the ball. We believe he is just scratching the surface. We are excited to support Jun-Seok as he embraces the transition on and off the field entering affiliated baseball.”

The Pirates will host a press conference with Shim, Vizcaino and Kwan today at PNC Park at 11 a.m. General Manager Ben Cherington will also be in attendance. Members of the media can enter PNC Park at the press entrance beginning at 10:15. Pirates scout Jong Hoon Na, who signed Shim, will serve as a translator.