LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks from LSU, headlined the “Monday Night Football” matchup in the second preseason game for each team. Daniels scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown, but Burrow led two touchdown drives in the Bengals’ 31-17 win over the Commanders. Both teams have high-profile players out amid contract disputes, Cincinnati DE Trey Hendrickson and Washington WR Terry McLaurin.
No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Penn State each had three players selected for the preseason AP All-America team. The Southeastern Conference had 12 players on the 27-man first team determined by media members on the AP Top 25 voting panel. Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Pittsburgh each had two players on the first team. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Florida center Jake Slaughter are returning first-team AP All-Americans. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik was the overwhelming preseason choice for first-team quarterback after throwing for 3,639 yards with 39 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A coach at a center in Iowa that has trained Olympic champions is facing allegations that he abused young female gymnasts and secretly photographed others undressing at a prior job in Mississippi. Sean Gardner, who coached at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, has been temporarily barred from all contact with USA Gymnastics since July 2022 due to unspecified allegations of misconduct. He has not been charged criminally while a police investigation continues. But three years after abuse allegations were reported to police and he was removed from USA Gymnastics, the FBI arrested him last week on a federal child pornography charge. He has been ordered detained pending further proceedings in Mississippi.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Xander Bogaerts of the San Diego Padres had a home run overturned due to fan interference, and manager Mike Shildt was ejected for coming out of the dugout to talk to the umpires in the second inning against the San Francisco Giants. Bogaerts hit a flyball that appeared to bounce out of Heliot Ramos’ glove and over the fence as two fans, including one in a Giants shirt, reached for it. Neither fan appeared to touch the ball but after a lengthy review, the home run call was overturned and Bogaerts was called out. Shildt was ejected immediately when he came out of the dugout.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is putting together a Cy Young-worthy season everywhere but in the win-loss column. The 23-year-old Skenes' record still sits at 7-9 following a no-decision in Pittsburgh's 5-2 win over Toronto. Skenes has recorded a no-decision 10 times this season. He's allowed two runs or less in nine of those games. Skenes says he doesn't get caught up in his win total as long as the Pirates have more runs than the opponents at the end of every game he plays.
LONDON (AP) — An era-defining Women's Rugby World Cup has set records even before it kicks off on Friday when host England plays the United States in Sunderland. Rugby fans anticipating the 10th and best Women’s World Cup yet have gobbled up tickets at a stunning pace. New Zealand hosted the last tournament in 2022 and sold a record 150,000 tickets. England has sold 375,000 tickets so far. The Sept. 27 final is sold out, guaranteeing the largest crowd ever for a one-day women’s rugby event. The buzz is driven by the tournament’s flagship status and a host team that is the standard-bearer in women’s rugby. England is the runaway trophy favorite, undefeated in nearly three years and loser only once in six years.
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 courtesy of Warming Bernabel's walk-off single in the ninth inning. It snapped a 10-game skid against the Dodgers. The Rockies have now tied their season-high winning streak of four games. Since the All-Star break, they've gone 14-15, while the Dodgers are 13-15. Colorado needs to win six of its final 37 games to avoid the modern-era MLB record for losses owned by the 2024 Chicago White Sox. All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman says the team is focused on improving and playing clean baseball.
The Cleveland Browns have announced that Joe Flacco will be their starting quarterback for the Sept. 7 opener against AFC North rival Cincinnati. Coach Kevin Stefanski indicated over the past week that decision was coming. The Browns were off on Sunday after their 22-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles but had a team meeting on Monday. The 40-year old Flacco beat out Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson is on the roster but is expected to miss the season because of injuries. Besides having 191 regular-season starts and going into his 18th season, Flacco was the only quarterback who has not missed time during training camp because of an injury.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matthew Stafford practiced with the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, marking the quarterback’s first workout with the team this preseason after having been unable to do so because of a sore back. Stafford, 37, took first-team reps during the session and did not speak to reporters afterward. Coach Sean McVay said it was too soon to know what the session means for Stafford’s status going forward.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Third-ranked Iga Swiatek captured the Cincinnati Open title by defeating No. 7 Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 on Monday night. Swiatek has won all six meetings against the Italian, dropping only one set in those matches. Paolini jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set but Swiatek roared back to go ahead 5-3. Paolini broke serve to get even at 5-5, but Swiatek closed out a first-set victory in 56 minutes. Swiatek’s eighth ace of the match gave her a 5-3 lead in the second set. Paolini broke serve twice in the second set and was within 5-4, but Swiatek was able to serve out the match for her 24th career singles title.
Finals
INTERLEAGUE
Final Pittsburgh 5 Toronto 2
Final Philadelphia 12 Seattle 7
Final Chicago White Sox 13 Atlanta 9
Final Cleveland 3 Arizona 1
Final Cincinnati 4 L.A. Angels 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Detroit 10 Houston 0
Final Baltimore 6 Boston 3
Final Kansas City 4 Texas 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Milwaukee at Chi Cubs 2:20 p.m. (Postponed)
Final Milwaukee 7 Chicago Cubs 0
Final St. Louis 8 Miami 3
Final Colorado 4 L.A. Dodgers 3
Final San Francisco 4 San Diego 3
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Final Cincinnati 31 Washington 17