Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and postseason kicking hero Adam Vinatieri are among the first-time nominees for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Hall announced 167 modern era candidates for the class on Wednesday that included 16 players who became eligible this year, including two-time All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda.

A screening committee will reduce the list of nominees to 50 players next month. Then the full 50-person selection committee will cut the list down to 25 semifinalists and then 15 finalists for the annual meeting before the Super Bowl that will produce the new class. Players must get 80% of votes to get in with between three and five players getting in as modern era candidates.

The other first-time candidates are offensive linemen Travis Frederick, Ryan Kalil and Joe Staley; running backs Darren Sproles and Marshawn Lynch; receiver Demaryius Thomas; tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker; and defensive backs Antoine Bethea, Aqib Talib and Earl Thomas.

There are also 10 players back under consideration who were finalists a year ago with defensive lineman Jared Allen; tight end Antonio Gates, receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne; offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Jahri Evans; defensive backs Darren Woodson, Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison; and running back Fred Taylor back on the list.

Other nominees with Vikings ties include quarterbacks Randall Cunningham and Rich Gannon, offensive lineman Matt Birk, defensive linemen Henry Thomas, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, and kicker Gary Anderson.

Love practices as he continues recovery

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is practicing again for the first time since injuring his left medial collateral ligament, but the team remained circumspect about his chances of playing Sunday at Tennessee.

Love worked out on a limited basis Wednesday, and the Packers weren’t providing details on how much he did. When he was asked on multiple occasions on Love’s workload, coach Matt LaFleur simply repeated that “he was limited.”

Love hadn’t practiced at all last week and didn’t play Sunday in a 16-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

If Love isn’t able to play Sunday, Malik Willis would take the field to face his former team.

Portland awarded WNBA expansion franchise

The WNBA is headed back to Portland, with Oregon’s biggest city getting an expansion team that will begin play starting in 2026.

The team will be owned and operated by Raj Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. They paid $125 million for the franchise.

It’s the third expansion franchise the league will add over the next two years, with Golden State and Toronto getting the other two. The Golden State Valkyries will begin play next season and Toronto in 2026.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said she hopes to have more teams by 2028 but doesn’t think that the league will be adding any more that will start playing before 2027.

Portland had a WNBA team, the Fire, from 2000 until 2002 when it folded.

Orioles release former closer Kimbrel

The Baltimore Orioles designated their former closer Craig Kimibrel for assignment Wednesday following the latest in a series of rough outings.

Kimbrel gave up six runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning of relief in Baltimore’s 10-0 home loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night. Kimbrel has a 13.94 ERA in his last 11 appearances over the past month.

A nine-time All-Star, Kimbrel has pitched in 837 games and amassed a whopping 440 saves. But this season, his first with Baltimore, the right-hander has a 5.33 ERA with six blown saves.

“Tough day,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We have so much respect for Craig and his career. It’s never easy to say goodbye to someone who’s done a lot.”

Messi comes on late in Inter Miami’s victory

Alexey Miranchuk scored on a booming shot in the 84th minute to give Atlanta United a 2-2 tie with MLS-leading Inter Miami in Atlanta, which brought on Lionel Messi as a substitute Wednesday night looking to move a step closer to the Supporters’ Shield.

Coach Gerardo Martino wanted to manage the minutes of the 37-year-old Messi, who is coming back from an injury with the club in the midst of a busy stretch.

Messi trotted on in the 61st, shortly after Leo Campana had scored off a deflected free kick to put the Herons in front, but couldn’t find the net in his limited time on the field.

Miami improved to 19-4-6 with five matches remaining in the regular season. The Herons pushed 12 points ahead of LA Galaxy, who played later Wednesday against Portland.

Briefly

Auto racing >> Bubba Wallace signed a multi-year contract extension with 23XI Racing, the team announced Wednesday.

BASEBALL >> Austin Martin went 3 for 4 and Andrew Morris allowed three runs on six hits with five strikeouts over five innings for the St. Paul Saints in their 10-2 loss to the Indianapolis Indians on Wednesday night at CHS Field.

BASKETBALL >> ESPN NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski is retiring from broadcasting to return to his alma mater, St. Bonaventure, to take over the newly created position of general manager of the men’s basketball program, the Atlantic 10 school announced Wednesday.

tennis >> Coco Gauff split from coach Brad Gilbert after more than a year and one Grand Slam title together, the pair announced Wednesday via separate messages on social media.

— From news services