Ravens’ Jackson misses practice again but is expected to play on Sunday

OWINGS MILLS, Md.>> Lamar Jackson again missed practice for the Baltimore Ravens, but coach John Harbaugh says he’ll play Thursday night against Cincinnati.

Jackson was absent for two practices last week with back and knee issues. Then he looked pretty healthy while producing a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in a win over Denver last weekend. He’s listed with a knee issue on Tuesday’s injury report.

Penn State police investigating Jason Kelce cellphone altercation

Penn State University police are investigating an altercation between retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and a fan over a cellphone that occurred before the weekend game between the Nittany Lions and Ohio State.

The police department’s incident log includes an entry registered Saturday in which an “officer observed a visitor damaging personal property.” Video shared on social media showed Kelce throwing the phone of a fan who heckled him while Kelce walked near Beaver Stadium before the game.

The report listed the potential offenses as criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. Kelce later apologized for his behavior, saying he should not have greeted hate with hate.

NASCAR levies $600,000 in fines, suspends 9 people for race manipulation

CHARLOTTE, N.C.>> NASCAR has issued $600,000 in fines and suspended nine team members from three different teams for alleged race manipulation at Martinsville Speedway.

The penalties came down after a contentious final battle Sunday at the Virginia track in which Christopher Bell initially qualified for the championship final four, but his move to hit the wall and use it for momentum violated a banned safety rule and was disallowed.

That gave the final spot in this week’s winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway to William Byron. NASCAR has since ruled that Chevrolet drivers Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon intentionally helped Byron during the race, and Bubba Wallace faked a flat tire to help Bell.

Sabalenka clinches WTA year-end No. 1 ranking

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia>> Aryna Sabalenka has clinched the year-end No. 1 spot in the women’s rankings for the first time. Sabalenka was assured of finishing atop the rankings when Iga Swiatek lost at the WTA Finals on Tuesday.

Sabalenka is a 26-year-old from Belarus who won the Australian Open and U.S. Open in 2024 to raise her career Grand Slam total to three titles. A year ago, Sabalenka briefly overtook Swiatek in the rankings in September to get to No. 1 for the first time, but relinquished the top spot when Swiatek won the WTA Finals.

Charges dismissed in South Carolina forward’s assault, kidnapping case

COLUMBIA, S.C. >> South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins has had the charges against her dismissed, according to online court records. Watkins was arrested and charged with assault and kidnapping on Aug. 31. She has been suspended from the women’s basketball team since.

There was no immediate update on her status with the team. The defending national champions opened the season Monday night with a 68-62 win over Michigan. South Carolina faces No. 9 N.C. State in Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday.

— The Associated Press