Cooper Kupp and the Seattle Seahawks agreed on a three-year, $45 million contract Friday.

Kupp, the Super Bowl 56 MVP, was released by the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday. He’ll help replace DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett for his home state team in Seattle, which traded quarterback Geno Smith and signed Sam Darnold in free agency.

Kupp, who starred in college at Eastern Washington and is from Yakima, Washington, was the AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he won the receiving triple crown by catching 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Kupp added 33 catches for 478 yards and six TDs in the postseason, including the winning touchdown in a Super Bowl win over Cincinnati on the Rams’ home field.

Kupp was plagued by injuries the past three seasons and didn’t have 900 yards receiving during that span.

He had a rough finish last season, during which he missed four games early with an ankle injury.

Kupp had just 12 catches for 162 yards in the final five games of the regular season during the least productive stretch of his career.

His role was also diminished with the Rams as Puka Nacua emerged as an elite NFL receiver the past two seasons. Los Angeles also added Davante Adams this offseason.

Bills’ free agent signings face bans

Buffalo Bills stand to open the season minus two new free-agent defensive line additions upon learning Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht both face six-game suspensions for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

General manager Brandon Beane said Friday that the team was aware of Hoecht’s positive test before agreeing to sign the hybrid defensive lineman/linebacker to a contract on Monday.

As for Ogunjobi, Beane said the player revealed he had just received notice of testing positive upon arriving at the team’s facility to sign a one-year contract the two sides agreed to on Tuesday.

Proposal made to keep Bears in city of Chicago

The developers of a tract of land on Chicago’s South Side launched a Hail Mary they hope keeps the Bears in the city, revealing renderings for an enclosed stadium and mixed-use development on the site of the old Michael Reese Hospital.

The plan released by Chicago’s Farpoint Development calls for both a $3.2 billion, 75,000-seat stadium to house the founding NFL franchise as well as $356 million in parking and infrastructure to be financed privately.

It also includes a park bridge to be built over Lake Shore Drive and 5 million square feet of “neighboring development opportunities.”

The Bears declined comment. They have rejected the 48.6-acre site in the past.

The team owns a 326-acre tract of land in suburban Arlington Heights where a stadium could be built.

They unveiled a nearly $5 billion plan that also called for restaurants, retail and more in September 2022, when they were finalizing the purchase of that site.

The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971. The team’s lease runs through 2033.

MLB

Holmes to start season opener for Mets

New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes will take the mound on opening day for his first start since 2018.

Holmes has worked 9 2/3 shutout innings over three Grapefruit League starts as he moves from the bullpen to the rotation. The Mets visit Houston for their opener on March 27.

During those three spring training starts, Holmes has struck out 13 while walking four and allowing two hits.

The Mets had indicated they planned to make Holmes a starter when they signed him to a three-year, $38 million contract in December.

Braves’ Riley HBP, leaves spring game

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley left a Grapefruit League game Friday after a pitch hit him in the hand that he broke last season.

Riley got hit by a pitch from Jackson Rutledge in the first inning of the Braves’ game with the Washington Nationals.

The Braves announced that the two-time All-Star had been taken out of the game “as a precaution.”

Riley, who turns 28 on April 2, batted .256 with a .322 on-base percentage, 19 homers and 56 RBIs last year. His season ended after he was hit in the right hand by a 97 mph fastball from Los Angeles Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz. An MRI revealed his hand was fractured.

Orioles name Eflin Opening Day starter

Zach Eflin will start for the Baltimore Orioles on opening day.

Eflin went a combined 10-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 28 starts last season with Tampa Bay and Baltimore.

The right-hander was 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA in nine starts after the Orioles acquired him last July.

This will be the second straight season that Eflin has started a season opener against Toronto.

He gave up six runs over 5 2/3 innings last season as the Rays lost 8-2 in their opener at home against the Blue Jays.

NHL

Vegas extends goalie on 6-yr., $37.5M deal

The Vegas Golden Knights are keeping goaltender Adin Hill for the long term.

Hill signed a six-year extension worth $37.5 million rather than testing the market as an unrestricted free agent this summer.

He will count $6.25 million against the salary cap from when the deal kicks in next NHL season through 2031.

Sled dog racing

Holmes mushes way to first Iditarod win

Musher Jessie Holmes has won the longest-ever Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The former reality television star finished the 1,128-mile long course in 10 days, 14 hours, 55 minutes and 41 seconds, three hours ahead of the second place finisher.

It was his eight Iditarod and his third time among the top three finishers.

Briefly

Twins >> The Minnesota Twins split their squad, defeating Tampa Bay 13-6 and losing 10-0 to Baltimore.

— From news services