Friday Facts You Might Have Missed
NFL
Chicago Bears quarterback, Justin Fields, is officially off of the injury report and ready to make his return this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. The 23-year-old missed the 31-10 loss in week 12 against the New York Jets due to a shoulder injury.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne will be on the field for Sundays matchup with the Detroit Lions. The 23-year-old left last weeks 28-27 win over the Baltimore Ravens with a foot injury and did not return.
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari underwent an appendectomy on Friday and is officially out for Sundays game against the Chicago Bears. Bakhtiari tweeting on Friday:
“What a crazy day. Thought I may have strained my abdomen or something this morning, so I brought it up to our team doctor. Next thing I know, I’m having surgery. Did not expect this. Everything went well. Thank y'all!”
NBA
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has passed Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and is now 6th on the NBA's all-time assist list. James got his 10,142nd assists in Friday's narrow 133-129 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. LeBron saying after the game:
"It means a lot, obviously. The way Magic approached the game, it was very infectious. His teammates loved playing with him because of the joy he played with and the ability to pass the ball and get other guys involved. He was always excited about seeing his teammates be great. I always admired that in him. What's even more humbling and super duper cool is the fact that I'm doing it in a Laker uniform and knowing how much Magic means to the Laker franchise."
The Miami Heat managed to hold on 120-116 in OT beating the Boston Celtics and splitting the 2 game series 1-1. The Heats leading scorer Jimmy Butler made his return to the court with 25 points and 15 rebounds in 36 minutes of play time, after missing the previous 7 games with a sore right knee. Bam Adebayo scored 28 points for Miami and Tyler Herro had 26.
MLB
The Texas Rangers have signed 2-time NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom to a 5 year, $185 million contract. The deal also includes a conditional 6 year option that could possibly take the contract up to $222 million, and reportedly has a full no-trade clause.
The Boston Red Sox and right-hander Chris Martin have agreed on a 2 year, $17.5-million deal with, pending his physical. The 36-year-old is a Texas native with 7 years of MLB experience, spending time with the Cubs, Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, and New York Yankees. He spent last season after the trade deadline with the Los Angeles Dodgers and finished with an impressive 1.46 ERA and 12.4 K/9 in 24 2/3 innings. This is now the 2nd reliever that Boston has signed this off-season.