Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with the Cleveland Browns after suffering a knee injury during the second quarter.

The second-year receiver had caught a short pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson and ran down to the Cleveland 12-yard line. After he was already on the ground, Flowers appeared to get hit on the inside of his knee by a falling Browns defender. The receiver remained down and grabbed at his knee, rocking back and forth in apparent pain.

Baltimore’s medical personnel tended to the receiver on the field before he walked off under his own power and headed to the blue medical tent.

Flowers eventually headed back to the locker room, and the Ravens announced he was questionable to return.

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What happened to Zay Flowers?

Flowers had to head to the locker room in the second quarter of the Ravens’ game against the Browns in Week 18 after suffering a knee injury.

The 24-year-old made a catch for a 12-yard gain before stumbling to the ground inside the red zone. After Flowers was down, a falling Browns defender’s knee made contact with the inside of Flowers’ right knee. The wideout remained on the ground after the tackle and grabbed at his knee.

He got attention from the Ravens’ medical staff, who briefly evaluated him in the blue medical tent on the sideline before sending Flowers back to the locker room.

Zay Flowers injury updates

Near the start of the third quarter, the Ravens announced that Flowers had been downgraded to out for the rest of the game.

Shortly after Flowers returned to the locker room, the Ravens had declared him questionable to return to the game with a knee injury.

After the game, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Flowers would have an MRI on Sunday morning.

‘It’s something that he has a chance to be OK with,’ Harbaugh said.

This story has been updated with new information.

The Cleveland Browns will be without rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. for the rest of Saturday’s game.

The Browns ruled out Hall for the remainder of the team’s regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens with a knee injury. He went down clutching his right knee with 13:31 remaining in the third quarter as the Browns trailed the Ravens 14-3. Hall was carted off the field with an aircast on his right leg.

After being drafted out of Ohio State with the 54th overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, Hall missed the first five games of the season after being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list over a domestic violence arrest in August. He missed another four games with a knee injury.

Hall appeared in eight games this season and recorded 14 total tackles and one sack.

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A little more than a week after Miami Heat president Pat Riley declared the team will not trade Jimmy Butler, the Heat said on Friday that “Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”

In the same news release, the Heat announced they have suspended Butler seven games for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.’

‘Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team,’ the Heat added.

Butler remains a productive two-way player even though he has a diminished role with the Heat this season. Butler averages 17.6 points on 55.2% shooting, and the Heat are better with Butler on the court than when he’s not in the game, according to NBA.com on/off-court statistics.

Trading Butler’s $48.7 million contract for 2024-25 isn’t easy, but unless a player has a no-trade clause, no contract is untradeable.

Here are five potential landing spots for Butler:

Golden State Warriors

Ranked No. 18 in offensive efficiency, the Warriors need help on that end, and Butler can provide that with his ability to score with efficiency and pass. His defense could make a strong defensive team (tied for No. 6) even better, depending on the trade.

The Warriors, who would like to contend for another title with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, just acquired Dennis Schroder from Brooklyn and can trade him in a package with other players, starting Feb. 4.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are back among the top teams in the West – 23-11 and in second place, a half game ahead of Houston and 5½ games behind Oklahoma City.

Memphis has a good thing going – it is the only team that ranks in the top five in offensive and defensive efficiency. The Grizzlies need to be mindful of disrupting chemistry, but a player with Butler’s playoff experience is valuable.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks lost to Boston in last season’s Finals and added Klay Thompson in the offseason. However, Dallas is 20-14 and in a virtual tie for fourth place with Denver in the West. The Mavericks are 4-6 in their past 10 games and have lost three consecutive games.

Denver Nuggets

It’s no secret the 19-13 Nuggets, who won the title in 2023, want to improve the roster and reduce some of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic’s offensive duties. Could Butler be the answer?

New York Knicks

How close are the Knicks to a title? They had a huge offseason, acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. They are 24-10, a game behind second-place Boston and 5½ games behind first-place Cleveland. But would Riley and the Heat trade Butler not only to another Eastern Conference team, but to the team Riley used to coach and left for the Heat three decades ago?

Video footage of Fred Kerley’s arrest by Miami Beach police sparked a wide range of reaction on social media Friday − and renewed an all-too familiar conversation about policing in America.

Some watched the body-worn camera footage of the incident − and other video clips posted on social media by witnesses − and saw it as police did, with the Team USA sprinter and Olympic medalist as the aggressor who ignored orders from officers and started the physical confrontation.

Others saw Kerley as the victim, yet another Black man on the receiving end of physical force from officers who they believe should have done more to de-escalate the situation.

Kerley, 29, was ultimately subdued by an officer’s Taser and charged with battery upon a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct. The first charge is a third-degree felony, while the latter two are misdemeanors.

At a bond hearing Friday, one of Kerley’s attorneys, Yale Sanford, called the situation a misunderstanding and ‘a complete overuse of any reasonable force by officers.’ And Miami television station WPLG reported that the judge, Mindy Glazer, appeared to agree.

‘Sergeant, this could have been handled a different way,’ Glazer told a Miami Beach police officer during the hearing, according to WPLG. ‘And I don’t know if the officers in Miami Beach are busy handling a lot of complicated crime scenes there, but I have a gentleman who’s never been arrested, there’s no prior arrests, who his attorney’s saying has competed in the Olympics, who is obviously a professional athlete and it’s unfortunate that he got to this position.’

Glazer indicated that she had not seen the body-worn camera footage at the time of the hearing. Kerley was charged later Friday with domestic battery and robbery in an unrelated case in Miami-Dade County, stemming from what another one of his attorneys, Richard L. Cooper, called ‘a falsified accusation.’

What sparked Fred Kerley’s altercation with police?

According to police, Thursday’s confrontation started when Kerley, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the men’s 100-meter dash, was attempting to enter an unrelated but active police scene en route to his car, which was apparently parked nearby.

While the beginning of body-worn camera footage released by police does not include audio, which is customary on modern body cams, the video appears to show Kerley approaching two officers and being directed to leave the area. He then approaches a third officer, who puts his hand toward Kerley’s chest in what is described in the written police report as an attempt to create space between them as a safety precaution. Kerley then moves the officer’s hand away, and a scuffle ensues.

Video of the incident shows four officers attempting to wrestle Kerley to the ground, with one of them delivering several blows to the sprinter’s rib cage in an apparent attempt to subdue him.

‘Our officers reverted back to training,’ Miami Beach police spokesperson Christopher Bess told USA TODAY Sports on Friday. ‘Our officer was battered, and they responded to the resistance appropriately and professionally.’

Bess said the officers’ conduct will be subject to a review process, as is standard with any case involving the use of force. This process includes a supervisor’s review of the body-worn camera footage and statements from all of the parties involved, including the defendant − in this case, Kerley.

‘If we see something that may have violated departmental policy or standard operating procedures, then it’s escalated to either an internal affairs investigation and/or the appropriate discipline on a supervisory level,’ Bess explained.

Are there similarities between Fred Kerley’s altercation and Tyreek Hill’s?

Kerley’s arrest came a little less than five months after another high-profile athlete had a contentious incident with police in the Miami area.

In September, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was pulled over for speeding while driving to Hard Rock Stadium for a game. He was then forcefully pulled out of the car by Miami-Dade police officers and pinned to the ground after rolling up his window, despite being asked by officers not to do so. One of the officers involved in the incident, Danny Torres, was later placed on ‘administrative duties’ following an internal review.

Hill later acknowledged that he had been speeding and could have handled the encounter differently, but he also criticized police for escalating the situation by removing him from his car.

Julius Collins, one of the attorneys representing Hill in that matter, told USA TODAY Sports that he sees similarities there in the footage of Kerley.

‘The similarities between Mr. Hill and Mr. Kerley’s unfortunate interactions with law enforcement is the obvious: The same treatment of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement and an escalation by law enforcement,’ Collins wrote in an email. ‘… Law enforcement officials have a duty to deescalate situations and yet again they failed to do so here.’

Another member of Hill’s legal team, civil rights lawyer Devon M. Jacob, reviewed the body-worn camera footage of Kerley’s arrest and said the mechanics of the two incidents are significantly different.

Where Hill was sitting in his car and trying to understand the situation, Jacob said, Kerley appeared to make the initial contact with police and apparently ignored orders to leave the area.

‘Citizens do not have a right to disobey lawful orders, such as to back up from a police scene that they’re not involved with — which, in my understanding, is how this started,’ said Jacob, a Pennsylvania-based attorney who helped represent George Floyd’s family in its civil case against the City of Minneapolis following Floyd’s death at the hands of police in 2020.

‘An individual has no right to get within the personal space, in a threatening manner, of a police officer. Once that happens, it’s within an officer’s right to take that person into custody. And that’s what happened here.’

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @tomschad.bsky.social.

It’s a new year but the same old shortfalls for Major League Baseball’s 30 franchises in search of the perfect offseason.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of time to shore up almost any deficiency.

With the vast majority of teams largely believing they will contend – or at least clinging to the belief – the trade market remains unpredictive and the free-agent market robust. With more than a month remaining before spring training camps open, here’s a look at one need for every team, and potential avenues to fulfill them:

Baltimore Orioles: Lockdown reliever

Aces aren’t easy to find and the Orioles learned this lesson the hard way this winter, with Corbin Burnes defecting to Arizona on a $210 million deal. True, you don’t need someone to definitively call “ace,” but a rotation does need its bell cow and right-handers Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez and recently signed 41-year-old Charlie Morton would likely be better to follow one than try to be that guy. Former No. 1 Kyle Bradish is back from elbow reconstruction in midseason. That’s a handful of question marks for a club in the heart of its championship window. So, how best to mitigate the lack of an innings-eater? Shorten games by reuniting with an old friend – all while soothing fans’ rightful angst at a lack of spending.

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Potential solution: Tanner Scott, free agent LHP.

Boston Red Sox: Another big bat

Kind of like the one that just went to Baltimore, Tyler O’Neill. The Red Sox are now a little too left-handed, and stuck with their Masataka Yoshida commitment for three more seasons. Their outfield alignment of Jarren Duran, Ceddane Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu is elite defensively, but lacking some sock at the plate. New starter Walker Buehler is nice to recruit his pal Alex Bregman, but it would be a fierce battle for his services.

Potential solution: Randal Grichuk, free agent OF.

Chicago White Sox: Vitamin D injection

What do you get the club that has nothing and needs everything? Yeah, it’s going to be a dark, sunless winter on the South Side, as it usually goes when a club loses 121 games (well, that’s unprecedented, but we digress). On paper, minus Garrett Crochet, this club actually looks worse than the record-setting bunch from last year, which no signing can aid. So it’s back to the asset collection warehouse, perhaps identifying this year’s Erick Fedde that can be flipped for prospects come July.

Potential solution: Spencer Turnbull, free agent RHP.

Cleveland Guardians: Veteran infielder

Pretty nice deal to ship the elite defensive second baseman Andrés Giménez, to Toronto, and flip infielder Spencer Horwitz to Pittsburgh for, in part, right-hander Luis Ortiz, who should vie for a rotation spot. For now, prospect Juan Brito is penciled in at second base, but if the 23-year-old doesn’t win the job, are Gabriel Arias and Daniel Scheeneman enough depth on the infield? The Guards have a nice thing going and shouldn’t shy away from adding on.

Potential solution: Jose Iglesias, free agent INF.

Detroit Tigers: A deluxe corner infielder

Yeah, you know what we’re talking about.

Potential solution: Alex Bregman, free agent 3B.

Houston Astros: Outfielder with sentient bat

This winter will already be remembered as either a wise and sober reset or a grim step back. Kyle Tucker and Bregman are gone/almost gone, yet the club spent $60 million on first baseman Christian Walker, still boasts one of the best hitters on the planet in Yordan Alvarez and a contention-ready rotation. But that outfield: Yikes. Chas McCormick (.576 OPS in 2024) and Jake Meyers (.646) are slated to start in right and center field, with Alvarez sliding more to DH, and Mauricio Dubon and Taylor Trammell potentially manning left field. This cannot stand.

Potential solution: Anthony Santander, free agent OF.

Kansas City Royals: One more reliever

Fun time to be a Royal, what with the club easing into the prime of franchise shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.’s career and a burgeoning ace in tow with Cole Ragans. And they continue spending money at a moderate clip, devoting a three-year extension to right-hander Michael Wacha. Cool stuff. They also boast a fantastic closer in Lucas Erceg, acquired from the Athletics last year, and a nasty left-hander in Angel Zerpa. But the Royals should contend again. The AL Central should be tightly packed. Their seventh- and eighth-inning situations could use an upgrade.

Potential solution: Andrew Kittredge, free agent RHP.

Los Angeles Angels: Another starting pitcher

Oddly enough, this cursed and oft-bumbling franchise has put together the makings of a squad, even if Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon can’t guarantee how many games they might play. Yet the club should be past the point of wondering about spots 4-5 in the rotation, about whether Caden Dana is ready for a full load, if Kyle Hendricks has anything in the tank, if Reid Detmers can avoid a minor-league assignment this year.

Potential solution: Colin Rea, free agent RHP.

Minnesota Twins: Some thump in the lineup

The team is for sale and the league is taking over their TV broadcasts, and the Twins seem to be acting the part of a club in limbo. Yet they still came into the last week of 2024 with a shot at the playoffs, until an ugly collective slump to end the season ensured their demise. Now, the most reliable piece of that lineup – veteran first baseman Carlos Santana and his 23 home runs – are gone to Cleveland. Max Kepler is a Phillie. Surely they can afford some reinforcements beyond, say, Mike Ford, signed Friday to a minor league contract?

Potential solution: Jesse Winker, free agent OF.

New York Yankees: Insurance for the aged and unproven

You’d think the Yankees would have every puzzle piece in place by this new year, what with moves that are both very high-profile and also well-suited to their needs. Yet Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Devin Williams and Max Fried can’t play left field or third base. Jazz Chisholm likely fits better at second, DJ LeMahieu’s time as a regular may be done and, well, can you simply etch Jasson Dominguez’s name in the lineup and assume this is his time? A little insurance, please.

Potential solution: Jurickson Profar, free agent OF/INF.

(Sacramento) Athletics: Some more money to set on fire

The weirdness continues in Gold Country, where the Athletics will be posted up for at least the next three seasons, as the move from a major league park to a minor-league facility was accompanied by adding players at high cost rather than the chop shop mentality of recent years. Ain’t revenue sharing checks a powerful motivator? While the A’s still won’t near contention in the AL West, they still need to keep their MLB overlords (and watchdogs at the union) happy to keep the spigot open. Hey, why not another pitcher!

Potential solution: Andrew Heaney, free agent LHP.

Seattle Mariners: A bat, almost any bat

We’re almost closer to Super Bowl Sunday than we are the winter meetings and still, Seattle’s Achilles heel offense has not seen any upgrades. Not sure if this is lack of opportunity or malfeasance, but either way, the club remains a pitching-heavy operation (not a bad thing) that still can’t be taken seriously as a contender so long as the lineup remains a massive liability. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: There’s a bear in the woods.

Potential solution: Pete Alonso, free agent 1B.

Tampa Bay Rays: A little veteran gravitas

It’s been a rough year and a half in St. Petersburg, and that’s just on the field, where a 2023 season of great promise was waylaid by injuries, followed by a nondescript year that was very un-Rayslike in a lot of fashions. Randy Arozarena, Zach Eflin, Jeffrey Springs: Traded. Wander Franco may never play again. The team will bunk temporarily in a minor-league stadium. Why not add a little sunshine that comes with some proven thump at the plate, who can be flipped at the deadline if so inclined?

Potential solution: Justin Turner, free agent DH.

Texas Rangers: A reunion with an All-Star

Just a real clean offseason in Arlington, with Joc Pederson and Jake Burger added to a very balanced lineup, Kyle Higashioka brought in to add pop to the catching position and Nate Eovaldi getting a $75 million commitment to stay on as staff ace. Yet there’s one more re-up that should be burning a hole in the Rangers’ pockets, as they have the makings of a decent bullpen yet no ninth-inning presence. That should be easily remedied.

Potential solution: Kirby Yates, free agent RHP.

Toronto Blue Jays: Try, try again?

A team that seemed so close to greatness just a couple short years ago now looks stuck in the middle. The open question is, is it too late to do anything about it this winter? Whiffing on Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani in consecutive years seems to create the perception that Toronto simply will not be a big-time free agent destination – a grim perception given that Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are entering their walk year. So what to do? Double down on what you do well.

Potential solution: Jeff Hoffman, free agent RHP.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Arizona Diamondbacks: An arms race out West

A round of applause for an offseason already well done, what with the startling acquisition of ace Corbin Burnes and the trade for Josh Naylor, softening the loss of productive and well-regarded first baseman Christian Walker. Now they seem stuck between the team that missed the playoffs by a game last year and serious contenders to the Dodgers. Even with an abundance of starters at the moment, they’ll need more arms to throw at that menace out west.

Potential solution: Michael Lorenzen, free agent RHP.

Atlanta Braves: Soft in the middle

They found a nice placeholder in right field as they await Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return, with Bryan De La Cruz holding it down. Yet the deletions – most notably Max Fried fleeing to the Yankees for a $218 million deal – have been far more prominent than the adds so far. The Braves struggled through extended slumps and injuries from All-Stars Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies and Sean Murphy and season-ending injuries to Acuña and ace Spencer Strider. But the massive deficit created by Orlando Arcia’s lack of production – an adjusted OPS of 71 is not acceptable – can be dealt with – while at the same time providing protection against another Albies ailment.

Potential solution: Ha-Seong Kim, free agent INF.

Chicago Cubs: A finishing touch

Potential solution: Max Scherzer, free agent RHP.  

Cincinnati Reds: A shot of Tito, a chaser of talent

Terry Francona helms the dugout now, and expectations should be commensurate. The Reds did a nice job shoring up the rotation by retaining Nick Martinez and trading for Brady Singer. A healthy Matt McLain should make an excellent double-play combo with Elly De La Cruz. Another outfield bat might be prudent.

Potential solution: Mark Canha, free agent OF.

Colorado Rockies: What are we doing here?

It’s hard to ever find the glass half full in Denver, although the makings of a good lineup are in place with Brenton Doyle, Ezequiel Tovar, Ryan McMahon and Michael Toglia all smacking 20 to 26 homers last year. Yet the roster and the organization in a grander sense seem rudderless. Might as well throw another arm or two at the problem.

Potential solution: Jakob Junis, free agent RHP.

Los Angeles Dodgers: More room at the inn?

They couldn’t even kick off their reunion with Teoscar Hernández on Friday without signing well-regarded Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, creating an enviable infield logjam. Until further notice, this is blue heaven, and far as we know, the Dodgers can simply sit back and let greatness come to them.

Potential solution: Rōki Sasaki, international free agent RHP.

Miami Marlins: Hi, my name is….

When Sandy Alcántara takes the ball, presumably on Opening Day, he will gaze out at the diamond and recognize just one face – outfielder Jesus Sanchez – who was in the lineup for his most recent major league start in September 2023. At this point, the Marlins are having auditions for their auditions. They’ll need a veteran who can fill in almost anywhere when a youngster inevitably struggles and then get flipped to a contender midseason.

Potential solution: Kiké Hernández, free agent INF/OF.

Milwaukee Brewers: Winning the turnover battle

Stay weird, Brewers! Even after losing shortstop Willy Adames to the Giants for the princely sum of $182 million and trading closer Devin Williams to the Yankees, the team still looks daunting, particularly the lineup. The staff has more question marks, most notably, how will Brandon Woodruff bounce back after a year’s absence following shoulder surgery? Until proven otherwise, Milwaukee will figure it out.

Potential solution: Alex Cobb, free agent RHP.

New York Mets: Still in a winter Juanderland

Something about making it all the way to Game 6 of the NLCS and then spending $765 million on one of the greatest free agents in history leads us to believe the Mets are pretty safe about dreaming for the playoffs. About October showdowns with Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani. And they better wake up from that dream to make sure they’re fully equipped.

Potential solution: A.J. Minter, free agent LHP.

 Philadelphia Phillies: No shakeup on Broad Street

Their winter of discontent has not emerged. Instead, after a desultory elimination at the hands of the Mets in the NLDS, Philly has moved smartly and crisply, trading for lefty Jesús Luzardo, signing closer Jordan Romano and outfielder Max Kepler, which sends Johan Rojas into a role more appropriate for his offensive output. And the need to shake things up, most notably with a possible trade of third baseman Alec Bohm? We’re still waiting.

Potential solution: David Robertson, free agent RHP.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Ways and Skenes

It’s hard not to imagine a countdown clock ticking with every year Paul Skenes takes the mound for the Pirates. Winning NL Rookie of the Year means he gets a full year of service time, and five more before he might test the waters. Well, Year 2 looks like a similarly disjointed roster, unless you’re a fan of Isiah Kiner-Falefa leading off. The lineup needs more punch, somehow.

Potential solution: Tommy Pham, free agent OF.

St. Louis Cardinals: Waiting for the end of the world

Ryan Helsley is still the closer. Nolan Arenado is still the third baseman (though read this quickly, if you can). Sonny Gray still fronts the rotation. The re-boot/teardown expected to come with John Mozeliak passing the baseball ops poohbah reigns to Chaim Bloom hasn’t yet happened. It’d be funny if the Cards accidentally won the division this year.

Potential solution: Martin Perez, free agent LHP.

San Diego Padres: Who’s left?

The left field corner at Petco Park is kind of like the drum kit on Spinal Tap’s stage: Subject to disappearance. Jurickson Profar did a bang-up job after he was hastily signed last year and now, that’s about the only big hole in the lineup. Team is almost shovel-ready, but a trade of Dylan Cease before he enters his walk year could waylay all kinds of stuff currently written in pencil.

Potential solution: Alex Verdugo, free agent OF

San Francisco Giants: Take my money, please!

So the Giants finally reeled in a big one, perhaps overpaying a bit for Adames but filling a massive hole at shortstop and also in the rizz department. Still, club president Buster Posey and GM Zack Minasian have hit a bit of a wall augmenting the club further. They might be wise to take a page from their glory days and aim for a lockdown pitching staff if luring more free agent hitters may prove troublesome.

Potential solution: Jack Flaherty, free agent RHP

Washington Nationals: Signs of life

OK, so it’s not quite go-go time, if you will, in D.C. Yet trading for Nathaniel Lowe, re-upping right-hander Trevor Williams and reuniting with Josh Bell shows a continued commitment to… not being bad? There’s still a gaping hole at third that would perfectly fit a Houston expat, but the Nationals aren’t yet ready to swim in those waters. Acquiring Lowe cost them a bullpen asset and it’s wise to keep that group solvent to prop up the fortunes of their young and emerging starting rotation.

Potential solution: Kenley Jansen, free agent RHP.

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At first, Dan Orlovsky was not impressed. 

The ESPN analyst removed the virtual-reality headset from his face and told Andrew Hawkins, the ex-NFL wideout who also works for ESPN and is an entrepreneur, his initial thoughts of what he’d just seen on the screen: a first-person point-of-view of a NFL quarterback. 

“I wasn’t all that taken aback by it,” Orlovsky told USA TODAY Sports. “I wasn’t all that wowed by it because it was too video-game-y in my eyes at least. It wasn’t filmy enough.” 

Six months later, Hawkins returned with improvements. Orlovsky, the former NFL quarterback who’s become a leader in the film-breakdown corner of the football internet, enjoyed what he saw to the point he suggested using it on air, and Hawkins said that was the goal. Then at the start of the season, Orlovsky donned the headset with the latest StatusPRO – a company that’s developed technology for coaches, players and gamers to use on VR headsets – update. Within 60 seconds, he said, “I was like, ‘Yo, this is sick.’” 

Viewers of “NFL Live” had a similar reaction during the Nov. 19 program when Hawkins and Orlovsky introduced the technology, with the former explaining it while the latter broke down a clip from the perspective of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. 

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The first clip Orlovsky shared on his “X” account received 2.8 million views. “NFL Live” knew it had a hit on its hands. Orlovsky had a feeling it would be that way if those involved executed it well. 

Ironically, the device Orlovsky uses is not his, nor is it property of ESPN. Carl Baker, a media operator who works on the show, owns the MetaQuest (a Meta/Facebook product) and lets Orlovksy borrow it for a few minutes on Tuesdays to educate the masses.

“I think it’s certainly the most innovative thing when it comes to the football teaching part, or the football education thing that we have in the media right now, for sure,” Orlovsky said. “I mean, nothing else is like this. Nothing else brings fans into this. Nothing else brings fans into that perspective or that vantage point or in the body of the player and seeing what they see. 

“It’s obviously been a massive hit.” 

The next iteration of telestration?

NFL PRO ERA 25 debuted last year with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on the cover. 

The headset started as a training product for players and coaches and morphed into providing the technology for the casual consumer. The video game was created. But not everybody owns a virtual-reality headset – definitely not at the ubiquity-level of other gaming consoles. 

Repetitions are essential for any player. Other than playing and practicing on the field, the headset is now another way to gain “reps” without being out there. 

“When you talk about just slicing it up and identifying different ways for a media person to use it, or for a coach or a fan at home to experience it, it all ties together and feeds one another,” StatusPRO co-founder Troy Jones told USA TODAY Sports, noting that data from the NFL’s Next Gen Stats make it possible to take plays that happened in real life and put them into the headset.

Showing plays in first person can be beneficial for a more experiential learner, somebody who does not immediately grasp the bird’s-eye view from the all-22 tape. 

“The people who are really good film watchers have that ability, but not everybody does,” Hawkins said. “I think that’s where the tool comes in, because it removes that translation layer of you having to see it from a bird’s eye and then imagine, what I do on the field, this is exactly what it looks like.

“It’s actually going to be a lot easier for you as a player to say, ‘Oh, I’ve seen this.’”

Exposing the technology through a program like “NFL Live” seemed like a natural fit, even before Hawkins landed with ESPN as an analyst and started contributing to the program; he said those conversations happened simultaneously with convincing ESPN and Disney bosses to take a chance with a headset-related segment. Years earlier, StatusPRO had applied to be in the Disney Accelerator program and was selected to be part of the 2024 cohort.

Dwindling attention spans and the craving for bite-sized analysis make a segment like this resonate, ‘NFL Live’ coordinating producer Lydelle King said.  

“If we can hold them, if we can keep them and get their attention in a way that seems to be creative and, like I said, very different, I think the world is looking for just a lot of experiential types of technology,” King told USA TODAY Sports. “And this was one of the ones that we really decided let’s sink our teeth into and really try to make it work.” 

Making the segment watchable for people at home was the bigger challenge. The staff didn’t know how immersive they could make it. But it became obvious to King that if members of different groups and silos at ESPN came together and found a solution that it was going to be something that resonated with their audience.

‘NFL Live’ director Timothy Farrell, Baker – keeper and master of the headset – and Jeff Ghiringhelli from ESPN’s innovation team helped make it possible and answered the question “What’s the next iteration of telestration?” King said.

There was one more query King had.

‘Is there a way that we can get Dan Orlovsky to utilize this to at least share what his findings are on television?’

Only one man for the job

Orlovsky had a full handle on the controls in about 15 minutes. 

“He’s, like, a little bit of a genius with the technology,” Hawkins said. 

Hawkins immediately called Jones afterward and said he’d never seen anybody pick it up that quickly. All ESPN needed to see from Orlovsky was one dress rehearsal to green-light it for the air. 

As a career backup, Orlovsky – who played for five teams over 12 years – has thousands of hours of mental repetitions. 

“I think to be hired to have that job for a dozen years, you really have to know and understand the game without really doing it as often. … As big of a goofball as he is, the man can certainly think this game forward and backward,” King said. 

Orlovsky doesn’t want to say manipulating the technology came easy to him, as he asked Hawkins to streamline some of the controls at his disposal. He holds a joystick with two buttons in each hand and, because he has something covering his face, can’t see what he’s doing; his command is based entirely off feel. 

“This is all attached to how I learned football in a way,” Orlovsky said. “I feel I watched so many different moments of football being taught in meetings or on practice fields or walkthroughs and drills. And I feel like I’m just doing that stuff with the equipment on TV.” 

Orlovsky is no stranger to the telestrator or video board and often uses them during “NFL Live” or “Get Up!” He said virtual-reality analysis will be one of the leading tools to teach the game going forward. The communication of the analysis will always be the most important aspect, however. Technological advancements don’t replace somebody saying something clearly and in a way that others can not only understand, but foster intrigue and entertainment. 

“The technology will eventually fall flat,” he said. “So the hammer sounds great, but it’s the person swinging it that is just as equally as important.” 

The initial reaction from the clips on ‘NFL Live’ is validating, Jones said, because augmented and virtual reality will only become more popular.

“Fans want more. Media analysts want more,” said Jones, who was a quarterback at Western Kentucky from 2013-15. “They want to be able to really show the game and make everyone appreciate the game that they’ve been fortunate to play.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead was injured in an automobile accident Saturday, the team announced.

The Buccaneers released a statement Saturday afternoon saying Whitehead was ‘involved in an auto accident’ on his way to practice. The injuries he sustained were severe enough for Tampa Bay to place him on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury (NFI) list.

The 27-year-old safety was reported to be alert and undergoing tests, according to ESPN, but he will likely miss the remainder of the season while recovering.

At the time of publication, the nature of Whitehead’s injuries were not known. All that has been reported so far is that they were severe enough to require a multi-week stint on the NFI list.

Tampa Bay will play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon and need a win to clinch the NFC South title and a playoff spot. The Buccaneers can also make the playoffs with an Atlanta Falcons loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

All things Buccaneers: Latest Tampa Bay Buccaneers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is back from his fractured left fibula and remains red hot in his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal record.

Ovechkin, 39, had missed 16 games after absorbing a leg-on-leg collision during a Nov. 18 game against the Utah Hockey Club. He returned on Dec. 28 and has scored goals in four of his first five games back.

Ovechkin entered this season needing 42 goals to break Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Washington captain has 19 goals this season, with 43 games left.

If he doesn’t reach the record this season, he has one more season left on his contract.

Here’s where Ovechkin stands in his chase of Gretzky’s goal record:

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Ovechkin has 872 career goals.

How close is Alex Ovechkin to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record?

Ovechkin needs 23 goals to break Gretzky’s record.

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have this season?

Ovechkin has 19 goals and 11 assists in 23 games. Factoring in the 16 games he missed, that is a 55-goal pace.

What did Alex Ovechkin do in his last game?

He had one goal, one assist and seven shots in a 7-4 win against the New York Rangers. He picked up the puck after a Capitals faceoff loss and backhanded a puck past Jonathan Quick. It ended up being the game-winning goal.

When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game?

The Capitals play Monday, Jan. 6, at the Buffalo Sabres. Ovechkin has 41 goals in 65 regular-season games against the Sabres.

Alex Ovechkin career goal breakdown

Even strength: 550, third overall

Power play: 317, a record

Short-handed: 5

Empty net: 60, a record

Game winners: 133, second overall, two behind Jaromir Jagr’s record

Multi-goal games: 177, second overall

Goalies scored against: 178, tied with Jagr for record

Hat tricks: 31, sixth overall

Who are the NHL’s top all-time goal scorers?

The top 21 NHL all-time goal scorers all have 600 or more goals. All of the players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, except Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Jagr, who are still playing.

1. Wayne Gretzky, 894 goals in 1,487 games

2. Alex Ovechkin, 872 goals in 1,449 games

3. Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games

4. Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games

5. Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games

6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games

7. Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games

8. Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games

9. Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games

10. Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games

11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games

12. Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games

13. Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games

14. Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games

15. Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games

16. Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games

17. Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games

18. Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games

19. Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games

20. Sidney Crosby, 603 goals in 1,312 games

21. Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games

The defending champion United States can reach the final in back-to-back years for the first time in its history at the world junior hockey championship.

But first it will need to get past the team that prevented it from getting a medal in 2022.

Saturday’s semifinals opponent is Czechia, which defeated the USA in the quarterfinals three years ago. Since then, the Americans have won a bronze (2023) and gold medal (2024). Czechia won a silver and bronze the past two years.

The winner will face Finland in Sunday’s gold-medal game. Finland beat Sweden 4-3 in overtime in the early semifinal.

The United States and Czechia have played 27 times in tournament history, with the USA winning 17 times. Czechia reached this year’s semifinals by knocking off host Canada 4-3 in Thursday’s quarterfinal. The USA routed Switzerland 7-2 with Boston College’s Ryan Leonard and James Hagens each scoring twice.

Follow along for Saturday’s game action and highlights from the world junior hockey championship semifinals:

Final: Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)

Finland survives an onslaught from Sweden in the third period and overtime to win on a Benjamin Rautiainen bad-angle goal. It was Finland’s second power-play goal of the game after being the second worst in the tournament with the man advantage heading into the game. Konsta Helenius, a Buffalo Sabres first-round pick, had three assists.

Finland has won four games in a row, including against the United States. Goalie Petteri Rimpinen has played every minute of the tournament and made 43 saves against Sweden.

USA-Czechia is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET in Ottawa.

Finland wins in overtime

Benjamin Rautiainen scores from a bad angle on the power play for a 4-3 win. The Finns will advance to the gold-medal game against the USA-Czechia winner. Sweden will play for bronze.

Finland goes on power play

Sweden’s Tom Willander is called for holding with 1:20 left in overtime. Finland hits the crossbar.

Sweden goes on power play

Jesse Nurmi is called for high-sticking. 4-on-3 play. Finland kills it off. Three shots for Sweden.

Overtime underway

Sweden and Finland play a lot of one-goal games and that will be the case again.

End of third period: Sweden 3, Finland 3

The puck seemed to be in Finland’s end the entire third period. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen was solid, but would probably like that Sweden third-period goal back. The game is heading to overtime. Ten minutes of sudden-death 3-on-3 overtime and a shootout, if necessary.

Sweden ties it up

Sweden’s dominant play pays off. Wilhelm Hallquisth’s innocent-looking shot from the point sneaks through Petteri Rimpinen. Score is 3-3 with 8:28 left.

Midpoint of third period

Finland up 3-2. Shots are 12-1 Sweden.

Sweden goes on power play

Emil Pieniniemi is called for cross-checking. Sweden’s power play has already connected once in his game. Finland’s tournament-leading penalty killing unit kills it off.

Sweden controlling play

Sweden outshooting Finland 8-1 early in the third period.

Third period underway

Finland leads 3-2.

End of second period: Finland 3, Sweden 2

After a tentative first period, the teams ramp up their scoring chances in the second period. Sweden’s Otto Stenberg scores twice, but Finland takes the lead on Arttu Alasiurua’s goal in the last minute. Finland’s struggling power play connects and one Finnish goal is overturned. Finland outshoots Sweden 20-10 in the period.

Finland takes lead

Arttu Alasiurua drives to the net and puts Finland up 3-2 with 20.8 seconds left in the second period.

Sweden ties game

This time, the tournament’s top power play connects. Otto Stenberg scores on a one-timer that deflects in off a Finnish player. Score is 2-2.

Finland takes lead

With Herman Traff in the penalty box for holding, Jesse Kiiskinen tips in a Topias Hynninen shot for his fifth goal of the tournament. Konsta Helenius picks up his second point of the game with a secondary assist. Score is 2-1 Finland.

Sweden penalty ends power play

Captain Axel Sandin-Pellika loses control of the puck and is called for tripping 17 seconds into the power play.

Sweden goes on power play

Emil Hemming trips Otto Stenberg. Sweden has the tournament’s power play. Finland has the best penalty kill.

Finland goal is overturned

Finland’s Aron Kiviharju scores from a bad angle, but Sweden challenges for offsides. After a long review, the goal is overturned. Still 1-1.

Finland ties game

Emil Hemming scores from near the left faceoff circle after a pass from Konsta Helenius. It happens a second after the Finns’ power play expires. Score is 1-1.

Finland goes on power play

Viggo Gustafsson is called for high-sticking, though it was a sell job by the Finnish player.

Sweden takes lead on Finland

After Sweden is pinned in its zone to start the period, Otto Stenberg starts a 2-on-1 break. He rips a shot over Petteri Rimpinen’s shoulder for a 1-0 lead.

Second period underway

Still scoreless.

End of first period: Sweden 0, Finland 0

Finland had the better play early, but Sweden gets a few chances off the rush later. Not a lot of good scoring opportunities. Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen gets a glove on Anton Wahlberg’s shot. Shots are 10-10.

Finland outshooting Sweden

Finland has a 6-2 lead in shots halfway through the first period.

Sweden kills penalty

Back to even strength. Game still scoreless.

Finland goes on power play

Viggo Gustafsson is called for high-sticking. Finland has the second-worst power play of the tournament. Sweden has the second-worst penalty kill.

Sweden-Finland semifinal underway

The winner goes for gold on Sunday. The loser plays for bronze.

Sweden-Finland goaltending matchup

Sweden’s Melker Thelin vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen

Sweden-Finland semifinal is first

This is one of the bigger rivalries in international hockey. ‘We live next to each other, so I guess a little bit of hatred, if you could say that, comes from there,’ Swedish captain Alex Sandin-Pellika told TSN.

When is world juniors hockey semifinals?

Sweden and Finland will play at 3:30 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. The United States and Czechia will play at 7:30.

How to watch world juniors hockey semifinals

Both semifinals will be shown on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada.

How to stream world juniors hockey semifinals

Fubo and Sling carry NHL Network in the United States.

Today’s world juniors hockey games

Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
USA vs. Czechia, 7:30 p.m.; NHLN, TSN

USA vs. Czechia players: What to know

United States: The Americans won a gold medal last year. They have brought back 10 players and coach David Carle. Returnees Leonard and Notre Dame’s Danny Nelson are tied for the team lead with four goals. So is Hagens, a front-runner for the top pick in the 2025 draft. Hagens and Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson have a team-high eight points. Boston College’s Gabe Perreault, the linemate of Leonard and Hagens, has seven points. The United States has the second-best power play at the tournament.

Czechia: Czechia won bronze last year. Forwards Eduard Sale and Jacob Stancl are tied for the team lead with five goals. Sale, a Seattle Kraken first-round pick who plays in the American Hockey League, has two game-winners. Stancl and Vojtech Hradec have a team-high eight points. Czechia has a slightly better penalty kill than the USA.

Sweden vs. Finland: What to know

Sweden: Sweden won silver last year. Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellika, a Detroit Red Wings first-round pick, is the tournament’s top remaining scorer with nine points. He and forward Anton Wahlberg have four goals. Victor Eklund, the brother of the San Jose Sharks’ William Eklund, is eligible for the 2025 draft. Sweden has the tournament’s top power play.

Finland: Finland lost to Czechia in last year’s bronze-medal game. Forward Jesse Kiiskinen has a team-best four goals and five points. Goalie Petteri Rimpinen has played every game, including a victory against the USA, and has a 2.00 goals-against average. Finland has the tournament’s top penalty kill and second-worst power play.

World juniors semifinal matchups

The United States, Sweden, Finland and Czechia were in last year’s semifinals, but the matchups are different this year. The USA beat Finland 3-2 and Sweden beat Czechia 5-2 in 2024.

World juniors schedule

Dec. 26

Sweden 5, Slovakia 2
United States 10, Germany 4
Czechia 5, Switzerland 1
Canada 4, Finland 0

Dec. 27

Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1
Finland 3, Germany 1
Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1
Latvia 3, Canada 2 (SO)

Dec. 28

Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2
United States 5, Latvia 1

Dec. 29

Sweden 7, Switzerland 5
Finland 4, United States 3 (OT)
Czechia 4, Slovakia 2
Canada 3, Germany 0

Dec. 30

Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT)
Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT)

Dec. 31

Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1 
Finland 3, Latvia 0
Sweden 4, Czechia 2
United States 4, Canada 1

World juniors hockey playoff round

All times Eastern

Jan. 2 (quarterfinals)

Sweden 3, Latvia 2
United States 7, Switzerland 2
Finland 5, Slovakia 3
Czechia 4, Canada 3

Jan. 4

Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
USA vs. Czechia, 7:30 p.m.; NHLN, TSN

Jan. 5

Finland vs. USA-Czechia winner, 3:30 p.m., NHLN, TSN

Sweden vs. USA-Czechia loser, 7:30 p.m., NHLN, TSN

Where is next year’s world junior hockey championship?

The 2026 tournament will be held in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. This will be the United States’ first time hosting since it was held in Buffalo in 2018.

IIHF names Hall of Fame Class of 2025

The International Ice Hockey Federation, which runs the hockey tournament, has announced its 2025 Hall of Fame class. They are former NHL players Zdeno Chara, Henrik Lundqvist, Frans Nielsen and David Vyborny, former women’s Olympians Kim Martin-Hasson and Vicky Sunohara, plus former Finnish Ice Hockey Association president Kai Hietarinta.

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