Digest

NFL

Packers backup set for first start

Backup quarterback Brett Hundley will make his first NFL start on Sunday for the Green Bay Packers, who are tied with the Minnesota Vikings at 4-2 for first place in the NFC North.

The Packers placed usual starter Aaron Rodgers on injured reserve Friday, one day after he underwent surgery to repair his broken right collarbone.

Rodgers was injured in the first quarter of last Sunday's 23-10 loss at Minnesota after taking a hard hit from Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr.

Pair of Steelers paying for hits

Pittsburgh safety Mike Mitchell was fined $57,735 by the NFL on Friday for two hits he made in the Steelers' win over Kansas City last Sunday.

Mitchell was docked $48,620 for a helmet-to-helmet shot to Chiefs running back Charcandrick West that resulted in a concussion. He also was fined $9,115 for hitting quarterback Alex Smith low near the end of the third quarter.

Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree also received a $24,309 fine for roughing the passer on a hit he made on Smith.

Soccer

Milestone triumph for Brighton boss

Two goals from Glenn Murray gave Brighton manager Chris Hughton plenty to smile about in his 100th Premier League match as a manager as his team blanked West Ham 3-0 on Friday.

Murray's brace - taking his tally to five goals in seven meetings with the Hammers - and a delightful effort by Colombian international Jose Izquierdo gave Brighton its first away win of the season and the first for the Seagulls in the top flight since 1983.

West Ham's loss will pile more pressure on beleaguered manager Slaven Bilic.

Mourinho expects Ibra to be back

Jose Mourinho said on Friday he expects Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be ready to return to action from his career-threatening knee ligament injury before the end of the year.

The Manchester United manager has stubbornly refused to put a timeline on the injury absences of Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, who sustained a hamstring tear in mid-September.

While Pogba remains in Florida for rehabilitation, Ibrahimovic is now back with United's medical staff in Manchester and has posted social media pictures of his recovery.

Motor Racing

Ferrari replaces Vettel's chassis

Ferrari changed the chassis of Sebastian Vettel's car on Friday after failing to get to the bottom of problems its ace driver experienced in practice for what could be a title-deciding US Formula One Grand Prix.

A team spokesman said mechanics found nothing wrong with the car after the German complained the front "felt like jelly" and herefore decided to change the survival cell as a precaution.

He said no penalty would be incurred.

The governing FIA said stewards agreed the car could be submitted for re-scrutineering on Saturday before the final practice laps.

Agencies

(China Daily 10/22/2017 page12)