Issuu

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026

HURTS OUT - PAGE 9

Lamar Taylor breaks 21-second barrier in 50-metre freestyle !"#$%&'()'&# !*++%,(./0123#-45.67#+345.63. !"#$$%&'( )$*"#+,-,.*/0+,) LAMAR Taylor said learning to enjoy swimming again has played a major role in his recent progress after he broke the 21-second barrier in the men’s 50-metre freestyle at the UVA Pro Elite SCM Worlds Prep Meet in Charlottesville, Virginia. Taylor clocked 20.95 seconds on October 15 to finish third behind Jordan Crooks, who won in 20.48 seconds, and Caeleb Dressel, who placed second in 20.90 seconds. His time improved on his previous personal best of 21.00 seconds and established a new Bahamian record. The performance also moved Taylor into a tie for ninth in the world rankings in the event, marking a significant breakthrough ahead of the World Championships. “It feels amazing to break the 21 barrier. It means a lot to know that my practices are paying off and to know that what I am doing in practice is working,” Taylor said.

• Establishes new national record in event • Moves into tie for ninth in world rankings • Sets national record in 50-metre backstroke • Joanna Evans wins ladies’ 400 metre free “I think what made a huge difference this year is that I am learning to have fun again and enjoy swimming, and to try and learn something new every day and not try to learn everything in one day.” Taylor said training alongside Crooks has also helped him find ways to improve, with the opportunity to challenge himself against one of the world’s leading sprint swimmers providing a valuable measure of his development. “I train with Jordan every day, so I like to challenge myself every day. For example, racing him and seeing what he is doing that I can maybe pick up on. It definitely puts my racing in a new perspective when it is compared to someone else,” he said. Taylor also set a Bahamian record in the 50-metre backstroke, clocking 23.41

seconds to finish second, and placed third in the 100 metre freestyle in 47.16 seconds. “It feels great to make progress in two of my sprint events. Sprinting is a very technical and difficult thing to get better at, and some days it may feel like you are not making any progress,” Taylor said. “I have felt like I have been at a standstill for a while, so this is a huge breakthrough for me.” Taylor said reaching the top 10 in the world rankings in the 50-metre freestyle has also given him a new sense of excitement as he prepares for the World Championships. “Definitely, it makes me feel excited and extremely happy. It is definitely something that I have not done yet in my career, so this being the first time definitely puts me in a new position and makes me very excited,” he said.

Taylor described his overall showing at the UVA meet as better than he had anticipated, explaining that he entered the competition mainly to assess his form rather than expecting to produce such fast times. “I think my overall performance at the UVA meet was definitely over the top and something that I did not expect. It was a meet that I just kind of wanted to see where I was at and did not expect to swim that fast,” he said. “It was a new experience, and I felt a lot of things that I have not felt in a while, like being fast, being strong and just feeling pure speed, which was really fun.” With the World Championships approaching, Taylor said his focus will be on refining the technical details of his races, particularly his breakouts, turns and finishes in the 50-metre freestyle and 50-metre backstroke. He believes there is room to improve

123245 6/78%$95 :/$5 $*;<)95 /+.5 %)<,$5'&*--,$'5/)5)<,5=>25 ?$%5@8*),5AB35C%$8.'5?$,D53,,)5*+5B</$8%)),'E*88,95>*$;*+*/0 in how he approaches the wall, noting that he felt he glided into the finish in the freestyle and did not execute his turns and finish as sharply as he wanted in the backstroke. Taylor also said adjusting to a new pool affected his ability to judge his stroke count and kick count in the backstroke, contributing to some of those mistakes. “Just those two things I want to work on going into the World Championships. So, just really the finer details and trying to stay healthy and trying to make

sure that my body is right for the meet,” he said. Joanna Evans also delivered a strong showing at the meet, winning the women’s 400 metre freestyle in 4:08.17 and finishing third in the 200 metre freestyle in 1:56.28. She also placed sixth in the 100 metre freestyle in 53.97 seconds. Evans’ victory in the 400 metre freestyle highlighted her performance in Charlottesville, while her podium finish in the 200metre freestyle added to The Bahamas’ strong showing at the two-day meet.

Sharks celebrate their first GSSSA cross country title !"#$%&'()'&# !*++%,(./0123#-45.67#+345.63. !"#$$%&'( )$*"#+,-,.*/0+,) THE S.C. McPherson Junior High School Sharks celebrated their first Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) Cross Country Championship with a special assembly following the Sharks’ victory on Saturday, October 17. Principal Keva Campbell and head coach Nikita Sears praised the athletes for their commitment and preparation after the school secured the championship, highlighting the consistency of the team’s training and the collective effort that helped deliver the title.

Campbell said she was elated with the athletes’ performance, crediting the students for their determination and acknowledging the coaches, staff members and parents who supported them throughout the competition. “I am elated. The performance was great,” Campbell said. “Our students came out, they participated, they gave it their all, and so I am just truly grateful for the sacrifice that our athletes made, as well as our coaches and our staff members who came out and parents to support our students on Saturday.” The victory marked a significant achievement for the school, which had not previously won the cross country championship.

Campbell said the result reflected the work put in by the athletes and their coaches ahead of the meet. Sears, who serves as the school’s physical education subject co-ordinator and was the head coach of the cross country team, said the championship was the product of months of preparation and a strong belief within the squad that it could accomplish something special. “It feels amazing. We worked really hard. The students worked hard. They were excited, we were excited. The energy was just different this year, and so we knew that something special was going to take place on Saturday,” GSSSA - SEE PAGE 10

Government looking to expand golf infrastructure beyond New Providence !"#$%&'()'&# !*++%,(./0123#-45.67#+345.63. !"#$$%&'( )$*"#+,-,.*/0+,) THE government is looking to expand golf infrastructure beyond New Providence, with Minister of Youth and Sports Mario Bowleg pointing to potential private-sector partnerships to develop and upgrade courses on the Family Islands. Bowleg said the government was exploring ways to support golf facilities in Grand Bahama, where he noted that players currently lacked a suitable place to play, while also considering how public land and private investment could be used to expand access to the sport. His comments came

MARIO BOWLEG yesterday during a press conference at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium, where the Ministry of Youth and Sports recognised Team Bahamas following its historic victory at the Caribbean

Golf Association (CGA) Four-Ball Championship in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, October 6-10. “I know in Grand Bahama they have no place to play golf right now, and I’m in communication with them on how we could work together on one or two of the courses there, that the government could partner to help keep the development and upgrade of the greens so that they can do and play golf,” Bowleg said. He said the government recognised its responsibility to help the sport grow throughout the country by ensuring that green spaces were available, while acknowledging that maintaining and developing golf courses would require GOLF - SEE PAGE 10

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 20, 2026, PAGE 11

UB Mingoes men’s soccer team makes history THE momentum began to shift in the University of The Bahamas Mingoes men’s soccer team but Mother Nature stopped the match 20 minutes early as the score was tied 1-1 against Trinity College of Florida Tigers on Saturday in Coral Springs, Florida. The draw meant that UB has an unbeaten record this international tour which is a first in school history. They wrapped up with a 4-2-0 win/draw/loss record. It also snapped their four-game winning streak. UB’s head coach Alex Thompson said that his side had a good start. “We coming off, less than 48 hours of recovery time played a role in the result,” Thompson said. “I will say that I think for the last five minutes leading up until the lightning stoppage, it did appear that we were in the ascendancy. We created a few chances and I think we were confident that we could get a goal.” Playing at the North Community Park, captain Ronaldo Green took on

several defenders before getting the ball past the goalkeeper to put his side up 1-0. The two sides were attempting to find the back of the net but it was the Tigers who tied it up at one goal apiece in the 41st minute. The first half ended 1-1. UB started to gain momentum after the second half began but the Tigers stopped UB’s chances. At the 70th minute water break, a thunderstorm rolled in and forced the referees and coaches to call the game off at that point. Thompson was grateful for his team’s leadership that included Green, Joshua Johnson, Junior Kelly and Alix St Hilaire. “Each of the captains have a role to play - Ronaldo is the team's leader, Josh is the body, Junior is the mind, and Alex is the soul. “They each play a big part in our continued success on the pitch but even more so off of the pitch,” Thompson said.

!"#$%&'()*+',-$./$!0)$120232+$3)&4+$+.55)*$672-)*+$'&$25,'.&$282'&+,$!*'&',-$9.77)8)$./$:7.*';2$.&$<2,=*;2->$?5,.@)*$ AB>$2,$C.*,0$9.33=&',-$D2*E$'&$9.*27$<6*'&8+>$:7.*';2F$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$D0.,.+G$!"#$%&'(%)*+ They won 5-3 against the Tigers. They then won backto-back matches against Atlantic University 6-3

UB opened the international tour with a 2-2 draw against Millennia Atlantic University.

and 9-1. Then they won 8-2 against South Florida Bible College. Dating back to last season, the University

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-DAY FORECAST

TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

of the Bahamas has been unbeaten in their last nine matches against international colleges.

UV INDEX TODAY

SATURDAY

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ LOW

ORLANDO

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 61° F/16° C

TAMPA

Showers around; breezy in the a.m.

Partly cloudy with a few showers

Partly sunny with showers around

Mostly cloudy with a stray t-storm

Mostly cloudy with a t-storm or two

Mostly cloudy with a few showers

High: 85°

Low: 76°

High: 87° Low: 73°

High: 86° Low: 75°

High: 82° Low: 75°

High: 83° Low: 76°

AccuWeather RealFeel

91° F

77° F

93°-76° F

91°-76° F

89°-76° F

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 62° F/17° C

ABACO

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 71° F/22° C

10-20 knots

WEST PALM BEACH High: 84° F/29° C Low: 67° F/19° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

FREEPORT

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 68° F/20° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 71° F/22° C

MIAMI

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 71° F/22° C

10-20 knots

KEY WEST

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 75° F/24° C

The higher the AccuWeather UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Shown is the highest value of the day.

TIDES FOR NASSAU Ht.(ft.) 2.4 2.8

9:41 a.m. 1.3 10:30 p.m. 1.1

ALMANAC

Wednesday 4:32 a.m. 4:51 p.m.

2.6 2.8

10:40 a.m. 1.1 11:14 p.m. 0.9

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 76° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 84° F/29° C Normal low ........................................ 73° F/23° C Last year’s high .................................. 86° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 76° F/25° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.12” Year to date ................................................ 25.61” Normal year to date ................................... 32.78”

Thursday

5:21 a.m. 5:37 p.m.

2.8 2.9

11:33 a.m. 0.9 11:55 p.m. 0.6

Friday

6:06 a.m. 6:22 p.m.

3.0 3.0

12:23 p.m. 0.6 ---------

Saturday

6:49 a.m. 7:05 p.m.

3.3 3.0

12:35 a.m. 0.3 1:10 p.m. 0.4

Sunday

7:33 a.m. 7:49 p.m.

3.5 3.0

1:16 a.m. 1:57 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Monday

8:17 a.m. 8:34 p.m.

3.7 3.0

1:57 a.m. 2:44 p.m.

0.0 0.1

Low

Ht.(ft.)

SUN AND MOON Sunrise Sunset

7:11 a.m. 6:38 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

3:16 p.m. 1:47 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Oct. 25

Nov. 1

Nov. 9

Nov. 17

CAT ISLAND

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

10-20 knots

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

8-16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Today

N W

EXT.

High

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

VERY HIGH

3:38 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

HIGH

The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature® is the only index that includes all the weather factors that play a role in how we perceive temperature, including the effects of wind, humidity, sunshine, precipitation, pressure, and elevation. Shown are the highest and lowest values for each day.

MODERATE

ANDROS

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

W S

LONG ISLAND

TRACKING MAP

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N W

N E

E S

6-12 knots

MARINE FORECAST ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS NE at 8-16 Knots NNE at 7-14 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NNE at 7-14 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots

Tribune First Alert Weather

NASSAU WhatsApp Channel

WAVES 8-12 Feet 6-10 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 6-10 Feet 5-9 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 6-10 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 6-10 Feet 4-8 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 84° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 87° F 87° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 83° F 85° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F

“We got you covered under the radars”

PAGE 10, Tuesday, October 20, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Minister Bowleg says PLP exploring ways to support golf facilities in Grand Bahama GOLF - FROM PAGE 12 private-sector involvement. “Whether we can maintain all of them, that is definitely not something we can do. So we need private partnerships in those cases,” he said. Bowleg also pointed to work previously undertaken to advance golf facilities in New Providence, indicating that upgrades to the existing nine-hole Baillou Hill Sporting Complex Golf course should begin soon. He said partnerships would be important in identifying land and developing facilities in other islands where golf opportunities remain limited. The minister’s comments come as The Bahamas seeks to build on a breakthrough performance at the CGA Four-Ball Championship, where the national team captured the Ambrose Gouthro Cup for the first time, ending Jamaica’s dominance of the overall competition since its inception in 2020. Bowleg congratulated the Bahamas Golf Federation and the players, saying their achievement reflected the progress being made in the sport, from junior development to national representation at regional competitions. He also called on corporate sponsors to support the team and the continued development of golf, noting that financial assistance can help players travel and compete internationally. The championship victory was built on performances across six divisions, with The Bahamas securing two division titles and additional podium finishes. Richard Gibson Jr and Nolan Johnson won the men’s Mid-Amateur division for players aged 35 and over, while Raymond Gibson and James Wallace captured the men’s Legends division for players aged 70 and over. Horace Miller and Leroy Williamson finished second in the men’s Super Senior division for players aged 60 and over. Inecia Rolle and Tanika Sandiford Markey placed second in the women’s division for players aged 25 and over, while Kyshna Radnetter and Giselle Pyfrom finished fourth in the

women’s division for players aged 45 and over. Kelsey Rolle and Michael McAleer placed fourth in the men’s Senior division for players aged 50 and over. Bowleg said the development of golf must begin at the grassroots level, highlighting the progress of young players who have moved from government primary schools into high school competitions and are now challenging more experienced golfers. Over the past four anda-half years, he said, he had watched the growth of high school golf nationals and seen young people develop their skills through opportunities that might otherwise have been unavailable to them. He credited the Bahamas Golf Federation, including its junior programme, with helping identify and develop young talent, while emphasising the importance of giving children from inner-city communities greater access to the sport. “Finding those diamonds in the rough” was an important part of the process, Bowleg said, adding that the progress of young golfers showed why investment in development programmes mattered. Nolan Johnson, who partnered with Gibson to win the Mid-Amateur division, said expanding the sport’s reach would require the federation to strengthen its junior development work, recruit more volunteers and encourage parents to consider golf alongside other activities for their children. Johnson said several members of the current national team had developed through the federation’s junior programme, demonstrating the value of investing in young golfers. He also argued that golf facilities should be more welcoming to people from different backgrounds, noting that misconceptions about the sport being exclusive could discourage potential participants. “There are a lot of hidden gems that are there, for the most part, may be overlooked,” Johnson said, referring to young people in inner-city communities who could benefit from opportunities to play.

@!*JK%%!)-.:$+$.)$!D5,!#$49!>$,8$+95>!58!8#$!@.9+$!J-93$+,!L581-.54!M5,$7544!%85910=F!D#$+$!8#$!(1.1,8+>!-:!N-08#! 5.9!%?-+8,!+$)-3.1,$9!"$5=!M5#5=5,!:-44-D1.3!18,!#1,8-+1)!<1)8-+>!58!8#$!'5+177$5.!;-4:!@,,-)1581-.!A';@B!O-0+CM544! '#5=?1-.,#1?!1.!*+-<19$.)154$,F!"0+6,!5.9!'51)-,F!G)8-7$+!PCHQ& !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*#-8-,R!-0102#(3245678 Johnson said the sport was experiencing renewed interest among young people after a period of slower growth, but maintained that more could be done to reach a wider audience. Johnson said the previous result was disappointing, particularly after he and his partner had finished second in their division at an earlier championship. He felt the team had lacked a key element in Jamaica, but this year’s group was stronger in its preparation, chemistry and execution. “This year’s team exceeded all areas,” Johnson said. “We didn’t lack chemistry. We were complete in our preparation for the event, as well as our execution.

So I think that really put us over the hump this year.” Johnson said the team would need to review its performance and identify the strengths that contributed to the victory as it prepares for future competitions. He also highlighted the importance of starting strongly, noting that The Bahamas had historically found itself trying to recover from slow starts at regional events. Tanika Sandiford Mackey, who represented The Bahamas alongside Inecia Rolle in the women’s 25-and-over division, said the team’s depth was a major factor in its success. She was particularly proud of the women’s 45-and-over partnership, Kyshna Radnetter and Giselle Pyfrom, who

recovered from a difficult opening day to improve over the final two rounds. Mackey said women’s performances had often been an area where The Bahamas struggled to collect enough points, making their contribution especially important to the overall result. After taking 11 years away from golf following the birth of her child, Mackey said she returned to competition and helped The Bahamas secure its first overall title. The team also received praise for its preparation and resilience at Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, where gusting winds, fast greens and tight fairways challenged the players. Some members also had golf equipment and

clothing delayed during transit and did not receive their belongings until after the first round. Despite those setbacks, the players worked with their partners to adjust to the course and produce the results needed to win the championship. Bowleg said the government remains open to hosting regional competitions in The Bahamas. It would allow local players to compete on home soil and give residents the opportunity to watch highlevel golf. The challenge now is to build on the historic victory by strengthening junior development, improving access to courses and securing the partnerships needed to sustain the sport’s growth throughout the islands.

!"#$%"#&'"#('$)*+,-./!"#$!%&'&!()*#$+,-.!/0.1-+!213#!%)#--4!%#5+6,!)$4$7+58$9!8#$1+!:1+,8!;-<$+.=$.8!%$)-.95+>!%)#--4,!%?-+8,!@,,-)1581-.!A;%%%@B!'+-,,!'-0.8+>!'#5=C ?1-.,#1?!D18#!5!,?$)154!5,,$=74>!:-44-D1.3!8#$!%#5+6,E!<1)8-+>!-.!%580+95>F!G)8-7$+!HI&

S.C. McPherson Jr High celebrates first Cross Country Championship with special assembly GSSSA - FROM PAGE 12 Sears said. The Sharks followed a consistent training programme, with daily practice sessions forming the foundation of their preparation.

Sears also emphasised the importance of keeping the athletes mentally engaged and motivated as they worked towards the championship. “We have practices, daily practice sessions.

“I would say little psychological talks, you know, to keep the children engaged, keep them motivated,” she said. “We had a lot of support from our colleagues here, our teachers, the parents,

they came out, and so it was a team effort,” Sears said. “Nothing is going to be given to us. We have to go out there and take it.” Several athletes delivered performances that helped put S C McPherson

in position to claim the overall title. Tamisha Gustave won the under-13 girls’ championship, while Hailey Manning captured the under-15 girls’ title. Sears also singled out the contribution of Kenard

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Beckford and the under15 boys, noting that their performance proved important to the school’s overall success despite the team not winning its individual division. The under-13 girls’ team also received praise for its contribution. Sears stressed that the championship was secured through the combined efforts of athletes across the different divisions. “When I say team effort, it was a team effort, and they did exceptionally well,” she said. “We are proud and we are so grateful, and we’re excited to celebrate this victory with them.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 20, 2026, PAGE 9

Hurts expected to miss rest of season with blood clots !"#=$&#>,%()?&# $-#(./012#304150

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the season because of blood clots in his lungs, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press yesterday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of a health matter. Hurts was placed on injured reserve Saturday, two days after the Eagles revealed he has a blood clot in his calf. He missed the first of at least four games in Philadelphia’s loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Eagles and Hurts' agent, Nicole Lynn, released more information on his condition yesterday. They said Hurts has deep vein thrombosis and a bilateral pulmonary emboli,

meaning a blood clot has travelled from the legs to the lungs. His treatment involves blood thinners, and he won't be allowed to participate in any football activities until he is off them. The Eagles and Lynn said Hurts was expected to make a full recovery. “He is clinically stable and has no significant functional limitations,” their statement said. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was the only member of the organisation made available to the media yesterday — not general manager Howie Roseman or any member of the team's medical staff — and largely deflected questions about Hurts' health or how the team handled the situation. “I'm not a medical expert," Sirianni said. “I lean on our guys in all those situations. I'm a football coach. I lean on our medical experts in every situation. I have full trust and full faith

in them. It's not just me that has major care for our players. It's them, as well.” The Eagles previously said Hurts was injured when he took a cleat to his calf area on October 4 in a game against the Los Angeles Rams. Hurts informed the medical staff of the injury after practice on October 8. The Super Bowl 59 MVP was back at practice the next day before the team left for London to play Jacksonville. Hurts was initially diagnosed by specialists in London with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis. Sirianni declined to say yesterday why the Eagles allowed Hurts to fly home with a blood clot. He referred to statements the Eagles and Hurts' agent released over the last week that addressed the timeline of his injury and treatment. He had no answers on specific questions about Hurts and his blood clots.

"I understand you want this information on this," Sirianni said. “I fully trust the people that are involved in helping us all make these decisions. We have great people here.” Hurts hadn’t missed more than two games in a season since becoming the full-time starter in 2021. He has led the Eagles to five straight playoff appearances, three NFC East titles and two Super Bowl appearances, beating the Chiefs 40-22 two years ago. Tanner McKee started for Hurts against the Panthers. McKee finished 26 of 45 for 215 yards and a touchdown in the 25-14 loss. The Eagles (2-4) have lost four consecutive games for the first time since 2020. Sirianni added that beleaguered offensive coordinator Sean Mannion was still the play-caller. Hurts has eight touchdown passes and three interceptions with 933 yards passing this season.

Dolphins have been competitive despite 0-5 start !"#$%&'()*+,-./-0,12)3,452)654457)4/,8/7).9/):5/4;),:./-),)<,=/),<,5>7.).9/)?/><,47)5>)35,=5)@,-;/>7A)B4C-5;,A)C>)"1.D0/-)EEA)FGFHI)))))))))))))))))))))))))JK$)$9C.CL6575889#!:98;<5::M !"#$%$&'(#)*$+,(# $-#(./012#304150 MIAMI GARDENS, Florida (AP) — Malik Willis didn't hide his disappointment after last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Dolphins quarterback and Miami's offence struggled for most of the game, but they managed to give themselves a late chance by cutting an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to seven. They could not complete a comeback, which has been the story of their 0-5 start to the season. Outside of losses at Las Vegas and San Francisco in Weeks 1 and 2, the Dolphins have trailed by seven points or fewer in the fourth quarter of each of the last three games. “We've got to figure out a way to get guys on the same page,” Willis said Sunday, “because there’s just a lot left out on the field that could be better than what it is. We try to find a way at the end, but that’s just too hard to continue to try to fight back at the end.” The Dolphins trailed Kansas City by seven early in the fourth quarter in Week 3, but with chances to cut the deficit, Miami was stopped on fourth down on one drive, and Willis threw an interception on another. Miami's defence did not give up a touchdown against Kyler Murray and the Vikings' offence the next week, but a series of mishaps on offence — receiver Chris Bell stepped out of bounds on a potential touchdown, Willis lost a

fumble on a sack — stalled momentum. Against the Bengals, Willis began the game with just five first-half completions before eventually finishing with 137 yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing score. He also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. And after scoring with 48 seconds left to pull within seven, the Dolphins missed the extra-point attempt and failed to recover the ensuing onside kick. Willis and coach Jeff Hafley have said they've been impressed with the team's competitiveness despite the roster being made up of mostly inexperienced players — 14 rookies have played in at least one of the first five games, combining for a league-leading 2,192 snaps — but Willis said the team's youth can no longer excuse a lack of execution. “It is too much and too hard to keep saying, we’re just young or we’re trying to build this and build that,” Willis said. “At the same time, we got to hold each other accountable because we can’t keep doing this to ourselves. “If we’re going to be in games versus good teams, we got to be able to take advantage of it and go and win those games because there’s no point to be in the game if you can’t go and win it.” Sullivan's first draft is already paying off General manager JonEric Sullivan has been clear throughout the start of the organisation’s rebuild that

Aim for better execution after bye the Dolphins will prioritise youth and developing the players they draft. So far, his first draft as GM has shown that Miami may have already found some core pieces to build around. Rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, drafted in the second round, has an NFL-leading 57 tackles through the first five games and has been praised by Hafley for his communication as the defence's green dot player. “I think the game’s slowing down for him,” Hafley said last week, “because now he understands his role on defence, he can spend more time studying what the offence is doing, so he can kind of put himself in good position to make plays.” Cornerback Chris Johnson, a first-round pick, and safety Michael Taaffe rank among the NFL's top 10 rookie defenders in tackles, and both had forced fumbles against Cincinnati. The Dolphins' first selection, No. 12 pick Kadyn Proctor, has been one of the team's best offensive linemen, using his 6-foot-7, 360-pound frame to create running lanes for a rushing attack that ranks third with 5.5 yards per carry since Week 3. Miami has also gotten major contributions from rookie receivers Caleb Douglas (113 yards receiving) and Chris Bell (92 yards), who rank 11th and 14th, respectively, among

rookies in receiving yards, despite Douglas missing the past three games with an ankle injury. Dolphins' tough early schedule is followed by divisional games The Dolphins' first five opponents have gone a combined 20-4 entering Week 6, while San Francisco, Kansas City and Minnesota remain

the league's only unbeaten teams. Miami will face AFC East opponents in four of its next six games, beginning with a trip to face the Jets in Week 7, followed by a home matchup against New England in Week 8, at Buffalo in Week 11 and against the Jets again at home in Week 12.

Hafley said the team will use its bye to get healthy and find ways to improve execution. “We’re going to roll up our sleeves and this group’s going to work,” Hafley said. “And I know that they’re going to. This is not going to be a group that starts going backward and pointing fingers. It’s not who they are.”