AP Sports SummaryBrief at 11:06 a.m. EST

Bills: Safety Damar Hamlin showing ‘remarkable improvement’

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has shown what physicians treating him are calling “remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours.” The team announced that update three days after Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field. The team said that while Hamlin is still critically ill, the 24-year-year old has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. The team said Hamlin’s lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress. The developments come as the Bills were scheduled to return to practice on Thursday for the first time since Hamlin collapsed after his heart stopped while making a tackle during the first quarter of Buffalo’s game against the Bengals on Monday night.

Back to work not business as usual for Damar Hamlin’s peers

For Damar Hamlin’s teammates, peers and everyone in the NFL community, going back to work is not business as usual. Players returned to practice with heavy hearts on Wednesday, two days after Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field during Buffalo’s game at Cincinnati. The 24-year-old Bills safety remains hospitalized in critical condition. His teammates are set to play the Patriots on Sunday, and all games for Week 18 remain on schedule. Some players across the league have expressed concern about playing this weekend because they’re still processing what happened to Hamlin.

NFL still considering scheduling options, Week 18 unchanged

The NFL is still considering various options following the suspension of the Bills-Bengals game, including possibly eliminating the bye week before the Super Bowl. The Bills-Patriots game set for Sunday and the rest of the Week 18 games remain on schedule. The pivotal Bills-Bengals game was suspended Monday night after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest while making a tackle in the first quarter. A marketing representative for his family says Hamlin’s recovery is moving in “a positive direction” two days after the 24-year-old player had to be resuscitated on the field. NFL executive Jeff Miller said there has been no decision on whether to resume the Bills-Bengals game at a later date. A decision will be made in the coming days.

Andretti partners with General Motors for Cadillac F1 bid

General Motors will attempt to enter Formula One by partnering with Andretti Global under its Cadillac banner as it supports Michael Andretti’s bid to launch a two-car American team. Andretti has been lobbying the FIA to expand the 20-car grid and join the series after a failed 2021 attempt to purchase Sauber. His petition to expand the grid has been met by fierce resistance from existing F1 teams who have argued an 11th team will dramatically dilute their revenues. Andretti says partnering with General Motors gives him an American automaker that provides the additional value rival teams have argued new teams must bring to F1.

Reyna family flagged Berhalter incident; interim coach named

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. soccer team has been plunged into public turmoil because the family of former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna family says it was the one to notify the U.S. Soccer Federation of a decades-old incident involving Gregg Berhalter and his wife. The family says it took action in response to the coach’s disparagement of young star Gio Reyna, Claudio’s son. Berhalter said Tuesday that his 1991 behavior in which he kicked the woman who would become his wife was “shameful.” Anthony Hudson will coach the team ahead of exhibitions against Serbia on Jan. 25 and Colombia three days later.

AP source: Red Sox, Devers agree to 11-year, $331M deal

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers has agreed to an 11-year contract worth $331 million to stay with the Boston Red Sox. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the agreement who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the deal. Locking up Devers was an important move for the Red Sox and their uneasy fans after All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, slugger J.D. Martinez and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi departed in free agency. The 26-year-old third baseman is a two-time All-Star. The deal was reached one day after Devers agreed to a one-year, $17.5 million contract to avoid arbitration.

UConn’s Auriemma to miss 4th game this season due to illness

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn women’s basketball  coach Geno Auriemma will sit out the Huskies’ game at Xavier Thursday, the fourth game he has missed this season due to illness. The Hall of Fame coach also sat out Tuesday’s win at Butler and UConn (12-2). The school didn’t release a timetable for his return. Auriemma released a statement saying he needs a little more time and will take a step back from the program to focus on his health. Associate head coach Chris Dailey, who has been at UConn with Auriemma since 1985, will take over the head coaching duties. She is 16-0 when filling in for him.

Collapse of Bills’ Hamlin deepens Buffalo’s anguish, resolve

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have been a reliable bright spot for a city that has been shaken by a racist mass shooting and back-to-back snowstorms in recent months. So when Bills safety Damar Hamlin was critically hurt in a game Monday, the city quickly looked for ways to support the team. Supporters have been donating to Hamlin’s Pennsylvania charity and several gathered to pray together outside the Bills stadium in Orchard Park Tuesday. Officials say Buffalo City Hall and Niagara Falls will be illuminated in Bills’ blue. Hamlin remains hospitalized in critical condition after going into cardiac arrest after a tackle.

Column: The games will go on after Hamlin — they always do

It was a horrific scene. A young athlete just getting started on a promising NFL career, popping up from a rather innocuous-looking tackle — and then slumping back to the turf. Just like that, fighting for his life. Naturally, when a traumatic event happens like the one that stopped Damar Hamlin’s heart, we’re roused to ponder the value of sport. Especially a violent sport such as football. But anyone who suggests this is a precarious moment for America’s No. 1 pastime, that somehow we’ve crossed a Rubicon leading to its slow, inevitable downfall, simply hasn’t been paying attention.

Masters champions could be in for dinner unlike any other

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Few events carry more intrigue than the most exclusive gathering of champions. It’s not the Sentry Tournament of Champions. It’s the annual Tuesday night dinner at Augusta National in April for Masters champions. Six of those champions now belong to LIV Golf. Tiger Woods is among Masters champions who believe players who signed with LIV have turned their back on the PGA Tour. This could lead to some awkward times. Scottie Scheffler is in charge of the menu. He says while there’s acrimony in golf, he hopes everyone can put aside their differences and celebrate the Masters.