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Kon Knueppel went off before he went out Friday night. The rookie guard erupted for 16 points in the first quarter of the Charlotte Hornets' 120-105 win over the Orlando Magic (17-14), but the No. 4 overall pick suffered a right ankle injury late in the first half that sidelined him the rest of the game.

Head coach Charles Lee said afterward that it sounded like the X-rays on Knueppel's ankle were negative, and that the Hornets (11-20) will get more information about Knueppel when the team returns to Charlotte, as reported by The Charlotte Observer.

With less than 30 seconds to go in the second quarter, Knueppel appeared to roll his ankle after landing on the shoe of Magic guard Desmond Bane on a contest in the paint. 

While Knueppel was quiet in the second quarter before his injury, he turned heads with his first-quarter outburst, which saw him make all four of his 3-point attempts.

The Duke product has enjoyed record-breaking success from beyond the arc this season. Earlier this week, during a 139-132 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 20-year-old Knueppel became the fastest player in NBA history to make 100 3s.

He needed only 29 games to do it, surpassing Lauri Markkanen, who reached the milestone in 41 games with the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18. 

Knueppel came into Friday's matchup in Orlando averaging 19.4 points per game on 47.4 shooting, with a 41.9% clip from long range.

Like college teammate Cooper Flagg, Knueppel has swiftly translated his skill set to the NBA.

Knueppel's injury is the latest the Hornets have taken on this season. They were notably down two of their top-three centers Friday, as both Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mason Plumlee weren't available.

Still, Charlotte found a way to win on the road. Seven different Hornets players scored in double figures. LaMelo Ball led the charge with 22 points and splashed four 3s, albeit with six turnovers attached to his stat line. Collin Sexton, in just his second game back from a quad injury, chipped in 13 points off the bench.

The Hornets have been playing better basketball of late, but losing Knueppel for any significant amount of time could stunt that progress.

A Baltimore Sun column describing a rift between longtime Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson has circulated furiously online.

Among other things, Mike Preston writes in his column for the Sun that Jackson has been falling asleep in team meetings.

Harbaugh was asked about that and the piece Wednesday. 

"I don't know where that's coming from," Harbaugh said ahead of Saturday's road game versus the Green Bay Packers.

"I've never seen that. Ever. That's not something that I've ever witnessed, and I'm in every meeting. And to speculate on how I feel about it... I'll tell you how I feel. I'm pretty transparent. I think all the guys in the building will tell you, if I have something of conversation, something that I want to talk to them about, I'm right up front."

In the column, Preston writes that Harbaugh has "become tired" of the two-time NFL MVP.

Harbaugh emphasized Wednesday, though, that he had a great conversation with Jackson just that morning. He said they talked about football, how Jackson's feeling and other topics, as the dual-threat star tries to work his way back from a back contusion, the latest of several injuries he's sustained this season while playing for the 7-8 Ravens, who need the Pittsburgh Steelers to lose to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday to have any chance at winning the AFC North crown the following week.

"Our relationship is A+," Harbaugh said of his connection with Jackson. "So I love him. Always have, always will. And I know he's fighting like crazy to get back. So none of those reports or things that get said or written or whatever — I don't need anybody speaking for me. 

"Just ask me, and I'll tell you what I think."

During Harbaugh and Jackson's eight seasons together, the Ravens have made the playoffs six times, won four division titles and earned a pair of No. 1 seeds in the AFC. 

They haven't reached the Super Bowl in that span, however, and Jackson's postseason record is just 3-5. In those games, he's thrown only three more touchdowns (10) than interceptions (7). 

Baltimore needs a pair of wins and some help to even get another swing at the playoffs this season. Jackson hasn't looked his best on the field most of the season, as he's battled a laundry list of injuries.

First he missed three games this season with a hamstring injury. Jackson, whose 2022 and 2021 seasons were cut short by knee and ankle issues, respectively, was one of several Ravens players banged up early in the 2025 campaign, as Baltimore slumped to a 1-4 start. 

Since he returned in Week 9, he's been sidelined and limited in practices with knee, toe, ankle and back injuries.

He's yet to miss another game, although his status is up in the air for Saturday's contest in Green Bay. Jackson didn't practice Tuesday or Wednesday. Harbaugh said Wednesday Jackson is "day-to-day."

"But he could play without that practice for sure," Harbaugh said. "He's played a lot of football, won a lot of games for us. If he's ready to go, he will go. If he can go, he will go. You can bet on that."

When asked for specifics about the back contusion that Jackson suffered during the first half of last week's loss to the New England Patriots, Harbaugh said it's a deep-tissue contusion and not just some black and blue mark.

"I'm not a medical guy, but I did see the MRI," he said. "It's legitimate, very painful. Muscles lock up around it. You can't really move very well. He's in that process now of loosening all that up, hopefully. And you can't really say when it's going to be right. 

"He's got to be able to be an athlete, be able to move. ... So that's what you're working back towards with all the treatment and everything. So believe me, if he can go out there and do it, this guy's one of the ultimate competitors that you're ever going to see. If he's able to go, he's going to be out there going."

An especially introspective Steve Kerr told reporters Wednesday that there's beauty in the struggle while he reflected on the state of his Golden State Warriors and the blowup he had with Draymond Green during the third quarter of a 120-97 win over the Orlando Magic two days earlier.

Kerr and Green were seen in a heated discussion during a timeout Monday night. After an animated exchange, Green decided to remove himself and left for the Chase Center locker rooms.

Although he eventually returned to the bench, he didn't check back into the game. 

Kerr said he and his do-it-all forward had a "great chat" Wednesday. The longtime Warriors head coach said he and Green apologized to each other as well as to the team. 

Kerr explained that it was not his finest hour, nor was it a good look for his group.

"That was a time I needed to be calm in the huddle, and so I regret my actions in that exchange," Kerr said Wednesday.

"These things, they happen, especially when you get two incredibly competitive people like Dray and me. So over the 12 years we've been together, this has happened occasionally, and I'm not proud of it."

Kerr added: "I care so much about Draymond, and the relationship we have is like family. And like family, you go through ups and downs. And my No. 1 goal honestly is for him to finish his career as a Warrior with us fighting — metaphorically, not literally — and competing together until we're both gone. And I believe that's going to happen because I believe in Draymond, and I believe in myself and I believe in everything we've built for 12 years."

The Warriors famously selected Green out of Michigan State with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 draft. Kerr has coached him from the 2014-15 season on. Since, Green has emerged as a four-time All-Star, one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. Together, Kerr and Green have won four NBA championships.

While Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and then Kevin Durant, consistently shot the lights out, Green has left his own mark on the organization: with defensive tenacity, heady court vision and physical rebounding, plus timely scoring.

"We have four banners out there, and obviously a lot of people have played important roles in that, but I've said this before, and I truly believe it. I don't think we have any without Draymond. That's how much he impacts winning. 

"So his ability to channel that passion, that emotion, that raw rage that he has is a key component to what makes us successful. And what I said about the other night, I didn't channel my own raw emotion and rage, of which there is plenty. We are far more alike than anyone would ever realize."

Kerr cited a long history of turning negative moments into positive momentum during his relationship with Green, who Kerr described as "very complex." While Green has racked up technical fouls and served his fair share of suspensions for outbursts during a 14-season NBA career, he's also known for his basketball acumen and his contemplative commentary.

"We've always, always found a way to not only bounce back, but to make strides as a result," Kerr said, via Warriors reporter Kenzo Fukuda. 

'We are a fading dynasty. ... So what is up to us?'

With the win over the Magic, the Warriors improved to 15-15. They've won back-to-back games for the fifth time this season. But they've still yet to string together more than three victories in a row.

This version of Golden State is spearheaded by Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler III. They're all at least 35 years old. Butler is a Warriors transplant who helped spark a second-half run last season, which ended in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves after Curry suffered a hamstring strain in the first game of the series.

"Where we are as a team, as an organization, the most important thing for me is for guys to recognize that there's beauty in the struggle. There's beauty in what we're trying to accomplish right now," Kerr said Wednesday, via The San Francisco Standard's Danny Emerman. 

"We are no longer the '17 Warriors, dominating the league. We are a fading dynasty. We know that. Everyone knows that. So what is up to us? How do we carry ourselves night to night? How connected are we? And can we give ourselves another swing at the plate? We did that last year. I was really proud of the team last year. Despite the loss to Minnesota, injury to Steph. Who knows how long we would've gone? But we gave ourselves a chance. That's the goal here. 

"We know where we are. We've got to know who we are, we've got to know what's possible, and we've got to take pride in the struggle, because this is part of life."

Kerr said he believes sorting out the tiff with Green has been a major step in this Warriors team working through its issues. 

He sees an opportunity for Golden State to make another run like last year's.

As for Green, Kerr wants him to finish his career in a Warriors uniform. 

"He's undyingly loyal and passionate, and I will go to bat for him as long as I'm coaching him here," Kerr said, per Emerman. "Honestly, I'd go to bat for him 20 years from now when we haven't been together. That's how strongly I feel about him. And that's how I want this thing to end with us, whenever that is."

As the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers were playing a December game with playoff implications at Soldier Field on Saturday night, James Madison raced to put up as many points as it could after falling behind 34-3 in the first half of a first-round College Football Playoff game against Oregon.

The Bears pulled off an improbable comeback, complete with an onside-kick recovery and a game-ending, 46-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to DJ Moore that ripped through the wind in overtime. Meanwhile, JMU made a 51-34 loss look closer than it actually was.

Oregon-JMU averaged 4.4 million viewers, according to ESPN PR, which reported that, earlier in the day, Ole Miss' 41-10 win over Tulane averaged 6.2 million viewers.

That game bled into the start of Eagles-Commanders, which kicked off an NFL Saturday doubleheader on Fox. Both of the games with Group of Five teams and NFL overlap drew significantly less viewership than the other two games in the first round of the CFP.

Those of course featured marquee matchups that proved far more competitive. They also didn't go up against an NFL schedule. 

Alabama-Oklahoma, which saw the Crimson Tide rally from 17 points down, averaged 14.9 million viewers, and Miami-Texas A&M, which showcased a defensive standoff in a blustery College Station, averaged 14.8 million viewers, according to ESPN PR.

Both were one-score games in the fourth quarter. Alabama capped its comeback for a 34-24 win. Miami buckled down at the goal line with an interception in the end zone to clinch a 10-3 victory. 

Alabama-Oklahoma was on ABC, with an 8 p.m. kickoff Friday. It was the most-watched CFP first-round game on record, per ESPN PR. (This is Year 2 of the 12-team playoff.) 

Miami-Texas A&M was on ABC, with a 12 p.m. kickoff Saturday. It peaked at 19.3 million viewers, per ESPN.

Neither of those games conflicted with the NFL's Saturday slate.

Ole Miss-Tulane and Oregon-JMU were both on TNT. ESPN and TNT Sports have an agreement that allows TNT to sublicense select CFP games from ESPN.

TNT had two first-round CFP games last season and two more this time around. 

Group of Five auto-bid teams suffering blowout losses to at-large power conference teams stirred up more questions about the format of the playoff.

So will the viewership numbers, however, those were likely also affected by an NFL takeover Saturday.

Jared Goff is tied with MVP frontrunner, Pro Bowler and intertwined trade counterpart Matthew Stafford for the lowest interception rate in the league this season. Goff has thrown only five interceptions while amassing the second-most passing touchdowns (32) of any quarterback in the league during the 2025 campaign.

Through 15 games, he also ranks third in passing yards (4,036 yards), fifth in completion percentage (68.6%), second in passer rating (109.4) and, according to Next Gen Stats, tied for fifth in EPA per dropback (+0.15).

Goff has done all of that while playing in front of a Detroit Lions offensive line that has taken a step back, and particularly struggled on the interior, this season. Yet, he might miss out on the playoffs.

He's on the outside looking in of the 2026 Pro Bowl rosters, too.

So is division rival Jordan Love, who is tied with Stafford for first in EPA per dropback (+0.20), according to NGS. Like Goff, Love has suffered some heartbreaking losses this season. But, in that advanced metric, both are ahead of two of the NFC's Pro Bowl quarterbacks: the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott and the Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold, who are tied for seventh (+0.12) and tied for 10th (+0.08) in EPA per dropback, respectively.

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If the rudimentary QBs stat was a factor, then it's fair to ask why Prescott got the nod over Goff and Love, given that the six-win Cowboys have already been eliminated from playoff contention. 

As for Darnold, as great of a story as he continues to be, his 24 passing touchdowns are only one more than Love's 23. Plus, Darnold has thrown 13 interceptions, whereas Love has tossed just six picks.

In other words, Darnold's interception rate (3.1%) is more than double Love's (1.4%). Love notably completed a franchise record-tying 20 straight passes in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8, and his 66.3% completion percentage is the second best of his career.

Goff and Love each have a convincing case for this year's Pro Bowl Games. They're among the biggest snubs. Yahoo Sports is analyzing the others.

[Read: 2026 Pro Bowl rosters announced]

Who were the other biggest Pro Bowl snubs?

Before going any further, it's important to make a few notes. The Pro Bowl Games include a skills competition and a 7-on-7 flag football game that's scheduled for Feb. 3 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, which will host Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8. 

Long gone are the days of "real" Pro Bowl, but the exhibition unraveled into glorified two-hand touch over the years anyway. Nevertheless, a Pro Bowl nod is still meaningful in the league.

That said, it's not a foolproof measuring stick for player excellence. The Pro Bowl Games rosters are determined by a combination of votes from not only coaches and players but also fans. Each group accounts for a third of the consensus vote.

An accomplished player with just an OK season can occasionally receive the All-Star tag line because of name recognition or lifetime achievement. It's an imperfect system. 

Cue the rest of the snubs...

Indianapolis Colts TE Tyler Warren: Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers earned a spot on the AFC roster despite making a mere eight starts and averaging 13.5 fewer receiving yards per game than he did during his head-turning rookie campaign. Bowers is a stud, but Warren's body of work this year is more impressive. He's caught 66 passes for 748 yards and four touchdowns. He's second among all tight ends this season in yards after the catch (467), behind only Arizona Cardinals star Trey McBride (520), per NGS. Oh, and he's rushed for a score and, according to Pro Football Focus, lined up three snaps at QB.

New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave: It's hard to argue with the NFC's Pro Bowl receivers this season. But there's definitely an argument to be made for Chris Olave, who has en enjoyed a bounce-back year while starring in an offense that's turned from Spencer Rattler to Tyler Shough under center. Olave has dipped back into the 1,000-yard receiving pool, and he's got as many contested catches (16) as Cincinnati Bengals standouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, per PFF.

Miami Dolphins C Aaron Brewer: Brewer was at the heart of a Dolphins offensive line that paved the way for Pro Bowl running back De'Von Achane. Among all NFL centers with at least 500 offensive snaps this season, Brewer ranks second in PFF run blocking grade, one spot behind the Kansas City Chiefs' Creed Humphrey and three spots ahead of the Baltimore Ravens' Tyler Linderbaum, both of whom made the AFC roster. Also, Brewer has allowed just one sack this season, per PFF. 

Los Angeles Rams RG Kevin Dotson: The Rams' run game is in some desperate need of Pro Bowl representation. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum has formed quite the one-two punch in L.A. They've been running behind one of the best offensive lines in football this season. Dotson is a force to be reckoned with at the point of attack. He can carry his power to the second level as well. There's no reason why Dotson couldn't have joined Atlanta Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom and Chicago Bears left guard Joe Thuney on the NFC roster.

Baltimore Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley: Joe Alt is awesome. He's played in only six games for the Los Angeles Chargers this season, though. His spot should be occupied by someone else, like Stanley. While the Ravens have had trouble at guard this season, their tackles have been solid. Stanley has conceded the sixth-fewest pressures (23) of any AFC tackle with 700-plus offensive snaps this season, per PFF. 

Philadelphia Eagles DT Jordan Davis: The voters selected the wrong Eagles defensive tackle. Jalen Carter is a game wrecker, but his linemate, Jordan Davis, has simply had a better season. Davis blocked a potential game-winning Rams field goal in Week 3 and then returned it for a walk-off touchdown. He batted down three passes in a Week 11 victory over the Lions. He dropped weight before the season, and his trimmed-down physique has invited a rare Year 4 leap. Davis' 65 total tackles, 9 TFLs and 4.5 sacks are all career highs.

Pittsburgh Steelers DT Cameron Heyward: In the AFC, Heyward should have been in over Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. At 36 years old, Heyward has followed up his fourth first-team All-Pro campaign with another age-defying run. This time, he's piled up 66 total tackles, 8 TFLs, 6 passes defended and 3.5 sacks. For reference, the 31-year-old Jones is responsible for 24 total tackles, 9 TFLs, 2 passes defended and 4 sacks. Jones has generated five more pressures (53) than Heyward (48) this season, per PFF, but Heyward has proven superior in run defense.

Jacksonville Jaguars OLB Josh Hines-Allen: It's time the Jaguars are given their flowers. Their only Pro Bowler this season is long snapper Ross Matiscik. That's not reflective of an 11-4 Jacksonville team that's playoff-bound with a shot at the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Trevor Lawrence has been a prolific dual-threat of late, but the Jags' defense needs more love. Hines-Allen has seven sacks to his name, and, maybe more importantly, four turnovers caused by pressure, per NGS. His pressure rate (15%) is significantly higher than Pro Bowler T.J. Watt (9.8%).

Jacksonville Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd: Staying in Jacksonville, Lloyd can't be ignored, either. He's picked off five passes. Four of those interceptions arrived over the first five games of the season. One of them was a 99-yard pick 6 in a Week 5 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. That went down as the longest defensive touchdown in Jags history. Lloyd has made a handful of critical plays in run defense, too. To top it off, he's logged 22 pressures on 84 pass rushes, resulting in a pressure rate of 26.2%, per NGS.

Miami Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks: The AFC's linebackers are Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans and Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens. Brooks should have gotten the edge over both of them. For one, he leads the NFL with 169 total tackles and 93 solo tackles. But he's more than just a tackle vacuum. Those tackles mean something, especially against the run. Of the linebackers with 100 or more run defense snaps this season, Brooks is tied for fifth in run-play stop percentage (9.7%), according to PFF.

Chicago Bears CB Nahshon Wright: Wright's coverage stats don't jump off the page — PFF has him down for seven touchdowns allowed, after all — however, it's hard to discount the special season he's having for an opportunistic Bears defense. Wright has intercepted five passes, including one that the took 74 yards to the house in Week 1 versus the Minnesota Vikings, and forced a pair of fumbles. Speaking of fumbles, he's recovered three of them.

Houston Texans S Jalen Pitre: Yes, Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is on the AFC roster. It still feels like the Texans' secondary deserves more of a Pro Bowl presence. The unit has had a Texas-sized hand in Houston giving up the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (176.1) this season. Corner Kamari Lassiter and safety Calen Bullock warranted consideration. Fellow safety Jalen Pitre was due for selection. He's been dynamite in the slot and in the box. He hasn't allowed a touchdown in coverage this season, according to PFF, and he's picked off four passes, defended a total of 11, and combined for 66 tackles.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers S Tykee Smith: Whatever could go wrong has gone wrong for the Arizona Cardinals, and that's made it hard to measure Budda Baker's effectiveness in a truly porous defense out there in the desert. Perhaps another safety could have taken his place on the NFC's roster. Either that or Antoine Winfield Jr. could have been passed up for his teammate, Tykee Smith. Because Smith has been electric in 2025, with 13 passes defended, a pair of sacks and 94 total tackles. 

Seattle Seahawks P Michael Dickson: Washington Commanders punter Tress Way made his third Pro Bowl. Dickson would have been a better pick for the NFC. Although Way has dropped more punts inside the 20-yard line (27) than Dickson (20) this season, Dickson's hang time (4.56 seconds), the best among NFC punters per PFF, is much longer than Way's (4.22). That's played a role in only 38.8% of Dickson's punts being returned, according to PFF.