Mahomes suffered high-ankle sprain

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has a high-ankle sprain, additional testing confirmed, and his status for this week’s game against the Texans remains in question, according to reports on Monday. The Chiefs didn’t have any usual availability Monday, but are scheduled to practice Tuesday ahead of their Saturday matchup with the Texans. Mahomes was hurt when his ankle was rolled up on while being tackled late in the Chiefs’ 21-7 win Sunday. Mahomes limped to the sideline and Carson Wentz played the rest of the way in his place, but the two-time MVP insisted he could have played if it got close. Mahomes has a history of ankle injuries. Most memorable was the playoffs in the 2022 season, when Mahomes hurt his ankle in a divisional-round win over the Jaguars, then played through the pain in beating the Bengals for the AFC title and Eagles in the Super Bowl. “We’ll just see how it goes,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said after Sunday’s game. The Chiefs (13-1) have a two-game lead over the Bills for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, though the Bills hold the tiebreaker.

LeBron back after 2-game absence

LeBron James returned to the Lakers on Sunday night in a 116-110 victory over the Grizzlies after a two-game break. James is fighting a left foot injury and was away from the team most of last week because of personal reasons. He had 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five turnovers in 34 minutes. “I felt pretty good,” James said. “It’s very rare throughout the course of the season where you can take advantage of the schedule, and I was able to do that the past week.” The Lakers described James’ time away as an excused absence while noting that he’s also been managing some left foot pain. Lakers first-year coach JJ Redick revealed before the game with the Grizzlies that he and the four-time NBA MVP met on a week before to discuss his plan for a break. James is the NBA’s oldest player and turns 40 on Dec. 30. “I had the opportunity to take more days and get my mind, body and just everything where I wanted to be for tonight, and it worked out,” said James, who said he spent most of his time away rehabbing his foot and training to stay in game shape.

Hunter All-American at 3 positions

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of Colorado was a first-team selection at two spots and a second-team pick at another on The Associated Press All-America team announced Monday. Hunter and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts were repeat first-team selections, and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty was the only unanimous pick after he posted one of the highest single-season rushing totals in college football history. A total of 24 schools are represented on the first team, selected by a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Texas and Miami had two players apiece on the first team. Hunter, named the AP player of the year last week, is regarded as one of the greatest two-way college athletes since football shifted away from such players in the 1940s. He was named first-team cornerback, first-team all-purpose player and second-team receiver. The junior from Georgia has totaled 1,443 snaps on offense, defense and special teams over 12 games. Hunter, who announced last month he would enter the 2025 NFL draft, said he would play in Colorado’s game against BYU in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. —AP