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SPORTS Tuesday 8 augusT 2023
Browns defensive ends Alex Wright, Isaiah Thomas could miss

significant time with knee injuries

By Tom Withers and Okoronkwo as a free
Associated Press agent after the unit under-
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleve- performed in 2022.
land’s defensive line depth Wright and Thomas both
is suddenly a concern as missed Sunday’s workout
second-year ends Alex along with defensive tack-
Wright and Isaiah Thomas le Maurice Hurst, who got
could miss significant time poked in the eye.
for the Browns with knee in- Thomas, a seventh-round
juries. pick in 2022, was on the
Before Monday’s practice, field for 25 plays against
coach Kevin Stefanski re- the Jets. Wright played 15
vealed both injuries while snaps.
providing few other details Cleveland selected Wright,
or a timetable for recovery. who played at UAB, in the
Stefanski did say the injuries third round in 2022. Thomas,
could stretch into the regu- a standout at Oklahoma,
lar season, which begins was picked in the seventh
Sept. 10 against Cincinnati. round that year.
Stefanski said one of the The Browns signed end
ends was injured in Thurs- Charles Wiley to help offset
day night’s Hall of Fame the injuries.
game against the New He played at Texas-San
York Jets and the other was Cleveland Browns defensive end Isaiah Thomas (58) celebrates his fumble recovery with Alex Antonio and spent time
hurt “before” that. Wright during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Oct. 23, 2022, in Baltimore. with the Baltimore Ravens
Wright and Thomas are list- (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File) and New York Giants last
ed as Cleveland’s respec- hind All-Pro Myles Garrett, Okoronkwo. defensive front this offsea- season.q
tive Nos. 4 and 5 ends be- Za’Darius Smith and Ogbo The Browns revamped their son Smith came via trade

England advances at Women’s World Cup by edging Nigeria after

James red card

By John Pye VAR review. play a solo role up front. the first half and created defender Rasheedat
Associated Press She initially was given a yel- She kicked the final penalty the better chances, includ- Ajibade, but it was over-
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) low card by referee Melissa to clinch the shootout win. ing Ashleigh Plumptre’s run- turned on VAR and brought
— Down a player after Borjas after falling on top of Alozie was clear eight min- ning left-foot strike into the a booming roar from the
star forward Lauren James Michelle Alozie and then utes into stoppage time crossbar in the 17th minute 49,461-strong crowd.
was ejected, England was stepping on the Nigeria de- but skewed her left-foot and her right-foot shot mo- Oshoala went on as a
facing the prospect of an fender. shot from seven yards wide ments later that forced a substitute as the hour ap-
upset against Nigeria and The crowd groaned as of the post. diving save from England proached, with Nigeria
a round-of-16 exit at the slow-motion replays on the Veteran forward Asisat Os- keeper Mary Earps. aiming to reproduce the
Women’s World Cup. stadium screens showed hoala forced a save from A half-hour in, England surge in attack her entry
The European champion the incident, and, after a England goalkeeper Mary was awarded a penalty generated in the upset
Lionesses remained calm delay of several minutes, Earps deep in extra time. when Daly appeared to of Australia in the group
enough to get through the yellow card was up- After narrowly escaping be bumped to the ground stage. It generated more
regulation and extra time graded to red. with a win, England will in the area by blue-haired intensity but no goals. q
at 0-0 and won a penalty British media instantly re- meet Colombia or Jamai-
shootout 4-2 to scrape into acted by comparing it with ca in Sydney next Saturday
the quarterfinals on Mon- David Beckham’s red card in the quarterfinals.
day. England became for kicking out at Argenti- Uchenna Kanu threatened
the title favorite after the na’s Diego Simeone at the with two headers in the
two-time reigning cham- 1998 World Cup in France. second half, one just after
pion U.S. was eliminated The red card means James the break that went just
on Sunday in a penalty will miss at least the quar- over the crossbar and an-
shootout loss to Sweden. terfinal and a potential other in the 72nd when she
No. 2-ranked Germany, semifinal. leaped to meet a corner
Olympic champion Cana- But after a run of injuries to kick but nudged it back
da and Brazil didn’t even senior players and the loss past the near post.
reach the knockout stage. of James, England coach Rachel Daly’s powerful
But the Lionesses strug- Sarina Wiegman praised header as she ran into the
gled to create opportuni- her team for adapting to box to meet a corner in
ties against Nigeria and, every challenge. the 75th was blocked by
with five minutes remain- The Lionesses immediately Chiamaka Nnadozie, who England’s Chloe Kelly, right, celebrates after scoring the last
ing in regulation, an upset had to change formation made two tremendous goal during a penalty shootout at the Women’s World Cup round
loomed when James re- in the 10-on-11 scenario, saves in the first half. of 16 soccer match against Nigeria in Brisbane, Australia, Mon-
day, Aug. 7, 2023.
ceived a red card after a bringing on Chloe Kelly to Nigeria had eight shots in (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)