The Boston Celtics will be without forward Jared Sullinger for an extended period because of a foot injury.
X-rays on Thursday showed a stress reaction in the fourth metatarsal bone of Sullinger’s left foot. Coach Brad Stevens said after Thursday’s practice that he doesn’t expect Sullinger back “anytime soon.”
The Celtics have a sub-.500 record but are within range of a playoff spot after winning four of their last five games. Sullinger is averaging 14.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season.
The Celtics also are missing center Kelly Olynyk, who has a sprained ankle and is not sure when he will return.
Big Ten discusses freshman ineligibility
The Big Ten is seeking input from the member schools about the feasibility of making freshman football and men’s basketball players ineligible to help them adjust to college life.
The conference said in a statement to ESPN.com on Thursday that there is no official proposal, but it is trying to determine the interest from its universities in a “national discussion regarding a year of readiness for student-athletes.”
Maryland’s student newspaper, The Diamondback, reported Thursday that the Big Ten distributed “A Year of Readiness” document to schools and that Maryland’s athletic council met to discuss it.
Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz sees merit in keeping incoming freshmen off the field during their first year in college.
“That would be one of the healthiest things we could do for college sports right now,” Ferentz said, according to ESPN.com.
Blot clot apparently caused Kersey death
Longtime NBA forward Jerome Kersey apparently died Wednesday from a blood clot that made its way from his left calf to his lungs, according to reports.
Kersey, who spent most of his 17-season NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers, had knee surgery earlier in the week and the fatal clot that caused pulmonary thromboembolism could have been from a complication.
Kersey, a 6-foot-7 small forward, helped the Trail Blazers reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992 on teams that included future Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler. He won an NBA championship as a reserve with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.
Ducks sign Jackman
The Anaheim Ducks signed right winger Tim Jackman to a one-year contract extension through the 2015-16 season.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Los Angeles Times reported Jackman will earn $700,000 next season.
Jackman, 33, has collected 11 points (eight goals, three assists) and 146 penalty minutes in 74 career games with the Ducks.
Rams hire Weinke as QB coach
The St. Louis Rams signed former Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke to be their new quarterbacks coach, according to multiple reports Thursday.
Weinke, a former Florida State quarterback who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2001, has no NFL coaching experience. Weinke, 42, has been developing young players — and quarterbacks — since 2010 as the director of the IMG Madden Football Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He worked with quarterback Cam Newton prior to his rookie year with the Panthers in 2011.
O’Brien wants Mallett back
To begin bolstering the quarterback position, Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien said bringing back unrestricted free agent Ryan Mallett is his first choice.
Mallett, 26, played only two games, replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter, before he was placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle.