Pats acquire OT Williams from Lions
The New England Patriots acquired offensive tackle Michael Williams in a trade with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday in exchange for an undisclosed future draft pick.
The Patriots released rookie defensive back Jimmy Jean to make room on the roster.
Williams, 24, originally entered the NFL as the Lions’ seventh-round draft pick out of Alabama in 2013. The 6-foot-6, 304-pounder was drafted by Detroit as a tight end.
Williams spent his rookie season on injured reserve after suffering an injury in the preseason. He was converted to offensive tackle last spring and spent the 2014 season on Detroit’s practice squad learning his new position.
Jean, 26, was signed as a rookie free agent out of Alabama-Birmingham on May 8. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder played both safety and cornerback over two seasons at UAB.
Roofing worker dies at Vikings’ new stadium
A construction worker was killed after falling Wednesday morning on the roof of the Minnesota Vikings’ new stadium.
A second worker was seriously injured while doing roofing work. Both were treated at the scene and taken to nearby hospital.
The Minneapolis Fire Department said one worker was rescued from a crevice on the roof of the building.
The workers fell about 7:45 a.m. on the north side of the project, said John Wood, senior vice president for Mortenson Construction.
According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, construction officials said during a media briefing that one man fell to his death from the roof into a snow gutter 50 feet below, while the other was injured on the roof. The incident brought work on the stadium to a halt.
Construction on the $1 billion downtown stadium just passed the halfway mark last month. U.S. Bank Stadium is expected to open in time for the 2016 season.
Hornets sign Kidd-Gilchrist to extension
The Charlotte Hornets officially signed forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to a contract extension Wednesday.
Terms were not disclosed, but multiple reports Tuesday said the deal is four years and worth $52 million.
The 6-foot-7, 232-pound fourth-year small forward has played the first three seasons of his career in Charlotte after being selected with the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. In 2014-15, Kidd-Gilchrist averaged a career-best 10.9 points and 7.6 rebounds in 28.9 minutes over the course of 55 games played (52 starts). His 7.6 rebounds per game ranked first among all small forwards in the NBA. Last season, he registered career highs of 12 double-doubles and 35 double-figure scoring games after totaling one and 14, respectively, the previous season.
Ellsbury out of Yankees lineup
NEW YORK — Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was held out of the New York Yankees starting lineup on Wednesday with a sore hip and might not be available to pinch hit.
Ellsbury injured his hip Tuesday night trying to make a diving catch on a fly ball by Houston Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus. Ellsbury did not make the catch and it started a five-run first inning.
Ellsbury has missed 277 games over the last five seasons, including 43 earlier this season with a sprained right knee. Ellsbury, in the second-year of a seven-year contract with the Yankees, is batting .278 in 78 games this season.
Day, Dustin Johnson out of Barclays pro-am
Calling it a precautionary measure, No. 2 in the FedEx standings Jason Day withdrew from the Barclays pro-am event with a goal of rest and recovery to be ready for Thursday’s first-round tee time with Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson.
Dustin Johnson also withdrew Wednesday with severe chest congestion.
The opening event of the FedEx Cup playoffs is the first for Day since he won the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisc., August 16.
“Jason tweaked his back moving an item under his motor coach last night. This is a precautionary withdrawal for a long-standing disc issue,” said Cornel Driessen, Day’s physiotherapist and trainer.
Day is scheduled for an 8:26 a.m. ET tee off Thursday.
Johnson said he is doing everything possible to be ready for his round Thursday.
