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NFL

Martin concussed as Cowboys O-line takes hit

ARLINGTON, Texas — Just as the Cowboys welcomed All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith back from a two-game absence because of a groin strain, they lost All-Pro right guard Zack Martin to a concussion in the second quarter of Thursday’s 28-6 loss to the Chargers.

Martin was staggered on a run by Rod Smith but remained in the game for the next four plays. During Los Angeles’ next drive, he underwent cognitive tests and was replaced by Joe Looney.

He was ruled out for the game after halftime.

Martin entered Thursday having played 661 of a possible 673 snaps on the season. He has not missed a game in his career.

Smith missed the losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles because of a groin strain suffered late in the Nov. 5 win against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys used Chaz Green and Byron Bell in his absence. Dak Prescott has been sacked 12 times, and the offense has scored one touchdown in the two-game stretch.

Smith was listed as questionable entering the game after going through three limited practices, which never were at more than walkthrough pace. Smith went through an involved pregame warm-up prior to the Eagles’ loss on Sunday, but the plan all along was to have him available to play against the Chargers.

In the first eight games of the season with Smith, Prescott was not sacked more than two times in a game.

Soccer

Mourinho refuses to blame Blind for Basel's late winner

PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP / Getty

Jose Mourinho came to Daley Blind’s defence after the Manchester United defender blamed himself for FC Basel’s late winner Wednesday.

Michael Lang was the hero for the Swiss side when he outpaced Blind to get on the end of a low cross and fired the ball in from close range in the 89th minute of the Champions League group stage encounter.

Blind conceded that he was at fault, but his manager was quick to defend the Dutch defender, and instead highlighted the team’s shortcomings during a dominant first half in which United squandered plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net.

“The only thing I can get from the goal is the low cross, the right-back coming in front of Daley,” Mourinho told reporters, according to Rob Dawson of ESPN FC.

“I know that in the flash interview Daley was blaming himself. It’s totally unfair.

“I refuse that situation because we are a team, and in the first half we should be winning five or 6-0 and that was not Daley’s fault for sure.”

The 1-0 loss was United’s first of the competition this term and denied Mourinho’s men of clinching a spot in the knockout rounds.

United will next look to secure first place in the group on the final matchday of the group phase against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford on Dec. 5.