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Soccer

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar set for surgery

Neymar is certain to miss next Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Real Madrid after Paris Saint-Germain confirmed the Brazilian attacker will have surgery.

The capital club released a statement Wednesday, announcing a decision has been made in conjunction with the Ligue 1 leader and the Brazil national team to operate on the 26-year-old in his homeland at the end of the week.

“After an initial treatment period of three days inline with a strict medical protocol, a joint decision has been taken between the medical staffs of both Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team,” the statement read.

“He will be operated on by Dr. Rodrigo Lasmar, accompanied by Professor Saillant, representing PSG.”

The club did not provide a timeline for Neymar’s recovery.

Neymar was injured during a weekend Le Classique victory over Marseille and was in noticeable pain as he was stretchered off the pitch. The blockbuster summer signing was diagnosed a sprained ankle and a fractured metatarsal.

The former Barcelona standout’s injury comes at a challenging time for PSG. Unai Emery’s lot are on the cusp of continental dismissal after losing the Champions League first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu 3-1, and face Marseille again Wednesday in the Coupe de France quarter-final.

NFL

Cowboys not counting on Gregory in 2018

INDIANAPOLIS — Randy Gregory is eligible to apply for reinstatement to the NFL, but the Dallas Cowboys are not planning to have their 2015 second-round pick in the fold in 2018.

“We assume worst-case on any situations, whether it’s the money or availability, especially if players are facing suspensions,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “Obviously last year when we knew (Ezekiel Elliott) faced a possible suspension we kept extra running backs, assuming worst case. So we have to move forward, assuming that Randy is not going to be here. If he is here, obviously it’s a big deal. First and foremost for him if he could get himself in a situation where he feels like he could actually play football.”

Gregory has played in two of the last 32 games for the Dallas Cowboys because of multiple suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse program, missing the entire 2017 season.

Gregory gave something of an update via social media Monday: “It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish. Patience is key.”

The Cowboys are not allowed to have contact with Gregory, who was the 60th overall pick in 2015. He slipped in the draft because of off-field woes. He played in 12 games as a rookie but did not record a sack. He played in the final two games of the 2016 season and had one sack.

The Cowboys do not play a role in reinstatement. That comes from Gregory and his agent. Jones said it has been difficult for the Cowboys since they have not been able to keep tabs on Gregory.

“At the same time we obviously invested in Randy and wish nothing and hope for nothing but the best for Randy,” Jones said. “I know he’s on a journey and I know he’s trying to get his off the field situations worked out and he’s certainly got a lot of skill as a football player. But first and foremost he has to get himself personally and his physical well-being off the field in a good place.”

Soccer

Emery calls for calm over Neymar injury, doesn't rule out eventual surgery

Unai Emery requested a little calm and patience for Neymar on Tuesday after Paris Saint-Germain confirmed he had suffered a sprained ankle and fractured metatarsal in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Marseille.

The manager refuted reports that Neymar is immediately set to undergo surgery, and said there is still a small chance that he can play against Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 duel on March 6.

“It is false (the report). No decision to operate has been taken,” Emery shared, as reported by ESPN. “I have met with the doctor and he told me that the sprain was swollen. His fifth metatarsal has a crack in it. We will take a decision in the coming days. However, for the moment, calm is needed.

“It is true that, today, the chances of Neymar being ready (to face Real Madrid) are smaller than they were last Sunday (after the Marseille match). He is always the first one to want to play in every match. I am patient. There is a small possibility that he will be ready to face Real. We are going to wait. He is a very important player for us, but we have other players capable of stepping in.”

The matches preceding the second leg against Real Madrid are another meeting with Marseille in the Coupe de France, and a league outing at Troyes. Reports straight after Paris Saint-Germain’s confirmation of Neymar’s injuries suggested that he could be sidelined until May, therefore putting his fitness under question for Brazil’s World Cup campaign this summer.

“To decide something important like this, patience and calm are required,” Emery continued. “There is a lot of speculation swirling around, but the truth is what I have just said, and that is based on what the doctor told me this morning.”

Paris Saint-Germain trails 3-1 following the first leg against Real Madrid despite taking the lead at the Bernabeu through Adrien Rabiot.

NFL

Panthers release safety Coleman, DE Johnson

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers on Monday got younger and cleared nearly $6 million in salary-cap space by releasing starting free safety Kurt Coleman and defensive end Charles Johnson.

Coleman, who will turn 30 in July, was scheduled to count $5,150,000 against the 2018 salary cap. Releasing him cleared $2.65 million in cap space.

Safety Kurt Coleman was released by the Panthers on Monday, saving the team $2.65 million against the salary cap. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Releasing the 31-year-old Johnson, who signed a two-year extension last year worth $9.5 million, cleared another $3.25 million in space.

Coleman in 2016 signed a three-year extension worth $17 million with $7 million guaranteed. He originally joined the Panthers as a free agent in 2015, leading the team with seven interceptions. He had only four interceptions in 2016 and none this past season when he was named a team captain for the first time.

Johnson was suspended four games this past season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He was inactive for the playoff game against New Orleans for an unspecified reason.

Johnson’s 67.5 sacks rank second on the team’s all-time list behind defensive end Julius Peppers, 38, who has yet to announce he is coming back for another season but reportedly is leaning toward a return.

Johnson didn’t have a sack this past season, the first time that has happened since his rookie year of 2007, when he played in only two games as a third-round pick out of Georgia. He’s had five sacks the past three seasons after having 8.5 in 2014 and 11.0 in 2013.

Carolina had just shy of $20 million in salary-cap space before the releases.

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Soccer