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NFL

Bears rookie makes history with long TDs on D

CHICAGO — Bears rookie safety Eddie Jackson had a historic performance in Sunday’s first half against the Carolina Panthers.

Jackson became the first player in league history to score multiple 75-plus-yard defensive touchdowns in one game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

A fourth-round pick out of Alabama, Jackson scooped up a live ball that bounced off the hands of Carolina’s Curtis Samuel — officially scored as a fumble by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton — and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening drive.

Bears rookie Eddie Jackson made history on Sunday with this 75-yard fumble return touchdown and a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown on Sunday. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Jackson struck again in the second quarter, when he intercepted a deflected Newton pass intended for Kelvin Benjamin and took it back 76 yards for a score.

Jackson is the first player with two defensive touchdowns in a game since Tennessee’s Zach Brown in Week 17 of 2012. He’s also the first player to return both a fumble and an interception for a touchdown in the same game since former Chargers defensive back Antonio Cromartie accomplished the feat in Week 8 of 2007.

Largely thanks to Jackson’s heroics, the Bears led Carolina 17-3 at halftime — the first time the Bears had been up by 14 points at halftime since the 2015 season versus the Rams. Chicago won that game 37-13.

Soccer

Roma charged with racist behaviour after monkey chants at Chelsea

AS Roma is in trouble after monkey chants echoed around Stamford Bridge.

On Friday, disciplinary proceedings were opened following the game between Chelsea and Roma in the Champions League group stage, as the Giallorossi were charged with racist behaviour involving monkey chants.

According the Press Association, the monkey chants were directed at Antonio Rudiger, who played 13 minutes and previously represented Roma for two seasons. UEFA was reportedly made aware of the alleged chants on social media, and while Chelsea didn’t report them, the Blues are willing to assist if required. The case will be dealt with by the UEFA Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body on Nov. 16.

In March, Rudiger, still with Roma, was racially abused by SS Lazio’s supporters in the first leg of a tie between the two clubs in the Coppa Italia semi-finals. The German centre-back subsequently demanded a response from FIFA and told Sport Bild: “I take this very seriously because I cannot and must not ignore something like this. I am part of this too. Racism is a serious issue here.

“Incidents like the ones with (Medhi) Benatia and me simply happen too often in this country and this is why something must happen now. When the Italian FA is not doing anything then FIFA must act. It is easy to come up with the ‘No to Racism’ campaign but when you don’t do anything concrete then that does not help.”

Chelsea and Roma played out a 3-3 draw on Wednesday as Eden Hazard and Edin Dzeko each scored two goals.

NFL

Redskins to be without CB Norman vs. Eagles

ASHBURN, Virginia — The Washington Redskins will be without their best corner for a second consecutive week, as Josh Norman was ruled out for Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a fractured rib.

Norman had held out hope that he’d play Monday, having increased his activity Thursday and Friday. He was limited, but he did participate in individual drills. Norman did not practice Saturday, and coach Jay Gruden said he had yet to be cleared by doctors.

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Meanwhile, fellow starting corner Bashaud Breeland was listed as questionable with a sprained MCL. Breeland said after practice that he felt good and Gruden said “he’s looking better,” but the Redskins won’t have his likely status until after Sunday’s walk-through.

Losing Norman is a crucial blow for the secondary, as he was playing at a high level, holding down the left side. His ability to play multiple coverages — and in a variety of ways — enables him to sometimes fool quarterbacks about what he’s playing.

The Redskins, however, like their youth and depth at corner, and they will start third-year Quinton Dunbar while also using rookie Fabian Moreau. Both players are capable of helping and playing well.

If Breeland can’t play, both Dunbar and Moreau would start with second-year Kendall Fuller continuing as the main slot corner.

Dunbar started in place of Norman vs. San Francisco last week. He’s considered a long, rangy corner who loves to play press-man coverage, which would help him against a physical receiver such as the Eagles’ Alshon Jeffery. The Redskins have allowed 46 catches by receivers, second fewest in the NFL — though they’ve only played five games.

Three other starters are questionable: left tackle Trent Williams (knee), running back Rob Kelley (ankle) and linebacker Mason Foster (shoulder).

Gruden said Friday that he expected Kelley to play, and that Williams remained “gimpy” and that they’d know more about his chances Sunday. Backup safeties Deshazor Everett (hamstring) and Stefan McClure (knee) are questionable.

Soccer

Mbappe, Dembele, Jesus named finalists for Golden Boy award

The 25-man shortlist for the 2017 Golden Boy award has been whittled down to a final three of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Gabriel Jesus.

Prominent names such as AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manchester United’s speedy teenager Marcus Rashford, and Borussia Dortmund’s precocious talent Christian Pulisic failed to make the cut.

Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain’s explosive teenager, is a clear favourite to collect the Golden Boy gong. The French forward burst onto the scene last season for AS Monaco, inspiring the principality outfit to the Ligue 1 title and a run to the Champions League semi-fina. He’s now honing a potent partnership with Neymar and Edinson Cavani in PSG’s frontline.

Dembele, who signed for Barcelona in the summer after establishing himself as Dortmund’s standout man in the 2016-17 term, will also vie for the prize with Manchester City marksman Jesus.

Previous winners include Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, and Isco. Renato Sanches picked up the prize last year, and is now on loan at Swansea City from parent club Bayern Munich.

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Soccer