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Shohei Ohtani is heading into the playoffs at less than full strength, and he's not hiding it. The Dodgers superstar confirmed that a left knee and right bicep issue have been nagging him all summer, and his plan is simply to manage through it. That's not exactly the pregame hype Los Angeles was hoping for, but with Ohtani, even a compromised version is a threat every time he steps in the box.
Shifting to the NFL, the Cleveland Browns situation is getting more complicated by the day. Deshaun Watson bounced back after a rough Week one against Jacksonville, and now NFL insider Chris Canty is making a counterintuitive argument — that Watson's improved play is actually the best thing that could happen to Shedeur Sanders. The thinking is that Sanders gets to sit, develop, and enter a situation on his own terms rather than being thrown into a firestorm before he's ready.
And in the NBA, the Detroit Pistons made it official, locking up Jalen Duren to a five-year, two hundred million dollar extension. The deal has an unusual dip in year two before climbing steadily, but Detroit is clearly betting big on the young center as the foundation of their rebuild for years to come.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
