Sports briefs
Steelers’ Burnett
to return Sunday
Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Morgan Burnett will play Sunday against Cleveland after missing the previous four games with a groin injury.
“It’s good to get back into the flow of things and get back into a normal work week,” Burnett said Friday. “As a competitor, you want to be out there, you don’t want to miss anything, but I understand that comes with the game. This is a physical game, and you demand a lot from your body, but once it happened, being upset isn’t going to help you heal faster.”
Burnett, in his ninth season, played in the Steelers’ first two games against Cleveland and Kansas City, but he has been out since Sept. 16 with his injury. This week was the first time Burnett fully practiced three straight days without any setback.
“Everything felt good,” Burnett said. “Everything went well this week. I definitely feel prepared and ready. I’m just trying to take positive steps forward.”
Burnett tried to practice before the Sept. 30 home game against Baltimore and the following week against Atlanta, but wasn’t able to return.
Ex-NHL president Ziegler dies at 84
John Ziegler Jr., the NHL president who oversaw the merger with the World Hockey Association and was eventually ousted following labor unrest and a players’ strike in 1992, has died. He was 84.
The NHL confirmed Ziegler’s death on its website, although the cause was not immediately known. He was living in Florida.
Ziegler was the NHL’s fourth president, succeeding Clarence Campbell in 1977 and serving 15 years. He was the first American to run the league and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.
Two years after he became president, the NHL merged with the WHA. It added four teams from the upstart league – the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers.
Wild Things
add pitcher
The Washington Wild Things have signed right-handed pitcher Carter Johnson to their 2019 roster.
This past season, Johnson made his professional debut with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent American Association and amassed 14 appearances as a reliever.
The 6-2 righty began his college career at San Jose State University before transferring to Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Over his two seasons there, Johnson proved to be a power pitcher with 147 strikeouts in 133 innings.
“There was an instant comfort with Carter during our conversations. Confidence is a big part of his game, but he certainly has personality and character you look for. Over a long season you need that balance of humor with competitiveness and a low heart rate, ” said Wild Things assistant general manager Tony Buccilli. “Carter is eager to shift to a reliever full time and I think he will add a little fire to our bullpen. He has pitched with the spotlight on him as a Friday night starter in college, so he should naturally feed off that energy and pressure.”
In golf
Norman Xiong shot a 5-under 67 on Friday on another damp, chilly day at the Country Club of Jackson for a share of the second-round lead with Cameron Champ at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
The 19-year-old Xiong – who made his first cut in seven career starts – is trying to become the second-youngest winner on tour since 1932. He matched Champ at 9 under for the tournament.
Xiong made a 55-foot putt from the fringe for eagle on No. 11.
Champ, who was the first-round leader after shooting a 65, had a two-shot lead over Xiong until ending Friday’s round with two straight bogeys. He finished with a 70.