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After a tough injury, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle struggled with emotions. But got plenty of support from his teammates. And he also said the Achilles tear was the best-case scenario, according to a post on X by Matt Barrows. “George Kittle said his Achilles tear was a best-case scenario: up high toward the soleus muscle. “I had a clean tear. They didn’t have to drill into my heel. And where the repair was was where there’s more blood flow. So it takes some time off the recovery time.” 49ers TE George Kittle optimisic about his recovery Kitlte said Dr. Neal ElAttrache offered a positive take, according to apnews.com. “My recovery — when I’ll be running, when I’ll be ready to go play again — he’s very excited about it,” Kittle said. “So that puts me in a really good mood. It’s not as bad as other ones.” If the mental aspect helps, Kittle could beat the recovery timeline. He even received a helping hand from 49ers owner Jed York. “Getting his support was absolutely fantastic,” Kittle said. “Just the fact that the team owner comes down to come give his condolences to you. And just like stays there for you. Just really means what kind of place this is, and the people that are in this building. And it makes me really happy to be a Niner.” Kittle’s absence showed up in the playoffs. The 49ers came apart at the seams in an embarrassing 41-6 loss to the Seahawks. He wasn’t the only one missing. Other star players like linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa didn’t even make it to the postseason for the 49ers. Still, San Francisco managed to have a solid season under the coaching prowess of Kyle Shanahan. If Shanahan could only unlock the key that keeps his team healthy. The magic ran out against the Seahawks, who will play the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC Championship on Sunday. The post Why 49ers’ George Kittle says Achilles tear was best-case scenario appeared first on ClutchPoints.

During Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship, Miami football fell behind early due to immediate offensive issues. The Hurricanes opened the game 0-for-4 on third down while averaging just one yard per attempt. Those failures stalled every early possession and kept the defense on the field as the Indiana Hoosiers built a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. The Hoosiers consistently won at the line of scrimmage and forced quick throws from quarterback Carson Beck. Miami showed no rhythm and failed to sustain drives inside its home stadium at Hard Rock Stadium after one half of football. Sports Illustrated’s Bryan Fischer took to his X (formerly known as Twitter), sharing the stat indicating how brutal the offensive struggles have been for the Hurricanes up to this point. “Miami 0-4 on third down. Average yards gained on third down plays? A yard.” Miami 0-4 on third down. Average yards gained on third down plays? A yard. — Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) January 20, 2026 The early numbers painted a clear picture of why the Hurricanes fell behind so quickly. Each failed third down extended the Hoosiers’ control and limited Miami’s offensive chances. The Hurricanes could not flip field position or generate momentum, forcing their defense to shoulder extended drives. Indiana continued to exploit mismatches up front, collapsing the pocket and eliminating any opportunity for Miami to stretch the field. Beck operated almost entirely under pressure, often reduced to quick checkdowns or throwaways. The lack of third-down success prevented Miami from controlling tempo or settling into its offense. As the second quarter progressed, the imbalance grew more evident. The Hoosiers dictated time of possession and field position while Miami struggled to create explosive plays or sustain drives. The Hurricanes remained trapped in short yardage situations that consistently favored the Hoosiers’ defensive front. The home field at Hard Rock Stadium offered no relief as frustration built along the Miami sideline. The offensive issues reflected broader execution problems, exposing breakdowns in protection and consistency. If the Hurricanes hope to regain control, third-down efficiency must change immediately. Indiana’s hold on the national championship will only get stronger in the absence of consistent drives. The post Brutal stat highlights Miami football’s early struggles vs. Indiana appeared first on ClutchPoints.

SAN FRANCISCO– Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will not be available for their Monday matchup with the Miami Heat due to a right ankle sprain. Ahead of the front-end game of a back-to-back for the Warriors, head coach Steve Kerr provided some insight into Green’s injury and when it occurred, after it popped up today on the team’s injury report. “I got a call from Rick [Celebrini] today that it’s been bothering him the last couple of games,” Kerr said. “It just kind of got worse yesterday on the off day and with the back-to-back, Rick thinks he’ll be ready to go tomorrow, but didn’t want to risk it.” Green’s taken a bit of a beating the last couple of games. Against the Clippers two weeks ago, Green suffered a rib contusion while diving into the bench to save a loose ball, also falling on his wrist and twisting his ankle in the process. At the time, Green described his condition as “beat the hell up,” with the veteran talking about a lot of the work he had to put into getting his body right. “I was a little beat up after that [Clippers] game, so that was a few days’ process of actually hammering away at different things,” Green said last week, describing the grueling malaise of the rehab process. “Even on the off days, I was here for a couple of hours. Then after the game, I sprinted it out, because it just felt like I was in the casino or jail or something, like the walls were closing in on me. You feel it.” Other Warriors injury updates In addition to Green, Golden State will also be without De’Anthony Melton, as they continue to rest him on one end of a back-to-back stretch, and Gui Santos, who is still recovering from a left ankle sprain. With Melton, the Warriors have staggered him and Al Horford on back-to-backs so that they have at least one veteran for each end. The Warriors will have Jimmy Butler back in the fold. Butler was a late scratch mere moments before tipoff of the Warriors’ 136-116 win over the Charlotte Hornets due to a personal reason. Kerr, after that win, said “everything is fine” regarding Butler’s situation, hence why he’s back in the very next game. Golden State will look to improve on its 11-4 record in the last 15 games. The post Warriors’ Steve Kerr provides injury update on Draymond Green before Heat game appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Indiana football absorbed violent contact from Miami early — featuring a missed Fernando Mendoza targeting call. But IU became the aggressor during the second quarter, culminating in a rare fullback touchdown. Mendoza put together a lengthy 14-play drive in turning to the trenches. Nine came through handoffs. And the ninth witnessed some poetry in motion. Curt Cignetti rolled with an offensive tackle motion as the lead blocker. Tight end Riley Nowakowski lined up as a rare fullback. Indiana punched it in for the first touchdown of the evening. INDIANA STRIKE FIRST! Riley Nowakowski BATTLES his way into the endzone for the TD pic.twitter.com/vafku8s2PP — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 20, 2026 Indiana went straight after the heart of Miami’s defense by reverting to old school, bully ball tactics. The end result became a 10-0 lead at halftime. Secret Indiana FB Riley Nowakowski draws reactions against Miami Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Mendoza walked into Hard Rock Stadium drawing the most attention among Hoosier players. He had his homecoming to Miami and faced the school he grew up near. Nowakowski, though, emerged as an unsung hero during Indiana’s sudden rise. Dane Brugler of The Athletic shared a screenshot involving some praise for the glorified fullback and tight end. Riley Nowakowski. Ready to die on this hill. pic.twitter.com/ApkqH0tg8L — Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 20, 2026 The FB/TE even draw loud cheers all the way from Bloomington — as fans roared loud at a watch party inside Assembly Hall. Assembly Hall’s reaction to Riley Nowakowski’s touchdown#iufb pic.twitter.com/T8ehG8bEhg — Cruz Martin (@cruzmartinvoice) January 20, 2026 The versatile IU weapon is among the College Football Transfer Portal weapons Cignetti helped bring over. Except Nowakowski left a certain Big Ten rival fanbase furious — as he came via Wisconsin. Nowakowski entered Hard Rock Stadium with 30 catches for 370 yards and two touchdowns. But his last rushing touchdown arrived on Sept. 6 against Kennesaw State. He clearly caught Miami off guard with his short-yardage score. The post Indiana powers through Miami D for fullback rushing TD appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Tennessee Titans teammates Cam Ward and Xavier Restrepo pulled up at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday to cheer for their alma mater, Miami, in the national championship game against Indiana. The Hurricanes are playing for the much-coveted title for the first time since winning it in 2001, and Ward and Restrepo want to make sure that they are on hand to witness the team’s possible return to the mountaintop. Ward and Restrepo, who starred for Miami in 2024, were spotted chatting on the field before the game, as shown in a video on X. Cam Ward and Xavier Restrepo together at the Natty (via 305sportss/IG) pic.twitter.com/o77aq4bIfy — Cam Ward Muse (@CamWardMuse) January 20, 2026 While the 23-year-old Ward only played one year at Miami, his impact was immediate, elevating the team to one of the country’s most explosive offenses. He set multiple records, including most passing yards (4,313) and most passing touchdowns (39) in a single season. The star quarterback’s performance earned him major recognitions, including ACC Player of the Year and a nod to the All-America First Team. The Titans drafted Ward as the No. 1 overall pick in 2025. The 23-year-old Restrepo, meanwhile, had a five-year stint at Miami, becoming one of the school’s most beloved players. He arrived as an unheralded wide receiver in 2020 before having a breakout campaign in 2023. By the end of his run with the Hurricanes in 2024, he owned the most career receptions (200), most receiving yards (2,844), and most receiving touchdowns (21) in school history. The Titans plucked Restrepo from free agency after going undrafted. Ward and Restrepo may have failed to give Miami a national title, but their presence should give the current players an extra boost in battling the Hoosiers. As of writing, Miami is down by 10 points in the first half, 10-0. The post Titans’ Cam Ward, Xavier Restrepo take in national championship game in Miami reunion appeared first on ClutchPoints.