Houston Texans

BC-AP Sports Preview Digest

Published Aug. 28, 2017 12:28 p.m. ET

Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Monday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:

- NEW YORK - The U.S. Open begins with five-time major champion Maria Sharapova playing Simona Halep. Sharapova, a wild card, returned to tennis this year after a 15-month doping ban.

- FRISCO, Texas - J.J. Watt and the Texans are to work out at the Cowboys' practice facility because of floods pounding Houston. The team's Thursday exhibition game might shift to Dallas.

- CINCINNATI - Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is suspended by the NFL for five games for leveling a Kansas City running back in an exhibition game. Burfict is appealing.

- FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The Patriots are still absorbing the impact of the season-ending knee injury to Tom Brady's favorite target, Julian Edelman.

- Two division preview stories as part of the preseason NFL package: AFC East, NFC East.

- MIAMI - Giancarlo Stanton is on a home run binge - the first NL player in a decade to reach 50 - but he's also smacking singles at the best rate of his career.

- MINNEAPOLIS - The Twins have a surprising hold on the AL's second wild-card spot, and 44-year-old pitcher Bartolo Colon has proved an important part of this surge.

- NEW YORK - In an All-Star pitching matchup, the Yankees' Luis Severino (11-5) faces Cleveland's Corey Kluber (12-4) in a game between playoff contenders. Game starts 7:05 p.m.

- BALTIMORE - The Orioles are on a four-game winning streak and open a series against Seattle, with both teams are part of the crowded AL wild-card chase. Game starts 7:05 p.m.

- TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Florida State don't shy away from big games out the gate - and they're gearing up for a really big one now. They play Saturday in Atlanta.

- CLEMSON, S.C. - Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has spent months on this - drilling the good feelings of a national title out of the No. 5 Tigers heading into the season.

- SEATTLE - This time a year ago, Washington was all about potential. When the No. 8 Huskies open Friday at Rutgers, they'll be carrying the expectations of Pac-12 North favorites.

- WHIPPANY, N.J. - The U.S. soccer team practices for a World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on Friday in Harrison, N.J. The U.S. is third in its group in the final round of qualifying.