PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam on Monday called the team's trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson a "big swing-and-miss."

In March 2022, Cleveland acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in a trade package that included three first-round picks. The Browns then signed Watson to a $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed.

Since joining the Browns, Watson has started just 19 games because of suspension and injuries, posted one of the lowest Total QBRs in the NFL and suffered consecutive season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024.

"We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun," Haslam said Monday at the league's annual meeting. "We thought we had the quarterback; we didn't. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we've got to dig ourselves out of that hole.

"... [The trade] was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable."

Watson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Texans, tore his right Achilles tendon in October and underwent a second operation in January after retearing his Achilles. The Browns said Watson is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season.

His legal troubles have helped to derail his career in Cleveland. Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. A pair of Texas grand juries declined to pursue criminal charges against Watson, but he served his suspension after the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement on his discipline.

Cleveland still owes Watson $46 million in each of the next two seasons.

The Browns' quarterback room currently consists of Watson and Kenny Pickett, whom the team traded for in mid-March. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Pickett will get an opportunity to compete to start in 2025.

Despite the admission that the Watson trade was unsuccessful, Haslam said the team is not tied to taking a quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

"It would be great if we could get 'the quarterback,' but we're not going to force it," Haslam said. "We're going to be patient and we're going to try to accumulate as many really good football players as we can."

SPOKANE, Wash. -- In the moments after Saturday's Sweet 16 win over Kansas State, USC players received a special FaceTime call. JuJu Watkins, the superstar and heartbeat of their team, phoned the locker room as her teammates celebrated their big win, hyping them up after USC had secured consecutive Elite Eight berths for the first time since 1982-84.

Watkins, responsible for revitalizing the USC women's basketball program after years of dormancy, had to watch the game from Los Angeles. The national player of the year front-runner sustained a season-ending ACL tear in the Trojans' second-round NCAA tournament game against Mississippi State, sending shockwaves throughout the sports world.

Gottlieb's 2-year-old daughter, Reese, blew kisses to Watkins over the phone. Confused, she asked, "JuJu's not hurt?" Gottlieb told her daughter, "No, she's still hurt, but she's happy today and with us."

Watkins will once more be supporting her Trojans from afar on Monday as No. 1 seed USC faces off against Paige Bueckers and the No. 2 seed UConn Huskies. This was the potential matchup every fan had circled as soon as the bracket dropped: a rematch of last year's Elite Eight and a showdown between two of the brightest stars in the game. If anything, fans were disappointed the two players would have to face each other at that stage of the tournament and both couldn't play in Tampa.

That excitement remains, but when the teams take the court Monday night, it won't be the same game everyone was hoping for -- UConn included.

Coach Geno Auriemma and Bueckers relate more than most to the predicament USC and Watkins face. UConn has dealt with a slew of season-ending injuries over the past few years, including to Bueckers. After winning national player of the year as a freshman, she sat out most of her sophomore season because of a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear. The following summer she tore her ACL and sat out the 2022-23 season.

It wasn't a surprise, then, that Auriemma and associate head coach Chris Dailey were among the first to reach out to Gottlieb in the hours after Watkins' injury. Bueckers reached out to Watkins, telling reporters "our heart breaks for her." She offered "whatever she needs, mentally, physically, if she needs to vent, ask questions."

"They have been through this," Gottlieb said, "and I think you don't feel it unless you've felt it before in that way."

Auriemma and Bueckers have experienced firsthand the ups and downs of the rehab process and what it takes to come out on the other side.

"If you're a competitor, if you're somebody like Paige, somebody like JuJu, or some of the other kids that have gone through this, they come back better," Auriemma said. "They come back stronger, they come back more determined, more resilient, more understanding that they can fight through things and overcome just about anything."

Bueckers agreed.

"You don't get to be as good as JuJu if you don't have a great motor, a great work ethic, and she's going to attack this process just as she's attacked basketball," she said. "And just as she's great at basketball, she's going to be great at this recovery process. Disappointed for her but know she will be back better than ever, and this will just be a little setback to the great story she will have."

For Bueckers, a drive to be great -- a shared quality that made her and Watkins stars in the first place -- helped her bounce back stronger than ever. In this tournament, she has scored 74 points over the past two games -- including a career-high 40 in the Sweet 16 on Saturday -- while boasting the top assist-to-turnover ratio in the country and shooting splits of 50-40-90 efficiency.

And now, with her days in a UConn jersey coming to an end, Auriemma and Gottlieb said they see a star playing with a greater sense of urgency as she tries to win a championship, which would be the program's first since 2016.

"You try not to think about the stakes or the pressure or getting to the Final Four," Bueckers said. "Obviously that's there, so you try not to think about it and just go out and play every single game the same way like it's your last, like it's the most important 40 minutes of your life. ... We just want the season to keep going as long as possible. So leaving nothing up to chance, giving it our all for that 40 minutes to play for another 40 is our team mindset."

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma Sooners have hired former Sooners player and Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young as assistant general manager for men's basketball.

He also has pledged to donate $1 million to the program, the school announced Monday.

Young, a four-time NBA All-Star, was an All-American for Oklahoma in 2017-18, his only season with the Sooners. He became the first player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in points per game (27.4) and assists per game (8.7). He was drafted No. 5 overall.

The 26-year-old Norman North High School graduate has worn his love for the city on his sleeve for years.

"As someone who grew up in Norman and played at the University of Oklahoma, stepping into the role of assistant GM for OU Basketball is a huge honor," Young said in a statement. "This program has such a rich history, which I am fortunate to have been and continue to be a part of. In my new role, my focus is on helping contribute to OU's winning culture, working alongside the coaching staff and front office to bring in the right players to help us compete and succeed at the highest level."

Young will assist with the evaluation of high school and transfer portal prospects, help negotiate player contracts, and guide players in building their brands.

"Trae is a son of Norman, Oklahoma, and he's given so much to our city and its people," Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. "He has a strong affinity for this place and his commitment to ensuring our community is a thriving one is truly unmatched. He's also an OU legend who, in his time here and since, continues to achieve excellence both on and off the court."

Young joins Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry in taking on an administrative role at his alma mater in this new era of college sports. Curry was named assistant GM at Davidson earlier this month.

Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper, the projected No. 2 pick, announced Monday on ESPN's "NBA Today" that he will declare for this year's draft.

"I'll remember all the life lessons this season," Harper told ESPN. "The ups and downs and good and bad. Staying leveled."

He was named third-team All-Big Ten and to the all-freshman team after averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals this season.

Harper broke the freshman scoring record at Rutgers while finishing as the fifth-best scorer in the Big Ten, showing his potential with several scintillating performances. He appeared en route to challenging Cooper Flagg as a potential No. 1 pick candidate early in the season with back-to-back 36- and 37-point outings against Notre Dame and Alabama in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas in November, but was hampered by an ankle injury and a bout with the flu that caused him to lose significant weight and miss time in January.

At 6-foot-6, Harper has excellent size for a point guard, with a combination of shot-creation prowess, passing creativity, finishing skill and overall scoring ability that have drawn comparisons in NBA circles to a young James Harden.

"NBA teams saw I am an all-around player," Harper sad. "I can do whatever it takes to win. Whether it's score, defend or facilitate. Anything Coach needs me to do."

Harper made 50 3-pointers in 29 games, averaged 5.8 free throw attempts and hit an impressive 57% of his 2-point attempts this season despite having little help on a Rutgers team that didn't boast much talent beyond him and projected No. 3 pick Ace Bailey. Rutgers finished 15-17 on the season, bowing out in the first round of the Big Ten tournament after a double-overtime loss to USC, with Harper posting 27 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals in his final college performance.

"The next few months, I'll be spending a lot of time in the gym, watching film, getting my body right, preparing for the next level and making sure everything is sharp.

The NBA draft combine will be held May 11-18 in Chicago, and the draft will be June 25-26 in New York City.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.

Phoenix Suns All-Star Kevin Durant is expected to miss at least one week with a left ankle sprain, sources told ESPN on Monday.

The Suns are on the road this week against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, the Boston Celtics on Friday and the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Durant suffered the injury in the Suns' home blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. It marked the third time that Durant has sprained his left ankle over two years in Phoenix.

The injury occurred when Durant stepped awkwardly on the ankle following a collision with Rockets forward Jabari Smith under the Phoenix basket. Smith was called for a foul. Durant eventually got to his feet, but could not put weight on his left leg and was forced to leave the game.

The Suns are 1.5 games out of a Play-In Tournament slot with seven games left and the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA. The Suns are 2-11 without Durant this season and 33-29 when he plays.

Durant, 36, has had another stellar season for Phoenix, averaging 26.6 points while shooting 52.7% from the field. Earlier this season, he moved into eighth place on the NBA career scoring list.

With less than a month left in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the playoff picture will soon start to get clearer as teams book their postseason spots.

The top six teams from each conference will be assured playoff spots, while team Nos. 7-10 in the standings will enter the play-in tournament (April 15-18). Two teams in each conference will then emerge to fill out the eight-team field, with the first round of the playoffs starting April 19.

Check back as more teams clinch playoff and play-in spots.

JUMP TO:
East: Playoff race | Play-in race | Whose in?
West: Playoff race | Play-in race | Whose in?

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE

In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a commanding lead over the defending champion Boston Celtics for the top seed. Along with those two, the New York Knicks are the only other team to have clinched a playoff spot.

Eliminated teams in the East: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN RACE

The teams that finish Nos. 7-10 in the standings advance to the play-in tournament. The winner of the game between the No. 7 and No. 8 seed will advance to face the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The winner between the No. 9 and No. 10 seed will then face the loser of the 7-8 for the chance to then face the No. 1 seed.

WHAT HAVE EAST TEAMS CLINCHED?

The following teams will advance to the postseason. Where's what they've clinched:

Cleveland Cavaliers

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot; won Central Division

The Cavs were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and are on target to secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since their title-winning season in 2015-16.

Cleveland's remarkable season has been highlighted by two separate winning streaks of at least 15 games.

The Cavs reached the playoffs last season as the No. 4 seed, needing seven games to eliminate the Magic in the first round. They were then ousted by the Celtics in the conference semifinals in five games.

Boston Celtics

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot; won Atlantic Division

The defending NBA Finals champions are looking for their record-extending 19th title, although they likely will finish as the No. 2 seed in the East this season.

The Celtics finished as the top seed in the East last season on their way to defeating the Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Boston has now made the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons (the league's longest active streak), and it reached at least the conference finals in four of the past five campaigns.

New York Knicks

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot

The Knicks will now make three straight playoff appearances for the first time since 2010-13 but have not reached the conference finals since 2000. The team has advanced to the conference semifinals each of the previous two seasons, with last year's exit coming at the hands of the Pacers in seven games.

Milwaukee Bucks

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Bucks will look to avoid another early exit from the playoffs -- two consecutive first-round losses -- after guaranteeing a spot in the postseason. But the team remains a model of postseason consistency with nine straight appearances (including the 2022 championship).

Indiana Pacers

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

After making it to the conference finals last season, the Pacers are back in the postseason. With one of the easier schedules left in the East, they will look to hold on to a top-six seeding to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.

Detroit Pistons

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

After finishing 14-68 last season, the worst record in franchise history, the Pistons are now heading to the postseason. They last made the play-in in 2019 but were swept in four games by the Bucks in the first round.

Orlando Magic

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Magic made the playoffs last season but face an uphill battle this time around as their path will likely go through the play-in tournament.

Last season's playoff appearance (their first since 2020) saw Orlando exit in the first round in seven games against the Cavaliers.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have clinched the top spot for the second straight season. As for the rest of the field, anything can happen. The West has been a season-long battle for playoff positioning and looks to be going down to the wire. Keep an eye on the battle for the No. 2 spot, the No. 6 spot and the No. 10 play-in spot.

Eliminated teams in the West: New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN RACE

The teams that finish Nos. 7-10 in the standings advance to the play-in tournament. The winner of the game between the No. 7 and No. 8 seed will advance to face the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The winner between the No. 9 and No. 10 seed will then face the loser of the 7-8 for the chance to then face the No. 1 seed.

WHAT HAVE WEST TEAMS CLINCHED?

The following teams will advance to the postseason. Here's that they've clinched:

Oklahoma City Thunder

What they've clinched: No. 1 West seed; won Northwest Division

OKC has clinched the No. 1 West seed for the sixth time in franchise history (dating back to the Seattle SuperSonics era) and the first instance in consecutive seasons. Even more impressive is the Thunder's record against East teams this season (24-1).

Last season, they were eliminated in the West's conference semifinals by the Mavericks, who eventually reached the NBA Finals.

Houston Rockets

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

Under second-year coach Ime Udoka, Houston is on the verge of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2020. It's been a turnaround season for the Rockets, who are among several teams bunched toward the top of the West fighting for the No. 2 spot behind the Thunder.

Denver Nuggets

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

Led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets continue their postseason streak. They have made the playoffs in the past six seasons, including the 2023 title.

Last season, Denver reached the conference semifinals, where they were eliminated by the Timberwolves in a seven-game thriller.

Los Angeles Lakers

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

LeBron James and Luka Doncic are trying to secure the highest seed possible for the Lakers in a tough West. Under first-year coach JJ Redick, the team is on the verge of its third straight playoff appearance.

Doncic led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, and will aim to do so again with his new team. Last season, the Lakers reached the first round of the playoffs through the play-in tournament, where they lost to the Nuggets for a second straight postseason.

Memphis Grizzlies

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

After missing the playoffs last season, the Grizzlies have bounced back this time around. However, it's been a tumultuous time, as the team fired Taylor Jenkins as coach with just two weeks left in the regular season.

Golden State Warriors

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Warriors are back in the postseason and remain in contention to clinch the No. 6 spot. Last season, the team failed to advance into the playoffs after losing to the Kings in the play-in tournament. Golden State hopes that the midseason addition of Jimmy Butler III will allow Stephen Curry & Co. to make an extended run this time around.

Minnesota Timberwolves

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Timberwolves are in the mix for a playoff spot but might have to settle for getting through via the play-in tournament. If they do, it will mark the fourth straight season of playoff basketball in Minnesota. Last year, the Timberwolves reached the conference finals (losing to the Mavericks) for just the second time in franchise history.

We're in the final weeks of the 2024-25 NBA regular season, and teams are zeroing in on the postseason. But there are plenty of games left before the regular season ends April 13.

Though the Oklahoma City Thunder have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the race for the West's No. 2 seed is tight. Meanwhile in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks have already secured playoff spots.

From the contract incentives to the tank race for the No. 1 pick in the draft, our NBA insiders Brian Windhorst, Bobby Marks, Tim MacMahon, Zach Kram and Jamal Collier break down what we should be watching in the final weeks of the regular season.

Which player's contract incentives should we be watching?

Fifty-three players, including Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Aaron Gordon and Dejounte Murray, had incentives in their contracts before the season. The incentives ranged from being selected for the All-Star Game (Durant) to 3-pointers made in a season (White). Durant, White and Jae'Sean Tate (team wins) have reached the criteria and will earn a combined $2 million. White also picked up an extra $500,000 for playing in at least 70 games.

As for the rest of the list, ESPN projects only five players -- Dillon Brooks, Jonathan Isaac, Cameron Johnson, Chris Paul and Julius Randle -- are on pace to earn regular-season bonuses.

Brooks will earn $1 million when the Houston Rockets clinch a playoff spot. Johnson will pick up $562,000 if his true shooting percentage remains above 60% -- he is shooting 63.2%. Meanwhile, Paul is one win from $262,000. Paul also has two bonuses (net rating and true shooting) that he is on pace to reach. Both will net the guard an additional $523,000. Randle's $1.4 million bonus is dependent on the Timberwolves reaching the first round. They are in the play-in but only a half-game behind the Golden State Warriors for the No. 6 seed.

Isaac's bonus -- an extra $2.6 million for appearing in 70 regular-season games for the Orlando Magic -- was the most unlikely to happen before the season. The forward has dealt with injuries throughout his career and played only 69 games the past two seasons. He has played in 65 games this season, on pace to play his most since 2018-19. -- Bobby Marks

Which playoff-contending team has the most on the line this postseason?

Memphis has zoomed up the list after it fired Taylor Jenkins with less than three weeks left in the season, bringing two big things into play.

First, the Grizzlies are taking a risk by handing the team to interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, a high-intensity and system-devoted coach who has had success overseas but doesn't have NBA playoff experience. Leaning into this is fascinating and could be inspired by general manager Zach Kleiman, who believes in Iisalo's high-tempo, high-movement offense that bucks NBA norms. In a month, perhaps the clarity from this move -- Jenkins had been moving away from an aggressive offensive style in recent weeks as the Grizzlies floundered -- propels Memphis into a postseason run.

Second, how do the team's stars feel about this direction? This season, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane have had their minutes, shots and points decrease. The Grizzlies' offensive efficiency has improved season over season. But questions regarding how Morant, who is eligible to sign a contract extension this summer, feels about the changes prompted some rumors about his future in Memphis and led Kleiman to rebuke that noise after the trade deadline in February.

The bottom line is the Grizzlies have underachieved. They were the No. 2 seed in the West after great regular seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23 but failed to reach the conference finals, with Morant's off-court issues undoubtedly contributing. Last season was derailed by unrelenting injuries and Morant's suspension. Now, after being the No. 2 seed again in early February, the Grizzlies have been dropping in the standings and lost all momentum as the playoffs approach. At some point, they need to prove it when it matters. -- Brian Windhorst

Which playoff positioning should we be watching closest in the East?

Keep an eye on the three-way battle for the fourth through sixth seeds involving the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. This race has gotten interesting after the Bucks announced Damian Lillard is out indefinitely because of blood clots in his right calf. Though ESPN reported there is optimism Lillard will play again this season, the Bucks will be without their star guard for an extended stretch and have already dropped six of their past 10 games, falling to No. 6.

Indiana, meanwhile, has been one of the hottest teams in the league since the All-Star break, going 13-8, while Tyrese Haliburton looks like an All-NBA player again. And then there are the surging Pistons, who are fighting to host a first-round matchup in their first playoff appearance since 2019. If the Bucks can't climb out of the No. 6 seed, they will likely meet the Knicks in a star-studded first-round matchup where the winner of that series is likely to face the Celtics in the second round. Meanwhile, the Cavs would have a much clearer path to the conference finals with two less-experienced teams in their way in a potential second-round series. -- Jamal Collier

Which of the tanking teams needs Cooper Flagg the most?

In each of the past two seasons, the Utah Jazz remained competitive for more than half of their schedule before tanking at the end of the season. As a result, they picked ninth and 10th, respectively, in the past two drafts and didn't land a franchise cornerstone. So this season, they started to tank early -- and were fined for violating the league's player participation policy -- and now they're almost guaranteed to have the best lottery odds.

Utah has a greater need for Flagg than any of the other teams jostling for a superior lottery position. The Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets are still early in their rebuilds, while the Charlotte Hornets already have a potential dynamic duo in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Plus, the New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers should be competitive again next season with better health. But the Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert three years ago, and they're still stuck without a young star to build around. Flagg would fill that void. And though the Duke freshman would be a great fit for any team in the lottery, he'd look particularly potent in Utah, forming a dominant defensive front line with Walker Kessler and partnering with another big, skilled forward in Lauri Markkanen. -- Zach Kram

OKC is 13 games ahead in the West. Who locks up the No. 2 seed?

The West's second seed is Houston's to lose at this point, as unlikely as that seemed entering the season. The Rockets have a two-game cushion over the Nuggets, and the tiebreaker between those teams will be decided on the final day of the regular season in Houston.

The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers are within striking distance if the Rockets fade down the stretch, sitting 4 and 3 games back in the standings, respectively. Two of the Rockets' remaining eight games are on the road against the Lakers. -- Tim MacMahon

Which players should we be watching to hit the 65-game criteria?

There's no need to worry about stars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Anthony Edwards being ineligible for postseason honors. All three players have met the 65-game criteria. Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible to be named MVP and Jackson has qualified to sign up to a five-year, $345 million super max extension if he is named All-NBA or Defensive Player of the Year. However, a group of previous award winners is short of the criteria. The list includes Nikola Jokic (64), Evan Mobley (64), LeBron James (63), Jalen Brunson (61), Stephen Curry (62), Giannis Antetokounmpo (62), Kevin Durant (62), Domantas Sabonis (61), Jaylen Brown (59) and Draymond Green (59). A player has to appear in at least 20 minutes or more for the game to count, and they are allowed two games between 15 to 20 minutes. -- Marks

MILWAUKEE -- Aaron Civale joined the long list of Milwaukee Brewers pitchers on the injured list Monday.

Civale strained his left hamstring Sunday during the Brewers' 12-3 loss to the New York Yankees. The 29-year-old right-hander allowed five runs and four hits in three innings.

He went a combined 8-9 with a 4.36 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 161 innings for Milwaukee and Tampa Bay last season. He was 6-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 14 starts after the Brewers acquired him from the Rays.

The Brewers called up right-hander Grant Anderson from Triple-A Nashville to fill Civale's roster spot.

Civale joins left-handers Aaron Ashby (right oblique), Robert Gasser (left elbow) and DL Hall (left lat) and right-handers Nick Mears (illness), Tobias Myers (left oblique) and Brandon Woodruff (right shoulder) on the IL. Left-hander José Quintana is working his way into pitching shape after signing a one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Brewers four weeks ago.

Manager Pat Murphy said Mears, Quintana, Myers and Civale were likely the closest to being available.

"Those four hopefully should be joining us before May," Murphy said.

Myers was one of the Brewers' top returning starters. Woodruff is a two-time All-Star recovering from shoulder surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season. Ashby and Hall were expected to compete for a spot in the starting rotation. Mears is one of the Brewers' top returning relievers, and Gasser was in the rotation before having Tommy John surgery last summer.

All those injuries are having an impact. The two-time defending NL Central champions allowed 15 homers and were outscored 36-14 while getting swept in a season-opening, three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

MILWAUKEE -- As the Milwaukee Brewers conducted a moment of silence before their home opener to honor Bob Uecker, one fan decided keeping quiet wasn't the best way to pay tribute to the lovable loquacious broadcaster.

"We love you, Ueck," the spectator shouted.

Fans, players and executives simply couldn't hold back their appreciation for Uecker, who died Jan. 16 at the age of 90 after broadcasting Brewers games for the last 54 seasons and arguably becoming the most recognizable figure in franchise history.

The tributes to him were everywhere as the Brewers lost 11-1 to the Kansas City Royals on Monday in their first home game since Uecker's death. It was apparent from Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio's decision to wear one of the plaid blazers that Uecker often favored.

"I did my best to find a jacket in my closet that would be something he would wear," Attanasio said.

The American Family Field grounds crew had Uecker's signature decorated on the outfield grass. The Brewers wore patches honoring Uecker on their jersey sleeves, something that they'll do all season. The first pitches were thrown by representatives of the Wounded Warrior Project and the ALS Association, two of Uecker's favorite causes. The pro shop sold a line of Uecker-themed clothes, with portions of the proceeds benefiting charities Uecker had supported.

Outside the press box entrance was a banner with the message "We'll Miss You, Bob," that included thank-you notes from fans who had signed it after Uecker's death.

Way over in the upper right-field corner of American Family Field in a section where tickets aren't sold, the Brewers placed a giant blue tarp bearing the message "I must be in the front row," a nod to a famous Uecker line from one of his Miller Lite commercials.

"Obviously we all miss him and wish he was here," said outfielder Christian Yelich, who had worn a plaid blazer to honor Uecker before Thursday's season opener at Yankee Stadium. "I think he'll be with us for this season and many seasons going forward."

Brewers fans came up with plenty of different ways to pay tribute to Uecker, who continued to broadcast home games last year even as he battled small cell lung cancer.

Many spectators spent the minutes before the game lining up to get their photos taken flanking a Uecker statue in Section 422. Another statue outside the stadium honoring Uecker was decorated with a sign featuring his trademark home-run call: "Get up! Get up! Get out of here! Gone!" Other fans lined up Miller Lite beer cans at the base of the statue.

"He was the voice of our childhood summers," said David Horton of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, who placed one of the beer cans at the base of the statue. "We had him on in the garage with our dads in the backyards. He was just a staple. We just wanted to pay our respects in a small way and show some love."

This wasn't the first time fans had placed Miller Lite cans at the base of that statue to pay tribute to Uecker. Many of them also had done so after Uecker's death, even though the freezing temperatures assured the full beer cans wouldn't stay that way for long.

"They said the beer cans started popping, and they thought it was Uecker doing it because he was thirsty, getting ready for opening day," quipped Paul Stainbrook of Racine, Wisconsin.

The tributes continued around town.

Kopp's, a local burger restaurant known for its frozen custard, offered a special "Mr. Baseball" flavor for Monday's home opener. It included beer nuts, chocolate-covered peanuts and a splash of Miller Lite. Kopp's donated 20% of the custard sales to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, in honor of Uecker's career batting average of .200.

Milwaukee loved Uecker because of what he meant to the city. He stayed true to his hometown and continued working Brewers games even as his star rose from his Miller Lite commercials, his chats with Johnny Carson and his featured roles in the movie "Major League" and TV's "Mr. Belvedere."

"There's nobody who was more loyal or genuine," Attanasio said.

He also was beloved by players and made regular pregame appearances in the Brewers' locker room. Milwaukee's players loved him so much that manager Pat Murphy took time out from the Brewers' division-clinching celebration last season to recognize Uecker so that the team could give him an ovation.

When that season ended with a heartbreaking loss in the NL Wild Card Series, Uecker walked into a silent locker room and comforted players such as Devin Williams, who had given up a two-run, ninth-inning lead. Yelich said the toughest part of the night was speaking to Uecker afterward and knowing how badly the longtime broadcaster wanted to see the Brewers win that elusive World Series title.

He would have been the ideal voice to help settle a team that has been outscored 47-15 after opening the season with three straight losses to the New York Yankees followed by Monday's rout.

"Ueck just had a way to put things in perspective," Murphy said. "He had been through so much. He knew he had. So he could calm you down. He could put you in the right frame of mind. He could joke about it. He had a beautiful way about him."

But as Yelich noted, Uecker's spirit will remain here long after his voice isn't heard on Brewers broadcasts anymore. That thought provided comfort to fans such as Heather Floyd-Gabrysiak of West Allis, Wisconsin, who made sure to arrive for Monday's game wearing a Brewers jersey with Uecker's name on the back.

"He's always going to be here," Floyd-Gabrysiak said. "Even if he's not here, you'll still feel him here. He'll still be a part of it always."

Jonathan India was in the Kansas City Royals' starting lineup for Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers a day after a 99-mph pitch from Cleveland's Emmanuel Clase hit him in the face.

The pitch hit India's batting helmet on the left side of his face during the ninth inning of the Royals' 6-2 loss. The 28-year-old second baseman left the game and went to the locker room.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said a CT scan revealed no lingering damage.

"He was adamant about wanting to play," Quatraro said. "We're going to be cautious if something pops up and he has a headache or whatever, but he's had no concussion symptoms. Nothing's broken. With a guy like that, that's ultracompetitive, if he's that adamant about being in there, that sends a real good message to our team about what it takes to get out here and be a championship-caliber player."

The Royals acquired India from Cincinnati in an offseason trade that sent right-handed pitcher Brady Singer to the Reds. India, the 2021 NL rookie of the year, batted .248 with a .357 on-base percentage, 15 homers, 58 RBI and 13 steals in 151 games last season.

But other injury news wasn't entirely positive for the Royals.

Kansas City placed outfielder/pinch-runner Dairon Blanco on the injured list because of tendinopathy in his right Achilles tendon. Blanco made only one plate appearance in the Royals' first three games, but he stole two bases and scored two runs.

"It's a bone spur essentially that's on his Achilles," Quatraro said. "When it flares up, it flares up, and it's painful."

The Royals filled his spot on the roster by calling up utilityman Tyler Tolbert from Triple-A Omaha.

"He can do a lot of the same things as Blanco: play center field, play corner outfield, pinch-run," Quatraro said. "But he's also able to play in the middle of the infield, too. I think it would be unfair to say he's just going to replace Blanco, who's done this at the big-league level, but good for him for putting himself in a spot to earn this call-up."