PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson has an abdominal strain that is expected to sideline him for two weeks, sources tell ESPN.

One doctor recommended surgery, which would have shelved the 32-year-old for about six weeks, but Jackson wants to return to action as soon as possible, so he opted against it, a source said.

Jackson exited early in the first half against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.

Philadelphia brought him back via a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March to provide Carson Wentz with a bona fide deep threat. They connected for two touchdowns of 50-plus yards in the opener against Washington.

Receiver Alshon Jeffery could also miss Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions after suffering a calf injury early against Atlanta.

NEW YORK -- Where there was once a Sandman, there now might be a Bogeyman.

At least that's what teammate Domingo German calls New York Yankees ace Luis Severino: "The Bogeyman." Batters, said German, take pause just hearing his name. His stuff can haunt you. And you underestimate him at your peril.

"Remember the way it was when Pedro [Martinez] was going to pitch? Everyone would be tense because Pedro was on the mound. Severino can be like that," said German, who has gone 18-4 with a 4.09 ERA while Severino has been sidelined this season. "He's so strong. He hates losing and loves to compete. He has all the potential to come back strong and be huge for us heading into the playoffs."

As for Severino, he was amused by the comparison. After all, Martinez was his childhood hero and is now a mentor at times.

"It feels good to be thought of that way," Severino said, "and even more coming from a teammate, and especially someone like German who has done a tremendous job with us this year in my absence."

German knows the comparison shouldn't be made lightly. Their Dominican countryman -- and three-time Cy Young winner -- embodied the qualities every pitcher aspires to have: fearlessness and confidence, power and control.

And that's exactly what Severino will be looking for in himself against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, the first time he faces major league hitters since Oct. 8, 2018, a rough night in which he gave up six runs in three innings in a 16-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

It's been a long road to recovery for Severino, which began when he felt a dull ache in his right shoulder before what was supposed to be his spring training debut on March 5. To make matters worse, his return from rotator cuff inflammation was complicated when he was diagnosed in April with an injured lat muscle.

So the first thing Severino will be looking for Tuesday? Pitching without pain.

"This is the first time I have ever had an injury so that thought is always there. You do have that doubt in your head, 'Will it bother me again?'" he said. "But I haven't felt any pain at all and I hope it's the same on Tuesday -- that I feel nothing. But those thoughts only happen in the first couple of pitches, whether it will hurt or it won't hurt. After that, you are focused on the game, you have all that adrenaline and you forget about that."

If pain isn't an issue, the next step for Severino is to show a glimpse of the brilliant pitcher he was through 18 starts in 2018, when he posted a 1.98 ERA. Although he finished another All-Star campaign with a 19-8 record and a 3.39 ERA in 32 starts, earning his second straight top-10 finish in the Cy Young voting, Severino struggled in the second half. His inability to locate his fastball down the stretch led to hitters feasting on pitches over the plate.

Since his debut in 2015, Severino's fastball has been his most overpowering pitch deep into games, thanks to his lethal combination of hard throwing and movement. But Severino believes establishing his breaking pitches early, especially his slider, will be key to making his fastball effective on Tuesday and beyond.

"I'll be looking at the movement of all my pitches on the mound. That's the main thing for me," he said. "I want to see myself attacking batters. I want to see myself as the pitcher I have always been: aggressive, attacking batters with my fastball and throwing strikes. Not only with my fastball but with all my pitches."

Severino's velocity has long afforded him a greater margin of error. In his last couple of rehab starts his fastball speed reached 97-98 mph, but he knows reestablishing his command will take time -- and time is most certainly running out, with barely two weeks left in the regular season.

"In my last [rehab] start everything was good except I didn't have full command of my fastball. That's what I'm going to look for. If my secondary pitches are there and my fastball is there, I know I'll be fine," he said. "I have high expectations of myself. We are in the final stretch. I have three outings to try to get the best out of me. By the time the postseason starts, I want to be ready."

For the first time this season, Severino will not be dreading a Yankees homestand.

"It has been difficult for me to just watch. Funny enough, it's been a little more comfortable when the team has been on the road," Severino said. "When we're in New York and I go to a game, and I see the guys competing there, it makes me want to get on the mound. But my family has been a great support. I've also gotten to spend time with my daughters, too. And they have helped me get away from thinking about that all the time."

Despite an injury-riddled season without their ace, the Yankees are on the verge of clinching their first AL East crown since 2012. Adding a healthy and fresh arm like Severino's could be a game-changer in October.

"[We're] getting back one of the best pitchers in the league. That's our trade deadline right there. Having an ace like that," outfielder Aaron Judge said after the Yankees finished a three-game series in Toronto, where Severino rejoined the team Friday. "A boost for us. A boost to our pitching staff, which has been carrying this team."

Said manager Aaron Boone: "No question we're excited to get him back. Feel like he's been in a pretty good place physically now for a couple of months and building really good momentum. Probably a chance to make three starts or so with us, hopefully allows him to continue to build up, continue to find that consistency. He could be a game-changer guy for us, there's no question."

The Yankees know it. Severino knows it. Anticipation in the Yankees clubhouse for the 25-year-old righty's first start of the season is high.

No one is more excited than The Bogeyman himself.

"For the last four, five months I have thought of this one day. What is it going to be like that day. I will try not to be too excited," Severino said. "It has been a long way back and it will be difficult not to be too excited. But I will try to block everything outside and focus on my catcher and hitting the mitt. If I try to do that, I will do a good job on the mound."

METAIRIE, La. -- At the end of last season, things looked like a mess for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Anthony Davis wanted a trade. A promising season was dashed. Alvin Gentry's job seemed to be in danger. The front office didn't have a clear direction to head in.

Fast forward to September, and Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday says he notices a difference at the team's practice facility, and a big difference at that, thanks to new executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin.

"I feel like the whole vibe, the whole attitude in the facility and with the staff has just been different," Holiday told ESPN by phone on Tuesday. "It definitely feels like people are ready and excited. It's been like that ever since Griff has come into place."

It all fits into the vision that Griffin brought with him when he was hired in April. He's added new faces to the mix -- like general manager Trajan Langdon and vice president of basketball operations Swin Cash -- while also keeping Gentry around for his fifth season as head coach.

Holiday added that Griffin is also "putting his money where his mouth is" in terms of structure. More specifically, owner Gayle Benson's money. A multimillion-dollar refurbishment began at the practice facility that is set to be completed next month.

"It's a good feeling to know that just like that, he says what he means and he gets it done," Holiday said.

Holiday spent most of the offseason working out in Los Angeles but admitted he felt like he was walking into a brand-new facility when he got back to New Orleans. He's spent the past two days with nearly the entire team for voluntary workouts -- guard JJ Redick is expected to join the team tomorrow to complete perfect attendance -- and has been impressed with the new faces.

Everyone knows how explosive Zion Williamson can be, but Holiday was impressed with how he finishes at the rim.

"I think it's really just a touch around the basket," Holiday said. "Sometimes you see people like that and they kind of shoot the ball off the backboard or whatever but he has a nice touch to him."

And while Holiday liked Jaxson Hayes' ability around the rim and Nickeil Alexander-Walker's vision, he also noticed something about the group as a whole, including the pieces New Orleans picked up in the Anthony Davis trade in former Lakers Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart.

"Everybody has the same mentality," Holiday said. "You can feel that we're going to be tough to deal with. We're kind of a younger group. But we can get after it every night."

NEW YORK -- The Yankees plan to activate Giancarlo Stanton on Wednesday or Thursday in an attempt to get the oft-injured outfielder ready for the playoffs.

Stanton has been limited to nine games this season. The four-time All-Star strained his left biceps on March 31 in his third game, strained a shoulder and calf during his rehabilitation and returned June 18. In his sixth game back, he strained the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during an awkward headfirst slide into third base against Toronto on June 25.

Stanton is hitting .290 with one home run and seven RBI. The 29-year-old is in his second season with the Yankees.

Manager Aaron Boone said Stanton was headed to New York on Tuesday from the team's minor league complex in Tampa, Florida.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts said Tuesday that an MRI showed inflammation in his left foot.

Betts was out of the lineup for a third straight game Tuesday against the Giants in Boston. He said he's hopeful to return this season.

Manager Alex Cora called Betts day-to-day, adding that if he plays this weekend against the Rays on the artificial turf in St. Petersburg, Florida, it would be as a designated hitter.

The reigning AL MVP is hitting .293 with 28 home runs and 78 RBIs this season for Boston.

Also Tuesday, Cora said the team is meeting to discuss the next steps for David Price (wrist), with one option being shutting the left-hander down. Chris Sale, meanwhile, is in Florida as he recovers from a left elbow injury and will meet the team in St. Pete during the Rays series that begins Friday.

Manager Dave Martinez will miss the Nationals' series in St. Louis after having a heart procedure Monday, Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said Tuesday.

Martinez has returned to his home in the D.C. area and does not need any more procedures, Rizzo said.

The GM said he expected doctors to clear Martinez to travel but wouldn't speculate when that happens.

Rizzo had told reporters Monday that Martinez had a minor cardiac catheterization that day in Washington.

Martinez, who turns 55 on Sept. 26, experienced chest pains during Washington's home game Sunday against Atlanta, left in the sixth inning and was taken to a hospital.

Bench coach Chip Hale will manage the Nats during Martinez's absence.

First-base coach Tim Bogar will be in the dugout and assistant hitting coach Joe Dillon will replace Bogar at first.

The Nationals saw their top National League wild-card lead shrink to a half-game over the Chicago Cubs after Monday night's loss.

Martinez is in his second season managing the Nationals. After winning 82 games last season, the Nats have matched that total this season with 13 games to play.

Martinez had a 16-year MLB career with nine teams.

At 16, life revolves around revision for exams, having a kickaround with mates, getting an invite to the next house party and working out the best Instagram filters.

But, what if you have to deal with the pressure of being a professional athlete too?

Adolescence can bring some of the best times of your life - and these sporting youngsters have taken those teenage dreams on a whole other level.

Ansu Fati - football

For most 16-year-olds, football is mostly about playing headers and volleys.

Ansu Fati, however, has to think about whether to sit next to Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez for lunch.

The Barcelona winger has been lighting up La Liga in the absence of Messi - not only did he start the 5-2 victory over Valencia on Saturday, he scored within the opening 110 seconds.

Five minutes later, he danced his way into the box to pick out Frenkie de Jong, who scored the Catalans' second goal.

His opening two appearances have yielded two goals and one assist, causing the Spanish Football Federation to act fast in order to get the Guinea-Bissau-born winger cleared to play for Spain.

If he strikes against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, he will become the youngest goalscorer in the competition's history.

Coco Gauff - tennis

Beating Venus Williams at Wimbledon, starring on the cover of Teen Vogue and being fan-girled by Serena Williams... Coco Gauff isn't your typical 15-year-old.

Coco burst on to the tennis scene by reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon, losing to eventual champion Simona Halep.

Her rise to fame caught Serena's attention, and she was a keen spectator when Coco faced Naomi Osaka at the US Open.

And that match - which Osaka won in straight sets - turned out to be an emotional one.

"She was crying, she won. I was crying. Everybody was crying!" Coco said after the match. "I didn't know why she was crying. I was like: 'You won the match!'"

With 604,000 Instagram followers and Serena in your corner, you definitely won't be short of people to sit with at lunch.

Sky Brown - skateboarding

At the age of 11, Sky Brown can already start thinking about competing at the Olympics next year.

Sky won bronze at the Park World Skateboarding Championships in Sao Paulo last weekend, which means she will be seeded for next season's Olympic qualifying events.

If she does qualify for Tokyo, she will be aged just 12 years and 15 days when the skateboarding event gets under way.

That would mean she becomes the youngest Briton to appear at a Summer Olympics - beating the record of Margery Hinton, who was 13 years and 43 days when she competed in the 200m breaststroke in 1928.

Most 11-year-olds are donning a brand new school uniform and looking forward to making a bunch of new mates.

Sky's got her own new experience to look forward to. The destination? Tokyo. The uniform? A Team GB tracksuit and skateboard to match.

Oleksii Sereda - diving

Imagine walking into the canteen as the youngest European champion in your sport's history. That's some serious street cred right there.

Step forward diver Oleksii Sereda, who broke a record held by Briton's Tom Daley.

The 13-year-old won 10m platform gold in his hometown of Kiev in August - beating Daley's mark by three months.

Who needs a 25m badge stitched on to their trunks when they can walk into the changing room with a European gold medal?

Wales backs coach Rob Howley has been sent home from the World Cup for an alleged breach of World Rugby's laws covering betting and anti-corruption.

The 48-year-old's departure is a huge blow just six days before Wales' opening game in Japan against Pool D opponents Georgia.

A Welsh Rugby Union statement said Howley had "returned to Wales to assist with an investigation".

The WRU confirmed it was in relation to a potential breach of betting on rugby.

World Rugby's regulation 6.3.1 reads: "No connected person shall, directly or indirectly, bet and/or attempt to bet on the outcome or any aspect of any connected event and/or receive and/or attempt to receive part or all of the proceeds of any such bet and/or any other benefit in relation to a bet."

Wales have sent for Stephen Jones to fill the gap left by Howley's sudden departure and Jones is expected to arrive "imminently" at the squad's Kitakyushu base.

Former Wales and British and Irish Lions fly-half Jones has already been confirmed as the next Wales backs coach under Wayne Pivac, who will take the reins from Gatland after the tournament.

The WRU statement said: "Rob Howley has returned to Wales to assist with an investigation in relation to a potential breach of World Rugby Regulation 6, specifically betting on rugby union.

"The decision was taken to act immediately in light of recent information passed to the WRU. No further details can be provided at this stage as this would prejudice the investigation.

"If required an independent panel will be appointed to hear the case. Rob has co-operated fully with our initial discussions.

"Warren Gatland has consulted with senior players and Stephen Jones will be arriving in Japan imminently to link up with the squad as attack coach."

Howley has been an integral part of boss Warren Gatland's backroom team since the New Zealander took charge.

The ex-Wales and Lions scrum-half was already set to leave his role after the World Cup.

Howley had been linked with the Italy head coach job with current incumbent Conor O'Shea expected to depart next year, but that now looks unlikely.

The former Wales scrum-half has been part of Gatland's backroom staff since being appointed in January 2008 and was one of the first backroom recruits, and also played under him at Wasps.

Since he became part of the coaching set-up, Wales have won four Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams.

Howley was in charge of Wales' 2013 Six Nations success when Gatland was away on a British and Irish Lions head coach sabbatical.

He was also part of Gatland's winning Lions coaching team in Australia in 2013 and the drawn series in New Zealand four years later.

Analysis

Michael Owen, former Wales captain, speaking on 5 live:

It's sad that Rob's got caught up in this, he's been a tremendous coach for Wales and this is the swansong for the Wales coaching team. It's a big blow for everyone involved, and for Rob Howley on a personal level.

I think the team will be affected. They're lucky to have Stephen Jones, he's an incredibly positive person and influence. He's someone who could come in and have a positive impact on the camp straight away.