Clan-Members » : SS Carlos Correa missed his third stra

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The offseason addition of wide receiver Rishard Matthews has paid big dividends for the Tennessee Titans.Matthews already has set a career high with six touchdown catches -- all within the past six weeks.Only Tampa Bays Mike Evans and Jordy Nelson of Green Bay (eight) and Pittsburghs Antonio Brown (seven) have more touchdown catches in the NFL than Matthews, who is tied with four others.And the receiver easily is poised to turn in the most receptions and yards receiving in just his first year working with quarterback Marcus Mariota.Im glad it happened the way it did, Matthews said.A seventh-round draft pick out of Nevada, the 6-foot, 217-pound Matthews spent his first four seasons with the Miami Dolphins where he started only 17 of his 49 games.When he hit free agency, Matthews went looking for the chance to do more coming off the best season of his career with 43 catches in 11 starts for 662 yards and four touchdown receptions.Matthews had a couple of teams calling, but he and his agent saw the Titans and Mariota as the right match with a three-year contract .It took a little bit of time to start building timing and chemistry, but offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie thinks returning to Miami to play the Dolphins jump-started Matthews season.From there, I think those two theyve kind of bonded a little bit, Robiskie said Thursday of Matthews and Mariota.Matthews caught his first touchdown pass from Mariota in Miami on Oct. 9, and hes added five TD catches since then helping Tennessee (5-5) win four of its past six. He caught two in the second quarter at San Diego on Nov. 6 and added another last week. The Titans visit Indianapolis (4-5) on Sunday.Matthews has made a handful of long catches too and believes Mariotas trust in him just keeps climbing.Hes been coming to me in key situations, Matthews said. That just means a lot to myself, and Im just glad I could go out there and make plays for him.The Titans needed help at wide receiver after investing second-round draft picks in Justin Hunter and Dorial Green-Beckham. They released Hunter in the final cuts, while they traded Green-Beckham during training camp for a backup offensive lineman.Coach Mike Mularkey said how Matthews has played is what caught the Titans attention.Obviously, big, thick receiver, really strong to the ball, strong hands, makes plays and contested catches, playmaker, which hes been doing here for the last six weeks, Mularkey said.Hes been making plays. Obviously, the touchdowns have been big plays, but a lot of what youre seeing was on tape. You know, he was hurt last year and only got so many games to show what he had. Its showing up again.Matthews is part of a receiving group that ranks third in the NFL for fewest drops, having dropped five of the 210 passes deemed catchable by STATS LLC.That ranks Tennessee third in the NFL with a drop rate of 2.4 percent per catch behind only Washington (1.2 percent) and Dallas (2.1).Mularkey said the receivers have been dependable after he was probably harder on them than any other group on the team.Weve got a mix of guys, a rookie thats playing in his 11th game, Rishard has come about, Mularkey said. I give them credit. They have rebounded and helped us with our offense.Game notesRB DeMarco Murray (toe) practiced fully Thursday after being given a day of rest Wednesday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalkerOren Burks Super Bowl Jersey .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. JK Scott Super Bowl Jersey . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Reggie-White-Packers-Jersey/ . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Ray Nitschke Super Bowl Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Bryan Bulaga Super Bowl Jersey . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No.HOUSTON -- Kris Bryant gave the Houston Astros an up-close look at what could have been.Bryant hit a two-run homer, Jon Lester threw seven scoreless innings and Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman completed the shutout to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-0 win over the Astros on Friday night.It was Bryants first career game against the team that passed on him with the first pick in the 2013 draft to take starter Mark Appel, who was traded to Philadelphia this offseason before ever playing in the majors. Before the game Chicago manager Joe Maddon had a simple answer when he was asked about Houstons decision not to draft Bryant.Thank you, Maddon said with a smile.Bryant seemed to have grown weary of all the rehashing of that draft in the last few days, but seemed amused when he was asked if he likes hitting in Houston.Yeah, (batting practice) was fun for sure, he said. Just dont hit it to center.Bryant, taken second in that draft, avoided Houstons deep center field and smacked his 37th homer off Joe Musgrove (2-4) to the short porch in left field to put the Cubs up 2-0 in the fifth inning.Lester (16-4) allowed seven hits and struck out seven for his seventh straight win. He hasnt lost since July 3, hasnt allowed a run in three of those starts and gave up just one run in four others in that span.Rondon took over for the eighth and struck out two before Aroldis Chapman struck out one in a perfect ninth for his 13th save.The victory improved the Cubs to an MLB-best 90-50 a year after they won 97 games to give them consecutive 90-win seasons for the first time since doing it in three straight years from 1928-1930.The Astros had trouble stringing hits together against Lester, and didnt have more than one in an inning until the seventh when Yulieski Gurriel singled with one out and Marwin Gonzalez got another single with two outs. But Lester struck out Colby Rasmus looking to end the threat.Felt like that was the real big turning point in the game, Lester said. I felt like if we give up a hit there the momentum goes back on their side and it seems like theyre kind of built on that.Musgrove allowed three hits and two runs with five strikeouts in six innnings for his fourth loss in five starts.ddddddddddddManager A.J. Hinch was disappointed that Musgrove walked Dexter Fowler with two outs to set up Bryants homer.Im happy with his effort, and obviously, hell go home thinking about the walk to Fowler before Bryants big home run because that really was the only thing they got off of him, Hinch said.Fowler snapped an 0-for-19 skid with a leadoff triple. But Musgrove didnt allow another hit until Bryants homer with two outs in the fifth.Alex Bregman singled for Houston with no outs in the fourth inning and stole second base. But he was thrown out trying to swipe third, too, and the Astros lost a scoring opportunity.THAT HAD TO HURTPlay was stopped for a couple of minutes in the bottom of the sixth inning when home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor got hit on hit on his right shoulder with a foul ball from Teoscar Hernandez. Bucknor was shaken up after taking the hit and was checked on by a member of Houstons training staff. But the trainer soon left and he rubbed on his shoulder a couple of times before remaining in the game.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: SS Carlos Correa missed his third straight game on Friday with inflammation in his left shoulder. Correa said that he was feeling better on Friday and manager Hinch said they hoped to get him back sometime this weekend. ... Ace Dallas Keuchel, who is also out with inflammation in his left shoulder, wont throw until after Sunday. Keuchel was shut down on Monday because of the problem and said on Friday that he is feeling better, but is still struggling with the injury. Theres really no timetable set for return, he said. But I firmly believe were still going to be in the playoff hunt so hopefully I can help the guys out here in the next week or so.UP NEXTCubs: John Lackey (9-7, 3.36) is scheduled to make his second start since coming off the disabled list. He is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his last five starts.Astros: Collin McHugh (9-10, 4.96) has won two straight decisions and the Astros have won the last four games that he started. ' ' '