TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Cardinals are getting the pass rushing help they have needed.

A day before the NFL trade deadline, the Cardinals sent a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for pass rusher Baron Browning.

The trade is pending a physical, the Cardinals announced.

Browning has played in just five games at outside linebacker for the Broncos this season after a left foot injury in Week 2 put him on injured reserve for four weeks. He has seven tackles and no sacks this year but is coming off seasons with 4.5 and 5.0 sacks, respectively. Browning was a third-round pick out of Ohio State in 2021.

He fills a need for Arizona, whose pass rush has been decimated by injuries to BJ Ojulari and Dennis Gardeck this season. Ojulari, who was expected to be one of Arizona's starting outside linebackers, tore his left ACL during training camp, and Gardeck tore his right ACL two weeks ago in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers on "Monday Night Football."

The Cardinals, who are coming off a season-high six-sack performance in a win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, have 21 sacks this season, putting them on pace for 39, six more than they had last year.

In the Broncos' rotation among their outside linebackers, rookie Jonah Elliss has steadily carved out playing time -- he's had his three highest snap counts of the season over the past five games -- and Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper lead the Broncos in sacks with 6 and 5.5 respectively, Browning was on pace for a career low in playing time.

In his five games this season, Browning had played on average 24.4 snaps per game, or roughly just over half of the snaps he averaged in games over the first three years of his career.

Browning will be an unrestricted free agent in March.

ESPN's Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.

DALLAS -- Former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson's lawsuit against the team was "dismissed with prejudice," according to documents filed in Dallas County court last week.

Nelson gave notice to the court Thursday that he is taking a nonsuit on his claims against all defendants, according to court documents.

The case had been scheduled to go to trial Dec. 10.

Rogge Dunn, Nelson's attorney, told ESPN that "the parties have reached a resolution of their dispute on confidential terms." Former Mavericks governor Mark Cuban, now a minority owner of the franchise, declined to comment Monday.

In the lawsuit, which was filed in March 2022, Nelson claimed he was fired by the Mavericks in retaliation after he reported that then-majority owner Mark Cuban's "right-hand person" allegedly sexually harassed Nelson's nephew in a hotel room during the 2020 All-Star Weekend in Chicago.

Nelson alleged that discussions with Cuban about an eight-figure contract extension abruptly halted when he reported the allegation. Nelson, who originally joined the franchisee as an assistant coach under his father, Don, in 1997, was eventually fired in June 2021.

In their response to the lawsuit, the Mavericks denied that Nelson was wrongfully terminated and claimed that he threatened to reveal the sexual orientation of Cuban's chief of staff if his contractual demands were not met. In the filing, the Mavericks accused Nelson of a "lengthy scheme to extort as much as $100 million," and cited "a number of factors" including "poor job performance" for his firing.

Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx controlling owner Glen Taylor and minority owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are scheduled to go to arbitration this week as the fight for controlling ownership of the teams enters a new phase.

The hearing is expected to last most of the week, and a decision is expected in December, Timberwolves sources told ESPN. The contract between the parties calls for a three-arbitrator panel (one selected by each side and a neutral arbitrator) to hear the case and decide, sources briefed on the process said.

The arbitration decision is binding, but the case to determine who will ultimately own the teams remains a complicated situation with a murky outlook.

With the hearing set to begin Monday, here's the latest on where the case stands:

What will the arbitration hearing decide?

The issue is a deadline Taylor determined Lore and Rodriguez missed to close the deal in March. Lore and Rodriguez believe they'd satisfied the terms outlined in the sales agreement, affording them the option of additional time.

In 2021, Lore and Rodriguez agreed to buy the Wolves and Lynx from Taylor at a $1.5 billion valuation. At Taylor's request, the sale agreement set a schedule of three stages. The first two happened in 2022 and then 2023, as Lore and Rodriguez purchased 36% for approximately $600 million in total. The deal called for them to pay an additional $600 million to control about 80% by the end of March.

Taylor, who has owned the Wolves since 1994 (and the Lynx since their inception in 1999), halted the sale on March 28 because he said Lore and Rodriguez missed the deadline for that final payment. In interviews, he also cited the team's potential as a championship contender as a factor. Lore and Rodriguez have said in interviews and documents they had the cash to complete the deal but were delayed by the NBA in its approval of the transaction and were thus entitled to an extension.

The two sides will present their cases this week.

Will the arbitrators' decision determine who gets the teams?

Not totally. This is the most important issue to understand.

If the arbitrators rule for Taylor, he will be able to end the process. He will have voided the sale and will remain as controlling owner. He has said he won't put the team up for sale again, but there would be nothing preventing him from doing so.

If the arbitrators rule for Lore and Rodriguez, Taylor would be contractually compelled to sell them the controlling share for the previously agreed on $1.5 billion valuation. However, all team percentage transfers are subject to a vote by the NBA's owners. Lore and Rodriguez would need 23 of the 30 votes to be approved as new owners. Only then would they get the team.

Is it possible the NBA owners would not approve the purchase if Lore and Rodriguez win?

This is the question with perhaps the most intrigue.

Taylor is a former chairman of the NBA's board of governors and has a long, personal history with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Over the course of NBA history, there have been occasional disputes over NBA team sales, but rejecting an enforced sales contract because the current owner changes their mind would be unprecedented -- especially because Lore and Rodriguez have already been approved as limited partners and twice the NBA's owners ratified percentage transfers.

Silver has said the league is not currently involved in the process and is allowing the arbitration to play out.

"That's a process that exists independent of the league that was set out in the sales agreement ... depending on the outcome, only then would the league then continue a vetting process for ownership," Silver said in September. "It's pencils down at the league office [until then]."

But behind the scenes there already has been plenty of maneuvering, multiple sources told ESPN, knowing this vote may be coming.

Over the past six months, Lore and Rodriguez have sought to firm up their financial standing by recruiting billionaires Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, and Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, to become partners. Also, private equity firm Dyal Homecourt Partners, an approved NBA partner that currently owns pieces of the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings, has secured a position as well.

As a result, Lore and Rodriguez have raised $950 million and have it in an escrow account and have made it clear in documents they plan to offer to buy out Taylor and his partners for the remaining 64% of the teams, sources said. Not just the additional 40% the disputed contract calls for.

Additionally, the group will provide proof of $200 million in working capital to demonstrate to the arbitrators and other owners that the group is in position to fund the team's operations going forward, sources said.

With a current payroll of more than $200 million and an estimated luxury tax bill of $96 million more, the Wolves are forecast to sustain heavy operating losses this season, sources told ESPN. It was a factor in the team's recent trade of star Karl-Anthony Towns.

Taylor has the $600 million, raised by selling the shares to Lore and Rodriguez, in his coffers to fund the teams. Lore and Rodriguez have worked to meet with owners and the league office in recent months to demonstrate their position and attempt to shore up support in the event of a vote, sources told ESPN.

It is unlikely this potential high-stakes vote would actually come down to a roll call among owners. Silver and Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of the board of governors and chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Raptors, would likely lead a process to build a consensus, and the body would act together. However, it's still possible that it will come to a vote, and it could take some time to play out if Lore and Rodriguez win in arbitration.

Is there a chance of a settlement?

One is always possible.

However, a one-day mediation between the parties in the spring yielded no progress, sources said.

Lore and Rodriguez made a deal that could prove to be very shrewd if they can win this battle and close. Over the past year, the Wolves have been valued at $2.9 billion by Sportico and $3.1 billion by Forbes.

These numbers are influenced by recent team valuation sales, including those of the Suns ($4 billion), Dallas Mavericks ($3.5 billion), Milwaukee Bucks ($3.2 billion) and Charlotte Hornets ($3B).

Getting the team for a $1.5 billion valuation would potentially create instantaneous 10-figure equity in Lore and Rodriguez's ownership shares. For the same reason, Taylor has plenty of reasons to fight to retain the 40% share he'd previously agreed to sell at a price that is now well below perceived market value, in addition to his desire to remain in control of a contending team.

What else is at stake?

Perhaps the future of valued team president Tim Connelly.

In 2022, the Wolves lured Connelly away from the Denver Nuggets in a five-year, $40 million deal that has proved pivotal in turning around the team's fortunes.

The deal contained an opt-out clause this past summer because that's when the ownership transfer was supposed to be settled. When that didn't happen, Connelly agreed to defer the opt out to the summer of 2025. Regardless of how the next few months play out, he is potentially a coveted free agent.

SAN ANTONIO -- Veteran outfielder Rob Refsnyder remained with the Boston Red Sox after the club exercised his $2.1 million option on Monday.

Refsnyder, 33, is coming off his most productive big league season, batting .283 with a career-high 11 homers and 40 RBIs. He has been a valuable contributor for the Red Sox over the past three seasons.

The Red Sox opted to keep Refsnyder instead of paying a $150,000 buyout. He earned a $1.85 million base salary last season and made an extra $25,000 after reaching 300 plate appearances for the first time in his career.

Refsnyder will be playing in his 10th big league season. He broke into the big leagues with the Yankees in 2015 and has also played for Toronto, Tampa Bay, Texas and Minnesota.

The Atlanta Braves exercised designated hitter Marcell Ozuna's $16 million option for the 2025 season Monday but declined to pick up catcher Travis D'Arnaud's $8 million option, making him a free agent.

The Braves also declined their $7 million team option on right-hander Luke Jackson.

Ozuna, who turns 34 next week, was named a Silver Slugger finalist Monday after batting .302 with 39 home runs and 104 RBIs, while not missing a game this season.

A three-time All-Star, Ozuna is a career .272 hitter with 275 homers, 880 RBIs and 1,514 hits in 1,469 games with the Miami Marlins (2013-17), St. Louis Cardinals (2018-19) and Braves.

D'Arnaud, 35, batted .251 and slugged 60 home runs in his five years with the Braves. He earned his only All-Star nod with the Braves in 2022.

Jackson, 33, went 4-3 with a 5.09 ERA in 52 relief appearances this past season, 16 of those with the Braves after they acquired him from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline in the swap that also brought Jorge Soler to Atlanta. The Braves traded Soler to the Los Angeles Angels last week.

Ozuna's option had a $1 million buyout; D'Arnaud's had none. Jackson had a $2 million buyout.

The Braves also announced they reinstated OF Ronald Acuna Jr., LHP Ray Kerr, LHP Angel Perdomo, RHP Spencer Strider and RHP Huascar Ynoa from the 60-day injured list.

The Oxford University graduate was a relatively late arrival to Test rugby, in 2019 then aged 28, but swiftly became among the first names on Gatland's team sheet and has been hailed "the next Alun Wyn Jones" by former Wales lock Ian Gough.

A career in finance looked to be calling for the double varsity blue before he was handed his first professional contract at Wasps by former Wales captain Dai Young.

"I was ancient by comparison to a lot of the Welsh players who have come into the squad of late," said Rowlands.

"I feel proud of my journey so far, but Ive got more things Id like to do before I can say Ive made it or achieved everything I want to achieve."

Jones played Test rugby until he was 37, so Rowlands, a Six Nations winner in 2021, still has time.

Born in Hammersmith, London, Rowlands qualifies for Wales through his father, who convinced him to pursue his rugby ambitions.

"It has all happened very gradually. It was a bit of a struggle in the first year. I didnt play much rugby while my old uni friends were just starting off their careers and I wondered if I was just wasting my time.

"But my father told me to bide my time and see what happens. Im glad that was the advice and the decision I took to stick it out. With luck, opportunity and a bit of ability, it has been a fantastic journey so far."

DENVER -- Suspended Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has been cleared to begin practicing, the team said Monday.

Nichushkin, however, remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and is ineligible to play in games. His suspension is slated to last until at least mid-November.

His return would bolster a team that's already thin at forward this season because of injuries. The Avalanche could soon have back Artturi Lehkonen, who was activated from injured reserve Monday. He's recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

Nichushkin was unavailable for a second straight postseason in May because of circumstances away from the ice. The league and the players' association announced his suspension an hour before the start of the Avalanche's 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on May 13 during a second-round series Colorado would lose.

The 29-year-old Russian right winger also abruptly left the team in a 2023 first-round playoff series against Seattle for what was described as personal reasons. He missed the final five games of that postseason as the Avalanche lost the series 4-3.

Nichushkin is under contract through the 2029-30 season after signing an eight-year, $49 million contract with the team in 2022. He had a career-best 28 goals in 2023-24 in 54 regular-season games.

The banged-up Avalanche remain without forward captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee), Ross Colton (broken foot), Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Miles Wood, who was placed on injured reserve Monday with an upper-body injury.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg is expected to miss the next four to six weeks because of an apparent right leg injury.

Coach Drew Bannister gave the update on Broberg's status Monday, calling it a lower-body injury. Bannister called the prognosis good news given how bad the injury looked at the time.

"It could've been a lot worse," Bannister said after practice. "I'm happy that he's going to be back. It could've been worse, but it isn't. He was playing really good hockey, and now it's like 'Let's get him back on the ice and get him back to game speed.' That's going to take a little bit of time, but I think the player himself is really happy."

Broberg's right leg bent at an awkward angle when he was tangled up with Toronto forward Mitch Marner in the second period Saturday night. He clutched at the leg and needed help getting off the ice.

The 23-year-old Swede is the latest Blues player to miss time with injury. The team is already without forwards Robert Thomas, Kasperi Kapanen and Mathieu Joseph, and defensemen Nick Leddy and Torey Krug.

Thomas has a broken ankle, while Krug is expected to miss the entire season after undergoing ankle surgery.

"I think our guys have done a real good job of stepping into those situations," Bannister said. "You can't necessarily expect somebody to come in and take over Robby's job or Broberg's job. You need it to be a team effort, and you need all 20 guys pushing in the same direction, playing the right way."

Scott Perunovich figures to take Broberg's spot in the lineup for St. Louis, which is 6-6-0 through 12 games. Broberg was among the team's leading scorers with nine points after signing an offer sheet this past summer as a restricted free agent.

"Now Prune's able to step in and get an opportunity and we're going to have to lean on these guys to play some good hockey for us," Bannister said. "The group on the ice will get the job done while those guys are out. It's an opportunity at making sure we're doing the right thing, and we can't just rely on one or two players to fill the spot. We need everybody on the ice pushing in the right direction."

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to miss several weeks with a hamstring injury, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.

Prescott is seeking a second opinion to confirm treatment options, the source told Schefter.

Cowboys star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, meanwhile, is dealing with a right AC joint issue with his shoulder and is set to undergo an MRI. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Sunday he is hopeful Lamb can continue to play since he was able to play through it on Sunday.

Prescott suffered his injury after a 5-yard scramble late in the third quarter of Dallas' loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. On the next play, cameras caught him grimacing as he threw a wobbling 10-yard pass to Jalen Brooks on the wide side of the field.

"I felt it when I was getting up from the run. I can't even say that I felt it running," Prescott said Sunday. "The tackle, maybe something on the tackle. Yeah, I don't know, but when I was standing up, I felt something actually. Didn't think it was much. You get tired. It's a physical game. A lot of times you feel different things and they kind of go away."

When he got to the top of his dropback, Prescott said he "felt something I've never felt. Yeah, it was tough to walk on it at that point."

He asked the medical staff whether he could make the injury worse if he continued to play and was told he would not be able to protect himself, so he was pulled in favor of Cooper Rush to start the fourth quarter.

Prescott went 18-of-24 for 133 yards with one touchdown before leaving the game. He had a season-high 30 yards rushing, including a 22-yard gain on a second-quarter scoring drive. It was the Cowboys' longest run of the season, and Prescott entered the game with 24 yards rushing on the season.

Rush went 13-of-25 for 115 yards with a touchdown in relief of Prescott. Before Sunday, Rush played in two games this season in mop-up duty, completing 9 of 14 passes for 52 yards and an interception. But in 2022, he went 4-1 as the Cowboys' starter after Prescott suffered a broken right thumb in the season opener.

Trey Lance would be Rush's backup with Prescott sidelined.

Prescott agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract hours before the season opener that made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Including Sunday, he had started 36 straight games after his thumb injury. He missed 11 games in 2020 because of a dislocation and fracture of his right ankle and missed one game in 2021 with a right calf strain.

Sunday's loss dropped the Cowboys to 3-5 on the season.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers promoted Ross Fenstermaker to general manager, hired Cole Figuerora as assistant GM and named Justin Viele their new hitting coach on Monday.

Fenstermaker's elevation in the organization comes just less than three months after Chris Young was given a multiyear contract extension and promotion from GM to President of Baseball Operations. Young was GM for four seasons and oversaw his hometown team's first World Series title last year. He is still the top decision-maker on the baseball side of the organization.

As assistant GM for player development and international operations the past three years, Fenstermaker oversaw player development and minor league operations while responsible for the team's international amateur scouting efforts. The 38-year-old has been with the Rangers since being a baseball operations intern in 2010.

Figueroa was in the Tampa Bay Rays organization the past eight seasons, the last three as director of baseball operations. His responsibilities included baseball strategy, player-market evaluations and long-term growth of baseball operations staff.

Viele, who turns 33 next week, has spent the past five seasons as a hitting coach in San Francisco. He worked with current Rangers coach Donnie Ecker with the Giants in 2021, when they set a franchise record with 241 home runs.

Viele replaces Tim Hyers, who was hired last month as the Atlanta Braves' hitting coach after three seasons in the same role with the Rangers.