The Minnesota Wild have been cleared by the NHL to resume team activities.

The Wild will practice Friday at Xcel Energy Center, 10 days after their most recent game. They've had six games postponed due to COVID-19 cases within the team, including Saturday at Los Angeles. Their next scheduled game is Tuesday at Los Angeles.

The Wild have 12 players still listed by the league as being unavailable due to COVID-19 protocols. Forward Marcus Foligno was removed from the list. He was the first player to enter quarantine on Jan. 31.

GLENDALE. Ariz. -- The Arizona Coyotes have fired assistant general manager Steve Sullivan.

The team said Thursday it would not seek a replacement for Sullivan and offered no other details.

Sullivan, who played one season with the Coyotes, was hired by Arizona in 2014 under previous general manager John Chayka. He was promoted to assistant GM in 2017 and served as interim GM last year when Chayka left the team.

Sullivan also served as general manager of the Tucson Roadrunners, Arizona's AHL affiliate.

He played 16 NHL seasons with Toronto, Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Arizona and two stints with New Jersey before retiring in 2014.

The NHL and NHLPA announced several new protocols on Thursday after COVID-19 outbreaks on five teams caused nearly a dozen games to be postponed this week. The enhanced measures, endorsed by the league's medical experts, will be in effect until at least Feb. 28 and could feature further restrictions.

The Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers all currently have multiple players on the league's COVID Protocol Related Absences list, and have had multiple games postponed.

In the case of the Devils and Sabres, there are concerns that transmission of the virus happened during one of their games, as on-ice officials who worked that game have also tested positive.

The NHL has postponed 35 games this season due to COVID protocols since the 2020-21 regular season began on Jan. 13. Of those games, 17 have yet to be rescheduled.

Among the protocol changes announced on Thursday:

Addition of POC Testing for U.S.-Based Clubs

Along with daily lab-based PCR tests, the NHL is working with its U.S.-based teams to provide point of care (POC) rapid testing to be administered on game days to all players, staff and on-ice officials who work in and around the bench area during games.

In the past, NHL teams have only used rapid testing for specific situations, like after players returned from a quarantine period.

Teams acquire the tests themselves, and a source tells ESPN that daily rapid testing won't be mandated by the NHL until the league is certain there is an ample supply for each team.

"Although these tests have a slightly lower ability to detect the presence of COVID-19 than lab-based PCR testing, they will provide prompt, same-day results that will reduce the chance of game participation by individuals who might have active infection. If a 'testee' tests positive, such individual will be immediately isolated as per the Positive Test Protocol and contact tracing will promptly ensue. The individual will not participate in the game that day," the NHL said in a release.

The NHL is working with its Canadian franchises on the availability of similar tests.

Reconfiguring Seating For Previously Infected Players

As there has been evidence of "some protective immunity to re-contracting the COVID-19 virus for at least 90 days after their initial infection," teams are encouraged to reconfigure assigned seating in the dressing room, during travel and at meals so that previously infected players are seated next to individuals who never contracted the virus.

The previously infected players are used as a "buffer" for players and staff that are unlikely to have that immunity.

Work/Home Quarantine

All players, coaches, training staff, equipment staff and other members of the traveling party "will be required to remain at home and not leave their place of residence except to attend practices and games, to exercise outdoors on an individual basis, to perform essential activities (e.g., go to the doctor), or to deal with family or other emergencies and other extraordinary circumstances."

The NHL is also "strongly recommending" that household members limit their activities outside the home as well, and is encouraging teams to provide ways for household members to be tested for COVID-19 regularly.

Facial Coverings

While the league continues to strongly encourage the wearing of masks, it's also recommending that teams source and provide KN95 facemasks to all game personnel and are to be worn "at all times when not exercising, including when players are in the locker room."

Team Meetings

All team and other meetings will now be required to be conducted virtually, including all coaching meetings and video review sessions.

Ventilation on the Bench and in the Penalty Box

The NHL recently removed plexiglass behind the player benches to create better ventilation. Now, they are mandating that the glass from the back of the penalty box areas be removed as well. To protect any spectators attending the game, teams will have to install mesh netting behind the benches and the penalty box.

If teams choose to seat fans around the benches and penalty boxes, they'll also have to put a plexiglass barrier in the seating section that's at least 25 feet back from those areas and have security personnel stationed directly behind the player areas.

The NHL and NHLPA are also using their in-game player tracking system to better map interaction between players on the ice during games, and will be sending some positive test samples for genomic sequencing "to determine specific strain types and to estimate pathways of transmission."

How would Jordan Spieth follow up his Phoenix performance? A hangover after his closing 72 that left him T-4? Or would he continue to ride the surge of momentum created by his Saturday 61, which gave him a share of the 54-hole lead?

Answer: B.

Spieth shot 7-under 65 in the opening round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, leaving him, once again, T-4. He's three shots back of leader Patrick Cantlay, who tied a Pebble Beach Golf Links course record with a 62.

Spieth, likewise, played Pebble on Thursday, hitting nine of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation. He also needed only 26 putts, none of which occurred at the par-4 10th.

"I had 113 [yards] adjusted and down breeze and like had to carry 107," Spieth said of his hole-out. "Just a sand wedge."

Just an eagle, to go along with six birdies and one bogey. One big sign of encouragement for Spieth: he shot 65 and made but 61 feet of putts. He didn't need to make the monster birdies to offset inaccurate shots and, as mentioned, he missed only three greens.

"Maybe the best sign. Yeah, maybe the best sign of good things to come of any stat," Spieth said of his putts-made length. "It's also hard to have a lot of feet of putts at Pebble. I mean you don't really have a lot of long putts, the greens are so small. But I hit a lot of greens in regulation, only really got into trouble on one hole.

"Other than that, I would still like things to feel better than they do, but I know I'm able to kind of play a shot that, kind of a punch draw if I need to have it, and it's nice to kind of feel that you can always go to a shot if you get a little bit uncomfortable."

Spieth knew he needed to get off to a good start, because Round 2 is on the more difficult Spyglass Hill course, which produced only two of the top 21 players on the Thursday leaderboard. Thursday is also expected to be the best weather day of the week as rain will enter and the winds will increase.

For the fourth time in his last five rounds played, Spieth shot 67 or lower. And for the second week in a row, he's put himself in position to win for the first time in nearly four years.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Patrick Cantlay looked just as good Thursday at Pebble Beach as the last round he played 18 days ago.

Jordan Spieth looked as good as his last tournament, too.

Coming off a 61 in the California desert followed by at two-week break, Cantlay opened with seven birdies in eight holes and closed with two straight birdies for a 10-under 62. That tied the course record at Pebble Beach last matched 24 years ago by David Duval, and it gave Cantlay a two-shot lead in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

"I feel like I'm in a groove right now," Cantlay said.

Henrik Norlander and 19-year-old Akshay Bhatia were at 64. Bhatia hit all 18 of the small greens at Pebble Beach, the first player to do that at Pebble since Ryan Palmer in 2008.

Spieth moved another round closer to some kind of a groove. He tied for fourth last week in the Phoenix Open, his best finish since May 2019 at the PGA Championship. Spieth holed out a wedge on the 10th hole for eagle and finished with three birdies over his last five holes for a 65.

It helped being at Pebble Beach, typically the easiest course when the weather is dry and relatively calm. Only one of the leading 10 scores was at Spyglass Hill. That came from Will Gordon, who shot a 66. Spyglass played slightly two shots harder.

"Today you needed to step on the gas pedal and take advantage," Spieth said. And then he considered that his 65 was only good enough for a tie for fourth with Nate Lashley.

"I got bested by three today," Spieth said. "I'm going to have to keep my foot on the gas."

Rain was in the forecast overnight and possibly lingering into Friday before returning early in the weekend.

Without spectators and without amateurs this year, the tournament is using only two courses instead of three. It was more exposed than usual without grandstands behind the sixth green and overlooking the picturesque par-3 seventh.

And the pace of play, with three pros instead of a foursome of pros and amateurs, was quicker.

Low scores at Pebble Beach start with good weather and taking advantage of the front nine, and Cantlay had both of those going for him. He one-putted every green on the front nine, and capped off a stretch of four straight birdies with a 7-iron that landed next to the hole on No. 8 and left him a fast 6-footer for birdie.

The finish also was impressive, with a 7-iron that settled about 7 feet below the hole on the par-3 17th, and a nifty wedge from right of the 18th green for an up-and-down and his 10th birdie.

"I think we got Pebble in pretty much ideal conditions and I don't think it's going to be like that the rest of the week," Cantlay said. "The greens were good this morning and receptive, and so I hit a lot of good shots just right out of the gate and made everything. I didn't have very many long putts, but the mid-range putts that I did have I made all of them."

Tom Kite also had a 62 at Pebble Beach when he won in 1983. Duval was runner-up when he had a 62 in 1997.

Bhatia has been relying on sponsor exemptions since the former Junior PGA champion decided to turn pro right out of high school. He also was at Pebble, starting on the back nine and making his surge late in the round. His last birdie was an approach over a corner of the ocean to 3 feet on the par-3 eighth hole, and he made a 6-footer for par on the ninth.

"Hitting 18 greens out here with the greens being small helps," he said with a smile.

Phil Mickelson, a five-time champion at this event, opened with a 74 at Spyglass and will have to hope for equally decent weather at Pebble Beach to make the cut.

While Spyglass was tougher, nearly half the 156-man field courses broke par, and one-third of the players shot in the 60s. The courses were susceptible to good scoring, especially Pebble Beach, and it was important for Spieth to find some momentum he has been lacking since his last win at the 2017 Open Championship.

He was tied for the 54-hole lead in Phoenix and shot 72 to finish two behind. He's right back in the mix at Pebble Beach, where he won in 2017.

"Pebble presents a lot of precision and you've got to really trust what you're doing," Spieth said. "When the conditions were going to be easier today, you needed to kind of shoot a low round and make sure you're in this tournament because it's going to be a grind the next few days."

DIVOTS: Defending champion Nick Taylor opened with a 69. ... Kamaiu Johnson, from the Advocates Pro Golf Association Tour, opened with an 81 at Spyglass Hill in his PGA Tour debut. Johnson was supposed to play Torrey Pines until getting a positive test for the coronavirus. The AT&T Pebble Beach and Honda Classic offered him exemptions. ... John Daly took a 9 on the 14th hole at Spyglass on his way to an 80. ... Rickie Fowler hit onto the beach on the 18th hole at Pebble and made bogey for a 72, leaving him in a tie for 75th.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said his team didn't show enough courage in their narrow 1-0 win over Barnsley in the FA Cup on Thursday.

A Tammy Abraham goal in the 64th minute was the difference at Oakwell, with the striker also making a critical clearance to secure a matchup with Sheffield United in the quarterfinals.

- Ogden: Pulisic's performance did little to convince Tuchel of his worth
- FA Cup on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S. only)
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

After a dire first half, Tuchel took off Marcos Alonso and Andreas Christensen to give the Blues a new look, and said after the match that his side was capable of showing more than they had.

"We changed to a back four and took Marcos out for this tactical change. Andreas had to go out because he had a headache. The changes made it a little easier to get into the opponent's half and overcome the first press," Tuchel told the BBC after the game.

"We did it well at the start of the second half and played constantly in the opponent's half.

"We scored the goal and I had the feeling that they increased the risk but we stepped down in the little decisions. Not enough courage and it was too deep for a long, long time.

"We clearly can play better, so yes I expected more but not in terms that I am frustrated.

"If you lack a rhythm and a bit of self-confidence and you have to show on this pitch, against an opponent that takes all the risk and plays the game of his life, that is not easy. We can do better but I don't want to be too hard on the players."

Tuchel has yet to lose in five matches since taking charge of Chelsea, winning his last four. Looking ahead, the former Paris Saint-Germain boss admitted Chelsea's quarterfinal tie with Sheffield United will be a "tough one."

"They are a very physical team that presses high. They are organised but I am happy to have a home game. This is what we wanted," he said.

BARNSLEY, England -- As Christian Pulisic left the pitch at Oakwell, substituted in the 80th minute of Chelsea's 1-0 FA Cup fifth-round win at Barnsley, the United States captain bore the expression of a man who had just left an audition with the feeling that he had forgotten his lines.

The 22-year-old had at least contributed to an important victory, helping Thomas Tuchel's team secure a quarterfinal tie at home to Sheffield United next month following Tammy Abraham's 64th-minute goal -- a strike that appeared potentially offside, but could not be checked by VAR because the English Football Association strangely chooses to only operate the system at Premier League grounds. Yet although Pulisic played his part, he was as unconvincing as Chelsea were collectively. Indeed, the only time he looked happy was at the end of the cup tie, when he shared a brief catch-up on the pitch with Barnsley forward and U.S. teammate Daryl Dike before jogging to the visitors' dressing room.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- ESPN+ viewer's guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more

Having emerged as a key player for former manager Frank Lampard in the second half of last season, Pulisic's second season in English football has been a struggle for the former Borussia Dortmund star, and this forgettable night at Barnsley summed up his difficult campaign. He wasn't the only one to disappoint, however, and Tuchel was clear in his assessment of Chelsea's performance.

"Not enough courage and it was too deep for a long, long time," he said after the match. "We clearly can play better, so yes I expected more, but not in terms that I am frustrated.

"If you lack a rhythm and a bit of self-confidence and you have to show on this pitch, against an opponent that takes all the risk and plays the game of his life, that is not easy. We can do better, but I don't want to be too hard on the players."

Injuries have denied Pulisic a clear run of games, and his form has been hit as a result. He has scored just twice all season in all competitions and hasn't hit the back of the net in 13 appearances since the 3-1 win against Leeds United in December.

But on a night when Tuchel, who replaced the sacked Lampard last month, made 10 changes to his starting lineup, Pulisic was handed the chance to kick-start his season. This was his first start under Tuchel, having made substitute appearances prior to this game, and the opportunity was clear: make an impact and increase his chances of starting against Newcastle United in the Premier League at the weekend.

But on a heavy pitch, it didn't happen for Pulisic. In the first half, he was deployed on the left of an attacking three before being switched to the right after the interval.

Through no fault of his own, Pulisic spent the entirety of the game on the side of the pitch that had large, grassless areas of mud, making it harder to control the ball and play simple passes. Perhaps that was why the ball evaded him so often, with Chelsea opting instead to play through the middle or on the other side of the pitch in order to keep control, but regardless of the playing surface, Pulisic needed to do more.

There were two flashes of inspiration from the American: a link-up with Billy Gilmour that resulted in a stray pass to Abraham, and a run through the centre that ended with a tame effort at goal after Pulisic played a one-two with Callum Hudson-Odoi. The second half was even less eventful for him as Chelsea toiled away, but by the time he was replaced by Mateo Kovacic, Pulisic could have given Tuchel much more to consider when he selects his next team.

Tuchel, of course, knows Pulisic well, having worked with the then-teenager at Dortmund. The new Chelsea manager knows what his charge has to offer and is fully aware of Pulisic's strengths and weaknesses. So he will be given opportunities to stake a claim for a starting spot, but the competition is fierce at Stamford Bridge.

It was tough enough last season, when Lampard favoured Mason Mount in the early stage of the campaign, but the summer arrivals of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz have only intensified the battle for places up front. Werner and Havertz were given the night off at Barnsley, but the German duo also have plenty to do to prove they deserve a starting spot of their own. Unlike those two, Pulisic has at least proved himself in the Premier League.

But this was an opportunity missed to remind his manager and teammates of his capabilities. Against a mid-table Championship team, Pulisic could have grabbed the headlines and inspired Chelsea.

In the end, nobody in a Chelsea shirt truly stood up and led from the front. They got the job done, and avoided a repeat of their 2008 FA Cup humiliation here at Oakwell, but it was anything but impressive. And that should disappoint Pulisic on a night when he could have made a big statement.

Joe Root has given the strongest hint yet that England could make multiple changes to the team that won the first Test against India.

With just three full days between games, England are juggling their plans for rotation against some injury concerns within the squad. At present, Root has confirmed two changes, with Ben Foakes set to keep wicket in place of Jos Buttler, who has returned to the UK for some rest, while Stuart Broad will also play in place of the injured Jofra Archer.

But with three more Tests to play in the next three or four weeks, Root is prepared to further test the depth of his squad and is insistent England can do so without compromising their competitiveness.

"For us to win out here, it's going to have to be a real squad effort," Root said. "Guys are going to have to come in and rotate. They will have to come in and be fresh and deliver when they're given an opportunity. So there might be a few changes from the previous game.

"I look at the talent around our squad and every single one of them can play a huge part in delivering something very special over the next couple of weeks. You have to be brave enough to trust those guys that they can win you the game. That is how we are going to grow and become a better team in the long run, with guys pushing for a place all the time."

Ben Stokes is among those nursing some soreness following the first Test, but Root appeared to confirm he will play.

"Are there any niggles within the squad? You could say that," Root said. "There are a few things we want to make sure we are clear on.

"Ben has actually pulled up really well. He's obviously not played for a little while and he's got a sore knee but he's trained hard on Thursday and looks fitter and stronger for it. I think the more he plays, the more of the usual Ben Stokes you'll see with the ball. He had such an impact with the bat, took an amazing catch at slip and got the vital wicket of their main man Virat Kohli, so I can see him going from strength to strength."

Zak Crawley, who injured his wrist in a fall shortly before the first Test, has returned to the nets but is not thought to be in contention to play.

Perhaps the most difficult problem facing Root and Co. is what to do with Dom Bess. While Bess claimed five wickets in the first Test, he also bowled 19 full-tosses and at times looked alarmingly out of sorts. Moeen Ali, who has not played a Test since August 2019, remains a viable option as replacement.

"I think, as a whole bowling group, it is important we consider everyone," Root said when asked whether he would consider rotating the spinners as well as the seamers. "Everyone is human; nobody is a robot. It is important we consider guys who have played a huge amount of cricket and we try to make a good assessment of things going into the next game, whether that is to do with workloads, fitness or where somebody is currently at form-wise. We try to make a good honest decision about what will be the best attack to take 20 wickets on the surface.

"Dom's contributed extremely well over the last three games. But it's great to see Moeen in such a good place with his game. He's come on leaps and bounds and looks in a really good place, too."

While England's original plan was to replace James Anderson with Broad, Archer's injury has raised the possibility the pair could be reunited for the first time this winter.

"Stuart will play and we expect him to do exactly what he has done in the recent past in the England shirt.

"We talk about that rotation policy being crucial to our team's performance so they're fresh when they come in. But also making sure we're getting the best out of the likes of Stuart, Jimmy and the rest of our fast bowlers.

"Stuart has been extremely professional about things. All he's tried to do is make sure he's in the best possible place to start extremely well and he's a great example for the rest of the guys. He's not just gone about his own thing, he's bought into the whole bowling group and he always adds a huge amount.

"It's great to see him so excited about playing and you know he'll be extremely determined to put in a good performance and really make this game count. If he's got any sort of point to prove, he'll want to be the main man and have a real impact."

HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders plan to release wide receiver Tyrell Williams at the start of the new league year next month, a source confirmed to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Williams missed last season because of a torn labrum in his shoulder suffered in training camp that required surgery.

"Tyrell just couldn't, unfortunately, stay healthy," Raiders coach Jon Gruden said at the time. "He could have potentially tried to play through it with a harness. But when you have that much restricted movement, it's hard to catch the ball away from your body."

Williams isn't fully healthy yet, so the Raiders need to wait until the new league year begins March 17 to release him for salary-cap purposes. The team will save $11.6 million with the move, increasing the likelihood that Las Vegas could pursue retaining receiver Nelson Agholor, who took advantage of Williams' absence.

Agholor had a breakout season for the Raiders with 48 catches for a career-high 896 yards and eight touchdowns after signing a one-year free-agent deal worth more than $1.04 million. The Raiders have also drafted three receivers in the past two years in Hunter Renfrow (fifth round in 2019), Henry Ruggs III (No. 12 overall in 2020) and Bryan Edwards (third round in 2020).

Williams, meanwhile, signed a four-year, $44.4 million contract that included $22 million guaranteed with the Raiders as a free agent in 2019, the same spring they traded for Antonio Brown, who was cut by the team before ever playing a game. All the guaranteed money has been paid out in Williams' contract.

Williams, who will turn 29 on Friday, had 42 catches for 651 yards and six touchdowns for the Raiders in 2019. But plantar fasciitis in both feet slowed him and he missed two games. He reported to training camp healthy before suffering the shoulder injury.

"I'm excited," he said at the time. "I feel fast, feel back to myself. So, glad to feel that way, finally kind of past that."

He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Chargers and had 155 receptions for 2,530 yards and 17 touchdowns in 55 games. His best season came in 2016 when he had 69 receptions for 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns.

The news that Williams will be released was first reported by NFL Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer is defending his hiring of Chris Doyle, a former strength coach at the University of Iowa who was accused of making racist remarks, belittling and bullying players.

Meyer's decision to hire Doyle as the team's director of sports performance came to light Thursday when the Jaguars announced his 28-member coaching staff. Meyer also confirmed the hiring of offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, defensive coordinator Joe Cullen, and former Louisville, Texas and South Florida head coach Charlie Strong as assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach.

But it was the hiring of Doyle, who had been Iowa's director of strength and conditioning from 1999 until this past June, that drew the most attention. Over the past year numerous former Iowa players spoke out about mistreatment within the Iowa program. A number of Black players said that Doyle used racist language and treated them differently based on their race.

Meyer said he researched Doyle, had some intense conversations with him, and is confident that there will not be problems.

"I vet everyone on our staff and, like I said, the relationship goes back close to 20 years and a lot of hard questions asked, a lot of vetting involved with all our staff," Meyer said. "We did a very good job vetting that one.

"... I met with our staff and I'm going to be very transparent with all the players like I am with everything. I'll listen closely and learn and also there's going to have to be some trust in their head coach that we're going to give them the very best of the best, and time will tell. ... The allegations that took place, I will say [to the players] I vetted him. I know the person for close to 20 years and I can assure them there will be nothing of any sort in the Jaguar facility."

Meyer said that he knows Doyle from when he coached Utah and Doyle was the No. 1 strength coach, but Meyer was head coach at Utah from 2003 to 2004 and Doyle was there for one year in 1998 before moving on to Iowa.

Some of the issues raised by the numerous former Iowa players who spoke out on social media last year were: Black and white players were held to different standards, Black players were mistreated, Doyle and other assistants made racist remarks, and Black players felt they had to conform to specific ways of dress and behavior. Their complaints sparked the university to hire a Kansas City law firm to conduct an external investigation into the football program.

The issues were not strictly related to race.

Former Iowa offensive lineman Jack Kallenberger said last June on Twitter that he retired from football in January 2019 after he became despondent because of what he described as bullying related to a learning disability. Doyle was among the coaches he named who harassed him.

The university placed Doyle on administrative leave on June 6 in the wake of those allegations. One day later Doyle defended himself in a statement posted to Twitter that read, in part: "At no time have I ever crossed the line of unethical behavior or bias based upon race. I do not make racist comments and I don't tolerate people who do."

On June 14, it was announced that Doyle was out at Iowa. Doyle, who was the nation's highest-paid strength coach at $800,000 annually, received 15 months' salary (roughly $1.1 million) and he and his family were awarded benefits from Iowa for 15 months, or until he found employment elsewhere, which he did this month with the Jaguars.

Cornerback Greg Mabin is the only former Iowa player on the Jaguars' roster. He played for the Hawkeyes from 2014 to 2016 and responded to a June 5 tweet from former Iowa offensive lineman James Daniels that said there were too many racial disparities within the Iowa program with a tweet of his own that read: "We appreciate the opportunities the Iowa program brought us, but I do hope bringing these issues to light can stimulate positive change."

Meyer said he doesn't believe there will be any problems between the players and Doyle and that he's not concerned that Doyle's presence could hinder the Jaguars' chances of attracting free agents next month.

"If I was, I wouldn't have hired him," Meyer said. "Once again, I'll explain that if that becomes a question. The one thing I'm very confident is that I would imagine within a year or two we'll have the best sports performance team in the National Football League."