Sports briefs: Tennessee Titans release three veterans to clear much-needed salary cap space

NFL

Titans release Lewan, Woods, Bullock

New Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon started clearing up some much-needed salary cap space Wednesday.

The Titans announced they released three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan for a failed physical and also released veteran wide receiver Robert Woods and kicker Randy Bullock.

Lewan, the 11th pick overall in the 2014 draft out of Michigan, tore his right ACL last September. He tore the same ACL in 2020 and has played only 20 games combined the past three seasons. The nine-year veteran had been due $14.8 million in the final year of his contract.

The Titans started Wednesday approximately $23.5 million over the salary cap of $224.8 million for the 2023 season, a number they must reach by the start of free agency March 15. Only Jacksonville, New Orleans and Tampa Bay had worse cap situations, according to Spotrac.com.

These three moves leave the Titans $4.2 million over the cap, though they still have an effective cap deficit of about $152,123, according to Overthecap.com. Lewan and Woods had been set to carry the sixth and seventh-highest salary cap hits for the team in the 2023 season.

Lewan's release has been expected since he tore his ACL last September and was placed on injured reserve. Woods, acquired from the Rams by trade last offseason, led the Titans with 53 catches for 527 yards with two touchdowns. He started 15 of 17 games, but was due $13.7 million in base salary with a cap hit of $14.6 million. His release cost the Titans only $2.6 million in dead cap money. Bullock appeared in 31 games the past two seasons. He had been due $1.64 million in the final season of the two-year deal he signed last offseason, and releasing the 33-year-old kicker from his sixth NFL team saves the Titans $2.6 million against the cap with a $600,000 dead cap cost.

NHL

Ovechkin returns to Capitals

Alex Ovechkin is back with the Washington Capitals, eager to play hockey again while he and his family are still mourning the death of his father, Mikhail.

Ovechkin missed four games in the past week to fly to Moscow. He went straight from the airport to the team's practice facility Wednesday after landing to take part in practice with an eye on returning to game action as soon as Thursday.

"Obviously it was a hard week mentally, physically," Ovechkin said after skating for roughly 45 minutes to get his conditioning back. “It was probably toughest situation I’ve been through my whole NHL career. But it’s life, and we move on.”

Ovechkin thanked the Capitals for their moment of silence dedicated to Mikhail prior to a game last week and for the support shown by members of the organization and fans. He said he got the chance to speak to his dad by video call before his death at age 71 last week and expects his mother and brother to visit him in the U.S. soon.

The Capitals went 0-4 during Ovechkin's absence and have lost five in a row in regulation for the first time in nine years.

MLB

Phillies to welcome Song

The Philadelphia Phillies say Noah Song was discharged from the Navy and the pitching prospect is expected to arrive at the team's spring training camp on Thursday.

Song, a 25-year-old aviator from California, was taken by the Phillies in the winter meeting draft in December with hopes he would play after military service.

The 6-4, 200-pound righthander was picked from the Boston Red Sox system in the draft for unprotected minor league players. Philadelphia put him on the military list while he continued active duty.

The Red Sox drafted Song in the fourth round — he likely would’ve gone much higher, but his impending military service caused teams to back off.

Song impressed in his only pro season, making seven starts for Boston’s Class A Lowell affiliate in 2019, with a 1.06 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 17 innings. With a fastball clocked in the upper 90s mph, he dominated that year as a senior at the U.S. Naval Academy, going 11-1 with a 1.44 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 94 innings.

Gamel, Rays in agreement

Free agent outfielder Ben Gamel has agreed to a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

Gamel, who turns 31 on May 17, will be given a chance to compete for a spot on the major league roster in spring training. He hit .232 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs in 115 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022. The one-time Yankees prospect is a .253 career hitter with 40 homers and 198 RBIs in portions of seven seasons with the Yankees, Seattle, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. — AP