OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson has been ruled out for Baltimore’s game against Houston on Sunday after missing a week of practice because of a hamstring injury.

Jackson had to leave last weekend’s loss at Kansas City in the second half. Cooper Rush is in line to start for the Ravens, who have lost nine of their last 11 games when Jackson doesn’t play.

The two-time MVP has missed only one game since the start of the 2023 season. That was a Week 17 matchup when Baltimore had little to play for.

Baltimore also ruled out All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey and All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard.

Six Mets coaches getting the ax

NEW YORK — The New York Mets are moving on from pitching coach Jeremy Hefner as part of a staff overhaul after deciding to keep manager Carlos Mendoza despite missing the playoffs with the most expensive opening-day roster in baseball.

The team says hitting coaches Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez and third base coach Mike Sarbaugh also won’t return. Bench coach John Gibbons resigned, and catching coach Glenn Sherlock is retiring.

Hefner is being replaced despite some notable success stories, including David Peterson and Sean Manaea.

Assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel and bullpen coach Jose Rosado have been given permission to speak to other teams. First base coach Antoan Richardson, strategy coach Danny Barnes and coaching assistant Rafael Fernandez have been invited back.

Pegula advances to China semis

BEIJING — Jessica Pegula became the third American to reach the semifinals of the China Open after rallying to beat compatriot Emma Navarro on Friday.

The fifth-seeded Pegula wasted six set points in the opener but dominated the next two sets to triumph 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-1

“I told myself not to get too frustrated,” Pegula said. “Just stay calm, try to relax a little bit, and not try as hard to execute the game plan. That kind of allowed me to play more free.”

Pegula next faces Linda Noskova, who eased past Britain’s Sonay Kartal 6-3, 6-4.

The 20-year-old Noskova became the youngest Czech player to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal since the format was introduced in 2009.

The other semifinal pits defending champion Coco Gauff against third-seeded Amanda Anisimova in an all-American encounter.

Higgo feels good on the Farms

JACKSON, Miss. — Garrick Higgo kept his ball in play and took advantage of enough birdie chances for a 6-under 66 on Friday to build a one-shot lead in the Sanderson Farms Championship, a Fall Series event that feels like a new start to the South African.

Higgo ran off three straight birdies late in his round at the Country Club of Jackson, one of them the short par-4 15th where he nearly holed his bunker shot and tapped in for birdie.

He was at 13-under 131, one shot ahead of Eric Cole (67) and Taylor Montgomery, who had nine birdies in a 10-hole stretch — the exception was a bogey. He holed a 25-foot birdie on his final hole for a 63 to boost his chances of keeping a PGA Tour card for 2026.

Only the top 100 keep full PGA Tour cards after the Fall Series end in November. Five tournaments are left on the schedule.

Cole had 10 birdies in the opening round, offset by a double bogey late in his round. He added seven more birdies on a calm, sunny afternoon to get in the final round as Cole goes after his first PGA Tour title.

Danny Walker (68) was two shots behind in an important week for him. Walker is at No. 104 in the FedEx Cup. Vince Whaley (No. 102 in the standings) had another 67 and Tom Kim (No. 99) saved par from a bunker on the 18th for a 66.