PARK CITY, Utah — Russian athletes have told the International Luge Federation that they obtained visas and are coming to the U.S. for a World Cup race next weekend, a move that Ukrainian athletes believe is simply unfair.

And it might not be long before Russians are competing on the bobsled and skeleton circuits again as well, with the federation that runs those sports releasing a list Friday of nine cleared athletes — two bobsledders and seven skeleton sliders.

The Russian luge team — about six athletes — is planning to compete in Lake Placid, New York, in an effort to boost fledgling hopes of qualifying for the Milan Cortina Olympics that are coming in February. Russia is not racing at this weekend’s World Cup luge competition in Park City, Utah, despite some claims from Russian officials in recent days that they would be there.

Russia has not seen its athletes compete in a World Cup luge race since that country invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago. The war rages on, and now Ukrainian athletes are bracing for the likelihood of crossing paths with Russians in competition. It’s of no consolation to the Ukrainian sliders that the Russians — if they arrive — will be competing as neutral athletes and not under their nation’s flag.

Vonn back in the spotlight

The queen of downhill skiing is well and truly back.

Lindsey Vonn raced to a stunningly fast win in a World Cup downhill at St. Moritz in Switzerland. The 41-year-old United States ski great had taken the lead by an astonishing 1.16 seconds from Mirjam Puchner of Austria.

Her run Friday looked routine when she dropped tenths of seconds to Puchner’s time on the top half of the sunbathed Corviglia course, where the finish is at altitude above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).

Even wilder was that Vonn trailed by 0.61 after the first two time checks. Vonn’s lead was later cut to 0.98 when unheralded Magdalena Egger took second place from Puchner. Vonn’s 44th career win in World Cup downhills was her first since March 2018.

Undrafted rookie to start for Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook will make his first NFL start for the New York Jets against the Jaguars on Sunday.

Cook, out of Missouri, took snaps with the starters this week. Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields were ruled out because of injuries. Cook will become the 55th player to start at quarterback in franchise history and the first undrafted rookie to do so for the Jets since J.J. Jones in 1975.

Adrian Martinez, out of Kansas State and Nebraska, will serve as Cook’s backup. Cook stepped in last Sunday after Taylor injured his groin in the Jets’ loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Cook will also be the 41st player to start at quarterback for the Jets since Joe Namath’s last game with the franchise in 1976. That’s the seventh-most QBs started by an NFL team in regular-season games during that span.

Elsewhere in the NFL:

– Kenny Pickett will start at quarterback for the Raiders against his former team when Las Vegas visits Philadelphia on Sunday with Geno Smith out because of back and shoulder injuries. Smith injured his right shoulder and hand in the third quarter of Sunday’s 24-17 loss to Denver. Coach Pete Carroll said Friday the main issue is Smith’s lower back.

– Catch by catch, Kyle Pitts Sr. put the mistake-prone Atlanta Falcons on his back and carried them to a thrilling comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thursday night got even better for the fifth-year pro when the former University of Florida star learned the 11-reception, 166-yard, three-touchdown performance that keyed the 29-28 win was the most productive game by an NFL tight end in nearly three decades. The previous tight end to finish with at least 10 catches, 150 yards receiving and three touchdowns in a game was Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe in 1996. The 25-year-old Pitts noted he wasn’t even born yet back then