t bounce pass to Trevor Booker on a fast break led to a dunk that pulled Washington within 11 and brought

HOUSTON -- Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Cushing is out for the season with a left knee injury that will require surgery. Cushing was injured in the third quarter of Sundays loss at Kansas City during a low block by running back Jamaal Charles. Its the second straight year Cushing has been lost for the season with a left knee injury. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee in Week 5 last season. Its a devastating blow for a team that has lost five games in a row heading into its bye on Sunday. "I think he was playing at a defensive player of the year-type of level," coach Gary Kubiak said. "Then here he goes again, hes got to go through this. So I know its very difficult for him ... (and) I know Cush will do everything he can to get back. But you hate to see anybody go through that especially twice now." The Texans signed Cushing to a six-year contract worth $55.6 million before this season. Kubiak said injuries to left tackle Duane Brown (ankle), running back Arian Foster (hamstring) and Ben Tate (ribs) arent serious. Tate was injured in the third quarter on Sunday but returned and finished the game. He told The Associated Press on Monday that he has four broken ribs. He was in a lot of pain, even wincing when he took off his sweatshirt, but said that he expects to be ready to play when Houston hosts Indianapolis on Nov. 3. "Ill be OK," he said. Kubiak also said rookies Cierre Wood, Sam Montgomery and Willie Jefferson were released for violating team rules. He wouldnt specify what the players did, but did say it wasnt just one thing. "I make decisions based on a body of work in everything I do," he said. "Ive got five months of work invested with those three young men and I made a decision today to move forward. Weve got some things we need to address as a football team." Wood is a running back who was third on the depth chart after making the team as an undrafted free agent. With Foster and Tate both banged up, the Texans will need to add depth at that position with one of the open roster spots. Montgomery, a third-round pick, and Jefferson, who was undrafted, are both linebackers. "Weve got some rebuilding to do inside with some issues and weve got some special teams issues," Kubiak said. "So the moves that we make have got to be special teams-oriented to help (special teams coach) Joe (Marciano)." Players wouldnt discuss why the three were dismissed from the team, but said they agreed with Kubiaks decision. "Its a shame," linebacker Brooks Reed said. "But its for the betterment of the team." Another issue for the Texans is the health of quarterback Matt Schaub. Schaub struggled this season before missing last weeks game with ankle and foot injuries. Former third-stringer Case Keenum got the start on Sunday in his first NFL game. He performed well for most of the game before a fumble late in the fourth quarter sealed Houstons loss. Kubiak was cagey when asked if Schaub would start after the bye if hes healthy. "Ive got to sit down and look at our situation and whats going on right now," he said. "Obviously Matts our starting quarterback, Case played this week because Matt wasnt healthy. Case went in and played extremely well. Im going to sit down on our bye week and evaluate where were at as a team and move forward from there." But he did rave about Keenums performance against the undefeated Chiefs. "To go in Kansas City in that environment and that noise and handle the football team the way he handled it I thought was impressive," Kubiak said. Custom Seattle Mariners Jerseys . -- The Green Bay Packers have signed quarterback Graham Harrell to the active roster from the practice squad and placed tight end Andrew Quarless on injured reserve. Mariners Jerseys 2019 . The best round belonged to Pat Perez. Tiger Woods didnt come close to claiming either Thursday in the Farmers Insurance Open, where the seven-time champion failed to break par in the opening round for first time in his career. https://www.cheapmariners.com/ . The Maple Leafs handed their embattled head coach a two-year contract extension on Thursday, while at the same time announcing that assistants Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon will not be back. Cheap Mariners Jerseys . Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed on Sunday that his starting goalie has a head injury and the team will take it day by day. Seattle Mariners Shirts .Y. -- Kristen Gillman rallied to win the U. WASHINGTON -- If the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards meet in the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls will have a nice little blueprint to follow. The Bulls dominated from the get-go Saturday night and never trailed in a 96-78 win over the Wizards, avenging two losses from earlier in the season and providing perhaps a psychological edge if these teams are cranking up for a seven-game series in a couple of weeks. "It was definitely a statement game," Washington forward Drew Gooden said. "We were going in the mindset of this being a statement game, getting a possible matchup in the first round, and they took it the same way. They wanted to make a statement early." And they certainly did, holding the Wizards to 16 points in the first quarter and 10 in the second while building a lead that grew as large as 28 points. At one point, Washington was 0 for 7 from the 3-point line and 0 for 3 from the free throw line for the game, as well as 2 for 13 from the field in the second period. "They were taking shots they didnt want to take," Bulls forward Taj Gibson said. D.J. Augustin found plenty that he liked, as long as he was behind the arc. He led Chicago with 25 points, making 6 of 11 3-pointers but only 2 of 8 2-pointers. Joakim Noah had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Carlos Boozer added 16 points for the Bulls, who have won five straight and are tied with the Toronto Raptors for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Augustin has averaged 19.8 points during the winning streak. Unlike the Wizards, who freely talked about a rematch in the playoffs, the Bulls didnt want to think that far ahead. "We lost to these guys at home. We lost to them here. It was just getting this win tonight," Augustin said. "Were not looking forward to the playoffs just yet, but we wanted to come out tonight and do it for ourselves." John Wall scored 20 points, and Marcin Gortat had 19 for the Wizards, who sit in sixth place in the East. If they hold that spot, they would face the third-seeded team. Several Washiington players cited fatigue as an issue on the back end of a back-to-back, but coach Randy Wittman noted that Chicago played Friday night as well.dddddddddddd. It also didnt help that Trevor Ariza played through an illness and went 1 for 9 from the field. Wittman, however, said his team wasnt ready for the Bulls intensity and aggression. "You fight aggression with aggression," Wittman said. "And it was only a one-way fight tonight." One likely difference if the teams do meet again: Wizards forward Nene, out with a sprained left knee, is expected back for the playoffs. He played in the two early wins over the Bulls. "Nene gives us another facilitator," Wittman said. "And against a team like this you need another one. Nene was another guy that kind of can play like Noah does, up at the top with the ball in his hands. Thats not an excuse why we lost. Id love to have him back, though." The Wizards made a run in the third quarter, scoring more points (35) in the period than they had in the entire first half (26). Walls 30-foot bounce pass to Trevor Booker on a fast break led to a dunk that pulled Washington within 11 and brought the crowd to its feet. But Noah took over and quickly squashed the rally. His three-point play started a 12-0 run early in the fourth quarter that put the game away. "We wanted to throw the first punch tonight, and I think we did a good job with that," Noah said. "In the beginning of the game, we were the more aggressive team. Usually, the most aggressive team wins." Notes: Noah was naturally less than thrilled that his college, Florida, lost its game in the Final Four. He opened his postgame remarks by saying: "No questions about the Gators, sensitive issue." ... The Wizards finished 3 for 16 from 3-point range. ... As the team with the NBAs only Polish player (Gortat), the Wizards celebrated Polish Heritage Night. Polands ambassador to the U.S. made a presentation to Gortat before tipoff. ... The Wizards recalled G Glen Rice from Iowa of the D-League. ' ' '