* NFL: Niners quarterback Alex Smith appears to have suffered a serious injury to his right shoulder based on preliminary MRI results. According to ESPN, Smith will seek a second opinion and could miss the rest of the season. … The Bengals placed linebacker Lemar Marshall on injured reserve with a torn left Achilles’ tendon. The team replaced Marshall by claiming linebacker Corey Mays, formerly of Morgan Park and Notre Dame, off waivers from the Patriots.
*NHL: Former Blackhawk Mark Bell was cleared to play by doctors in the NHL’s substance-abuse program, but the new Maple Leafs forward will now have to serve the 15-game suspension handed down by the league. … Flyers prospect Steve Downie was ruled ineligible to play in the AHL for the first month of the season after the NHL suspended him 20 games last week for a dangerous hit.
*ALSO: Ex-Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley became the first American to score for two different teams in the European Champions League, helping Glasgow Rangers to a 3-0 victory at Lyon. … Middleweight boxer Joey Gilbert has been suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for testing positive for illegal substances, including a steroid, methamphetamine and amphetamine.
