Sports News Roundup: Nowitzki slated to return against Suns; Chiefs S Berry will start, be on snap count

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Report: Chiefs S Berry will start, be on snap count

Eric Berry indeed will start Thursday night, making his season debut in his team's biggest game to date, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported. Citing a source informed of the situation, Rapoport reported that Berry will start and be on a snap count at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was officially listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis all week.

MLB notebook: Encarnacion, Santana highlight 3-team deal

The Cleveland Indians traded slugger Edwin Encarnacion to the Seattle Mariners for Carlos Santana on Thursday as part of a three-team deal that also included the Tampa Bay Rays. Santana, 32, was traded for the second time in a span of 10 days. The Mariners acquired the first baseman as part of a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Jean Segura on Dec. 3.

NBA: Complacency the biggest challenge for Warriors - coach

The Golden State Warriors need to stay hungry for success or see their hopes of a third successive title evaporate, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Thursday. Kerr's team put in an uninspired performance on Wednesday, falling 113-93 to the visiting Toronto Raptors in a loss the coach attributed to a gnawing but natural complacency among his players.

NBA notebook: Nowitzki slated to return against Suns

Dallas Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki is expected to make his season debut Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns, ESPN reported. The seventh-leading scorer in NBA history with 31,187 career points, the 40-year-old Nowitzki has been out of action since April, when he had surgery on his left ankle.

Curry agrees to lunar lab visit: NASA

Three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry will take space agency NASA up on its offer to tour its lunar lab after he sparked controversy by saying he did not believe humans had ever been to the Moon, comments he later called a joke. Allard Beutel, a spokesman for the agency who this week invited Curry to tour the Johnson Space Center in Houston, told science publication Inverse on Thursday the Golden State guard said he would be willing to make the trip.

Jury issues $25 million verdict against former Cowboys DT, club

A defunct Dallas nightclub and former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent will share responsibility for a $25 million award in the death of his teammate and best friend, Jerry Brown, six years ago. Brown, 25, was killed Dec. 8, 2012, in Irving, Texas, when the Mercedes-Benz that Brent was driving flipped over. Brent was driving 110 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone at the time of the accident. He had a blood-alcohol content of 0.18 percent, or more than twice the legal limit.

Take 5: Steelers' D vs. Brady headlines Week 15

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't beaten the New England Patriots since 2011. In the five losses since, Pittsburgh allowed 34.6 points per game, never holding New England to less than 27. Tom Brady totaled 1,624 yards, 14 touchdowns and one interception, while Rob Gronkowski had 498 yards and five scores despite missing a game. You get the idea.

College football notebook: Murray takes first step toward NFL

Quarterback Kyler Murray was one of the underclassmen whose names Oklahoma submitted to the NFL College Advisory Committee, Sports Illustrated reported Thursday. That could imply a change of plans for Murray, an outfielder selected ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2018 MLB Draft. The newest Heisman Trophy winner has until Jan. 14 to decide if he wants to pursue an NFL career and enter his name in the draft. His agent, Scott Boras, initially downplayed Murray's interest in the NFL, pointing to the contract Murray agreed to with the A's that included a $4.6 million signing bonus and an agreement Murray would report to spring training in 2019.

Encarnacion traded to Mariners for Santana in three-team deal

The Cleveland Indians on Thursday traded slugger Edwin Encarnacion to the Seattle Mariners for Carlos Santana as part of a three-team deal that also includes the Tampa Bay Rays, the Indians confirmed. Santana, 32, has been traded for the second time in a span of 10 days. The Mariners acquired the first baseman as part of the trade for shortstop Jean Segura on Dec. 3. The slugger returns to Cleveland, where he spent the first eight years of his career.

NFL notebook: Wentz reportedly fractured vertebra

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has a fractured vertebra in his back that might keep him out of Sunday's game, according to multiple reports. Wentz underwent an MRI exam and other tests Thursday to discover the source of his discomfort and soreness. A CT scan on Wednesday had come back inconclusive, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

(With inputs from Reuters)

(With inputs from agencies.)