Heading into the Chicago Bears’ Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets, there was plenty of controversy around who would play quarterback. But it was their run game that lead the franchise to a 23-12 victory.

The Bears turned 54 carries into 232 yards and two touchdowns. Four different players had run of at least 10 yards, including wide receiver Luther Burden and third stringer Roschon Johnson.

Leading the way for Chicago though was undoubtedly Kyle Monangai. With D’Andre Swift coughing up a fumble, head coach Ben Johnson decided to turn to the former seventh-rounder. Monangai didn’t disappoint, earning a career-high 30 carries, running for 146 yards and two scores.

The running back averaging nearly five yards per carry was crucial in consistently moving the chains. It also helped the Bears set a new franchise record.

Chicago Bears make first down history

Chicago earned 34 first downs in Week 4, setting a new franchise record, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Being on offense so much, it’s not surprising to see the Bears dominate time of possession 42:45 to 17:15.

Overall, the franchise outgained the Jets 492-157. While the focus may have been on the run game offensively, Tyson Bagent still completed 25-of-34 passes for 268 yards and a pick. Things weren’t the prettiest at times throughout the game. But to have sloppy play and still gain nearly 500 yards is a testament to Chicago’s offense.

The Bears are sure to lean on Monangai a bit more moving forward. Swift won’t be taken out of the gameplan by any means barring injury. But Monangai’s bruising rushing style has come up clutch for Chicago in crucial moments.

It also allowed the Bears to chew up clock in a game they were controlling. For all their firework potential, Chicago wants to gain a lead early rather than be chasing all game.

Up next for the Bears is their first 2026 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Johnson, Monangai and company will be looking for another offensive onslaught.

The post Kyle Monangai leads Chicago Bears to franchise record against Jets appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Indiana Fever have big decisions to make in the offseason, especially with Kelsey Mitchell set to become an unrestricted free agent. General manager Amber Cox will lead the decision-making, and she revealed the franchise’s major priority.

Mitchell was a big reason why the Fever turned their season around after a 5-5 start. They finished the regular season with a 28-16 record and clinched the No. 6 seed. The team faced the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in the first round and forced a Game 3. While Mitchell and Co. lost 94-83, they battled until the end.

The four-time All-Star finished with 23 points and two assists despite struggling from the field, shooting 7-of-23. Aliyah Boston supplied 19 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while Caitlin Clark added 18 points on 6-of-18 attempts and four assists.

Indiana Fever: Amber Cox talks about plans for Kelsey Mitchell

Mitchell is without a doubt one of Indiana’s most important players. She has formed a star backcourt duo with Clark and is part of the team’s three-headed monster with Boston. Cox shared to reporters that re-signing the 30-year-old is at the top of the front office’s list.

“Kelsey is obviously a major priority,” Cox said. “She has a lot of equity in this franchise and has put in a lot of time. I think you can see and feel and hear the love that this fan base has for her and that permeates throughout this entire organization. She’s meant so much to us and has obviously had arguably the best season in the history of our league in terms of being a scoring guard. The numbers she put up were just spectacular. And you hear night in and night out from players across this league: the hardest person to guard in this league is Kelsey Mitchell.”

“Kelsey is obviously a major priority…You can see, feel and hear the love that this fan base has for her and that permeates throughout this entire organization.”

Amber Cox on Kelsey Mitchell. https://t.co/xsNV5ionba

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 3, 2026

Mitchell set a new WNBA mark for consecutive regular-season games with 20-plus points and the most in a single campaign. She has made it known that she plans to remain with the Fever. However, it will all boil down to contract negotiations and how much the organization will offer her.

Related reading:

Caitlin Clark highlights ‘exciting part’ after Fever’s season-ending loss

Kelsey Mitchell comments on Indiana Fever future

Caitlin Clark had one word for officiating in Fever’s Game 3 loss

Indiana Fever send heartfelt message to fans after season-ending loss

The post Fever GM reveals ‘major priority’ after season-ending loss appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever have already been eliminated in the WNBA playoffs. However, the veteran guard continued to turn heads with her latest move outside of her team and the league.

She contributed five points and two assists in Game 3 against the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. Kelsey Mitchell led the team’s charge with 23 points on 7-of-23 shooting in the 94-83 defeat. Aliyah Boston produced 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Caitlin Clark, who also struggled from the field with a 6-of-18 clip, finished with 18 points, four assists and three three-pointers.

Cunningham began the season as a starter but was moved to the bench for her offensive firepower. She had a roller-coaster campaign but consistently provided grit and hustle. The Fever also campaigned for her to win the Sixth Player of the Year award.

Indiana Fever: Sophie Cunningham causes a stir in return to alma mater

Cunningham returned to her alma mater, the University of Missouri, for homecoming. She is part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and the school honored her on Saturday during its football game against the No. 8-ranked Florida Gators. The 30-year-old’s photo from the parade received a lot of comments on X.

Our queen is HOME

@sophaller

#MIZ x #OurZou https://t.co/GQRtXcOBIF

— Mizzou Women’s Basketball (@MizzouWBB) October 3, 2026

“Thank you for everything you’ve done this past season to make the Fever the most popular team in Women’s Basketball and for being a descent Human Being. I hope the future holds Happiness and Fulfillment for you,” a user wrote.

“I was watching Mizzou football. I’m not from Missouri. That’s what Sophie means to me,” one comment read.

“No place like home we love you Sophie ,” a fan said.

“she’s a huge reason why she is home!!!” posted another.

“Home sweet home, good old rocky top,” another fan commented.

“My Queen,” one reaction read.

The Tigers pulled off a huge upset, winning 45-17. Cunningham starred for the program from 2015 to 2019, leading to her selection at No. 13 overall in the second round by the Phoenix Mercury. She landed with the Fever in January 2025 via a trade.

Related reading:

Caitlin Clark highlights ‘exciting part’ after Fever’s season-ending loss

Kelsey Mitchell comments on Indiana Fever future

Caitlin Clark had one word for officiating in Fever’s Game 3 loss

Indiana Fever send heartfelt message to fans after season-ending loss

The post Sophie Cunningham turns heads with latest move outside Indiana Fever appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs will be in the unique position this offseason of being able to rebuild almost their entire pitching staff.

More News: Chicago Cubs may bring back veteran free agent outfielder after all

All five of their end-of-season starting pitchers will be heading off into free agency (Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, and David Peterson). Relievers Caleb Thielbar, Hunter Harvey, Aaron Civale, and Trent Thornton could be gone. The team also holds a 2027 option on Colin Rea and Jacob Webb.

It has to be acknowledged, though, that it would be a pretty tough task for Cubs president Jed Hoyer and company to replace everyone. So, that means—for better or for worse—some of these free agents might be re-signed.

One of the potential re-signings being debated among Cubs fandom is left-handed starting pitcher Shota Imanaga.

The Japanese import came to the Cubs in 2024 and nearly walked last offseason before signing a one-year $22 million qualifying offer deal for 2026.

Imanaga has been up and down as a Cub and 2026 was a perfect representation of his time in Chicago. At times, he looked like a high-end cerebral starter and at other times he seemed to miss his mark a lot and get touched up for way too many home runs.

Shota’s emotional ‘thank you’ to Cubs fans

More News: Chicago Cubs: Hoyer hints at one free agent he maybe won’t try to re-sign

Whatever the case and whatever the free agent market decides, Imanaga wanted one final message of thanks issued to Cubs fans ahead of an uncertain offseason.

“For that (first) press conference, I remember writing down on a piece of paper what I was gonna say in English. I still have it. I still walk around with it … it’s meant a lot,” Imanaga told reporters via interpreter. “This year when I’ve had bad outings, where it would make sense for the fans to start booing, they didn’t … Even the next day when I’m going out into the bullpen, in the bleachers, everyone stood up and cheered for me. I have so much appreciation for the fans of Chicago and, first and foremost, I need to show my thanks and appreciation for everybody.”

The prevailing thought is that the Cubs will let Imanaga walk. There’s just too much unpredictability with him, especially for the money he’s likely to expect.

Could Imanaga be back?

Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation perfectly summed up the value-for-price situation the Cubs are facing:

“Shota Imanaga, 33, has been much more good than bad for the Cubs over his three seasons in Chicago. He has been durable, enjoyable, and boasts a 3.45 ERA over 492.1 innings (about 15% better than league average by ERA-). For the three years the Cubs had him, they paid under $45 million total. He was easily worth it.

The question going forward, though, is whether there’s mutual interest in continuing the partnership at a price tag that could be difficult to estimate.”

Keeping him in 2026 was a debatable move and, looking back, it probably cost them when it came to their budget for trying to sign guys like Dylan Cease. Locking him in for 2027 and beyond—at a price beyond what an average fourth or fifth MLB starter would command—just doesn’t make sense.

That’s not necessarily a hard “no,” though. The Cubs could do a lot worse than Imanaga—if the price were team-friendly enough. At this point, with so many holes to fill, having one more familiar face back in the rotation wouldn’t necessarily be a negative.

The post Chicago Cubs: Shota Imanaga says goodbye, but could he be back? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Game 2 between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse saw the home team force a winner-take-all matchup. An incident between a fan and A’ja Wilson in the fourth quarter dominated headlines. Sophie Cunningham shared her thoughts about it, particularly the WNBA’s decision not to punish the four-time MVP.

Cunningham and her teammates traveled to Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday with momentum on their side. They won 99-89 two days earlier and pushed the defending champions to a must-win game. However, Indiana failed to advance to the next round, suffering a 94-83 loss that ended their season early.

Kelsey Mitchell led the way for the Fever with 23 points and two rebounds but only made 7-of-23 attempts. Caitlin Clark also struggled from the field, shooting 6-of-18. She finished with 18 points and four assists. Aliyah Boston shot the ball better with a 9-of-18 clip and registered 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Cunningham recorded five points and two assists.

Indiana Fever: Sophie Cunningham sounds off on A’ja Wilson not receiving a punishment

The WNBA did not hand Wilson a fine or suspension. The league reviewed the heated exchange but issued no punishment. Cunningham did not hold back with her comments about it.

“That could have caused her suspension, but she’s like the LeBron James of our league,” Cunningham said. “Of course they’re not going to suspend her. I’m not even going to get into that, but  something should have happened there. The two people who came off the bench onto the court, that should have happened. I think there’s definitely a double standard.

“Of course we wanted her to play. I think that makes for good basketball. I’m not asking for that, and I don’t think it would have been if we would have won. She wouldn’t have been there. I don’t think it would have been fair. Like, I think we would have gotten a lot of backlash from that. But I think for someone pointing and saying that the foul was on you, grow up. I’m over it, girl.”

Sophie Cunningham on the A’ja Wilson finger pointing incident:

“That could have called for a suspension. But she’s like the Lebron James of our league so of course they’re not going to suspend her. There’s definitely a double standard.”

Spicy. https://t.co/GSpqsB2ChB

— Saoirse Mulrane (@SaoirseMulrane) October 3, 2026

Wilson spearheaded the Aces’ attack with 36 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. They will next face the Golden State Valkyries with homecourt disadvantage but still have their sights on winning their fourth championship in five years.

Related reading:

Caitlin Clark highlights ‘exciting part’ after Fever’s season-ending loss

Kelsey Mitchell comments on Indiana Fever future

Caitlin Clark had one word for officiating in Fever’s Game 3 loss

Indiana Fever send heartfelt message to fans after season-ending loss

The post Fever star Sophie Cunningham does not hold back on WNBA’s punishment decision appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are facing some big questions this offseason—like how to deal with the impending loss of their entire end-of-season starting rotation, a third of their bullpen, their starting catcher, and both corner outfielders.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Hoyer hints at one free agent he maybe won’t try to re-sign

And they simultaneously have to worry about building something capable of upending the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central Division.

So, it can be forgiven if they just have to make way for some serious cuts in order to facilitate this upcoming soft rebuild.

One of those cuts is thought to be left fielder Ian Happ, who’s been a Cub his entire professional career, from draft day to the disappointing end of this 2026 season. The veteran is eligible for free agency and many are assuming that Chicago will let him walk.

Happ, himself, seems to think that also as he all but said his farewell to the city and to the organization after his last game. He even gave his final respects to the loyal Cubs fans, tossing a ball into the bleachers with $300 attached to it for “beer money” and sporting a heartfelt inscription of thanks.

“All I can say is that I love being a Cub,” Happ told reporters. “I’ve loved my time. I’ve loved the place, the people, Wrigley Field, the fanbase. And it’s been truly special. I don’t think there’s a better place in baseball to play.”

But maybe it’s not going to be “so long” after all.

Happ open to returning at a discount price?

More News: Chicago Cubs president: “We’re leaning on our defense too heavily…we can’t catch homers”

Pat Ragazzo of Cubbies Crib is reporting that Happ would be open to taking a more Cubs-friendly deal if it meant being able to stay in Chicago:

“However, Happ’s time with the Cubs might not be coming to a close after all. A source familiar with Happ’s thinking told FanSided that they could see the outfielder taking a hometown discount in free agency to remain with the Cubs. As the source pointed out, Happ already signed a team-friendly three-year, $61 million extension to stay with the Cubs back in 2023. This could bode well for a chance at a reunion this offseason.”

Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, meanwhile, have opined that the Cubs may leave the door open for such a reunion:

“As polarizing as Happ is among the fanbase, bringing him back on a team-friendly deal isn’t entirely out of the question. He’s an above-average performer at the plate, a four-time Gold Glove winner and a valuable presence in the clubhouse.”

It makes sense

It does make sense. Happ has firmly planted his roots in the Chicago community, forming the Happ Foundation charitable organization just last year, and just being a Chicagoan through and through. And, as noted, he’s already signed one extension three years ago to avoid free agency.

One could also argue that he’s not likely to get much more on the open market at 32 and after essentially finishing the year as a platoon player than what he got with the Cubs these last three seasons.

From the Cubs’ side of things, bringing Happ back would provide some stability and a temporary bridge until at least one of the organization’s top outfield prospects (Josiah Hartshorn, Kane Kepley, Ethan Conrad) is major league-ready.

With the loss of Seiya Suzuki looking more and more likely, the team would be in a really tough spot if they ended up without both of their corner outfielders.

Happ—with his elite defense and frustratingly streaky offense—being brought back is becoming more and more of a possibility.

The post Chicago Cubs may bring back veteran free agent outfielder after all appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark have formed one of the best duos in the WNBA today. The star guards powered the team to a 28-16 regular-season record and clinched the No. 6 seed. However, their historic campaign ended with a 94-83 Game 3 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. The four-time All-Star opened up on the downside of playing alongside the 2024 Rookie of the Year.

Mitchell struggled from the field in the winner-take-all matchup. She shot 7-of-23 and finished with 23 points, two rebounds and three three-pointers. Clark also shot poorly, knocking down just 6-of-18 attempts, recording 18 points and four assists. Aliyah Boston added 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Indiana Fever: Kelsey Mitchell speaks on challenges being on the same team as Caitlin Clark

Mitchell acknowledged the pressure that comes with being Clark’s teammate. She also stressed on the attention and expectations that comes with having the Iowa product on her side.

“Playing with CC and having the eyes that she got, we get a lot of flack just for being on her team,” Mitchell said. “So I think that comes with a lot, too. I just think that people got to give us grace. I think this organization is unbelievable, man. But I think that when it comes to really trying to be yourself, it hasn’t always been easy. That’s all I’ll say.”

Kelsey Mitchell discusses all the noise surrounding the Indiana Fever this season:

“Showing up every day to compete for fans that may or may not like you is hard…Playing with CC & having the eyes that she got, we get a lot of flack for just being on her team” https://t.co/j1KoWps8df

— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) October 3, 2026

Clark has taken the WNBA by storm since she was drafted at No. 1 overall in 2024. She has garnered a lot of attention and often makes headlines. The good news is Mitchell continued to shine despite the scrutiny the team received. If she re-signs with the Fever in the offseason, she and Clark will remain part of the team’s three-headed monster, along with Boston. However, the front office could also make a few additions to give them the best chance of winning the title.

Related reading:

Caitlin Clark highlights ‘exciting part’ after Fever’s season-ending loss

Kelsey Mitchell comments on Indiana Fever future

Caitlin Clark had one word for officiating in Fever’s Game 3 loss

Indiana Fever send heartfelt message to fans after season-ending loss

The post Kelsey Mitchell gets honest on the downside of being Caitlin Clark’s teammate appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Indiana Fever saw their season ended early on Thursday at the hands of the Las Vegas Aces. They forced a winner-take-all Game 3 but lost 94-83 at Michelob ULTRA Arena. However, general manager Amber Cox still had a lot of praise for Caitlin Clark.

The superstar guard struggled from the field, converting just 6-of-18 attempts. She was still able to finish with a solid stat line of 18 points, four assists and three three-pointers. Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 23 points and two rebounds, but she was also inefficient from the field, shooting 7-of-23. Aliyah Boston added 19 points,10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Indiana entered the season as one of the title favorites. The team ended the regular season with a 28-16 record but only secured the No. 6 seed and had to face the defending champions.

Indiana Fever: Amber Cox speaks highly of Caitlin Clark

Cox addressed the media on Saturday. She highlighted Clark’s impact to women’s basketball and wants many to give her the credit she deserves.

“The other piece about Caitlin that I never want to take for granted is just what she has meant to our team, what she has meant to the league and what she’s meant to women’s basketball,” Cox said. “She remains the tipping point. you look at the ratings and you look at the full buildings, that started in 2024 when she came into the league. That is because of Caitlin Clark. And that does not take anything away from anybody who’s come before her or still playing or has worked in the league. I’m one of those people. I’ve been here 16 years. The build was slow.

“A right Caitlin Clark arrived and the floodgates opened. So many people have been exposed to our game and our league because of her and have fallen in love with our league and other players around this league because of her. She deserves her flowers. We need to say it more often and I’m going to say it every time you put a mic in front of my face: Thank you to Caitlin Clark.”

“What she has meant to our team, what she has meant to the league and what she’s meant to women’s basketball. She remains the tipping point.”

Amber Cox on Caitlin Clark. https://t.co/g7W85u5Ax0

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 3, 2026

The front office executive and the Fever’s brass have big decisions to make. Mitchell is set to become an unrestricted free agent but has expressed her desire to remain with the franchise. Their moves in the offseason could set the stage for a huge bounce back 2027 season.

Related reading:

Caitlin Clark highlights ‘exciting part’ after Fever’s season-ending loss

Kelsey Mitchell comments on Indiana Fever future

Caitlin Clark had one word for officiating in Fever’s Game 3 loss

Indiana Fever send heartfelt message to fans after season-ending loss

The post Fever GM Amber Cox had a lot to say about Caitlin Clark after 3rd WNBA season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

With Aaron Glenn calling the shots, the Chicago Bears know they can’t take the New York Jets defense lightly. They enter the Week 4 matchup ranked second in total defense, allowing 258.3 yards per game.

There is one problem when it comes to New York’s defensive side though. The Jets haven’t recorded an interception in their last 20 games. They became the first team in NFL history to go a full season without a pick in 2025. And they play 17 games now.

At least in 2026, their pass defense has been just fine, ranking third by allowing 171 yards per game. But their lack of takeaways through the air remain extremely taboo. Especially facing off against a Bears team tied for second with three interceptions.

Whoever is playing quarterback for the Bears will look to ensure the Jets’ streak continues. One Chicago cornerback is shocked it has lasted this long in the first place.

Jets enter Chicago Bears matchup desperate for pick 

Tyrique Stevenson’s role on the team has come into question after rookie Malik Muhammad earned the start in Week 3. However, he has still had plenty of highs during his time in Chicago, including seven interceptions.

When he found out about the Jets’ streak, he couldn’t believe it was real, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

“Twenty?” Stevenson said. “That’s a lie!”

It is still not known exactly who will be playing quarterback for the Bears in Week 4. Case Keenum is coming off of a massive Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. But Tyson Bagent is QB2 on the depth chart and is now fully healthy. Whoever is under center at least knows not turning the ball over is a key priority.

As for Stevenson, he’ll be looking to force the Jets to turn the ball over themselves whenever he is on the field. And while he is shocked by New York’s streak, the cornerback wants to see it last even longer.

The post Chicago Bears cornerback flabbergasted by infamous Jets record appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After a winding and mysterious offseason, Kyler Gordon has made his return to the Chicago Bears. But the cornerback still has some steps to take before suiting up on gameday.

For starters, the fact Gordon is still technical on the Physically Unable to Perform list, he must miss at least one more game. Furthermore, he did all of his rehab process away from the team. Chicago is still figuring out where Gordon is in terms of being ready to play.

Once he is up to speed, the defensive back should re-find his place in the Bears’ secondary. The franchise gave him a contract extension that made him the highest paid slot cornerback in the league in 2025. Now past his injury, Chicago wants to see him live up to the hype.

Head coach Ben Johnson is well aware Gordon hasn’t yet crossed the finish line with his recovery. He laid down his initial plan for the cornerback’s return.

Bears’ Ben Johnson holding Kyler Gordon accountable 

Over his 21-day practice window, Gordon will be undergoing what Johnson calls a “stress test.” He must prove to not only be healthy, but capable of playing at a high level. Those 21 days are going to give the head coach a strong idea on where the cornerback stands, via Dan Wiederer of the Athletic.

“We have a three-week window here to where we can really evaluate where he’s at physically and make sure that there’s no setbacks,” Johnson said. “I think that is Step One.”

Part of Johnson’s early success in Chicago has been his ability to develop a new culture. All offseason, this year’s team has been able to bond and grow as one. Gordon wasn’t a part of that. While he has been on the Bears going on five years, every season is different.

In that regard, the cornerback may need to work his way back into the good graces of his head coach and team. But Johnson’s top priority remains getting Gordon back to full health.

The post Ben Johnson deals clear Kyler Gordon message after Bears return appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are off to a dream start in the 2026 MLB playoffs. After sweeping the Houston Astros in the ALWCS they took Game 1 of the ALDS with a 3-0 win against the Cleveland Guardians.

In this contest, Munetaka Murakami provided the power with a two run home run in the fourth inning and Colson Montgomery an RBI double in the seventh. But, it was a pair of White Sox pitchers, that they have been very reliant on so far in the post season to accumulate this winning streak, who etched their names into MLB history books.

Hagen Smith and Grant Taylor etched their names into MLB history books during the Chicago White Sox Game 1 ALDS victory

Rookie Hagen Smith got the ball to open the ALDS for Chicago after also starting Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Astros. In that outing, he tossed three innings and allowed just two baserunners.

He was just as effective against the Guardians, working 2.2 innings without allowing a hit. Smith did issue three walks, but he countered them with four strikeouts and, most importantly, kept Cleveland off the scoreboard.

Where the history comes in is the fact that he became the first rookie pitcher to start multiple Game 1’s in a single postseason.

Hagen Smith in playoff start today:

2.2 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 0 ER | 3 BB | 4 SO

The lefty made MLB History becoming the first rookie pitcher to start multiple Game 1’s in a single postseason run. https://t.co/yGXauaIRsi

— Milb Central (@milb_central) October 3, 2026

Later in the game, history repeated itself as Grant Taylor again followed Smith out of the bullpen. In his last appearance against the Astros, Taylor threw 54 pitches while covering the final 2.2 innings, but he wasn’t credited with a save, likely because he entered in the bottom of the seventh with Chicago already holding a four-run lead.

This time, though, Taylor made history. He recorded a four-inning save, allowing just two hits while striking out six batters to slam the door on Cleveland. Taylor became the first player since Lance McCullers in 2017 to record a four-inning save in the postseason and just the sixth player to accomplish the feat since 1969.

4+ inning saves in postseason since saves official (1969):

Grant Taylor (CHW), 2026 ALDS G1
Lance McCullers Jr. (HOU), 2017 ALCS G7
Madison Bumgarner (SF), 2014 WS G7
Sammy Stewart (BAL), 1983 ALCS G3
Pedro Borbon (CIN), 1976 NLCS G2
Vida Blue (OAK), 1972 ALCS G5

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 3, 2026

The post 2 ways White Sox pitchers etched names in MLB history books in Game 1 ALDS win appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Now that the 2026 season is over, the Chicago Cubs have now played 10 seasons since they slayed the goat in 2016. That World Series core was young, and it looked like they would reign supreme for the next 5-10 years. Unfortunately, as we know, things did not play out that way.

The World Series team is long gone, and the latest iteration of the Cubs has been searching for the promised land for the past several years. Whether under Theo Epstein or Jed Hoyer, World Series contention is the goal. It hasn’t been all bad on the North Side, but it’s been disappointing, to say the least.

The Cubs haven’t been bad, but not good enough

Since the start of 2017, the Cubs have made the playoffs five times, won two playoff series, reached the 90-win mark three times, and had eight winning seasons. It averages out to roughly 85 wins a season (not counting the 2020 COVID year) over that span. Tell a Cubs fan that from 1950-2000, they are probably jumping for joy. It’s different when expectations change as drastically as they did after they won it all. These are not your father’s Cubs.

What stands out is how really only two teams (2017, 2025) arguably had a chance at a title. Even that is pushing it. It was more than clear the defending champs in ’17 were running on fumes at the end, and last year’s squad had maybe two trustworthy starting pitchers in the playoffs. Otherwise, two teams’ offenses “broke” at the end (2018, 2026), another two fell inches short of the postseason (2023, 2024), and others were either played a COVID “season” or were bad.

Cumulatively it’s been a step or two above “mid,” as the kids say. They’ve had fun times, great individual performances, notable players, and a few good seasons, but have fallen well short of ultimate glory. Not a laughing stock, nor a perennial bottom-feeder, but disappointing. For one reason or another, a fatal team flaw or two has doomed every season, preventing them from making a real run at a pennant.

Suppose one could say it could be worse. Many Cubs fans remember 80+ loss seasons being the norm. Plenty of other fanbases have had it worse than the Cubs in recent years. Still, the post-2016 era looked so promising, at least in terms of having more bites at the World Series apple. Onward we go.

The post Chicago Cubs: A decade of falling short appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears expect Soldier Field to be rocking on Sunday for their Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets. Momentum has just shifted back in the team’s favor following their Monday Night Football win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

After years of being in the cellar, the Bears have emerged as true playoff contenders. Fans will always get loud for their team, especially in Chicago. But the decibel levels will increase with those fans knowing real implications are on the line.

The Bears will use the noise in their favor. It’s called home field advantage for a reason right? But at least when Chicago’s offense is on the field, tight end Cole Kmet has made a clear request to those at Soldier Field in Week 4.

Cole Kmet asks Chicago Bears fans for some silence

When the Jets are on third down, Bears fans should get their loudest, trying to throw New York off rhythm. But when Chicago has the ball, Kmet wants a bit of silence. The Bears have to communicate throughout the play and make sure they’re all on the same page, via Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“P.S.A to the fans: They need to be quiet when we’re on offense,” Kmet said. “It is ridiculous. It’s insane. I appreciate the energy, but take note from Minnesota how quiet it is when their guys are on offense.”

“I mean, I love the enthusiasm,” he continued. “You can be as loud as you want on defense. It’s just that we’re trying to communicate and get off on the cadence and it’s hard to do that when the fans screaming on third-and-short. But it’s all good. I appreciate it.”

The Bears may have a new quarterback under center if Tyson Bagent earns the start. Even if it’s Case Keenum, Chicago will have a backup in place. Communication will become pivotal as the offense line as pass throwers mesh with their new leader.

Kmet still wants Soldier Field loud, as that’ll mean the Bears are succeeding. But when it’s time for Chicago to cook on offense, he’s looking for a bit of leeway to operate.

The post Cole Kmet makes clear plea to Chicago Bears fans for Jets matchup appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are expected to go with quarterback Tyson Bagent when they host the New York Jets on Sunday. Bagent’s protection for the contest took a huge hit with news that broke on Saturday afternoon.

Per the league’s transaction wire, the Bears placed left tackle Braxton Jones on injured reserve. Jones was ruled out for Sunday’s game due to a knee injury that had him out of practice all week. He will not be eligible to return until the Bears travel to play the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2.

With Jones out, the Bears are expected to turn to Theo Benedet to start at left tackle against the Jets. Ozzy Trapilo was a full participant at practice this week and wasn’t placed on the Week 4 injury report, but the Bears are not ready for him to return as he ramps up after suffering a knee injury in the playoffs in January.

Chicago Bears still waiting for Ozzy Trapilo to be ready

Last week, Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Trapilo is still getting into football shape.

“It’s something we look at at the end of each week, just all of Ozzy’s reps over the course of the week—what do they look like—and continue to coach him up and get improvement as we go through it,” Johnson said, via the Bears website.

“I think he still is gaining confidence in just being able to put all of his weight in it and being a powerful player and yet, in some ways, he’s a little bit more flexible and fluid than he was before, which is amazing. It’s a credit to him and those guys that have been working with him. It’s just a matter of time now before we feel like he’s ready.”

With Jones gone for the next four weeks, the Bears could use Trapilo active on game days.

Per Pro Football Focus, Benedet has been ranked 37th out of 70 league offensive tackles this season. He’s played 76 snaps at left tackle.

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After being swept by the San Diego Padres, the Chicago Cubs have seen their 2026 season come to a close. The franchise is now beginning to think about changes to their 2027 roster.

One clear area of improvement necessary is in the Cubs bullpen. Numerous players Chicago invested in over the offseason didn’t pan out as hoped. While their 3.90 bullpen ERA may not look terrible on paper, the Cubs ranked 13th overall, the franchise knows they need vast progress in that regard.

Heading into the offseason, president Jed Hoyer knows fixing the bullpen will be a top priority. The team already took one step, acquiring Rob Zeferjahn – who is under team control through 2030 – at the trade deadline. But Chicago will still be scouring the market for other impactful arms throughout the offseason.

As for Hoyer, the executive isn’t shying away from how poorly 2026 department. When it comes to the bullpen, he is taking full blame.

Jed Hoyer takes full blame for Chicago Cubs bullpen

Phil Maton held a 6.18 ERA over his 31 appearances before suffering a knee injury. Caleb Thielbar held a 4.86 ERA in his 58 games. Even Zeferjahn had a 4.50 ERA in his 20 games with the team. Jacob Webb held a much better looking 3.36 ERA overall. But in eight games in September/October the right-hander had a 7.36.

There were some highlights, but overall, Chicago’s bullpen wasn’t one of their strengths. And for that, Hoyer will take in on the chin, via Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

“I did a poor job on the bullpen this year. Full stop,” Hoyer said. “The guys we acquired this winter didn’t produce nearly as well as a year ago.”

The Cubs are preparing for their roster to look much different in 2027. But their eyes remain fixated on competing for a World Series title. To do so, Hoyer knows he’ll need to invest more into the bullpen.

The post Chicago Cubs’ Jed Hoyer admits massive mistake for 2026 season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever were eliminated on Thursday, leading to an extended offseason. They forced a winner-take-all Game 3 against the Las Vegas Aces but lost 94-83 at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The superstar guard highlighted the “exciting part” despite their season not ending according to plan.

Clark struggled from the field at Michelob ULTRA Arena, shooting just 6-of-18 from the field. She finished with 18 points, two rebounds, four assists and three three-pointers. Kelsey Mitchell scored a team-high 23 points, but was also inefficient, knocking down 7-of-23 attempts. Aliyah Boston, on the other hand, made 9-of-18 shots for 19 points, along with 10 rebounds and two blocks.

Meanwhile, A’ja Wilson led the way for the Aces with a game-high 31 points, with 10 rebounds and two blocks. Chelsea Gray backed her with 23 points, four rebounds and five assists. She also scored multiple key baskets down the stretch.

Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark speaks on her upcoming offseason

Clark shared to reporters that she looks forward to continue getting better. She added that she will spend a lot of time in the gym to improve some facets of her game.

“(I) still feel like I have so many areas to improve,” Clark said. “So I guess that’s the most exciting part moving forward. I love the work. I love being in the gym. So, I’ll probably be kicked out for a little while, but we’ll get back to it.”

“Still feel like I have so many areas to improve, so I guess that’s the most exciting part moving forward”

we’ll be back next season goat pic.twitter.com/qXEFf2FA2d

— m (@abselbow) October 2, 2026

The three-time All-Star enjoyed a strong regular season, breaking several WNBA records. However, Indiana lost two of its last three regular-season games and only clinched the No. 6 seed. The team ended up facing the defending champions with homecourt disadvantage. The good news is Clark remains optimistic about the future and vows to get better. It’s the second consecutive year the the Aces eliminated the Fever in the postseason.

Related reading:

Stephen A. Smith reacts to A’ja Wilson’s behavior during Fever game

Sophie Cunningham stuns in all-white outfit for Fever-Aces Game 3

Sky star DiJonai Carrington spotted in Fever-Aces Game

Sophie Cunningham had something to say after Indiana Fever controversy

The post Caitlin Clark highlights ‘exciting part’ after Fever’s season-ending loss appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Based on offseason hype, the easy money would’ve been on Colston Loveland, Luther Burden or Rome Odunze to lead the Chicago Bears in receiving entering Week 4. But instead, that distinction goes to veteran Kalif Raymond.

Expected to serve as WR3, Raymond has exploded for team-highs in receptions (19) and yardage (214). His 41-yard touchdown grab against the Philadelphia Eagles further highlighted how valuable he’s been to the passing game.

Eventually, the aforementioned trio will get more involved. All three are way too talented and present mismatches head coach Ben Johnson can’t ignore.

Still, the doesn’t mean Raymond will be eliminated from the offense. He’s proven he can carve out a true, impactful role in Chicago.

Kalif Raymond becomes real threat with Chicago Bears

Raymond came to the Bears in free agency on a one-year contract. The 2026 season also marked offensive coordinator Press Taylor’s first year with the team after Declan Doyle’s departure. It didn’t take long for Taylor to believe the receiver was capable of breaking out, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

“If there’s a route on air, he’s going to run it exactly the way you want, and then it carries over to a game, and he’s going to run exactly the way you want,” Taylor said.

Raymond is now six receptions away from breaking his total amount over 15 games with the Detroit Lions in 2025. His career-highs are 48 receptions (2021), 616 yards (2022) and four touchdowns (2021). While the veteran may not reach those heights due to Chicago’s other pass catchers, his fast start has essentially matched his production over his last two seasons.

As long as Raymond has the hot hand, whoever is playing quarterback will be looking his way. To Taylor, that “hot hand,” is a complete understanding of each route structure. If Raymond is where he is supposed to be, the quarterback will have an easier time finding him in open space.

Opposing defenses are now aware of what Raymond can do. But stopping the Bears offense overall is a whole different story.

The post Early Chicago Bears breakout gets coordinator explanation appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox weren’t expected to come close to the playoffs entering the 2026 season. But now, they’ve clinched their spot in the American League Division Series.

The White Sox did it in impressive fashion too, sweeping the Houston Astros in their three-game Wild Card Series. They’ll next face the Cleveland Guardians in a five-game series for the opportunity to compete for an AL pennant.

Against Houston, Chicago outscored their opponents 13-6. That’s a testament to their roaring offense and consistent pitching, led by the their bullpen, throughout. Now, they’ll see if the same strategy can prevail against Cleveland.

But before the ALDS begins, the White Sox are still relishing their victory. It’s the first the franchise has won a playoff series in 2025. Doing so in convincing fashion, the White Sox have now etched their name in the MLB playoff history books.

Chicago White Sox set new playoff history 

In Game 1, Munetaka Murakami hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning and Chicago didn’t look back from there. In Game 2, the White Sox jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one and rode that momentum to victory.

Chicago is now the first team in MLB history to lead at the end of every inning of a multi-game playoff series, via OptaStats.

setting the tone pic.twitter.com/QIQPrnOGDx

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) October 1, 2026

The fact it was a best-of-three series – adopted in 2022 – did help the White Sox’s chances of achieving this feat, it remains impressive nonetheless. In both games, they held leads of at least four at one point. They’ll look to pounce early on the Guardians in the same way.

Chicago did hold a 7-6 advantage over Cleveland during their regular season series. But now in the playoffs, the White Sox know it’s an entirely different ballgame.

Still, they’ve proven they can hold their own in the postseason. Leading every inning against the Guardians would lead their miraculous 2026 run to the American League Championship Series.

The post Chicago White Sox set new MLB playoff history in Astros sweep appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs enter the offseason with plenty of uncertainty surrounding what their roster will look like in 2027. LHP Shota Imanaga, OF/DH Seiya Suzuki, OF Ian Happ, RHP Kevin Gausman, LHP David Peterson, and OF Michael Conforto are all set to become free agents the day after the World Series.

The Cubs also have club options on RHP Colin Rea and RHP Jacob Webb, while RHP Clay Holmes holds a player option. LHP Matthew Boyd, C Carson Kelly, RHP Hunter Harvey, and LHP Caleb Thielbar each have mutual options. Add in 12 players eligible for arbitration, along with the uncertainty surrounding baseball’s financial landscape as the sport approaches a new collective bargaining agreement, and there are plenty of questions facing the Cubs heading into the offseason.

Here, we’ll take a look at all 12 Cubs players eligible for arbitration and their projected salaries for next season. Notably, the current CBA expires on December 1, while tender decisions typically must be made by mid-November. That means the Cubs will have to make these decisions before any potential lockout and without knowing what the next CBA will ultimately look like.

All 12 Chicago Cubs projected 2027 arbitration salaries

According to MLB Trade Rumors, which consistently does an excellent job projecting arbitration salaries, here are the 12 Cubs players currently in arbitration and what they could earn next season.

• Justin Steele: $6.8MM
• Edward Cabrera: $4.8MM
• Braxton Garrett $1.6MM
• Javier Assad: $2.3MM (Cubs hold a $3.3MM option)
• Tyler Austin: $1.3MM
• Miguel Amaya: $1.7MM
• Gabriel Arias: $1.3MM
• Ryan Rolison: $1.1MM
• Ethan Roberts: $800K
• Michael Busch: $5.4MM
• Ben Brown: $1.3MM
• Daniel Palenci: $1.2MM

The 12 players combine for a projected total salary of $29.6 million. While the Cubs have a dozen players in arbitration, none are projected to earn a double-digit salary, meaning there is a strong chance the vast majority of them will be tendered contracts for the 2027 season.

The post All 12 Chicago Cubs projected 2027 arbitration salaries appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs did make a valiant effort at righting their sinking pitching ship at the trade deadline. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer went out and acquired Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Braxton Garrett at the deadline. They had also traded for David Peterson a bit earlier.

More News: Chicago Cubs president: “We’re leaning on our defense too heavily…we can’t catch homers”

Ultimately, it turned out to be too little, too late. The Cubs were sent packing after losing the first two games of the Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Actually, the deadline pick-ups contributed little to solving the Cubs’ pitching woes. The new arms were simply hole-fillers to get the team to the end of the season—although Zeferjahn did finish out the year with six straight scoreless innings after a rough start to his Cubs tenure.

Probably the biggest deadline disappointment, though, was Holmes—the sinker-based groundball specialist acquired along with outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the New York Mets for top-tier prospect Jefferson Rojas.

The hopes and realities of trading for Clay Holmes

More News: Chicago Cubs won’t even try to land big fish free agent, per insiders

The Cubs were counting on the veteran righty to immediately move to the top of the beleaguered starting rotation and possibly be the dominant ace the team needed heading into the playoffs. And he certainly began his Cubs campaign looking just like the rotation stud they needed, posting a 1.55 ERA through his first five outings with Chicago.

Then, the wheels just sort of fell off the cart. He went 0-2 and delivered a horrid 8.24 ERA in his final four starts of the season, just as the Cubs were in the heat of a battle for Wild Card home field advantage. He never got to do anything in the postseason but warm up.

Holmes has a $12 million player’s option waiting on his decision. The prevailing thought is that he’ll reject that option and test the free agent market. Although now, after that horrid end-of-season—and the looming labor crisis and lockout awaiting 2027—there’s also the possibility that he may decide to stay put in hopes of turning things around with the Cubs’ elite infield defense for a run at 2028 free agency.

Hoyer speaks on Holmes disappointment

Hoyer, however, seems a bit soured on Holmes and more than a little puzzled as to why things ended as they did.

“We thought it was a perfect fit,” Hoyer recently told reporters. “He had a nice run in August for a while and he sort of tailed off, and how much of that was because he came back from injury, how much of that was just the length of the season? Obviously, he wasn’t pitching his best baseball towards the end.”

So, would the Cubs have Holmes back? Of course they would. In this current market, $12 million is a bargain for someone like Holmes, late-2026 warts and all. He’s still a tremendous fit for the team and its particular strengths.

But, from Hoyer’s words, there doesn’t seem to be much of a chance that he’ll be taking a stab at bringing the veteran back if he hits the open market.

The post Chicago Cubs: Hoyer hints at one free agent he maybe won’t try to re-sign appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have a lot of work to do this offseason. And, obviously, that work will center on pitching.

More News: Chicago Cubs won’t even try to land big fish free agent, per insiders

Cubs pitching was inconsistent at best and flat-out horrid at worst.

They gave up the most home runs in the National League and struggled throughout the season with allowing opposing teams to get quick-shot scores via the long ball. It seemed like the team was almost always fighting back from some deficit caused by the inability to keep balls in the park.

Injuries, of course, were a big factor in the pitching staff’s undoing. But even when healthy, the home run bug bit them. A pair of first inning homers from Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado in game one of the Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres marked a disappointingly appropriate beginning of the end for Chicago’s playoff hopes.

A real opportunity for change

More News: Chicago Cubs need to target these free agent San Diego Padres

The good news is that this offseason presents the unique opportunity for the Cubs to almost completely rebuild their pitching staff. The entire end-of-season starting rotation—Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, David Peterson—may be gone via free agency, as could relievers Caleb Thielbar, Hunter Harvey, Aaron Civale, and Trent Thornton. They also have club options on Colin Rea and Jacob Webb.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer recently talked to media and laid out the obvious plan of attack for this offseason.

“Our position-playing group was the best in baseball,” Hoyer told reporters. “From a pitching standpoint this year, it was sort of a struggle from the get go.

“We’re leaning on our defense too heavily, and the overall quality of the pitching has to improve. The great majority of our focus [this winter] is going to be on pitching acquisition. I think we’re in a good, remarkably healthy position on the position player side. I think that we have to focus our resources and energy on the pitching side predominantly… When I think about our offseason, when I think about seasons to come, that has to be the goal, to get our pitching infrastructure and pitching quality to the level of our position-player group.

“It’s safe to say that the biggest part of our focus going into the offseason is going to be on pitching. Whether that’s 100-to-0, what that ratio is going to be, has not been determined yet. But certainly, the great majority of our focus is going to be on pitching acquisition.”

A focus on swing-and-miss?

And that probably—hopefully—means that Hoyer and the Cubs would be focusing more on power pitchers with the stuff to miss bats.

“I think I said hundreds of times during the course of the year, we can’t catch homers,” Hoyer said.

The big question, though, is whether Hoyer will move on from his well-established aversion to spending big on top shelf pitching. It seems, at this point, that the only answer to the Cubs’ pitching woes would be to bite the bullet and take some big risks on elite arms and not just target bargain buys and reclamation projects, as has been the case recently.

The post Chicago Cubs president: “We’re leaning on our defense too heavily…we can’t catch homers” appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Kelsey Mitchell and the Indiana Fever saw their championship quest end on Thursday. They lost 94-83 to the Las Vegas in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The four-time All-Star guard already looks forward to the future with the team despite entering unrestricted free agency in the offseason.

Mitchell finished with a team-high 23 points, with two rebounds. However, she struggled from the field, shooting just 7-of-23. Aliyah Boston added 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Caitlin Clark was also inefficient as she only knocked down 6-of-18 attempts. She recorded 18 points, four assists and three three-pointers.

The Fever forced a winner-take-all matchup after winning 99-89 on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They battled strong in the fourth quarter and trimmed the lead to as low as three points. However, the defending champions found a way to maintain their lead.

Indiana Fever: Kelsey Mitchell shares thoughts on upcoming free agency

During her postgame availability, Mitchell made it clear that she plans to remain with Indiana. She will likely receive a lot of interest from teams around the WNBA but wants to run it back with her teammates.

Being a part of playoffs, that’s what it’s all about,” Mitchell said. “To get the experience, to figure out where you got to be better at, to figure out what your flaws is, to figure out what your weaknesses are. I think as a group, we’re still getting our feet on the playoff experience side, and we played against a team that is full of a playoff experience. So that speaks for itself.

“I think all we can do is keep fighting our best to be able to get in these positions to be able to get the experience. I think that you look at the film, you take your preseason and use it for what it is. And I think we put ourselves in a position to be back here hopefully next year.”

Kelsey Mitchell is staying with the Indiana Fever & going for it again next year. #WNBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/QakE8JCpw5

— Sha Hartley (@shahartley) October 2, 2026

The 30-year-old enjoyed a historic season, breaking several league records. She set a new mark for consecutive regular-season games with 20-plus points, and the most in a single regular season. Mitchell also owns the most three-pointers made in a campaign.

It remains to be seen what contract the Fever will offer her. However, they are the favorites to land her services, especially now with the hunger the team has following another early playoff exit.

Related reading:

Stephen A. Smith reacts to A’ja Wilson’s behavior during Fever game

Sophie Cunningham stuns in all-white outfit for Fever-Aces Game 3

Sky star DiJonai Carrington spotted in Fever-Aces Game

Sophie Cunningham had something to say after Indiana Fever controversy

The post Kelsey Mitchell comments on Indiana Fever future appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has plenty of experience with Aaron Glenn. The pair worked side-by-side on the Detroit Lions together. Now, Johnson will be facing off against Glenn and his New York Jets in Week 4.

Now a head coach, Glenn is still trying to help the Jets get back into contention. But their work on the defensive side has been evident. Entering Week 4, New York ranks second in total defense, allowing 258.3 yards per game.

Johnson is well aware of what makes Glenn a special coach. He remembers their practice sessions together, and his then-defensive coordinator counterpart celebrating after big plays. Furthermore, Johnson can’t forget the fire Glenn lit underneath every defender.

The Bears head coach may know his opponent well. But he knows that won’t make the Week 4 challenge any easier.

Bears’ Ben Johnson preparing for Aaron Glenn battle

While Johnson may have an idea on Glenn’s tendencies, things are much different with the Jets than they were the Lions. Plus, he’s noticed New York throwing out numerous different schemes through the first three games. Johnson is preparing their team to be ready to adjust when necessary, via the head coach’s Tuesday press conference.

“Tremendous amount of respect for him as a coach, a former player, as a man,” Johnson said. “He commands respect from everybody in that locker room. I know how the people felt about him in Detroit. I can imagine it’s very similar in New York from everything I can gather.

“He’s doing a fantastic job as far as I’m concerned,” he continued. “This is a team that’s really close to winning a lot of football games. This is a big week for us. You can see how he played the game as a player has translated to how he coaches. His guys take that same identity as well. He’s a heck of a competitor.”

The Bears still don’t know who will be playing quarterback in Week 4. But whoever does can’t take the Jets lightly no matter their past history. Glenn has New York playing strong out the gate despite their 1-2 record.

Week 4 will give the former Lions coordinators an opportunity to go head-to-head. Johnson relishes the opportunity but understands how much work will be required to succeed.

The post Bears’ Ben Johnson sizes up Week 4 Aaron Glenn test appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After allowing 37 points in Week 1, the sky seemed like it was crashing down for the Chicago Bears. But the franchise has rebounded well, allowing fewer than 10 in each of their last two games.

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith has taken notice. At 1-2. he’ll be looking to change the narrative and lead his franchise to victory. But Smith knows that won’t be an easy task.

On the flip side, the Bears can’t underestimate the Jets starting quarterback. Through the first three weeks, Smith has completed a league-leading 75.5 percent of his passes for 783 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. New York as a unit enters Week 4 ranked 13th in total offense, averaging 329 yards a game.

Smith has done his scouting report on the Bears. He is expecting a fierce matchup come Sunday.

Geno Smith gearing up for Chicago Bears battle 

When Smith looks at Chicago’s defense, he’ll notice his opponents haven’t stopped forcing turnovers. After leading the league in 2025, the Bears already have six takeaways in 2026, tied for third-most.

On all thee levels, Smith acknowledges Chicago has the talent necessary to give the Jets fits, via New York’s X, formerly Twitter account.

“They have some proven guys up front,” Smith said. “Starts with Grady Jarrett and Montez Sweat. Playing making linebackers, TJ Edwards Devin Bush, guys who can fly around and make plays on the ball. Some proven guys on the back end as well. Got a young rookie out there who is playing well. We got to be prepared and ready for this opponent. Focus in, lock in. Go out there and put on a show.”

Geno Smith on the Bears defense pic.twitter.com/miotsWIvDP

— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 30, 2026

With their improvements over the last two weeks, Chicago entered Week 4 ranked 15th in total defense, allowing 324 YPG. While the Bears surely want to improve on the mark, it’s much higher than many expected entering the season.

As the franchise tries to get a winning streak going, they must go through Smith and the Jets. Like the quarterback facing them, the Bears must be prepared to put up a fight.

The post Geno Smith not taking Chicago Bears defense lightly appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Game 3 between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces lived up to expectations. It was an all-out war between two teams looking to advance to the next round and keep their championship hopes alive. There were several calls challenged by both teams, and Caitlin Clark only had a one-word reaction to the officiating and free-throw disparity.

The superstar guard recorded 18 points, four assists and three three-pointers. While it’s a solid stat line, she struggled with her shooting, converting just 6-of-18 attempts. Kelsey Mitchell also had poor shooting night, knocking down 7-of-23 shots on her way to 23 points and two rebounds. Aliyah Boston was efficient, making 9-of-18 from the field, and finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

However, their efforts were not enough to dethrone the defending champions. They lost 94-83 at Michelob ULTRA Arena and will now enter the offseason.

Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark reacts to Game 3 free-throw disparity

Clark, Mitchell and Stephanie White addressed the media after the game. The head coach mentioned that the Aces shot 35 free throws while the Fever only had 20 attempts. The three-time All-Star reacted with a one-word comment.

“Interesting,” Clark said.

Stephanie White: “The Aces had 35 free throws, we had 20.”

Caitlin Clark: “Hm, interesting.” pic.twitter.com/9lzlsihahu

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) October 2, 2026

A’ja Wilson once again dominated on both ends for Las Vegas. She registered a game-high 31 points, with 10 rebounds and two blocks. Chelsea Gray chipped in 23 points, four rebound and five assists, and Jackie Young added 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Indiana’s front office personnel will have big decisions to make over the offseason. The team’s roster construction will likely be studied, and assess if White and her staff are the best fit to run the roster. Las Vegas, on the other hand, will next take on either the Golden State Valkyries or the Dallas Wings. Wilson and Co. are aiming to win their fourth championship in the last five years.

Related reading:

Stephen A. Smith reacts to A’ja Wilson’s behavior during Fever game

Sophie Cunningham stuns in all-white outfit for Fever-Aces Game 3

Sky star DiJonai Carrington spotted in Fever-Aces Game

Sophie Cunningham had something to say after Indiana Fever controversy

The post Caitlin Clark had one word for officiating in Fever’s Game 3 loss appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Indiana Fever forced a winner-take-all Game 3 against the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. They lost the first game on Sunday but bounced back with a 99-89 Game 2 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse two days later. However, they failed to dethrone the defending champions, losing 94-83 at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The team sent a heartfelt message to its fans after its elimination.

Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 23 points and two rebounds, but struggled with her shot, converting 7-of-23 attempts. Aliyah Boston contributed 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, while Caitlin Clark, who was also inefficient the field, added 18 points and four assists. The three-time All-Star knocked down just 6-of-18 attempts and committed six turnovers.

Meanwhile, A’ja Wilson spearheaded Las Vegas’ attack. She finished with a game-high 31 points, along with 10 rebounds and two blocks. Chelsea Gray supplied 23 points, four rebounds and five assists, and Jackie Young chipped in 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Indiana Fever posts message for fans on social media

Indiana expressed gratitude to its fans with a post on Instagram. The graphic showed its players all smiling and the team added a heartfelt message in the caption.

“thank you fans you showed up and showed out all season long,” the Fever wrote.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Indiana Fever (@indianafever)

It’s a long offseason ahead for the team’s front office. It has big decisions to make to avoid another early elimination next year. Clark and Boston will likely all remain with the franchise, but Mitchell is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Re-signing her should be on top of Indiana’s priorities. This is the second straight year Las Vegas eliminated Indiana in the postseason.

The Fever amassed a 28-16 regular-season record. However, they were only able to clinch the No. 6 seed and did not own homecourt advantage in the first round. The Aces, on the other hand, owned a 31-13 win-loss slate and secured the No. 3 seed.

Related reading:

Stephen A. Smith reacts to A’ja Wilson’s behavior during Fever game

Sophie Cunningham stuns in all-white outfit for Fever-Aces Game 3

Sky star DiJonai Carrington spotted in Fever-Aces Game

Sophie Cunningham had something to say after Indiana Fever controversy

The post Indiana Fever send heartfelt message to fans after season-ending loss appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caitlin Clark and her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, are good friends with Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and his wife, Jade. They have watched Pacers and Indiana Fever games together, and the two-time NBA All-Star sent a message for Clark after her team’s Game 3 loss on Thursday.

The Las Vegas Aces eliminated the Fever 94-83 in the winner-take-all first-round playoff matchup.. Clark recorded 18 points and four assists but shot just 6-of-18. Kelsey Mitchell also struggled from the field, shooting 7-of-23, and finished with 23 points and two rebounds. Aliyah Boston added 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

It was not the ending Indiana hoped for. The team entered the season as one of the title favorites but failed to secure homecourt advantage. Clark and Co. amassed a 28-16 regular-season record and clinched the No. 6 seed.

Caitlin Clark, Fever receive strong message from Tyrese Haliburton

Haliburton posted a message for Clark and the Fever on X. He congratulated them for a strong season despite the first-round elimination.

“Helluva season @IndianaFever ,” Haliburton wrote.

Helluva season @IndianaFever

— Tyrese Haliburton (@Hali) October 2, 2026

The 6-foot-5 point guard is set to return to action for the Pacers. He missed the entire 2025-26 campaign due to an Achilles injury. Haliburton will join forces with Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac in the upcoming season and is considered one of the Eastern Conference’s dark horses.

Meanwhile, the Fever front office faces huge decisions as it enters the offseason. The franchise can run it back with the same lineup and coaching staff, hoping that the experience this year will help the team go deeper in the playoffs in 2027. However, the Fever could also choose a different path and make changes. It’s the second consecutive year that Las Vegas eliminated them, and they could make changes to help Clark, Boston and Mitchell, if she re-signs, get over the hump.

The Aces, on the other hand, are through to the next round and will face either the Golden State Valkyries or Dallas Wings. They will clash in Game 3 on Friday at Chase Center.

Related reading:

Stephen A. Smith reacts to A’ja Wilson’s behavior during Fever game

Sophie Cunningham stuns in all-white outfit for Fever-Aces Game 3

Sky star DiJonai Carrington spotted in Fever-Aces Game

Sophie Cunningham had something to say after Indiana Fever controversy

The post Caitlin Clark, Fever draw message from NBA superstar after season ends appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears entered the 2026 NFL Draft in desperate need of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. With their first pick, Chicago found one in the form of safety Dillon Thieneman.

Through his first three games at the NFL level, Thieneman has put up 23 tackles, three passes defended and an interception. He leads the Bears in tackles and is seen consistently flying over the field to get to the ball carrier.

Thrust into a starting role as a rookie, Thieneman was already facing high expectations. But with running mate Coby Bryant suffering a potentially season-ending injury, the safety was forced to take on an even higher level of leadership.

So far, so good. Thieneman’s play has certainly caught the eye of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

Dillon Thieneman’s strong impression on Chicago Bears

In the Bears’ 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Thieneman recorded his first NFL interception. For Allen, it was just another sign of how far the rookie safety has already grown, via CHGO.

“Each and every day, each and every week, he continues to improve,” Allen said. “He’s starting to get a better feel for the defense. Better feel for how the offense is trying to attack us. He’s becoming the guy we thought that he would be.”

“Anytime you got a guy who has the speed and range back there, they kind of become an eraser,” he continued. “They eliminate explosive plays. He’s still in the early part of his development, there’s a lot of growth for him there.”

"He's becoming the guy we thought he would be."

Dennis Allen on Dillon Thieneman: pic.twitter.com/tDqpHU88uH

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) October 1, 2026

Thieneman will continually be thrown into the fire and be expected to produce. But based on his early results, Allen doesn’t think he’ll have any trouble doing so. The defensive coordinator will be watching Chicago’s new safety with eagle eyes throughout his rookie campaign.

The post Chicago Bears rookie earns firm Dennis Allen endorsement after Week 3 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caitlin Clark briefly exited the court on Thursday and head to the locker room. The Indiana Fever star was hit on the face by Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Lloyd’s elbow, resulting to a bloody mouth. However, the play couldn’t be reviewed referees didn’t whistle for any call.

Clark finished with 18 points and four assists but struggled from the field throughout Game 3. She converted just 6-of-18 shots and committed six turnovers, failing to build on her historic performance two days earlier. Kelsey Mitchell was also inefficient with her shot, knocking down 7-of-23 attempts for 23 points. Aliyah Boston recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds; however, their efforts were not enough to avoid a 94-83 loss and elimination.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces with a game-high 31 points, along with 10 rebounds. Chelsea Gray backed her with 23 points, four rebounds, five assists and timely baskets late in the game. Jackie Young added 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Indiana Fever: Referee ignored Caitlin Clark showing her bloody mouth

Clark ran to the referee after returning to the court. She showed her bloody mouth but the official ignored her, signaling to continue the game instead.

Caitlin Clark showing the ref her bloody mouth

No foul was called pic.twitter.com/FkzMqdW0Om

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) October 2, 2026

Indiana went on a run late in the third quarter and early in the fourth. Clark and Co. trimmed Las Vegas’ lead to as low as three points, but the home team continued to find a way to keep the visitors at bay.

The Aces have now eliminated the Fever in consecutive years and are now through to the second round. They will face the winner of Friday’s Game 3 matchup between the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries and the No. 7 Dallas Wings. Las Vegas is the defending champion and looking to win the title for the fourth time in five years.

Related reading:

Stephen A. Smith reacts to A’ja Wilson’s behavior during Fever game

Sophie Cunningham stuns in all-white outfit for Fever-Aces Game 3

Sky star DiJonai Carrington spotted in Fever-Aces Game

Sophie Cunningham had something to say after Indiana Fever controversy

The post VIDEO: Caitlin Clark’s bloody mouth blatantly ignored by referee appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Case Keenum delivered a strong performance on Monday against the Philadelphia Eagles. The coaching staff named the veteran Chicago Bears quarterback the starter as Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent both missed the game due to a hamstring injury and concussion symptoms, respectively.The 38-year-old impressed analysts, fans and offensive coordinator Press Taylor, who spoke highly of him.

Keenum completed 24-of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He showed no signs of rust despite starting his first NFL game since 2023. He received a lot of praise from his teammates and the coaching staff after the 27-7 win.

Bagent is reportedly available for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Taylor and head coach Ben Johnson will need to decide which between the two backups will be the QB1.

Chicago Bears: Press Taylor shares how Case Keenum impressed him

Taylor talked about what Keenum did well versus the Eagles. He highlighted his preparedness and how he made the right plays throughout the matchup.

“He knew and he trusted where his guys were going to be,” Taylor said. “There was pressure, but the ball came out early to the right spot/ A lot of it was just the mastery Case had of the game plan, the defense he was going against, trusting his guys around him to make those types of plays, and the guys delivered for him. That’s the big part.

“You’re throwing the ball with anticipation. You’re throwing the ball early and guys are where they’re supposed to be making those plays. You throw one early and the guy’s not quite there and it ends up skipping in front of the guy, that can be deflating a little bit as a quarterback. We were just kind of in a rhythm the other night where those plays are just kind of hitting and it’s easy to stick with it. You’re on schedule playing in manageable down and distances, the playbook kind of remains open for you being able to dig through everything.”

The Bears will pick the quarterback that will give them the best chance to pick up another win. Keenum’s emergence is a big boost to the team as it continues to wait for Williams’ return. The 2012 undrafted free agent has proven his worth and showed the football world that he can run the offense successfully.

Related reading:

Tyson Bagent makes opinion about Case Keenum very clear amid QB1 battle 

Bears HC Ben Johnson sends strong message after Malik Muhammad’s ‘errors’ 

Dillon Thieneman, Malik Muhammad update emerges after Bears-Eagles game

Ben Johnson addresses his behavior after Bears win

The post Bears OC reveals 1 thing that impressed him about Case Keenum appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Heading into Friday, Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift has yet to register a practice due to a lingering knee injury. But head coach Ben Johnson isn’t hitting the panic button just yet.

Swift has yet to miss a game for the Bears all season. Leading their rushing attack, he has gained 253 yards and three touchdowns on three 54 carries. Averaging 4.7 yards per carry, Chicago will continue to lean on Swift when healthy.

If he were to miss the game, the Bears would turn to Kyle Monangai. Earning 10 touches in each game, the running back has run for 178 yards and a touchdown. Chicago would be confident with Monangai handling the load, but Johnson knows the offense is at its strongest when both running backs are working in tandem.

The head coach is hoping it doesn’t come to that against the New York Jets. Chicago is already dealing with Caleb Williams’ significant hamstring strain.

Bears’ Ben Johnson staying positive about D’Andre Swift 

How Swift is listed on Friday’s injury report will be extremely telling. If he is able to at least get a limited practice in, his chances of playing on Sunday increase. Johnson remains optimistic because the running back is expected to practice on Friday, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

“Bears RB D’Andre Swift is “still feeling the effects of a Monday night football game.” He is expected to practice today and Ben Johnson is optimistic,” Biggs wrote.

The Bears fought a hard matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles and will now take on another fierce defensive opponent in the Jets. Swift wants to ensure his body is right if he is going to suit up. Coming out of Monday Night Football, he still felt a bit banged up.

Swift’s status will be monitored like a hawk leading up to Sunday’s matchup. The Bears will hope it all becomes a moot point by kickoff.

Update: Swift practices in full on Friday 

Swift returned to a full practice on Friday, via the team’s X, formerly Twitter account. He carries no injury designation heading into Sunday’s matchup.

Turns out, Johnson’s optimism proved correct. Swift may pick up some bumps and bruises along the road as he battles through tackles. Ultimately though, he has been able to overcome all injury obstacles in 2026.

Johnson may utilize Monangai a bit more against the Jets. But Swift is now ready to go and do his part to lead the Bears to victory.

The post Bears’ Ben Johnson staying optimistic over murky D’Andre Swift injury appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Indiana Fever were eliminated by the Las Vegas Aces in Game 3 of their first-round series on Thursday. They entered the matchup looking to dethrone the defending champions after forcing a winner-take-all game but couldn’t get the job done. The team ended up on the wrong side of history following the 93-84 defeat.

Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 23 points and two assists; however she struggled from the field. The four-time All-Star converted just 7-of-23 field-goal attempts. Aliyah Boston supplied 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Caitlin Clark added 18 points and four assists. The 2024 Rookie of the Year also shot poorly, knocking down only 6-of-18 from the field.

A’ja Wilson was once again unstoppable, finishing with 36 points and 10 rebounds. Chelsea Gray contributed 23 points, four rebounds and five assists, including timely baskets down the stretch.

A’ja Wilson makes WNBA playoff history in Game 3 win over Fever

Wilson’s huge game allowed her to surpass Candace Parker and Fever legend Tamika Catchings for second-most in all-time playoff double-doubles, It was the 28th of her career and is now just four shy of tying Alyssa Thomas’ mark of 32.

A’ja Wilson in Game 3 vs Indiana:

36 PTS
10 REB
2 BLK
11-18 FG

Breaks a tie with Candace Parker & Tamika Catchings for the second-most playoff double-doubles in WNBA history. pic.twitter.com/e1KmgT1gMK

— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 2, 2026

Thursday’s result ended what was a promising season for Indiana. The team won its most games in the regular season in franchise history, leading to the No. 6 seed. The Fever lost Game 1 but bounced back with a 99-89 Game 2 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday. They now face big decisions in the offseason, whether to run it back with almost the same lineup and Stephanie White still on charge. However, they could make changes to help their three-headed monster of Clark, Mitchell and Boston get over the hump.

Wilson and Las Vegas will next face either the Golden State Valkyries or the Dallas Wings in the next round. They are aiming to defend their championship and win it all again for the fourth time in five years.

Related reading:

Stephen A. Smith reacts to A’ja Wilson’s behavior during Fever game

Sophie Cunningham stuns in all-white outfit for Fever-Aces Game 3

Sky star DiJonai Carrington spotted in Fever-Aces Game

Sophie Cunningham had something to say after Indiana Fever controversy

The post Fever on wrong end of WNBA history in Game 3 loss to Aces appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are in unfamiliar territory, winning a playoff series for the first time since 2025. But as they prepare for the American League Division Series, Chicago will be facing a familiar face.

The Cleveland Guardians and White Sox battled for the AL Central crown all year. Chicago won the battle, going 7-6 over their season series. But Cleveland won the war, winning the Central. Still, all roads led back to both teams squaring off in the ALDS.

Now a five-game series, White Sox manager Will Venable will be more precarious with his pitching decisions. He wants to rely on Chicago’s strong bullpen. But he’ll need a strong outing from anyone who earns a starting nod.

Venable has made his decision for game. It’s one White Sox fans should be accustom to.

Chicago White Sox turn to Hagen Smith for Game 1

Just like they did in the Wild Card Series, the White Sox will be starting Hagen Smith in Game 1, via James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times. Venable was clearly happy with the results from his first go around.

In Game 1 against the Houston Astros, Smith threw three innings of scoreless baseball, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out one. The left-hander doesn’t go deep into games, but the former top prospect has been highly effective in short bursts throughout his rookie season.

Over his first 18 regular season games in the major leagues, Smith put up a 1.29 ERA and a 41/16 K/BB ratio. While he mainly worked out of the bullpen in 2026, the White Sox will hope he can be a fixture in their rotation long-term.

In Game 1 of the ALDS though, all Chicago cares about is getting off to a hot start. The Guardians may know the White Sox well. But Venable remains confident Smith will knock Cleveland off their course.

The post Chicago White Sox name Game 1 starter for Guardians playoff clash appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs’ season ended after an ugly two-game stomping at the hands of the San Diego Padres in the opening Wild Card series at Petco Park.

More News: Chicago Cubs need to target these free agent San Diego Padres

While people may wax poetic about the Cubs’ 2026 run, noting how they battled through some unprecedented injury misfortune to get as far as the opening playoff series, the truth of the matter is that things ended in ugly fashion. Eventually, all of the concerns regarding the roster turned out to be, precisely, the things that brought about their downfall.

And 2027 is shaping up to be even uglier than the end of 2026.

Chicago is set to lose their entire end-of-season starting rotation to free agency (Matthew Boyd, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Shota Imanaga, David Peterson).

Not going after Tarik Skubal?

More News: Chicago Cubs rout in San Diego offers sobering reality check

And if MLB insiders Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma are correct, the Cubs aren’t likely to go big in their pursuit of replacements.

Per Mooney and Sharma in The Athletic:

“With some trade chips still on hand and a vast amount of salaries falling off the books — Roster Resource projects Chicago’s major-league payroll has roughly $110 million in commitments — Hoyer’s group will have to pour those resources into the rotation.

Just guessing that the Cubs won’t be the big-market franchise willing to hand Tarik Skubal the biggest pitching contract ever before the current labor deal expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1.”

It’s disappointing, but not surprising, that Jed Hoyer and the Chicago front office won’t even take a stab at signing an elite-tier pitcher after seeing how this season turned out. However, something clearly has to be done when it comes to restocking the team’s rotation.

The 2027 Cubs starting rotation

The possible rotation pieces the Cubs do have returning are iffy and questionable. Justin Steele will come into 2027 after missing two full years due to elbow and flexor issues. Cade Horton may miss the entire season—or at least most of it—after Tommy John surgery. Ben Brown was en route to a breakthrough year as a starter this past season, until he again went down with the same chronic neck issue that has shut him down before. Edward Cabrera was absolutely awful in his first season as a Cub. Javier Assad, meanwhile, has mostly been a reliable presence, but he’s much more of a back-of-rotation starter than a star.

If the Cubs come into the 2027 campaign with a rotation of Steele, Brown, Cabrera, Assad, and Braxton Garrett, you might as well write off a playoff berth.

So, there’s pretty much no getting around it. Chicago needs to dip into the free agency market to fill out that rotation. The question will be whether they can get over their aversion to spending big on free agent pitching or if they’ll again try to find rehabilitation projects and diamonds in the rough on the cheap while just hoping for the best. We all saw how well that worked out in 2026.

The post Chicago Cubs won’t even try to land big fish free agent, per insiders appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Another week, another game where the Chicago Bears have questions at left tackle. This time around, Braxton Jones is dealing with a knee injury that head coach Ben Johnson called week-to-week.

The left tackle hasn’t yet been able to practice leading up to the Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets. It seems unlikely he’ll be active come gameday.

One option to replace him would be Ozzy Trapilo, who has been fully practicing from prior to the Week 3 Philadelphia Eagles matchup. Still, coming off of a ruptured Achilles tendon, Chicago doesn’t want to rush his progress.

Johnson was forced to come up with a quick plan in the wake of Jones’ injury. But the head coach has found his left tackle.

Chicago Bears to start Theo Benedet in Week 4

Johnson confirmed that Benedet will be starting at left tackle in Week 4, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. In the same breath, he remained confident in Trapilo inching closer to his full return.

“Theo Benedet will start at left tackle on Sunday for the Bears but Ben Johnson said he was encouraged by how Ozzy Trapilo looked in practice on Wednesday,” Biggs wrote. “[Said] Trapilo could be available for the team sooner rather than later.”

Benedet usually operates as Chicago’s swing tackle. But he did start eight games for the Bears as a rookie in 2025. He was thrown into an eerily similar situation, forced to start after a Jones injury with Trapilo breathing down his neck for the job. But for now, all the Bears are focused on is Week 4.

Quarterback Caleb Williams’ injury will steal the headlines. But whoever is playing quarterback still needs a strong left tackle in place. Benedet may normally be a backup, but Chicago is now counting on him to not miss a step while being elevated to the starting five.

All eyes will be on the former UDFA to see how he holds up. But Benedet has clearly become a favorite of Johnson, which matters most in this scenario.

The post Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson makes firm Week 4 left tackle decision appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have yet to announce who their starting quarterback is for Week 4. Their Week 3 starter, Case Keenum, shared his honest thoughts on the team’s QB1 uncertainty.

Caleb Williams remains sidelined due to a hamstring injury. He sustained it in the fourth quarter of the 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. Tyson Bagent also did not play on Monday versus the Philadelphia Eagles as he dealt with concussion symptoms. The QB2 and Keenum both practiced on Thursday and will be available to face the New York Jets.

Keenum delivered a strong performance in the 27-7 victory over the Eagles. He completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. It was the 38-year-old’s first start since 2023.

Case Keenum opens up on Bears’ QB1 situation

The Houston Cougars product shared his thoughts on facing uncertainty throughout his NFL career. He highlighted that he continues to learn from different situations, including the one he’s currently part of.

“I’m built for this,” Keenum said. “I have so many banked reps of situations and outside noise that I just tune it all out and I believe the truth; what my coaches tell me and what my teammates tell me and what I see on film and what I know I can do. You just go out there and do the best you can and then you learn from when you don’t succeed. It’s not failure; it’s just an opportunity to learn.”

Case Keenum has lived in limbo his entire NFL career, not knowing how long he’d have in a starters’ role in any of his stops or whether he’d be back on the bench after starting a game. How has been able to navigate that space?

“I’m built for this. I have so many banked reps of…

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) October 1, 2026

Bagent made it clear that he fully supports Keenum. However, only one of them will have the opportunity to star under center on Sunday, with the other serving as the backup. The Bears are aiming to improve to 3-1 and win as much games until Williams returns. A two-game road trip awaits them after the Jets matchup. Chicago will face its rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in Week 5 before its clash with the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 18.

Related reading:

Tyson Bagent makes opinion about Case Keenum very clear amid QB1 battle 

Bears HC Ben Johnson sends strong message after Malik Muhammad’s ‘errors’ 

Dillon Thieneman, Malik Muhammad update emerges after Bears-Eagles game

Ben Johnson addresses his behavior after Bears win

The post Case Keenum gets brutally honest on Bears QB1 uncertainty. appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs turned in a miserable collective performance in the Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres and, as a result, were eliminated in two games. Unfortunately, given the pitching woes of this year’s team, the disappointing end to the season wasn’t exactly unexpected.

More News: Chicago Cubs rout in San Diego offers sobering reality check

Cubs president Jed Hoyer, in the two-game postseason look at the Padres, should’ve seen plenty to add to his shopping list this offseason as he stares down the reality of having to practically rebuild an entire pitching staff.

In baseball, the sour-note equivalent of “if you can’t beat them, join them” is “if you can’t beat them, sign away their talent.”

So, with that in mind, here’s a look at some pending free agent Padres talent the Cubs definitely should look at snatching up.

Morejon and King should be primary Cubs targets

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA ranked most important asset in 2026 playoff baseball

Adrian Morejon came into Game Two of the Wild Card series and blew the Cubs away, delivering the kind of dominant late-inning relief appearance Chicago has rarely gotten from their own bullpen this season.

The Cubs desperately need a reliable and overpowering late-inning presence and they must get over their reluctance to invest in elite-level relief talent. The 27-year-old has posted a 2.58 ERA over his last three seasons with 248 strikeouts in 223.1 innings. He’s stuck behind Mason Miller in San Diego, but would be a closer almost anywhere else in baseball and should be chomping at the bit to get that opportunity. Estimates place his going price at about $60 million over four years. If the Cubs are serious about postseason life, they’ll spend the money

The Cubs were linked to Michael King this past offseason, but couldn’t/wouldn’t pull the trigger on signing him. Instead, King re-signed with the Padres for a three-year, $25 million deal that gives him opt-out options after this 2026 season and the next. King is expected to opt-out and explore a longer deal for more money and the Cubs should absolutely be looking to scoop him up—especially after seeing the way he absolutely nullified their offense in a dominant Game One start in the Wild Card series.

The rest of the shopping list

Starting pitcher Robbie Ray came to the Padres at the trade deadline from the San Francisco Giants, where he was having a career year. He didn’t pitch all that well for the Padres down the stretch, but his worth as a left-handed starting pitcher with a long history of success will see him get lots of attention when he hits the free agent market this offseason. He’s 35, so that may damper some of the enthusiasm in pursuing him, but the Cubs will need established performers heading into a 2027 season where, possibly, their entire end-of-season starting rotation (Boyd, Imanaga, Gausman, Holmes, Peterson) could be gone via free agency.

Casey Mize was a wild disappointment for the Padres after being acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline. But up until his injury-hampered run in San Diego, the 29-year-old right-hander was a lights-out rotation piece, posting a 2.70 ERA through 16 starts for the Tigers. Again, the Cubs desperately need rotation help and some puzzle pieces with a proven history of success.

If the Cubs are looking for the bullpen success they failed to achieve with the signings of Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, and Hunter Harvey last offseason, they would do well to pursue right-handed setup man Jason Adam. The right-hander has been the picture of consistent bullpen excellence since his 2020-2021 run with the Cubs, delivering ERAs under 3.00—and sometimes under 2.00—in the five seasons after that. An Adam-Morejon one-two late-inning punch would be a significant improvement over the current Jacob Webb-Daniel Palencia late-inning combo.

It should be obvious at this point that all of the Cubs’ free agent targets must be pitching. They will also, of course, have to figure out a way to fill at least one of their corner outfield spots and catcher. But the priority this offseason has to be pitching or 2027 will look uglier than the end of 2026.

The post Chicago Cubs need to target these free agent San Diego Padres appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have officially activated cornerback Kyler Gordon off of the Physically Unable to Perform list. But he still has some hurdles to cross before making his full return. One of them being having to sit at least one more game due to being on the PUP in the first place.

Gordon missed the entire offseason program rehabbing his calf injury. He sought outside, and sometimes controversial medical help. For a long time, Gordon’s status was shrouded in mystery.

At least back at practice, the Bears can begin envisioning what their defense looks like with Gordon back at nickel. Chicago has gotten impressive play from rookie Malik Muhammad, putting the team 12th in pass defense (207 yards per game) entering Week 4. If Gordon can return to form, the Bears will look to rise up those rankings.

Bears’ Dennis Allen watching Kyler Gordon closely

While he was working out on his own, Gordon has been away from the facility for a lengthy amount of time. Chicago wants to see exactly what they have in the cornerback. That includes defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who has laid out Gordon’s next steps towards his return, via CHGO.

“He’s got to ramp up and really get himself into football shape,” Allen said. “We did a little extra work with him yesterday. I thought he looked good. The way he went out there and practiced was good to see. He moved around really well. The biggest thing is taking a bit of time to get him into football shape.”

“We’ll do that,” he continued. “We’ve got 21 days to figure it out and make a decision. We’ll use whatever time we need to to evaluate where he’s at. Hopefully he’ll be ready sooner rather than later. He’s a player that can help us.”

"He's gotta ramp up and get himself into football shape."

Dennis Allen provides the next steps for Kyler Gordon returning to the practice field: pic.twitter.com/2dgotc3IJ0

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) October 1, 2026

Over his 45 games with the Bears, Gordon has put up 214 tackles, 17 passes defended and five interceptions. It wasn’t long ago that Chicago gave the defensive back a contract extension that made him the highest paid slot cornerback in the league.

The Bears fully believe in what Gordon brings to the defense, they just need him on the field to make an impact. He is now inching closer to that regular season return.

The post Dennis Allen reveals Kyler Gordon’s next steps towards full Bears return appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are preparing for what they expect to be a fierce matchup against the New York Jets. But is is still not known who will be under center.

Normally, Caleb Williams would obviously be starting. But a hamstring strain is expected to keep him out for an indefinite amount of time. Still, head coach Ben Johnson refused to rule him out just yet.

More likely, Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum will earn the start. Keenum just led the Bears to a 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. But Bagent is still QB2 on the depth chart and is now fully recovered from his concussion.

Johnson has a plan in place when it comes to the Week 4 quarterback. But he isn’t planning on revealing them just yet.

Ben Johnson refuses to reveal Bears starting quarterback

Still early in the week, the Bears don’t want to show the Jets their hand just yet. Furthermore, Chicago needs to see how both players perform at practice. Once Johnson and company feel confident about a starter, the Week 4 decision will be made, via the head coach’s Tuesday press conference.

“We’ve got three guys. We’ll work through the week and see where they are at,” Johnson said. “I feel really good about all three quarterbacks in that room. I know all three can win ball games for us.”

In terms of what the Bears are looking for, Johnson kept it blunt and said, “Whoever we feel like gives us the best chance to win.” Even less specifically, the head coach said Chicago will be evaluating, “everything.”

With so much mystery surrounding the decision, Chicago’ quarterback will dominate discussion leading up to Week 4. Whoever gets the nod, Johnson feels confident in their success. As for when Bears fans will know who is starting…

“We’ll know on Sunday,” Johnson said.

The post Ben Johnson keeps Bears’ Week 4 quarterback plans close to vest appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Entering the playoffs, the Chicago Cubs were expected to be led by their offense. But those plans didn’t come to fruition as they were outscored 12-1 by the San Diego Padres, getting swept out of the Wild Card Series.

One of Chicago’s biggest culprits was Pete-Crow Armstrong. He is the favorite to win NL MVP after hitting .280 with an MLB-leading 45 home runs, 107 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. However, the version of Crow-Armstrong wasn’t visible in the playoffs.

The outfielder didn’t record a hit through his eight plate appearances over the two games. He did steal a base, but Crow-Armstrong struck out in over half (four) of his at-bats.

Needless to say, it wasn’t the performance the Cubs superstar was hoping for. But Crow-Armstrong isn’t shying away from criticism.

Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong gets brutally honest

Seeing the Cubs’ season end the way it did, Crow-Armstrong wasn’t in the best of mood after the game. Especially with how had played. The likely MVP made it clear he wasn’t happy with his 2026 playoff performance, via the Marquee Sports Network, h/t Cubs Zone.

“You can look at the scoreboard, you can look at the stat sheet, wherever you get your stats from and it is clear to see that I didn’t contribute,” Crow-Armstrong said.

Pete Crow-Armstrong reflects after losing in NL Wild Card:

“You can look at the scoreboard, you can look at the stat sheet, wherever you get your stats from and it is clear to see that I didn’t contribute.” pic.twitter.com/0KcwGdvvXH

— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) October 1, 2026

Crow-Armstrong’s regular season won’t be forgotten anytime soon. He’ll still be heralded as one of the best hitters in baseball entering the 2027 campaign. Still, the outfielder’s ultimate goal is helping the Cubs lift a World Series title. With his offensive spark running out, Crow-Armstrong wasn’t able to contribute to that goal against the Padres.

He’ll now have the entire offseason to think about how Chicago’s season ended. Furthermore, he now has firsthand experience understanding when things don’t go right in the most crucial moments.

The post Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong drops somber take on early playoffs exit appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros in convincing fashion during the American League Wild Card Series and now turn their attention to a familiar opponent: the division-rival Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series.

Chicago won the regular-season series between the two teams, 7-6, and held a +1 advantage in run differential. However, the White Sox finished one game behind Cleveland in the standings, allowing the Guardians to claim the division title and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Heading into the series, the Guardians have announced rookie left-hander Parker Messick as their Game 1 starter, with right-hander Gavin Williams slated to take the mound in Game 2. The White Sox faced both pitchers four times during the regular season, combining for a 3-4 record in those seven games.

The Chicago White Sox are slated to face Parker Messick and Gavin Williams to open ALDS after both found success against Chicago in 2026

Against Messick this season, the White Sox hit an encouraging four home runs, but they also struck out 29 times in 25.2 innings. Messick largely kept Chicago’s offense in check, posting a 2.85 ERA while pitching at least five innings in each of his outings against them, including two starts of seven or more innings.

Although the season-series numbers against Messick tell a different story, the White Sox were one of the best teams in baseball against left-handed pitching this year, ranking fifth with a .751 OPS. Against right-handers, Chicago posted a .716 OPS.

When Williams took the mound against the White Sox this season, Chicago managed just two home runs while striking out 28 times over 20 innings. Williams posted a 4.02 ERA in those outings and worked beyond the fifth inning just once. Interestingly, the White Sox went 1-3 in the four games Williams pitched against them this year.

That said, one key in this series, especially against Messick, will be for the White Sox to get more runners on base and capitalize on the home-run power that fueled their success during the regular season. If they can do that, one big swing could be enough to shift the momentum in a game, and potentially the series.

The post How the White Sox have fared against Guardians Game 1 and 2 starting pitchers appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has not participated in the first two practices of the week as he recovers from a Grade 2 hamstring injury he suffered in Week 2’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Bears have been mum as to whether they’d give Case Keenum another start after he led Chicago to a 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football” in Week 3 after Tyson Bagent missed practice last week due to a concussion suffered against the Vikings.

Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Bears appear ready to make a change at quarterback before Sunday’s game at the New York Jets. Bagent has been getting the reps with the first-team during practice this week.

“That said, it’s hard to keep the many people who are present for practice from saying something to someone who is trying to find out who’s getting the work,” Florio wrote. “As we hear it, Tyson Bagent (not Case Keenum) has gotten the first-team reps so far this week.”

Why the Chicago Bears would turn to Tyson Bagent

Keenum was hot against the Eagles defense on Monday night, throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns against a unit that appeared prepared to play the run. The Jets have had a week to dissect game film on Keenum, and the Bears would not have the same element of surprise if he started on Sunday.

As we discussed earlier in the week, the Bears have strategic reasons to want to start Bagent, an undrafted rookie they signed in 2023. He has not made a start in the league since his rookie season. He went 2-2 when Justin Fields was sidelined with an injury.

The Bears can up Bagent’s market value before the trade deadline on Nov. 10 by playing him during Williams’ absence. Bagent is considered one of the better backups in the league, but he hasn’t had enough playing time in recent years to back up that claim.

Bagent believes he can be a starter in the league. If he gets an opportunity against the Jets, Bagent will be motivated to play his best football. That could help the Bears win and give Bagent an opportunity to show quarterback-needy teams around the league what he has to offer.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Bears appear ready to make QB change vs Jets: Report appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Thursday was a big day for Caitlin Clark. The Indiana Fever superstar’s first signature shoes was released worldwide, and she and the team faced the Las Vegas Aces in Game 3 of their first-round series. Nike announced an update about the Caitlin 1s’ launch.

Clark has worn different colorways since she debuted the Racer Blues in June. Several silhouettes will be available in the coming weeks, leaving fans around the world even more excited. Nike went all-in with their promotions ahead of the worldwide release, including multiple advertisements and social media campaign.

Clark’s fans have been vocal for the past few years about her having a own signature line. The wait is over and they responded by selling out the pairs quickly.

Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark’s shoe release is largest women’s shoe launch in Nike history

Nike CEO Elliott Hill announced that the Caitlin 1s’ launch is the largest in Nike history among women’s shoes. Clark is without a doubt one of the WNBA’ biggest stars and fans anticipated the release for months.

“Hill also said the Caitlin 1 launch was the largest women’s signature-shoe introduction in the brand’s history, with the new sneaker launching in 5,000 stores,” CNBC’s Jessica Golden wrote. “He said that was “twice the average for a Nike basketball signature shoe, supported by our largest Nike product campaign for the holiday season.”

Meanwhile, Game 3 didn’t according to plan for Clark and Indiana. The Aces eliminated them with a 94-83 loss and sent them home. The three-time All-Star produced 18 points and four assists but struggled from the field, shooting 6-of-18. Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 23 points, two rebounds and two assists, although she only converted 7-of-23 shots. Aliyah Boston added 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

A’ja Wilson spearheaded Las Vegas’ attack with a game-high 36 points, along with 10 rebounds. Chelsea Gray contributed 23 points, four rebounds and five assists. The Aces will advance to the next round to face either the Golden State Valkyries or the Dallas Wings.

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Sophie Cunningham had something to say after Indiana Fever controversy

The post Nike announces big update after Caitlin Clark’s shoe launch appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are looking to start the season 3-1 after an impressive victory this past Monday night.

They’ll host the New York Jets on Sunday, who are coming off a tough loss to the Detroit Lions. Through the first three games, the Jets have looked tough offensively. This Bears defense will be tested once again as they look to build off a solid Week 3 outing.

However, after this morning’s report by Adam Schefter, it seems the Jets will be without two key players on offense. Running back Breece Hall has been ruled out, and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell will also miss the game.

Jets ruled out RB Breece Hall and WR Adonai Mitchell for Sunday’s game vs. the Bears. pic.twitter.com/NwiZ5SNwGs

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 2, 2026

This is a big blow to a Jets offense that has been surging to begin the season, averaging 21 points per game. They could be 2-1, or even 3-1, as both losses were single-possession games.

Hall will be replaced by Braelon Allen, who is a solid back in his own regard.

It’s clear that they’ve improved in the offseason, and Geno Smith has brought some life into that offense. The Bears secondary will need to account for veteran wideout Garrett Wilson, who’s having a solid start. Rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq could also spell problems.

The Chicago Bears will need another solid performance on defense to stop this New York Jets squad

The Chicago Bears were firing on all cylinders in their victory this past Monday, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Veteran DB Tyrique Stevenson had been dealing with a hamstring injury and was benched for rookie Malik Muhammad.

Muhammad has arguably been playing better than Stevenson thus far and could get the start again this weekend. The youth on this Bears defense has stepped up in the early going. Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman has also stood out over the first few weeks, looking like a home-run first-round pick already.

They’re also set to get DB Kyler Gordon back very soon, as he’ll add another layer of speed and versatility in the back end.

More Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson praises stars who volunteered on special teams after Week 2 blunder

The post Chicago Bears catch break as multiple New York Jets starters ruled OUT for Week 4 matchup appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have a big decision to make on which quarterback will start in Week 4. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor discussed it on Thursday, emphasizing that they will go with who between Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum gives the team the best chance to win against the New York Jets.

Caleb Williams remains sidelined due to the hamstring injury he sustained in Week 2. Bagent, on the other hand, practiced on Thursday after also missing Week 3 as he dealt with concussion symptoms. Case Keenum took over under center and impressed in his first start since 2023. The 38-year-old completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-7 win.

However, he is only the third-string quarterback in the depth chart. Bagent serves as Williams’ backup, but with Keenum proving his worth last week, it won’t be an easy decision for Taylor and the rest of the coaching staff.

Press Taylor speaks on Tyson Bagent-Case Keenum QB1 decision for Bears-Jets

Taylor stressed that the upcoming QB1 decision will be based on fit for the specific week. He added that the entire coaching staff is looking into all the possible scenarios.

“We’re always going to kind of readjust or recalibrate every single week and see what applies this week, what gives us the best opportunity moving forward,” Taylor said. The variables are never ending.”

#Bears OC Press Taylor on the QB choice for Sunday vs. NYJ:

“We’re always going to kind of readjust or recalibrate every single week and see, you know, what applies this week, what gives us the best opportunity moving forward. The variables are never ending.”

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) October 1, 2026

It’s unclear when Williams will be cleared to return. However, the team has two capable quarterbacks who are ready to step up when called upon. A two-game road trip follows after the Bears’ clash with the Jets. They will visit their rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in Week 5 before a showdown with the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 18. Chicago is 2-1 and won its season opener 59-37 versus the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

Related reading:

Tyson Bagent makes opinion about Case Keenum very clear amid QB1 battle 

Bears HC Ben Johnson sends strong message after Malik Muhammad’s ‘errors’ 

Dillon Thieneman, Malik Muhammad update emerges after Bears-Eagles game

Ben Johnson addresses his behavior after Bears win

The post Bears OC Press Taylor addresses Tyson Bagent-Case Keenum decision for Jets game appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After a wild 162 game season that saw its ups and downs for the Chicago Cubs, the team had a quick exit in the MLB playoffs. They were eliminated in two games, losing both to the San Diego Padres.

Just as fast as the playoffs began, they were over for Craig Counsell’s team. Now, they enter an offseason with a lot of questions and that’s not even mentioning a likely lockout.

Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins have some decisions to make with the roster. It’s clear that the bullpen needs help in terms of additions and now they will have to look at some bats to add to the lineup, pending some decisions. One of those decisions is right fielder Seiya Suzuki.

Chicago Cubs don’t want a bidding war for Seiya Suzuki

It’s likely the Cubs are going to have to find at least one new corner outfielder for next offseason and potentially two. Suzuki is set to be a free agent this season after spending the past five seasons with the Cubs. The 32-year-old came over from Japan and has been a staple in right field since.

But the latest on Suzuki isn’t good news for those who want him back.

Patrick Mooney wrote in The Athletic on the Cubs’ offseason following the Game 2 loss. In the column, he mentions how the Cubs don’t want to get into a bidding war nor win one.

Suzuki, who was 19th in the league in fWAR, put up some of the best overall numbers of his career, which will probably make him a hot commodity. Considering their pitching deficit, it’s unlikely that the Cubs will get into a bidding war for Suzuki’s services, let alone win one.

Happ is more than likely to return of the two simply because he could take a team-friendly deal. He’s expressed how much he loves Chicago and was emotional in the home finale.

Suzuki loves Chicago as well but he’s in line for a nice pay day. There are several teams who could use a right fielder in free agency and he should get a nice pay day.

The right fielder put together the best stretch of his career so far hitting 32 home runs and driving in 103 runs in 2025. He followed that up this season hitting .270 with 26 home runs and 86 RBI’s. It’s certainly going to be an interesting offseason in more than one way for the Cubs.

The post REPORT: Chicago Cubs don’t want to get into bidding war for free agent outfielder appeared first on ChiCitySports.

D’Andre Swift has been highly impressive through the first three weeks of this season. The veteran running back has played an instrumental role for the Chicago Bears, helping them to a 2-1 start. The team announced an update about him on Thursday on social media.

Swift has 54 rushing attempts for 253 yards and three touchdowns in three games. He added eight receptions for 68 yards. The one-time Pro Bowler has given Chicago an almost automatic weapon who can secure first downs from the backfield. He will be relied upon even more as the team is dealing with injuries to several key players, including Caleb Williams. The good news is Swift is more than ready to step up and is proving tat he deserves his contract extension signed on Sept. 11.

Bears post D’Andre Swift career milestone

The Bears uploaded a graphic of Swift on Instagram. It included his feat of surpassing 5,000 rushing yards in his career. He now has 5,028 after registering 84 during the 27-7 win on Monday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“And counting…” the team wrote.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chicago Bears (@chicagobears)

Swift and the Bears will return to action on Sunday. They will host the New York Jets at Soldier Field with their sights set on winning their second consecutive game. Williams will likely miss the matchup as he is still recovering from the hamstring injury he sustained in Week 2 versus the Minnesota Vikings. Swift could receive the football via hand-offs from either Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum.

Both backups practiced on Thursday, leaving head coach Ben Johnson and his staff with a big decision to make. Whoever is named the QB1 will have Swift at his disposal and ready to once again produce an impressive performance. FOX will broadcast the Week 4 matchup starting at 1 p.m. ET. Chicago will then embark on a two-game road trip starting in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers.

Related reading:

Bears HC Ben Johnson sends strong message after Malik Muhammad’s ‘errors’ 

Dillon Thieneman, Malik Muhammad update emerges after Bears-Eagles game

Ben Johnson addresses his behavior after Bears win 

Chicago Bears make Case Keenum decision after Eagles win

The post Chicago Bears announce D’Andre Swift update amid NFL season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Three games into the 2026 season, Chicago has produced sharply different results. The Bears scored 59 points in a win at Carolina, managed three in a home loss to Minnesota and responded by beating Philadelphia 27 to 7. They enter October with two wins and one loss.

The three games offer a clearer picture than any one score. Chicago has run effectively with several players, struggled to finish drives near the goal line and improved defensively after its opener. The win over Philadelphia also showed how the offense operated without the injured Caleb Williams.

The Running Game Gives Chicago More Than One Route Forward

Against Carolina, the Bears gained 291 rushing yards. D’Andre Swift contributed 124 yards and three touchdowns, Kyle Monangai added 100 yards and a touchdown, and Caleb Williams ran for another 65. Chicago did not depend on one ball carrier to move the offense.

Minnesota held Swift to 45 yards on 16 carries, although the Bears still rushed for 134 yards as a team. Against Philadelphia, Swift gained 84 yards on 20 carries and Monangai added 31. The Eagles game offered a third version of the ground attack: less explosive than the opener, but useful alongside a productive passing game.

Fans comparing those performances with Chicago Bears odds have three distinct games to consider. Carolina showed the offense at its most explosive. Philadelphia showed the value of steady carries alongside an effective passing game, even without Williams’s contribution on the ground.

Missed Chances Remain Part of the Offensive Picture

The Minnesota loss showed how much a team leaves behind when promising drives end without points. Chicago reached the Vikings’ 1, 5 and 12 yard lines on separate possessions without scoring. Swift lost a fumble at the 1, and Minnesota blocked a short field goal attempt after another drive reached the 5.

Philadelphia brought a better final result, though the problem did not vanish. After recovering a fumble deep in Eagles territory, Chicago advanced to the 1 yard line and turned the ball over on downs. Later, Case Keenum finished another close range possession with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown.

Other drives against Philadelphia ended differently. Keenum found Luther Burden III for a touchdown on the opening possession, then scored on a quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter. Chicago produced two touchdowns and a field goal after halftime. Its next measure near the goal line is straightforward: turn more of those short fields into points.

Williams’s Absence Puts the Quarterback Depth in Focus

Williams produced 334 total yards and four touchdowns against Carolina before injuring his right hamstring against Minnesota. He missed the Philadelphia game, and Chicago has not announced a return date.

Bagent finished the Minnesota game, but Case Keenum started against Philadelphia. Keenum threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns without an interception and added a rushing touchdown. His performance showed that Chicago’s offense remained productive without Williams.

Quarterback depth will stay important until Williams returns. Chicago now has evidence that it can still move the ball through a more conventional passing structure but future opponents will have more film on Keenum and more time to prepare for that version of the offense.

Chicago Found Production Through Different Receivers

Keenum’s passing numbers tell only part of the Philadelphia story. Kalif Raymond caught six passes for 90 yards, including a 41 yard touchdown. Luther Burden III caught seven for 61 yards and scored on Chicago’s opening drive. Colston Loveland added four catches for 31 yards.

That distribution gave Keenum options at different points of the game. Burden finished the first possession, while Raymond’s longer scoring play widened Chicago’s lead in the second half. The offense did not require one receiver to account for every important gain.

That range matters while Williams is sidelined. Keenum completed passes to multiple targets instead of leaning on one receiver for most of the yardage. Chicago paired that distribution with 115 rushing yards from Swift and Monangai, giving the offense production through both phases.

The Defense Has Responded Across Two Games

Carolina scored 37 points in the opener. Chicago then held Minnesota without a touchdown and allowed 246 total yards. The Vikings converted three of 13 third downs, keeping their offense from sustaining drives.

The defense followed that performance with an even stronger result against Philadelphia. The Bears forced three turnovers, limited the Eagles to two conversions on nine third downs and allowed only 62 yards in the second half. Philadelphia did not score after halftime.

The takeaways created opportunities as well as ending Eagles drives. One fumble recovery put Chicago at Philadelphia’s 15, although the Bears failed to score. The defense delivered the field position; finishing that possession belonged to the offense.

The Eagles Win Offers a More Complete Measure

Chicago’s 27 to 7 win combined Keenum’s 11-play opening touchdown drive with a defense that forced three consecutive three and outs early in the second half. The Bears outscored Philadelphia 17 to 0 after halftime.

Chicago also cut its penalties from eight against Minnesota to five against Philadelphia. A failed possession at the Eagles’ 1 yard line remained a concern, but the passing game and defensive stops gave the Bears a more balanced performance than their high scoring opener at Carolina.

Chicago’s later October schedule should provide a better measure of whether the strengths from its first three games can become more consistent. The Bears visit Green Bay on October 11, travel to Atlanta on October 18 and then host New England on October 22 in a short-week Thursday night game. As those October games approach, NFL news and analysis can provide additional context around injuries, recent performances and matchup trends that may affect how each test looks by kickoff.

What Chicago Carries Into October

The Bears have shown an explosive running game, capable quarterback depth and a defense that improved in consecutive outings. They have also missed scoring chances near the goal line in both a loss and a win.

The work near the goal line remains uneven. Chicago left close-range possessions empty in both its loss to Minnesota and its win over Philadelphia. How the Bears finish those drives, alongside the status of their starting quarterback, will shape the next assessment of their season.

The post What the Chicago Bears’ Early Games Reveal About the 2026 Season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Angel Reese added another award to her growing list of WNBA achievements on Thursday. The league announced that the Atlanta Dream star is the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year. The clip of her mom presenting her the trophy was posted on X, with the three-time All-Star in tears as she was overwhelmed with emotion.

Reese is amid a historic season. She has broken several WNBA records, including most rebounds in a game and in a season. The 24-year-old averaged 16.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals in 43 regular-season games. She has been vocal about a Dream player deserving to win the DPOY award, and she has since earned it.

Angel Reese gives emotional speech after receiving DPOY award

Reese immediately shed tears after seeing her mother with the trophy. She then her teammates for helping bring out the best from her, and the LSU product vowed to finish the job.

“Thank you guys,” Reese said. “I really appreciate it. I’m so grateful for you guys. You guys always been there for me and push me every single day. I’m just happy to be in Atlanta. I just want to finish this off the right way because I think we deserve it. So thank you guys. Thank you.

Angel Reese was overwhelmed with emotion as her Mom surprised her and let her know she had won the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year award.

( @WNBA) pic.twitter.com/Wh4kcHQ4pP

— WNBA on NBC and Peacock (@WNBAonNBC) October 1, 2026

Atlanta is already through to the second round after sweeping the No. 5-seeded Washington Mystics on Wednesday. Reese and Co. will next face the No. 8-seeded New York Liberty, which upset the No. 1 team, the Minnesota Lynx.

Reese will have her hands full against Breanna Stewart and the other bigs of New York. However, she has proven that she can thrive despite the defense focused on her. Reese’s DPOY win also gives her more motivation to play harder and win the title this year. It’s the franchise’s first trip to the second round since 2014, but the Dream players are not satisfied by it.

Related reading:

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The post Angel Reese broke down in tears after DPOY news appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Tyson Bagent missed the Chicago Bears’ Week 3 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. He dealt with concussion symptoms, paving the way for Case Keenum to take over under center. Caleb Williams, the team’s starter, sustained a hamstring injury in Week 2 and also sat out the “Monday Night Football” game. Bagent could’ve started but Keenum played well, helping the team win 27-7. The 26-year-old made his opinion about the veteran quarterback clear amid their QB1 battle.

Bagent entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He has rarely seen action during actual games but has earned his spot with his value during practices. The Shepherd product is also ready whenever his name is called.

Keenum, on the other hand, started his first game since 2023. He impressed by completing 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Both backups practiced on Thursday and Chicago has not yet announced who its QB1 will be in Week 4.

Chicago Bears: Tyson Bagent has high praise for Case Keenum

Reporters asked Bagent on Thursday to share his thoughts about Keenum’s game. He emphasized that he supports his veteran teammate and that he learned a lot from watching him on the field.

“I’d like to think about it in the sense of there’s a couple ways to think about it,” Bagent said. “Obviously, I would like everything that the football world can offer me. But then there’s also the part that I am from Shepherd University. So I have absolutely zero ego in this and nobody’s a bigger cheerleader and a fan of Case Keenum than I am. I think he is the epitome of what I believe a quarterback is and is supposed to be. It was fun to watch him play.”

“Nobody’s a bigger cheerleader and fan of Case Keenum than I am.”

Tyson Bagent on not playing vs. Eagles and learning from Case Keenum: pic.twitter.com/QDNI8n0jTJ

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) October 1, 2026

Bears head coach Ben Johnson and his staff have a big decision to make. However, it’s a good problem as having both Bagent and Keenum available gives them more options. Chicago will host the New York Jets on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Related reading:

Bears HC Ben Johnson sends strong message after Malik Muhammad’s ‘errors’ 

Dillon Thieneman, Malik Muhammad update emerges after Bears-Eagles game

Ben Johnson addresses his behavior after Bears win 

Chicago Bears make Case Keenum decision after Eagles win

The post Tyson Bagent makes opinion about Case Keenum very clear amid QB1 battle appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are focused on building a new stadium in Northwest Indiana, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the team will remain in Illinois with a new stadium.

The NFL is apparently doing what it can to keep the Bears viable in Illinois. Per Brenden Moore of Capitol News Illinois, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Pat Ryan, Speaker Emanuel Welch, and the top legislative negotiators regarding the new stadium project.

One name was mysteriously absent: Bears CEO/president Kevin Warren. Chairman George McCaskey was not in the meeting either.

Via the Governor’s office:

“The Governor’s Office has remained in conversation with the Bears about their plans in Illinois throughout the summer. “Today, Governor Pritzker was grateful to meet in Illinois with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Pat Ryan, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Rep. Kam Buckner, and Sen. Bill Cunningham.

“The Governor and General Assembly leadership were glad to participate in a productive meeting focused on keeping the Bears in Illinois and protecting taxpayers.”

Chicago Bears: NFL takes lead in Illinois talks

The Bears weren’t making much progress in Illinois, maybe the league can find a solution that can work for the NFL, Bears, and taxpayers of Illinois.

Illinois officials have not been in a hurry to bend to the Bears’ wants this year. The team appeared to be aggressively scoping out a territory for a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana.

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson has suggested in recent months that the “Windy City” is the best option for the Bears. Many Illinois legislators have addresses in Chicago.

The league made it clear in the spring that only the sites at Arlington Heights and Hammond are viable for the Bears. It’s unclear whether Pritzker, who isn’t opposed to the Bears remaining in Chicago, made any progress on that point with Goodell on Thursday.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Bears: NFL steps in for Illinois stadium pitch appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Case Keenum stole the show in Week 3, leading the Chicago Bears to a 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. But that doesn’t guarantee he’ll start against the New York Jets in Week 4.

On the Bears’ initial depth chart, Tyson Bagent was listed as QB2. He dealt with a concussion for most of the lead up to Monday Night Football, leading Chicago to go with Keenum as the starter. But now, Bagent has been cleared and is returning to practice.

That leaves the Bears’ quarterback situation a bit unknown. They’ll want to leave the Jets in the dark as long as possible. But at least on Tuesday, either quarterback has a chance to start in Week 4.

While that will inevitable leading to a hotly contested battle, Keenum isn’t showing any animosity. Ultimately, he knows both quarterbacks are competing for the same team.

Bears’ Case Keenum welcomes Tyson Bagent competition

It may seem a bit jarring to bench Keenum, seeing as he completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. But the veteran is aware of what Bagent bring to the field as well. Keenum’s biggest priority is simply the Bears winning football games, via Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer of the Athletic.

“I love Tyson, man,” Keenum said. “I’ve made that pretty clear how I feel about him and the type of player he is. To have him back in the building, even though it was late in the week, meant a lot. Having him on the sideline.

“He’s become a very close friend and somebody who helped me prepare and kept me honest,” he continued. “He’s one of the smartest quarterbacks I’ve ever played with. So, who knows how this week will go? I think we’ll both be ready for anything.”

Who ends up starting in Week 4 will depend on the week of practice. The coaching staff will make their decision based on which option they believe gives the franchise their best chance of success.

Both quarterbacks will stay ready for if their name is called. But if not, they seem prepared to support their fellow backup on their quest for victory.

The post Case Keenum’s clear Tyson Bagent message amid Bears quarterback battle appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears fans couldn’t take their eye off quarterback Case Keenum during his Week 3 performance. Neither could Caleb Williams.

In the 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Keenum completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He added another score on the ground. With a box score like that, Williams certainly came away impressed.

But outside of just the stats, the quarterback got to see how Keenum led the offense. He was able to watch the veteran’s preparation. Williams gained more experience understanding what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

When the quarterback returns from his hamstring strain, he’s looking to play even better than he did the first two weeks. Keenum’s Week 3 start will give him plenty to think about.

Caleb Williams learned clear Case Keenum message

Before each game, head coach Ben Johnson has a meeting with his quarterbacks. Heading into the Eagles matchup, Keenum led that meeting. Now in his 12th NFL season, he has been in plenty of those meetings.

Williams watched the veteran’s poise and command of the room. While he didn’t play in Week 3, Johnson is confident the quarterback didn’t leave empty-handed development wise, via the head coach’s Wednesday press conference.

“There’s a tremendous amount to be gained even though he didn’t participate last week,” Johnson said. “From taking a step back and seeing a big picture lens of how the entire team was preparing for the game. To specifically a different guy getting the keys to the car and seeing how he was going about his business.”

“That quarterback meeting is huge for us, and it was different with Case,” he continued. “He’s been in those for 15+ years. He’s been around a lot of really good players and has taken things from each and every guy he’s been around. I think that’s a good thing for Caleb to hear, he’ll grow from that.”

The Bears are paying close attention to Williams’ hamstring strain and hope he can return sooner rather than later. But even if he isn’t playing, Chicago still wants their quarterback to grow. Every day, every practice is an opportunity to improve.

If he isn’t starting, Williams will continue to learn from his teammates. Johnson is confident that’ll only make him a more well-rounded quarterback.

The post Bears star Caleb Williams’ biggest takeaway from Case Keenum start appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Braxton Jones made a strong impression on the Chicago Bears over the first three weeks of the season. But now a knee injury has sent him to the sidelines. Head coach Ben Johnson officially called him week-to-week.

How long Jones will be out exactly is not yet known. But at least for their Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets, the Bears must consider a backup plan at left tackle.

With Ozzy Trapilo off the injury report, he would seem like a logical replacement. However, Johnson said he wasn’t sure if Trapilo would be activated this week. He did acknowledge the tackle is getting closer to fully making his return.

If not Jones, and if not Trapilo, at left tackle, the Bears will have some major questions at the position. But Johnson already has a plan in place.

Ben Johnson lays out Bears’ left tackle situation

Ideally, the Bears would want to replace their injured left tackle with a…left tackle. But Chicago may not have that luxury in mind. A pair of guards must be prepared to potentially protect Caleb Williams’ blindside, via Johnson’s Wednesday press conference.

“He’s part of that mix, where we’re talking about guys we’ve got to evaluate throughout the course of the week,” Johnson said of Trapilo. “If not him, I think we’ve got other options at tackle. Jordan McFadden has played out wide. Obviously, we put Joe there in the past as well. We’ve got a lot of options there.”

Thuney is a leader of the offensive line and team captain at left guard. Moving him from that spot would send tidal waves throughout the rest of the trenches. But Thuney, who is the reigning Protector of the Year, has proven his versatility in the past. It’s not like he’d have to learn how to play left tackle.

McFadden is a backup at guard who has yet to play a game in 2026. If Thuney is at LT, perhaps McFadden replaces him at guard. Or, Johnson could have him make his season debut playing tackle himself.

Overall, the Bears will have some decisions to make in the wake of Jones’ injury. Their week of practice will make their plan against the Jets clearer.

The post Ben Johnson details Chicago Bears’ left tackle plan amid Braxton Jones injury appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox held a narrow 4-3 lead against the Houston Astros entering the sixth inning of Game 2. But then second baseman Chase Meidroth essentially ended the Wild Card Series with one swing of the bat.

His three-run, 390-foot home run gave the White Sox a 7-3 advantage. That would hold as the final score, meaning Chicago swept Houston. The White Sox will now advance to face the Cleveland Guardians in the Division Series.

Through their two-game set with the Astros, Meidroth hit .571 with a home run and four RBI. His home run will steal the headlines. But the second baseman was a consistent force all series.

In the moment, Meidroth wasn’t trying to play hero ball. His sole focused remained on just trying to help the White Sox win.

White Sox’s Chase Meidroth stays locked in 

Both of the runners got on base via the walk. Meidroth was aware he would likely get something to hit with Bryan Abreu trying to find the zone. The second baseman stayed focused, found his pitch and drove the White Sox to victory, via Scott Merkin of MLB.com.

“When I’m locked in on the field, I don’t know what goes through my mind,” Meidroth said. “All I’m thinking about is me and the baseball and trying to compete. But I had a good feeling.”

All year, the White Sox have been rallying around Meidroth. His 154 regular season games saw him produce a .276 batting average with 16 home runs, 63 RBIs and four stolen bases. He ranks third on the team in batting average, fourth in home runs and fifth in RBIs. Furthermore, Meidroth’s 4.5 Wins Above Replacement is the second-highest on the team.

The White Sox may know the Guardians well, but the playoffs will bring an entirely different atmosphere. Chicago will at least be more optimistic with the way Meidroth is swinging his bat.

The post White Sox hero Chase Meidroth’s instant reaction to Wild Card-clinching home run appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are coming off an impressive Monday Night victory, which propelled them to a 2-1 record to start the season.

They beat the Philadelphia Eagles without QB Caleb Williams, as third-string Case Keenum put on a show. He led the Bears to an unexpected victory, and the defense also played their part with their best showing thus far.

Clearly, head coach Ben Johnson has built this winning culture from the ground up. The standard in Chicago is much different than it has been in years past, and it shows after victories like that. Johnson is here to stay.

There have been many examples of the great foundation he has put into place. Today, Adam Hoge posted a story on X that involved some Bears veterans who volunteered to help on special teams. This comes in the wake of the struggles they had in the Week 2 loss against the Vikings.

#Bears STC Richard Hightower said Joe Thuney, Dayo Odeyingbo and Montez Sweat all wanted to help with the field goal unit after the problems the first two weeks of the season.

Thuney stepped in on the wing, while Garrett Bradbury filled in for Braxton Jones after Jones got hurt…

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) October 1, 2026

Hearing that guys like Joe Thuney, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Montez Sweat volunteered is truly awesome. It’s also vindication of what we’ve been saying since Ben Johnson was hired – the culture has changed in Chicago.

Now you could make the argument that these guys shouldn’t be taking special teams snaps. They’re all too important in their primary roles, and the risk of injury is there.

However, when you hear stories like this, it’s a great sign. The players are buying into the program that Johnson has instilled.

Ben Johnson was a home run hire by the Chicago Bears, and they should be praised for it

With all the scrutiny the Chicago Bears organization has faced, we have to bow our heads when it comes to the Ben Johnson hiring.

The entire organization has changed since his arrival. He’s brought a winning mentality to the locker room, developed players, and has proved time and time again that he will take risks.

And the fact that Chicago stole him from Detroit makes it even sweeter. The Lions offense has continued to produce since Johnson’s departure, but you can tell he was the mastermind during his time there. Getting him from a division rival was a big-time move by Ryan Poles and the entire organization.

Before Johnson came, the team was in a tough spot. The quarterback position had been a revolving door for years; the fans were losing interest, and defensively, they were a joke.

You can tell that he’s made an impact on everyone involved with the team and will continue to do so.

More Chicago Bears: Kyler Gordon could be returning very soon after recent report

The post Chicago Bears stars volunteered for field goal duty after early-season struggles appeared first on ChiCitySports.

A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces lost 99-89 to the Indiana Fever on Tuesday. The home team’s victory forced a Game 3 on Thursday, with the winner advancing to the next round. However, an incident in the fourth quarter involving the superstar forward and a fan at Gainbridge Fieldhouse continues to garner a lot of attention. Many have shared their take about it, including Stephen A. Smith.

Wilson finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Jackie Young led the way for the visitors with a game-high 31 points on 13-of-13 from the free-throw line, along with four rebounds and five assists.

Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark delivered a historic performance for Indiana. She recorded 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, seven rebounds, 15 assists and five three-pointers. Kelsey Mitchell supplied 26 points and Aliyah Boston recorded 22 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Stephen A. Smith discusses A’ja Wilson, fan incident during Indiana Fever game

The veteran sports analyst chimed in on the controversy on Wednesday. He highlighted his admiration for Wilson’s game but made it clear that he thinks she overreacted. Smith also emphasized that the fan did not appear to be approaching the four-time MVP.

“I think that she’s the best player in the world,” Smith said. “I think she’s a superstar basketball player and a great person who should be revered. She doesn’t bother anybody, she plays her heart out and she’s a champion and a league MVP. She is something special. But I think that particular instance, based on what we saw on camera and what the arena stated after the investigation into the matter, I think it looks like an overreaction. When you tangle with another player, a fan standing up and pointing at you is not a crime.

“He’s a fan of the opposing team. What did you mean he was walking towards you or approaching you? It more seems like if you look at her, she’s all the way on the court and she’s really walking towards him and then stepping to him just because he’s standing there and pointing. What is he doing? I don’t understand. What is he doing? She’s the one that’s coming over there like that.”

“It looks like an overreaction.”

—@stephenasmith on A’ja Wilson getting T’d up after confronting a Fever fan in Game 2 loss pic.twitter.com/OFwCiBM2g3

— First Take (@FirstTake) September 30, 2026

Thursday’s matchup will be played at Michelob Ultra Arena at 9 p.m. ET. The winner will take on either the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries or the No. 7 Dallas Wings. Wilson is expected to be at her best to lead her team to victory. However, Clark and Co. are aiming for an upset and live up to preseason expectations.

Related reading:

Caitlin Clark reveals 1 hope ahead of big career move

Indiana Fever react to what Caitlin Clark said after Game 2 win

Fever star Caitlin Clark makes WNBA history in Game 2

Aces coach issues statement on altercation during Fever game

The post Stephen A. Smith reacts to A’ja Wilson’s behavior during Fever game appeared first on ChiCitySports.

At this stage of his 11-year NFL, Chicago Bears guard Joe Thuney doesn’t have much left to prove. He is a four-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowler as well as a three-time First-team All-Pro. His first year with the Bears saw Thuney win the inaugural NFL Protector of the Year award.

When Ben Johnson was hired as head coach, fixing the offensive line was amongst his biggest priorities. Acquiring Thuney in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs created a domino effect. Now, he remains a clear leader and captain of the Bears. His work at left guard is irreplaceable.

As Chicago tries to go on a deep playoff run, they’re relying on Thuney to continue dominating on the left side. But throughout his career, the lineman has proven he can be versatile.

Week 3’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles gave Thuney a chance to move around the formation, he managed to set some new personal history in the process.

Chicago Bears’ Joe Thuney goes around the world 

As the Bears tried to score in the red zone, Johnson had Thuney line up at right guard. He has now played all five offensive line positions during the regular season, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. And while he isn’t 100 percent positive, Thuney believes he checked all the boxes on special teams as well, playing wing on the field goal unit as well.

“It might be a first,” he said. “It might be my last position to play on field goal. I think I’ve played ’em all.”

Thuney was on the field goal unit due to struggles from rookie tight end Sam Roush. It’s a testament to the guards versatility and willingness to fill any role asked of him.

Ultimately, the Bears will hope Thuney doesn’t have to change positions too much. But his 11 years in the league have proven he is more than capable.

The post Chicago Bears’ Joe Thuney still setting personal history in Year 11 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears seemed more than content with Braxton Jones at left tackle. Ozzy Trapilo is nearing his return from injury. It seemed as if the Bears were approaching some stability at the position.

However, Jones picked up a knee injury in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was forced to leave the game and was replaced by Theo Benedet. His status is now unknown entering Week 4.

The Bears will certainly be paying close attention to their left tackle. It’s unclear if they feel comfortable having Trapilo active in a game yet. If not, Chicago’s left tackle issue has gotten much more dire.

Swinging a trade could be seen as a drastic measure. And if Jones’ health pans out, perhaps it isn’t needed. But with the Bears suddenly in need of some depth, a new trade target has emerged.

Walker Little becomes Chicago Bears trade target 

But where Chicago and Jacksonville differ is their depth at left tackle. The Jaguars currently have Anton Harrison starting at the position, sending Walker Little to the bench. In the eyes of Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, that makes Little a prime trade candidate.

“Right now, Jacksonville isn’t one of those teams. It has its tackle tandem set with Anton Harrison and Cole Van Lanen,” Knox wrote. “Little, meanwhile, has played just 40 total snaps on offense and special teams.”

“Jacksonville would likely consider flipping Little for draft capital and/or some defensive help ahead of the trade deadline. Doing so would save the Jags $11.4 million in cap space,” he concluded.

While Little hasn’t played much in 2026, he has 73 games of NFL experience under his belt, including 39 starts. He started 14 games with the Jaguars in 2025. And while he would be a left tackle for this exercise, Little does have experience playing across the line.

Before making any trade, the Bears will do their due diligence. But if Jones’ injury is going to keep him out long-term, Chicago may need some outside help. And Little’s experience could be crucial for a Bears team trying to stay strong in the trenches.

The post Chicago Bears could address latest injury with new trade target appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Sophie Cunningham’s pregame outfits have been a must-see since she joined the Indiana Fever. The veteran once again turned heads with her all-white ensemble on Thursday ahead of her team’s Game 3 showdown with the Las Vegas Aces.

Cunningham and Co. staved off elimination with a 99-89 win on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. While the 30-year-old finished with only four points and two rebounds, she provided solid defense and a lot of energy off the bench. Caitlin Clark led the way with a historic performances, recording 27 points, seven rebounds, 15 assists and five three-pointers. Kelsey Mitchell backed her with 26 points, while Aliyah Boston contributed 22 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Indiana Fever: Sophie Cunningham’s pregame outfit on Thursday causes a stir

Cunningham posted a video on TikTok showing off her pregame look. She wore a cropped, sleeveless white top with tank straps and a scooped neckline. The Missouri product paired it with a matching high-waisted white maxi skirt with a fitted waist and a side slit.

***insert: https://www.tiktok.com/@sophiecham/video/7691821216692243742?lang=en

Fans shared their reactions in the comments section.

“Love love the outfit, ” one user said.

“Sophie you’re the best ,” one comment read.

“LOVE your energy and your mood. good luck!!!” a fan wrote.

“so so gorgeous Sophie!!!” posted another.

“Wow !! career change > high fashion model ,” one reaction read.

“Love your positive energy!!! You are beautiful Sophie!!!! Never let anyone take your sunshine away!!!!!!!” another fan commented.

The Indiana-Las Vegas Game 3 matchup will tip-off at 9 p.m. ET at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Cunningham and her teammates have momentum on their side after Tuesday’s victory. However, A’ja Wilson and the Aces will give it their all to defend their crown and eliminate the Fever. Thursday’s winner will move on to the next round to take on either the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries or the No. 7 Dallas Wings.

Related reading:

Caitlin Clark reveals 1 hope ahead of big career move

Indiana Fever react to what Caitlin Clark said after Game 2 win

Fever star Caitlin Clark makes WNBA history in Game 2

Aces coach issues statement on altercation during Fever game

The post Sophie Cunningham stuns in all-white outfit for Fever-Aces Game 3 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

DiJonai Carrington and the Chicago Sky failed to qualify for the playoffs this season. However, the veteran guard is watching the postseason closely, attending Game 2 of the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Sky finished 11th in the standings with a 16-28 record. Carrington missed the first 27 games as she recovered from an injury suffered in 2025. She appeared in 11 games, averaging 8.8 points and 3.1 rebounds. However, her solid play wasn’t enough for the team to make the playoffs for the first time in three years.

Carrington and Co. also lost six of their last seven games, failing to gain momentum ahead of the 2027 campaign. She is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and it’s unclear if she’ll return to the franchise.

DiJonai Carrington posts photo ahead of Fever-Aces Game 2

The 28-year-old posted a photo of her on her Instagram story. She wore an Aces crop top, showing her support for the defending champions and her girlfriend, Jackie Young, who she has been dating since earlier this year. An X user posted a video of Carrington walking inside the venue.

DIJONAI SIGHTING pic.twitter.com/JFG2uUH0yf

— zavanté.⋆♱ (@zavanchy) September 30, 2026

Carrington grabbed a lot of headlines earlier this season for her Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham in August. She also garnered a lot of attention for her social media posts following the incident.

Meanwhile, Indiana defeated Las Vegas 99-89 on Tuesday. Caitlin Clark led the way for the No. 6-seeded team, delivering a historic performance. They will meet again on Thursday for the winner-take-all Game 3 at Michelob Ultra Arena. The venue will likely be filled, and it remains to be seen if Carrington will once again watch live. The winner will advance to the second round to face either the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries or the No. 7 Dallas Wings. CNBC will show the game live, with tip off set at 9 p.m. ET.

Related reading:

Caitlin Clark reveals 1 hope ahead of big career move

Indiana Fever react to what Caitlin Clark said after Game 2 win

Fever star Caitlin Clark makes WNBA history in Game 2

Aces coach issues statement on altercation during Fever game

The post Sky star DiJonai Carrington spotted in Fever-Aces Game appeared first on ChiCitySports.

It’s fair to say Cubs fans had mixed feelings heading into this year’s postseason. The team that struggled down the stretch, lost the top Wild Card spot, and was running into a buzzsaw had an uphill battle. After 89 wins, the Chicago Cubs went out with a sad whimper. Even for fans who didn’t expect much, the taste was bitter after seeing a non-competitive two-game sweep to the Padres.

Nothing went right. The offense did nothing. The pitching was poor. Execution on small things like challenges was poor. Even Craig Counsell’s managing was questionable at times. The tone was set with Pete Crow-Armstrong, the likely NL MVP, striking out to start Game 1, followed by Matthew Boyd giving up a first-pitch homer to Fernando Tatis Jr. It was all downhill from there.

Now fans reflect on a season that was at times incredibly fun and insanely frustrating, while not knowing when their beloved team will play again, with a potential lockout looming.

Reflecting on the 2026 Chicago Cubs

One would think having a 40-40 player, the most runs scored in baseball, and the best defense would make a team a top postseason threat. Unfortunately, the pitching staff was a major Achilles ‘ heel. Between numerous injuries and major home run troubles, it was a grind all year. Not that the offense, which “broke” at the end, did any favors in the playoffs.

To recognize the good, there was plenty of fun at the ballpark. Not only Crow-Armstrong’s electric 40-40 season (which also included a cycle), but also the 13 walkoff wins, Alex Bregman’s second half, and a 20-3 stretch, to name a few. The highs were 2016-like at times.

It wasn’t a bad season, and it wasn’t a bad team. But it was not good enough, and that is grounds to call it a failure. What is frustrating is that President Jed Hoyer was aggressive. He paid Bregman, extended both Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner, acquired an arm with big stuff in Edward Cabrera, and was very busy at the deadline. One can say the effort was there, but in the end, they still fell well short of a World Series and of the Brewers in the standings. Again.

Saying goodbye to 2026 and looking ahead

It’s time to say goodbye to the 2026 Cubs. Personally, I thank them for the fun they brought, but I’m also disappointed they didn’t bring home hardware. Honestly, going all the way felt like a long shot given their flaws. It just would have been nice to have a moment or two of hope in the playoffs.

The path ahead is murky. Who knows what this potential lockout will bring and for how long. Regardless, the team has holes, and fixing them will be a challenge. They can sign some free agents, and there will be some available pitchers, but other needed areas are not as strong. The farm system isn’t completely bare, but it’s low in the rankings. This organization needs to produce more effective power arms and maintain health. Hopefully another bat or two as well, like Josiah Hartshorn.

It’s going to be a long path to the 2027 season (whenever that starts). Until then, we wait for next year.

The post Chicago Cubs: A weird and wild season comes to an end appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears didn’t inform Malik Muhammad he was starting until the day of their Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. Furthermore, he would be faced with a scheme shift as well.

Early on in his rookie tenure, Muhammad has been focusing on playing nickel. The Bears still aren’t sure if/when Kyler Gordon will return. On the outside, Tyrique Stevenson had been operating as CB2 next to Jaylon Johnson.

But With Stevenson dealing with a hamstring injury all week, the Bears decided to start Muhammad on the outside. He did move back to nickel when Cam Lewis got hurt, with Stevenson re-entering on the outside. Still, the fact Muhammad got the start in the first place is telling of how Chicago feels about him.

Despite earning the start, the rookie wasn’t fully satisfied with his performance. Muhammad knows he has a lot more to offer on the gridiron.

Chicago Bears’ Malik Muhammad still wants more

Overall, Muhammad put up five tackles and a quarterback hit. All game though, he was processing what it takes to succeed on the outside. The rookie feels a bit more confident now with that experience under his belt, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

“It was a little new, I’m not going to lie,” Muhammad said. “I didn’t start getting comfortable until the second quarter. I have been so solely focused on nickel I didn’t really get comfortable for real until like the second quarter.”

“Next week, I would be comfortable (if I started outside) because I’ve got one game,” he continued. “You know when your assignment switches so you’ve got to deal with that. You’ll be like, ‘Oh, (shoot), on some man calls I am going down thinking I am nickel, but now I’m at corner.’ It’s finding that fine spot where you’re comfortable with all of it.”

It is not yet known exactly where Muhammad will play moving forward. The Bears seem confident having him both inside and out. Lewis’ injury status will play a role in the alignment as well.

But wherever he is on the gridiron, Muhammad is committed to improvement. He isn’t going to rest on his laurels of simply being an NFL starter.

“I wasn’t good with my performance tonight,” Muhammad said. “I felt like I played mid. I didn’t play that well. I’ve got way more levels to this.”

The post Chicago Bears standout rookie gets brutally honest on surprise start appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago’s competitive gaming scene has watched anti-cheat go from an afterthought to the single biggest factor in whether a match feels legitimate. From the Fulton Market LAN houses to the college teams grinding ranked queues at UIC and Loyola, everyone’s felt the shift. What used to be a background process is now a kernel-level gatekeeper deciding who gets to play at all.

The last two years turned that gatekeeping into a full-blown crackdown. Ban waves now hit millions of accounts at once, publishers are getting sued over what their software can see, and Chicago’s own FaceIt regulars have had matches interrupted mid-round by behavior-based flags. That’s a different world than the PunkBuster era.

This piece walks through how anti-cheat got here, what the numbers actually show, and where the arms race between developers and cheat providers goes next. If you’re tracking the competitive integrity of titles like Counter-Strike, Valorant, or Call of Duty, the last 24 months matter more than the previous decade combined.

Key Takeaways

• Kernel-level anti-cheat became the industry standard after 2024, reshaping how Chicago’s esports scene plays and practices.
• Massive ban waves from Vanguard, VAC, and RICOCHET show enforcement scaling into the millions of accounts.
• Lawsuits and privacy complaints over kernel drivers are forcing publishers to rethink always-on system access.
• Console anti-cheat is catching up to PC, closing a gap that once let cross-play cheaters run wild.
• Machine learning detection is the next frontier, moving past static kernel drivers toward behavior-based bans.

The State of Anti-Cheat Before the 2024 Crackdown

Before the crackdown, anti-cheat mostly meant client-side anti-cheat scanning for known signatures. It compared running processes against a blacklist and banned matches, not always accounts.

Server-side authority versus client-side scanning

Server-side anti-cheat relied on an authoritative server tracking hit registration and movement, flagging statistical outliers. It caught blatant aimbot use but missed subtler wallhack and ESP abuse running quietly in memory.

Why cheat providers kept outpacing detection

Cheat developers iterated faster than publishers could patch. Signature-based detection only catches what’s already been cataloged, so new builds slipped through for weeks at a time. That gap is exactly why demand for tools like Fortnite hacks and similar products never really cooled off, even as detection matured. Cheating didn’t slow down. It just got quieter, waiting for kernel-level anti-cheat to force a reckoning.

The Year-by-Year Timeline: 2000 to 2026

Early days: PunkBuster and Valve Anti-Cheat

Even Balance shipped PunkBuster in 2000 for Team Fortress Classic, one of the first commercial anti-cheat systems. Valve followed in 2002 with VAC, initially issuing 24-hour bans before VAC2 made them permanent in 2005. BattlEye launched in 2004 as an external tool for Battlefield Vietnam before integrating directly into games by 2006.

The kernel-level turning point: Vanguard, Vigor, and BattlEye

By 2014, BattlEye had shifted toward proactive, kernel-mode inspection. Valve built VACnet around 2017 to catch behavior patterns, not just known cheat signatures. Then Riot Vanguard arrived in 2020 with Valorant, loading before the operating system session to block cheats from initializing early, the clearest ring 0 model yet.

2024-2026: the crackdown accelerates

RICOCHET brought a similar kernel driver to Call of Duty in 2021, and by 2022 to 2023, kernel-level anti-cheat was standard across major shooters. Riot made Vanguard mandatory for League of Legends in April 2024, and CS2’s ecosystem expanded live behavioral bans that same year.

Ban Waves by the Numbers: VAC, Vanguard, and RICOCHET

Numbers here tell a blunt story. Valve’s 2014 DNS-cache countermeasure affected under 0.1% of scanned clients but still produced 570 bans in one pass, a small fraction next to today’s scale.

Modern ban wave enforcement operates on a different order of magnitude entirely. RICOCHET and Vanguard both combine a kernel-level anti-cheat driver with server-side anti-cheat analysis, letting publishers batch enforcement across huge windows of matchmaking data.

What the numbers mean for competitive integrity

For Chicago players grinding FaceIt or ranked queues on CS2 or Valorant, delayed ban waves matter more than instant bans. Cheaters get caught weeks later, but matches already played can’t be un-played. Esports integrity now depends on retroactive cleanup as much as real-time detection, which is a tough pill for competitive circuits chasing legitimate results.

The Lawsuits and Privacy Backlash Over Kernel Drivers

Kernel-level anti-cheat doesn’t come free. Every driver running at ring 0 has full system access, and that access has started drawing real legal heat.

GDPR complaints and government scrutiny

Privacy concerns around always-on kernel drivers have pushed regulators in Europe to start asking harder questions about what these systems actually collect. Vanguard, in particular, has faced scrutiny for running persistently in the background, even outside active matches, which critics argue amounts to excessive system monitoring under GDPR-style frameworks. Publishers haven’t fully answered those questions yet, but the pressure is building steadily across multiple jurisdictions.

The CrowdStrike incident and why it spooked publishers

Then came the wake-up call. In July 2024, a faulty CrowdStrike kernel driver update triggered a worldwide Windows outage, bricking roughly 8.5 million devices in one afternoon. CrowdStrike wasn’t even an anti-cheat product, it was endpoint security. But the lesson landed hard on every publisher running a kernel-level anti-cheat driver of their own.

If one bad patch to a security tool can crash millions of machines, what happens when a gaming anti-cheat driver ships something broken? That question is exactly why publishers have leaned harder into staged rollouts and hardware attestation layers like Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 rather than raw kernel access alone. It’s risk mitigation dressed up as innovation, and it’s reshaping how deep these systems are allowed to dig.

Console Anti-Cheat Finally Catches Up to PC

For years, console was the soft target. No kernel access to exploit meant fewer cheats, but that gap is closing fast.

PlayStation and Xbox enforcement differences

PlayStation and Xbox rely on closed hardware ecosystems, which naturally blocks most memory scanning and DMA cheat hardware that plagues PC lobbies. Enforcement still differs between platforms, with account-level bans and hardware bans applied inconsistently across titles and regions.

What cross-play crackdowns mean for Chicago’s competitive scene

Cross-play queues used to be where PC cheaters farmed console players for easy stat padding. Chicago’s local Call of Duty and Apex circuits felt that pain directly in ranked lobbies and scrims. Tighter server-side anti-cheat correlation between platforms has started closing that hole, though it’s far from sealed shut.

Inside the Cheat Economy Fueling the Arms Race

None of this crackdown history erased the demand side. If anything, the anti-cheat arms race just pushed the cheat economy further underground and made it more organized.

Subscription-based cheat providers and DMA hardware

Cheat providers moved almost entirely to subscription models years ago, and DMA cheat hardware, external devices reading memory without touching the host kernel, became the workaround of choice for players trying to dodge kernel-level anti-cheat entirely. It’s expensive, it’s technical, and it’s still growing.

Battlelog.co exists in that same competitive landscape, offering 24-hour, 7-day, and 30-day access keys starting at $5.90 for titles like Call of Duty, CS2, Valorant, and Rust, among others. Every product ships with randomized testing at least six times weekly and over 60 hours of QA, engineered to stay ahead of anti-cheat driver updates rather than reacting after the fact.

Why aimbot and ESP demand hasn’t slowed down

Aimbot and ESP demand hasn’t cooled off one bit, ban waves or not. Players chasing an edge in ranked matchmaking keep the market moving, and detection engineering keeps racing to match it. Battlelog.co is independent and isn’t affiliated with Activision, Riot, Valve, or any other publisher named here.

What’s Next: Machine Learning and Behavior-Based Detection

Kernel drivers aren’t the endpoint. They’re a stepping stone toward something smarter.

Beyond kernel drivers toward AI pattern recognition

Machine learning detection systems like VACnet already flag suspicious behavior patterns instead of just scanning for known cheat signatures. Expect that shift to accelerate, with future anti-cheat leaning on player behavior modeling more than static kernel checks alone.

What this means for Chicago gamers watching esports

For Chicago fans following local esports orgs and FaceIt circuits, behavior-based bans mean fewer false positives and, eventually, faster enforcement. It won’t stop cheating outright. Nothing has yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is kernel-level anti-cheat safe for my PC? Vanguard, BattlEye, and similar drivers run at ring 0, same territory as the CrowdStrike incident that crashed millions of machines. Risk is real, if rare.

Can console players still encounter cheaters in cross-play lobbies? Yes. Server-side anti-cheat correlation helps, but DMA cheat hardware and PC exploits still leak into cross-play matchmaking against Xbox and PlayStation.

Will ban waves ever fully stop cheating? No system has yet. Machine learning detection narrows the gap, but the anti-cheat arms race keeps evolving on both sides, and cheat developers keep adapting.

The post How Anti-Cheat Crackdowns Have Changed Competitive Gaming Since 2024 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever avoided elimination on Tuesday with a Game 2 win over the Las Vegas Aces. They forced a winner-take-all Game 3 with a 99-89 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. However, a heated moment in the fourth quarter involving A’ja Wilson and fan garnered a lot of attention. The veteran guard had something to say about it on TikTok.

Cunningham finished with only four points and two rebounds in 23 minutes, but she contributed more than what the stat sheet showed. She was instrumental to the team gaining momentum late in the second quarter and take control of the game. Caitlin Clark led the way for Indiana with a historic performance. She finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, 15 assists and five three-pointers. Kelsey Mitchell contributed 26 points, while Aliyah Boston added 22 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Indiana Fever: Sophie Cunningham reacts to a gesture’s ‘comeback’

The 30-year-old became a meme earlier this season for pointing at then-Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner. Tuesday’s incident also stemmed from a fan pointing at Wilson, and the clip of it has since gone viral on social media. Cunningham shared her thoughts about its “comeback.”

“Not trying to be dramatic at all,” Cunningham said. “Like, seriously. I was just here having my morning coffee and what a damn comeback year for ‘The Point.’ Who would have ever thought. Just who would have ever thought?”

@sophiechamaccording to the rule book…..

♬ original sound – S O P H I E

Cunningham and the Fever will visit the Aces on Thursday for Game 3 at Michelob Ultra Arena. The winner will advance to the next round against either the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries or the No. 7 Dallas Wings. Indiana enters the matchup with momentum on its side, but Wilson and Las Vegas will give it their to all to defend their crown. CNBC will broadcast the game live starting at 9 p.m. ET.

Related reading:

Sky star Kamilla Cardoso turns heads at Bears-Eagles game

Did Caitlin Clark, Stephanie White call each other out after Fever’s blowout loss? 

Fever announce Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston updates before Game 2 vs. Aces

Stephanie White facing backlash over postgame comments

The post Sophie Cunningham had something to say after Indiana Fever controversy appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Malik Muhammad has been impressive through his first three NFL games. The Chicago Bears rookie has shown that he belongs in the league and that he’ll play a vital role for the team as the season progresses. Head coach Ben Johnson sent a strong message about the cornerback’s “errors” that need to be corrected.

Muhammad has 11 combined tackles so far. It consists of five assisted and six solo efforts, along with 1.0 sacks, one tackle for loss and one interception. The team’s secondary is dealing with injuries to some of its key players, particularly safety Coby Bryant who will be out for four to six months after undergoing knee injury.

The good news for Chicago is Muhammad is living up to the preseason hype, as well as Dillon Thieneman. They made franchise history on Monday as the first rookies to record an interception each in the first three games.

Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson speaks highly of Malik Muhammad’s game

Johnson addressed the media on Wednesday and praised Muhammad’s game. He also talked about the 22-year-old’s communication errors through Week 3.

“He’s a sticky player,” Johnson said. “He continues to get better every single game, every single practice. We had a couple communication errors last week that we got to clean up, but he’s going to learn from that and he’s going to continue to get better. I think we’re really pleased through three games where he’s at, being able to contribute to our defense and our team in general. He’s a competitor and we really like where he’s at right now. He’s on an upward trajectory.”

Ben Johnson on Malik Muhammad’s Game:

“He’s a sticky player. He continues to get better every single game, every single practice. We had a couple communication errors last week that we got to clean up, but he’s going to learn from that and he’s going to continue to get better. I… pic.twitter.com/tWZoU8p5N9

— Bears on Real (@BearsOnReal) September 30, 2026

The Bears are coming off a 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football.” Case Keenum took over Caleb Williams under center, starting his first game since 2023. The entire team stepped up and shined on national TV, including Muhammad, who once again had a solid game. Chicago will return to action on Sunday to take on the New York Jets at Soldier Field.

Related reading:

Chicago Bears make Case Keenum decision after Eagles win

Bears: Coby Bryant’s strong reaction to Dillon Thieneman’s first career INT

ESPN reporter Mina Kimes’ outfit for Bears game turns heads   

WWE star Seth Rollins sends strong Bears message before Eagles game

The post Bears HC Ben Johnson sends strong message after Malik Muhammad’s ‘errors’ appeared first on ChiCitySports.

When the Chicago Bears used their first-round pick on Dillon Thieneman, he immediately became a building block on defense. Early on, the safety has been one of Chicago’s brightest stars.

Through the first three games, Thieneman leads the Bears with 23 tackles, adding three pass breakups – which is tied for the team lead – and an interception. If he continues playing like this, safety’s spot in the defense will remain secured for the foreseeable future.

In the Bears’ Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Thieneman led the team with six tackles and also made his first career pick. The rookie was all over the field, stopping the Eagles from moving forward numerous times.

Dillon Thieneman saves a TD on Saquon Barkley. Then stuffs Saquon at the goal line.

Then picks off Andy Dalton on the very next play. This is a rookie by the way. pic.twitter.com/XmzWeZIhsK

— Dave (@davebftv) September 29, 2026

Thieneman’s interception will be one he won’t forget anytime soon. He does admit that when he secured the ball, he did have some ulterior motives.

Chicago Bears’ Dillon Thieneman makes first NFL pick

At the back of the formation, Thieneman was scanning the field when Andy Dalton dropped back to pass. He saw the play unfold and found the perfect moment to attack. The safety was in the perfect spot, corralling his coveted first NFL interception, via CHGO.

“I was waiting in that second window, the ball was just right there,” Thieneman said.

Dillon Thieneman on his first career interception

Says he wanted to keep running with the ball but saw everyone looking at him and took a knee pic.twitter.com/z69hjC25K7

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) September 29, 2026

When he realized he made the pick, Thieneman’s first thought was try to run out of the end zone and make a play. But with the lead and momentum on their side, the safety’s teammates talked him out of that plan.

“Oh yeah, I was trying to,” Thieneman said about taking the ball out. “I was running, about to make a move. Everybody was looking at me and was like, ‘No, don’t come out. So I just went down.”

While he is excited about the milestone, the rookie is well aware of the long season ahead of him. He will consistently be asked to make plays. But that’s a challenge Thieneman welcomes head on. He is already thinking towards his next pick.

“Excitement. Makes me want another one,” the rookie concluded.

The post Bears rookie Dillon Thieneman’s immediate thought after 1st NFL interception appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are entering Week 4 at 2-1 while the New York Jets are 1-2. Still, head coach Ben Johnson and company aren’t going to underestimate any opponent.

Furthermore, the Jets have shown vast improvement early on in 2026. Their offense ranks 13th in total offense, averaging 329 yards per game. Even more impressive, New York ranks second in total defense, allowing 258.3 YPG. The Jets still have some work to do before being considered true contenders. But they haven’t been pushovers through the first three weeks.

In terms of injuries, the storyline remains focused on quarterback Caleb Williams. He seems unlikely to play barring a miraculous recovery from his hamstring strain. Either Case Keenum or Tyson Bagent will earn the start under center.

On the Jets side of the coin, things are looking somehow more drastic. Their injury report is a laundry list to begin the week.

New York Jets banged up for Chicago Bears battle

On Wednesday, New York saw defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick return to practice, which was a good sign. But in turn, players like Breece Hall, Mason Taylor and Adonai Mitchell didn’t suit up. Rich Cimini of ESPN put the Jets’ current injury situation into a blunt perspective.

“So for Sunday, the Jets are looking at the likelihood of no Breece Hall, no AD Mitchell, no Mason Taylor and no Dylan Parham, who would be replaced by Jordan Meredith,” Cimini wrote.

Hall is the team’s leading running back, with no other rusher earning more than 19 carries this season. His loss would take a sizable bite out of New York’s offense. Mitchell has been a field stretcher for the Jets, averaging 13.7 yards per carry. While Taylor has yet to make an impact, the his team envisions a dynamic two tight end attack with Kenyon Sadiq. Parham is the team’s starting left guard.

The Bears will be paying close attention to the injury report all week. Chicago wants to be prepared as possible as they try to get a win streak going.

The post New York Jets entering Chicago Bears clash severely shorthanded appeared first on ChiCitySports.

We’re only one day away from the launch of Caitlin Clark’s first signature shoes, the Nike Caitlin 1s. Fans have been looking forward to it for months and they are expected to be sold out quickly. The Indiana Fever superstar guard posted a message on X and revealed a hope she has.

She and the team are coming off a 99-89 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday. The victory extended the first-round series to a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday at Michelob Ultra Arena. Clark finished with 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, with seven rebounds, 15 assists and five three-pointers.

The 2024 Rookie of the Year also made WNBA history again with her performance. She tied the league record for most points scored and assisted in a postseason game with 58. Clark’s 15 assists is her playoff career-high, good for third all-time in the postseason in league history.

Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark’s message 1 day before release of signature shoes

The three-time All-Star shared that she hops fans will love the Nike Caitlin 1s and apparel. She is excited for the release and vowed that there would more to come in the future.

“OCTOBER 1 IS ALMOST HERE!!!!! Hope you all love the Caitlin 1 + clothing as much as I loved creating them with

@Nike!! This is only the beginning of what we have coming,” Clark wrote.

OCTOBER 1 IS ALMOST HERE!!!!! Hope you all love the Caitlin 1 + clothing as much as I loved creating them with @Nike !! This is only the beginning of what we have coming

— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) September 30, 2026

Meanwhile, Clark and the Fever have a chance to complete the first-round upset in Game 3. However, it won’t be easy as A’ja Wilson and the Aces will do everything they can to protect homecourt and defend their championship. Thursday’s winner will advance to the next round to take on either the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries or the No. 7 Dallas Wings. The game will tip off at 9 p.m. ET and is expected to be an all-out war.

Related reading:

Sky star Kamilla Cardoso turns heads at Bears-Eagles game

Did Caitlin Clark, Stephanie White call each other out after Fever’s blowout loss? 

Fever announce Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston updates before Game 2 vs. Aces

Stephanie White facing backlash over postgame comments

The post Caitlin Clark reveals 1 hope ahead of big career move appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Early in the offseason, there were rumblings defensive tackle Gervon Dexter wanted a hefty pay raise via a new contract from the Chicago Bears before the regular season.

Nothing transpired between the Bears and Dexter, and Chicago traded the 2023 second-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick.

On Wednesday, the Falcons and former Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, now the GM of the Atlanta, gave Dexter the pay day he was asking for this year. Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Atlanta agreed to a four-year, $78 million contract extension.

“The Falcons and DT Gervon Dexter have agreed to a 4-year, $78M contract extension with $46.5M guaranteed, per sources,” Schultz posted on X. “Atlanta acquired Dexter from Chicago before the season, and he has been elite with a 20.5% pressure rate, ranking among the NFL’s top-10.

“Falcons GM Ian Cunningham helped draft Gervon Dexter in Chicago, traded for him as GM in Atlanta, and now extends him.”

Dexter has appeared in three games but has made no starts for the Falcons this season. He’s recorded seven tackles, three quarterback hits, and .5 sacks for the 1-2 Falcons.

The Bears were never going to agree to a $78 million extension for Dexter, who had the second-highest sack total on their defense in 2025 with six sacks.

Did the Chicago Bears win the Gervon Dexter trade?

How has the trade worked out for Chicago so far?

The Bears have gotten decent production from defensive tackles Kentavius Street  (one sack) and Neville Gallimore. Phillips has appeared in three games but has made no starts or stats on defense despite the defense having depth issues at cornerback.

Clark hasn’t played a snap on defense and has played 14 snaps (18%) on special teams.

Chicago still has the Day 3 pick to play with.

Good on Dexter for believing in himself and getting a new deal, but it was time for Chicago to part ways with the defensive tackle.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Falcons just paid Gervon Dexter big-time after Chicago Bears trade appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears recently moved to 2-1, following an impressive 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

This Sunday, they’ll host the New York Jets at Soldier Field, hoping to win their third game of the young season. An encouraging part of the Eagles’ victory was Chicago’s defense, which has looked very good over the past two weeks.

They shut down Jalen Hurts and company and put on their best defensive performance of the season. Rookies Dillon Thieneman and Malik Muhammad looked great once again, as this young secondary has improved since their Week 1 collapse.

A major part of this secondary is DB Kyler Gordon, who has been on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list since Week 1. Fortunately for the Bears, his return could be around the corner, as his 21-day window to practice was opened today.

#Bears have opened the 21-day return to practice window for CB Kyler Gordon, who is on the PUP list.

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) September 30, 2026

A week ago, Bears head coach Ben Johnson was asked about Gordon’s availability. He responded by saying, “I have nothing to add there.”

It wasn’t the most promising response, as many speculated he could continue to miss time. And make no mistake: just because his practice window is open, that doesn’t mean his return is imminent. He could be out for a majority of this season, but he will need to practice within the next three weeks to avoid a season-long IR stint.

With the Chicago Bears defense looking solid, will they welcome Kyler Gordon back with open arms?

Even with the two-week turnaround, this Chicago Bears defense is still a question mark.

They’ve been getting to the quarterback with greater frequency, but the secondary is still young and vulnerable. Veteran DB Jaylon Johnson has looked better in the past few weeks, but still not up to the standard that many expect.

Gordon is one of the better nickelbacks in the NFL, and the Bears are patiently awaiting his return. While his rehab has caused a bit of confusion (He’s doing it away from the team), his impact on this secondary cannot be understated.

If the Bears want to continue gaining momentum on defense, Kyler Gordon is a needed piece.

More Chicago Bears: Does Jared Goff have beef with Ben Johnson?

The post Major Kyler Gordon update drops as Chicago Bears open practice window appeared first on ChiCitySports.

During his Week 3 postgame press conference, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson took what many believed was a shot at Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. The comment came when Johnson was asked about game planning for backup quarterback Case Keenum.

Chicago’s head coach noted that he has experience calling plays for non-mobile quarterbacks in the past. Working formerly as the Lions offensive coordinator, Johnson was obviously talking about Goff.

#Bears HC Ben Johnson with a friendly dig at Jared Goff pic.twitter.com/TDkWTDOv0o

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 29, 2026

Goff and Johnson enjoyed plenty of success in Detroit. Furthermore, the quarterback’s career has been fully rejuvenated on the Lions. While he may not be the most mobile – and compared to starter Caleb Williams, not many are – Johnson knows Goff is still an elite quarterback.

Which is why the Lions star didn’t see it as a true dig. Both sides still hashed out the comment though, as their friendly rivalry inside the NFC North rages on.

Jared Goff has no issue with Bears’ Ben Johnson

Johnson made sure Goff to explain his side of the comment. There was no bad blood in the message. The quarterback understood right away, and it’s now water under the bridge. But Goff may hit Johnson with a “dig” of his own down the line, via the St. Brown podcast.

“I know there was no ill intent to that. He seems to be a lightning rod for them, they pick up everything he says,” Goff said. “He called me this morning like, ‘Dude, you know that means nothing.’ I’m like, ‘Yea dude, you’re good, no worries. Don’t worry about it.”

“I’ll have to throw something his way, where I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, whatever, play caller, blah blah blah. And then I’ll call him and be like, ‘Dude, you know I’m just kidding,'” he continued.

"(Ben) called me this morning and was like 'Dude, you know that means nothing.'"

Jared Goff speaks on Ben Johnson's "not so mobile" comment https://t.co/tbsqxuxUYN pic.twitter.com/Z563Ek0dXA

— St. Brown Podcast (@StBrownPodcast) September 30, 2026

The Bears’ first matchup with the Lions in 2026 will come on the road in Week 12. They’ll then host Detroit for the rematch in Week 17. Based on where both teams want to be, both gams should have serious playoff implications.

As they fight to win the NFC North, both Johnson and Goff are sure to have plenty of sound bites. But behind the scenes, the head coach and quarterback still remain tight.

The post Jared Goff extinguishes notion of beef with Bears’ Ben Johnson appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Case Keenum’s performance in Week 3 has completely changed the trajectory of the Chicago Bears. Being able to win without starting quarterback Caleb Williams is a sign the Bears are serious about making a deep playoff run.

But Keenum breaking out has opened a dialogue about Chicago’s quarterback room at large. Williams is undoubtedly the starter while Keenum proved he could more than hold his own. Then there’s Tyson Bagent, who opened the year as QB2 on the depth chart.

Having three capable quarterbacks has led some fans to believe a trade could be afoot. Williams will soon be back, and either Bagent or Keenum could start until then. In turn, Chicago would recoup some draft capital while dealing from a strength.

But the Bears value all three quarterbacks on their roster heavily. Trading away Keenum or Bagent is much easier said than done.

Chicago Bears not likely to trade quarterback 

Both Keenum and Bagent have proven they can handle head coach Ben Johnson’s offense. Furthermore, the presence of two capable quarterbacks lessened the blow of Williams’ injury. A trade may make sense in theory, but Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune doesn’t see a way one happens.

“Keenum is 38, and you know what they say about players his age? They’re year to year. We have no idea what his status will be in 2027. As Ben Johnson said, the Bears had Bagent second on their depth chart for a reason,” Biggs wrote. “I’m not throwing any cold water on a terrific outing by Keenum on Monday night, but the Bears have developed (and paid) Bagent as their No. 2 for a reason and they’re playing the long game here.”

“You’re also ignoring the fact the Bears really love the vibe they have in their quarterback room right now,” he continued. “I don’t see them doing anything in season to change that.”

If Keenum weren’t on the roster, practice squad QB Miller Moss might’ve been thrown into the fire if Bagent didn’t recover in time. Overall, the Bears prefer their depth and overall makeup of the quarterback room. Splitting that up, especially in a season where Williams is hurt, could do more harm than good.

Of course, the NFL is unpredictable. But for now, the Bears are focused on figuring out a Week 4 starter between Bagent or Keenum rather than trying to trade one away.

The post Chicago Bears insider completely nixes idea of quarterback trade appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs start to the 2026 post season is not off to a good start. In Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series they were shut out by the San Diego Padres in a crushing 8-0 defeat. San Diego came out swinging in this contest, with two of their first three batters hitting home runs off Matthew Boyd, with the southpaw ultimately giving up three long balls overall.

Furthermore, the loss stings beyond the final score, as the Cubs now face elimination and must win the next two games in a row to advance to the NLDS. With their season hanging in the balance, here are three reasons why the Game 1 defeat hurts even more.

Three reasons the Chicago Cubs Game 1 loss in the National League Wild Card Series to the San Diego Padres string even more

1) Second consecutive post season being shut out by the Padres

In 2025, the Cubs dropped Game 2 of the NLWC against the Padres, 3-0, forcing a decisive Game 3. Being shut out by the same team in consecutive postseasons is tough enough, but suffering a blowout in Game 1 this time around makes the situation even more painful.

2) Padres preserved their elite bullpen arms

Building off the previous point, San Diego needed just three pitchers to get through Game 1. Michael King went seven innings, Yuki Matsui followed with a scoreless eighth, and Joe Musgrove closed things out in his return to an MLB mound after two years away. That’s significant for the Cubs, as the Padres’ elite bullpen remains fresh heading into Game 2, and potentially for Game 3 if needed.

3) Cubs offense sputtered

The Cubs entered the postseason as MLB’s highest-scoring offense in 2026, making their Game 1 performance even more difficult to swallow. During the regular season, Chicago averaged nine runs and hit more than three home runs per game across six matchups against the Padres, yet the lineup was completely shut down in the opener. The Cubs failed to score a run, did not record an extra-base hit, or generate much of any offensive momentum, going just 3-for-31, with two hits coming off Musgrove, and striking out 11 times in total.

The post Three reasons Chicago Cubs Game 1 loss to Padres stings extra appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever refused to see their season end in Game 2 on Tuesday. They defeated the Las Vegas Aces 99-89 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to extend their first-round series to a Game 3. The star guard also delivered some strong words about their victory.

Clark led all Indiana scorers with 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. She added seven rebounds, a career playoff-high 15 assists and was a +15 on the night. Kelsey Mitchell added 26 points, while Aliyah Boston produced 22 points, four rebounds and five assists.

The Fever entered the matchup coming off a 102-85 loss in Game 1. Clark struggled from the field, converting just 6-of-17 attempts, and finished with 15 points and 10 assists.

Meanwhile, the Aces were led by Jackie Young’s game-high 31 points built on four three-pointers. She also registered four rebounds, five assists and shot 13-of-13 from the free-throw line. A’ja Wilson backed her with 22 points, nine rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Fever posts Caitlin Clark’s postgame comments

Clark highlighted the team’s winning mindset in Game 2 during her postgame availability. She and her teammates played with a chip on their shoulders and gave it their all to keep their championship quest alive.

“I think we had the mentality (that) this was one we were going to win no matter what,” Clark said.

no matter what pic.twitter.com/zSs6yl1ZPX

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 30, 2026

The Fever added their reaction in the caption.

“no matter what ,” the team wrote.

Clark and Co. will only have one day to prepare for the winner-take-all game. They will visit the defending champions again at Michelob Ultra Arena, with Aces fans expected to fill the venue. However, the Fever know the environment waiting for them and have momentum on their side. Thursday’s winner will advance to the next round to take on either the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries or the No. 7 Dallas Wings.

Related reading:

Sky star Kamilla Cardoso turns heads at Bears-Eagles game

Did Caitlin Clark, Stephanie White call each other out after Fever’s blowout loss? 

Fever announce Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston updates before Game 2 vs. Aces

Stephanie White facing backlash over postgame comments

The post Indiana Fever react to what Caitlin Clark said after Game 2 win appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are now just one game away from advancing to the American League Division Series. As they try to take down the Houston Astros, the franchise will be turning to right-hander Sean Burke on the mound.

Burke, like most players on this year’s White Sox, will be making his playoff debut. His work during the regular season will certainly give Chicago some confidence though. Over his 32 games, including 27 starts, the righty put up a 3.34 ERA and a 185/62 K/BB ratio.

The ERA mark is a new career-high mark for Burke in seasons with five+ games played. As were his 185 strikeouts, which led the White Sox. While the playoffs breed and entirely different beast, the franchise will remain confident behind Burke.

After using five pitchers in Game 1, the White Sox will hope their starter can give them some quality innings. For Burke, it’s all he has been focused on.

Sean Burke fully locked in to Chicago White Sox

The White Sox entered the playoffs with a chip on their shoulder, as they were never expected to be there in the first place. It’s all Burke can focus on. There are no other distractions taking him away from White Sox baseball, via James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“This is my life,” Burke said. “No family—no girl, no kids. This is all I do.”

Chicago will need a high level of focus from Burke as he prepares for his start. Earning a 6-3 victory in game one has led to plenty of optimism from the White Sox. But if they were to lose Game 2, they would be on the brink of being eliminated. Chicago knows they can’t rest on their laurels.

With Burke’s mindset, they at least see their starting pitcher is locked in. The only thing on the right-hander’s mind is leading the White Sox to victory.

The post Chicago White Sox’s Game 2 starter doesn’t hold back on playoff opportunity appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs didn’t start their playoff run as hoped, falling in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series to the San Diego Padres, 8-0. Now, the franchise is on the brink of postseason elimination.

In Game 2, the Cubs will be starting Kevin Gausman on the mound, manager Craig Counsell confirmed, via Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic. Chicago is hopeful his veteran presence will give the franchise at least one more game.

Gausman is working his way back from a shoulder injury after a diving play in his final regular season start. But he was able to throw a successful bullpen session and is now ready to return to the bump. After being acquired at the trade deadline, Gausman has now found himself in a pressure packed environment for his new team.

With elimination on the line, it’ll be all hands on deck for Chicago. Nearly every pitcher will be available in Game 2. But at least to start things off, the Cubs are turning to Gausman.

Chicago Cubs relying on Kevin Gausman

Since his arrival to the Cubs, Gausman has posted a 4.83 ERA and a 57/11 K/BB ratio through nine starts. Over his 32 appearances total between the Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays in 2026, the right-hander registered a 4.51 ERA and a 184/47 K/BB ratio.

Gausman has had some blow up games with Chicago, allowing five or more runs in three starts. However, he hasn’t allowed more than two over his last two outings. With a 13/1 K/BB ratio in that span, the Cubs will ride that momentum into the playoffs.

The right-hander also has ample experience pitching in the postseason with 14 games, including eight starts on his resume. Gausman holds a 3.83 ERA and a 56/22 K/BB ratio in that time, pitching as recently as last year’s World Series.

It will take a team-wide effort by the Cubs to hold off elimination. But it’ll all start with Gausman on the mound.

The post Chicago Cubs turn to veteran in Game 2 vs. Padres with season on the line appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caitlin Clark has broken several WNBA records this season, and she made league history again in Game 2 on Tuesday. The Indiana Fever superstar delivered another impressive performance to lead the team to a 99-89 win over the Las Vegas Aces. More importantly, they avoided elimination and have a chance to advance to the next round with a Game 3 victory.

Clark amassed 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, seven rebounds, five three-pointers and a playoff career-high 15 assists. Kelsey Michell supplied 26 points, while Aliyah Boston added 22 points four rebounds and five assists. Indiana converted 37-of-71 field goal attempts, feeding off of the energy of its home fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark sets new WNBA playoff mark after Game 2 win

Clark tied the most points scored and assisted in a game in WNBA playoff history. She dominated the Las Vegas defense by knocking down shots across the floor and set up her teammates for easy baskets. The development was posted on X.

“Between her own baskets and assists, she was directly responsible for 24 of the Fever’s 37 field goals and 58 points, which is tied for the most points created in a playoff game,” CBS Sports’ Jack Maloney wrote. “Her 15 assists also tied for the third-most in a playoff game in WNBA history. ”

Indiana finished the regular season with a 28-16 record and secured the No. 6 seed. The team lost two of its last three games and faced a tough first-round clash with the defending champions. Clark and Co. suffered a 102-85 loss in Game 1, with A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray leading the No. 3-seeded team’s charge.

However, the Fever showed that they moved past it quickly and stayed alive in the playoffs. They are in position to pull off the upset on Thursday but will need to win on the road at Michelob Ultra Arena. The Aces expect to start the game strong, but Clark and her teammates are ready for the challenge and prove that they are legitimate title contenders.

Related reading:

Sky star Kamilla Cardoso turns heads at Bears-Eagles game

Did Caitlin Clark, Stephanie White call each other out after Fever’s blowout loss? 

Fever announce Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston updates before Game 2 vs. Aces

Stephanie White facing backlash over postgame comments

The post Fever star Caitlin Clark makes WNBA history in Game 2 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs didn’t exactly come into this Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres with the greatest of chances to advance to the next round.

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA ranked most important asset in 2026 playoff baseball

They were looking at three straight games on the road at Petco Park against a red-hot Padres team that has been pretty unbeatable at home. Also, momentum was clearly not on their side as they limped into this Game One a sub-.500 team since mid-August and having squandered a 6.5 game lead at the top of the National League Wild Card standings.

The Cubs were also staring down the reality that their pitching, as a whole, was nowhere near strong enough or consistent enough to be anything but a liability in postseason play.

Yeah, many fans and pundits convinced themselves that Chicago’s elite defense and top-of-the-bigs offense could carry this team through the playoffs and deep into a championship run. But every real baseball person knows that playoff baseball is pretty much all about pitching and momentum.

In short, the Cubs were cooked before they even started warm-ups in San Diego.

A brutal reality check

More News: Chicago Cubs facing big problems in Padres series, per analyst

Tuesday’s 8-0 loss in the opening of the three-game Wild Card series was the validation of all the doubters’ and critics’ warnings. An elite Michael King start for the Padres nullified the Cubs offense. A shaky Matthew Boyd start for the Cubs, meanwhile, gave up the early lead that allowed King to coast the rest of the way. By the time the Padres bullpen came into play, the game was already lost.

Boyd allowing three home runs in four innings triple-underlined the team’s greatest pitching failure this season—the lack of arms with distinct blow-them-away, swing-and-miss stuff. It also spotlighted the greatest failing of this Cubs front office—the inability and/or unwillingness to spend big on pitching.

All of this was not exactly a revelation brought to light after this game.

Per Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic:

“For Chicago to have any hope of getting through the postseason, it was going to have to piece its pitching together. As dominant as this team had been this season on defense and at the plate, its pitching was a glaring weakness. By fWAR, only the Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals were worse than the Cubs’ pitching this season.

…The hope now has to be that the pitching can hold things down long enough for the Cubs bats to wake up and carry the team. That was always how it had to be. Otherwise, a quick exit and a long offseason await.”

Lessons learned for next year?

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer did a good job of pursuing patches for the beleaguered pitching staff at the trade deadline—acquiring Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Braxton Garret. But, as things are turning out, it may have been too little, too late to salvage a season that was often showing signs of being a special one. It’s also worth noting that King was a free agent this past offseason, up for grabs to the highest bidder—as were Dylan Cease and several other starting pitchers—yet the Cubs passed.

Chicago is facing elimination Wednesday night. But even if they stay alive with a gritty victory, what about the next game? What about the series after that? This team will never meet a postseason challenge where pitching won’t be the albatross around its neck.

Next season, Hoyer and staff have the unique opportunity to almost completely rebuild their pitching staff. Several pitchers will be leaving via free agency and lots of money will be coming off the books. With no real help coming from a depleted minor league system, the Cubs have no choice but to spend in pursuit of new arms.

Time will tell if the Cubs learn from the mistakes dragging this current team to early elimination.

The post Chicago Cubs rout in San Diego offers sobering reality check appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson was mum on who would get the starting quarterback job in Week 4 against the New York Jets on Sunday.

The Bears opted not to put Caleb Williams on injured reserve before playing the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, but the quarterback is still week-to-week with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Tyson Bagent cleared the concussion protocol on Sunday, but did not get enough practice time to start against the Eagles.

Third-string quarterback Case Keenum had the game of his life on “Monday Night Football,” throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears’ 27-7 win over the Eagles.

Should the Bears go with the hot hand against the Jets? Or could New York use the tape of Monday night’s game to better stop Keenum? After all, it was obvious the Eagles weren’t ready for Johnson’s game plan of choosing to be aggressive in the passing game over using the rushing attack.

Dan Graziano of ESPN suggested that the Bears could decide to go with Bagent. That could allow Bagent’s stock to rise before the trade deadline on Nov. 10.

“We heard talk in the offseason about the Bears looking into trading Tyson Bagent, and maybe someone gets interested if he gets a start or two during Caleb Williams’ absence and looks good,” Graziano wrote.

Chicago Bears: Tyson Bagent hasn’t started since 2023

Bagent has not started a game since his rookie season in 2023. He went 2-2 when Justin Fields was battling injury.

Should the Bears even decide to think about trading Bagent? Probably not, unless they feel Keenum is good enough to play winning football in the postseason. Competent backups are essential for playoff-caliber teams. The Seattle Seahawks improved to 2-0 with Drew Lock replacing Sam Darnold at the start of this season.

The Denver Broncos would have made the Super Bowl had they had better quarterback play from a backup after Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle in the AFC Divisional Round. The Broncos, with Jarrett Stidham, scored just a touchdown in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship.

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Becky Hammon and the Las Vegas suffered a 99-89 loss to the Indiana Fever in Game 2 on Tuesday. The home team played inspired basketball to extend the series to a winner-take-all Game 3. However, an incident in the fourth quarter involving a fan and A’ja Wilson garnered a lot of attention.

Caitlin Clark spearheaded Indiana’s attack with 27 points, seven rebounds and a playoff career-high 15 assists. She shot 9-of-18 from the field and recorded five three-pointers. Kelsey Mitchell chipped in 26 points, while Aliyah Boston supplied 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting, with four rebounds and five assists.

Wilson, on the other hand, registered 22 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Hammon’s team was led by Jackie Young’s game-high 31 points, along with four rebounds and five assists.

Becky Hammon addressed fan incident after Las Vegas Aces loss to Indiana Fever

Hammon addressed the media after the game and talked about the exchange between Wilson and the fan. It happened with 4:10 left in the fourth quarter and Las Vegas trailing 90-79. The officials assessed the superstar forward with a technical foul while security removed the fan from his seat.

“There’s rules and procedures,” Hammon said. “I think there’s a certain etiquette both players and fans need to abide by. Clearly, some lines get crossed. And it seems to happen here. I can’t speak specifically to what was said or what was done. I could speak to the character of our players and stuff that they deal with. The disrespect, whether that’s a word or an action, a gesture, should be addressed appropriately. That’s not my job. It’s the job of this arena. I assume they’re following protocol.”

#Aces HC Becky Hammon, asked about the fan being allowed to return after the A’ja Wilson incident and the environment at #Fever games:

“There’s a certain etiquette that both players and fans need to abide by, but clearly the lines get crossed — and it seems to happen here. …” pic.twitter.com/B1cZqrzR9H

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 30, 2026

Las Vegas and Indiana will clash in Game 3 at Michelob Ultra Arena on Thursday. The winner will advance to the next round to face either the No. 2-seeded Golden State Valkyries or the No. 7-seeded Dallas Wings.

Related reading:

Sky star Kamilla Cardoso turns heads at Bears-Eagles game

Did Caitlin Clark, Stephanie White call each other out after Fever’s blowout loss? 

Fever announce Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston updates before Game 2 vs. Aces

Stephanie White facing backlash over postgame comments

The post Aces coach issues statement on altercation during Fever game appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Dillon Thieneman and Malik Muhammad entered the 2026 season with a bigger role than initially expected. Injuries to some of the Chicago Bears’ secondary paved the way for them to see increased playing time. The rookies have not disappointed, proving that they belong in the NFL. An update emerged about the defensive backs after the team’s 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.

Thieneman finished with six combined tackles, including four solo efforts, and one interception. Muhammad, on the other hand, recorded five total tackles and one quarterback pressure. They were instrumental with their coverage and limiting the Eagles’ conversions on both sides of the field.

Case Keenum led the offense with Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent both ruled out. The QB1 suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2, and his backup is dealing with a concussion. Keenum shined by completing 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

Bears announce Dillon Thieneman, Malik Muhammad development

Thieneman and Muhammad made Bears franchise history after Monday’s game. They became the first rookies to record an interception each in the first three games of the season.

“YOUNG STUDS: Dillon Thieneman and Malik Muhammad continue to play at a high level through 3 weeks and are the first pair of Bears rookies to each register an interception in the team’s first three games,” Bearsszn wrote. “ Bears hit absolutely HUGE home runs with these two DBs. .”

 

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The Bears will continue to rely heavily on their first-year players early this season. Coby Bryant suffered a knee injury in training camp and will be sidelined for the next four to six months.

Next up for Thieneman, Muhammad and Co. is another home fixture on Sunday versus the New York Jets. They have a chance to improve to 3-1 for season before a two-game road trip against the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons.

Related reading:

Chicago Bears make Case Keenum decision after Eagles win

Bears: Coby Bryant’s strong reaction to Dillon Thieneman’s first career INT

ESPN reporter Mina Kimes’ outfit for Bears game turns heads   

WWE star Seth Rollins sends strong Bears message before Eagles game

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Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum entered Monday Night Football facing a daunting task. Come off the bench as third-string quarterback and earn a victory over the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.

Keenum didn’t flinch from the challenge, ultimately leading the Bears to a 27-7 win. He completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He added another score with his legs.

Week 3 marked the first time Keenum had appeared in an NFL game since 2023. He was buried on the depth chart behind Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent, expected to operate more as a coach than pass thrower. But when his number was called, Keenum proved he had plenty of gas left in the tank.

Head coach Ben Johnson couldn’t have imagined the performance his QB3 put on. But he wasn’t shocked to see Keenum shine.

Ben Johnson’s immediate Case Keenum take 

At Sunday’s quarterback meeting, Johnson admits Keenum stole the show. He was poised and confident, pointing out areas of strength. That preparation manifested on the field in a performance Johnson won’t soon forget, via the head coach’s postgame press conference.

“It’s all about Case Keenum and what he was able to do here tonight,” Johnson said. “He did an extraordinary job. When the run game isn’t going, as a play caller, being able to lean into the passing game and knowing that our guys are going to protect for him, he’s going to go to the right guy in time, take care of the football, good decisions. He played really efficient football. Couldn’t be more proud of him for that.”

“Not surprised at all,” he continued. “He tackled everything this week with enthusiasm. The guys really responded to how he was approaching it. They knew going into it, we’ve got one of the best quarterback rooms in the NFL. Tonight was a reflection of that.”

Johnson didn’t ignore the context of starting for Keenum. At 38-years-old and as QB3, there was no guarantee he would see the field. Now, he had at least one more shot to be a starting NFL quarterback. Still, Johnson acknowledges that Keenum wasn’t blinded by the bright lights.

“You could tell it meant a lot to him, but at the same time he kept his composure,” the head coach said. “It’d be easier for a younger player to get over excited. You could tell he was ready and couldn’t wait to get out there. At the same time, under control. The rest of the unit feeds off of that. His demeanor really radiated with everybody. He’s always positive and the guys love that.”

The Bears had their backs up against the wall and put all of their eggs in Keenum’s basket. That plan worked to perfection, as Chicago gained momentum back and moved to 2-1.

The post Ben Johnson’s immediate reaction to Case Keenum’s Bears heroics appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Second-year manager Will Venable has his first playoff win under his belt, as his Chicago White Sox defeated the Houston Astros 6-3 in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series. The victory marked the organization’s first postseason win since 2021. If the White Sox can win one of the next two games against the Astros, they’ll advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2005, where a matchup with the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS awaits.

Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the job Venable did in Game 1, particularly considering it was a bullpen game. From his lineup construction, pitching matchups, and in game decisions, Venable consistently put his players in position to succeed. Here are three examples from the game where he made the right call.

3 correct buttons Will Venable pushed during the White Sox Game 1 win

1) Moving Colson Montgomery to the ninth spot

Before the game, Venable made an interesting lineup adjustment, moving power-hitting shortstop Colson Montgomery into the ninth spot. Montgomery set an MLB record for strikeouts during the regular season, but he also showcased his power with 31 home runs. It was a spot in the batting order he hadn’t occupied all season, but the move immediately paid off. Montgomery rewarded his manager’s decision by launching a solo home run in the fourth inning.

2) Astros star Yordan Alvarez saw just one plate appearance against a right-handed pitcher

One bat the White Sox need to neutralize in this series is Yordan Alvarez. The left-handed slugger flirted with a Triple Crown this season, but one area Venable chose to exploit was the significant split in Alvarez’s OPS against right-handed (.1.114) and left-handed (.825) pitching. In Game 1, Venable strategically deployed left-handers against Alvarez. Opener Hagen Smith faced him twice, while Sean Newcomb faced him once, and Alvarez failed to reach base in all three plate appearances. The lone time Alvarez faced a right-hander, Grant Taylor, he singled.

3) Sticking with Grant Taylor to finish the game

Reliever Grant Taylor was undoubtedly the White Sox’s most consistent bullpen arm all season, posting a 2.25 ERA and recording 10 saves. He also possesses some of the best stuff on the staff, striking out 31% of the batters he faced. In Game 1, Venable entrusted Taylor with the final seven outs, and he delivered. Taylor threw a season-high 54 pitches, his most in a game since April 2025, when he was still in Double-A, while striking out five. Despite having baserunners in all three innings, Taylor never lost his composure, navigating the traffic and closing out the 6-3 victory.

• Related: Will Venable already has Game 2 pitching plan in mind

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Quarterback Case Keenum had a game no one could’ve predicted against the Philadelphia Eagles. His latest act in the Monday Night Football clash has etched his name into the Chicago Bears history books forever.

Keenum ran in a one-yard run on a quarterback sneak to give the Bears a 27-7 lead. He became oldest player in Bears history to run in a touchdown, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

“At 38 years and 223 days young, Case Keenum is the oldest player to score a rushing touchdown in Bears history,” Cronin wrote.

CASE KEENUM TAKES IT HIMSELF FOR 6️⃣@PHIvsCHI on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/wzuJYvhELQ

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2026

Entering Monday’s game, Keenum ran in a touchdown since 2019. The Eagles certainly weren’t preparing for him to make an impact with his leg. While it wasn’t a Caleb Williams wizard play, the rushing touchdown put an emphasis on Chicago’s Week 3 dominance.

Overall, Keenum completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He consistently moved the ball down field and got the ball into the playmaker’s hands in open space. Head coach Ben Johnson couldn’t have asked for a better performance.

Keenum’s outing against the Eagles proved that he stays ready for whenever his name is called. Now, his remarkable performance will be forever remembered.

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Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears shined on “Monday Night Football” by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7. The home win improved their record to 2-1 for the season and they did it with Caleb Williams sidelined. The second-year head coach addressed his postgame celebration in the locker room.

Case Keenum took over as the starting quarterback with Tyson Bagent also ruled out with a concussion. The Houston Cougars product completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards, two touchdowns and a 110.8 passer rating. He maximized his weapons, with Kyle Monangai leading the rushing department, while Luther Burden III had the most receptions. The running back finished with 20 rushes for 84 yards and the wide receiver contributed seven catches for 61 yards and one touchdown.

Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson discusses his postgame celebration

Johnson entered the locker room with his players celebrating the big win. He showed off the stanky leg and hinted that the crip walk could be his next celebration.

“I walk in there and I had no idea that they were going to have a boom box ready and everyone was waiting for me,” Johnson said. “I didn’t know what to do. So I just defaulted to my old self a little bit. I’m glad I kept it PG rated… The crip walk might come out next. We’ll see.”

Ben Johnson talks about hitting the stanky leg after the Bears win over the Eagles and says the crip walk could be coming out next:

“I just defaulted to my old self a little bit…the crip walk might come out next. We’ll see.”

WE NEED A BEN JOHNSON CRIP WALK VIDEO

:… pic.twitter.com/HzdGUFTzkH

— Bearsszn (@bearszn) September 29, 2026

The 40-year-old has never been shy to show emotions during and after games. He has also built a strong bond with his players and coaching staff on and off the field. Johnson has received a lot of praise for guiding the team to victory on Monday despite playing shorthanded.

Next up for the Bears is another home matchup in Week 4. They will host the New York Jets with a chance to start a winning streak. Securing a 3-1 record is crucial as Chicago will have a two-game road trip after.

Related reading:

WWE star Seth Rollins sends strong Bears message before Eagles game 

Bears coach Ben Johnson’s honest admission before Eagles game

Bears guard Jonah Jackson highlights silver lining of Caleb Williams injury

NFL announces Chicago Bears punishment before Eagles game

The post Ben Johnson addresses his behavior after Bears win appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever stayed alive in the WNBA playoffs with a Game 2 win over the Las Vegas Aces. They entered Tuesday’s matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse trailing 0-1 in the best-of-three series and at the brink of elimination. The superstar guard delivered an impressive performance but is also facing a fine from the WNBA.

Clark finished with 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. She also recorded seven rebounds and a playoff career-high 15 assists. Kelsey Mitchell backed her with 26 points and three three-pointers, while Aliyah Boston contributed 22 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Meanwhile, Jackie Young led Las Vegas’ charge with a game-high 31 points, along with four rebounds and five assists. A’ja Wilson added 22 points and nine rebounds in the 99-89 defeat.

Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark to receive a fine from WNBA

Clark was whistled for a technical foul for arguing a call with one of the referees. She will receive an automatic $500 fine for it.

“Technical foul on Caitlin Clark,” WNBA beat writer Tony Eastman wrote. “She’s whistled for an offensive foul the possession before, one that she didn’t like against Yamamoto. Aces miss the free throw.

Technical foul on Caitlin Clark. She’s whistled for an offensive foul the possession before, one that she didn’t like against Yamamoto. Aces miss the free throw.

— Tony East (@TonyREast) September 29, 2026

The three-time All-Star finished the regular season tied for the most technical fouls. The referees issued her eight, along with the Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper and the Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese.

Clark and the Fever will once again visit the Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena on Thursday. The winner will advance to the next round to face either the Golden Star Valkyries or the Dallas Wings, while the losing team will get eliminated. Another big performance from Indiana’s three-headed monster will be crucial in dethroning the defending champions. However, their role players, particularly the bench, have to step up to lessen the pressure on Clark, Mitchell and Boston.

Related reading:

Sky star Kamilla Cardoso turns heads at Bears-Eagles game

Did Caitlin Clark, Stephanie White call each other out after Fever’s blowout loss? 

Fever announce Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston updates before Game 2 vs. Aces

Stephanie White facing backlash over postgame comments

The post Caitlin Clark facing WNBA fine after Indiana Fever game appeared first on ChiCitySports.

All eyes were on Case Keenum as he took over as the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback on Monday. It was his first start since 2023 after he was named the QB1 with Caleb Williams ruled out with a hamstring injury and Tyson Bagent dealing with a concussion. The 38-year-old did not disappoint, and the team made a decision about him following the 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Keenum completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards, two touchdowns and a 110.8 passer rating. He showed off his skill set and veteran smarts by dismantling the Eagles’ defense, dealing the visiting team their first loss of the season.

The Houston Cougars product entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He has since bounced around the league, suiting up for eight different franchises before landing with Chicago last year. Keenum has 81 career NFL games under his belt, including 67 starts.

Bears announce Case Keenum honor after win over Eagles

The Bears posted a graphic of Keenum on Instagram, naming him the Player of the Game. It included his stats from the “Monday Night Football” matchup and his signature.

“@casekeenum7’s still got it ,” the team wrote.

 

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A post shared by Chicago Bears (@chicagobears)

It remains to be seen if Williams and Bagent will start in Week 4. However, Keenum proved that he can run the offense and lead the team to victory. His strong performance also likely lessened the pressure on Williams and Bagent to rush their return as Chicago has another reliable quarterback.

Keenum and Co. will once again play at home on Sunday. They will host the New York Jets at Soldier Field with their sights set on improving to 3-1 for the season. A two-game road trip follows, starting with a visit to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 5. The Bears will then take on the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 18.

Related reading:

WWE star Seth Rollins sends strong Bears message before Eagles game 

Bears coach Ben Johnson’s honest admission before Eagles game

Bears guard Jonah Jackson highlights silver lining of Caleb Williams injury

NFL announces Chicago Bears punishment before Eagles game

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All eyes were on Case Keenum in the Chicago Bears’ Monday Night Football matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. And for good reason, as the quarterback led his team to a 27-7 victory by completing 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

On the flip side though, Chicago’s defense can’t be ignored. The only points allowed came on a legit buzzer beater sneak by Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts. But other than that, the Bears didn’t break, coming away with three takeaways for their troubles.

All offseason, Chicago received nothing but flack towards their defense. Those problems seemed legit when they gave up 37 points to the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. But after their last two matchups, the Bears haven’t allowed more than 10 points. There is still work to be done, but Chicago is showing vast improvement.

The defense’s performance against the Eagles won’t soon be forgotten. Especially since it made NFL history.

Chicago Bears defense enters record books 

In Week 3, Philadelphia ran less than 50 offensive plays and gained fewer than 250 yards. With 10+ penalties, three giveaways and not much to show for on defense, the Bears forced the Eagles into an NFL-worst performance, via OptaSTATS.

The Eagles are the only NFL team in the Super Bowl era to have a game with:

under 50 offensive plays
under 250 total yards
10+ penalties
3+ giveaways
0 takeaways
0 sacks

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 29, 2026

With no giveaways or sacks, the Bears did their job on offense. With Caleb Williams down, that was a major question mark.

But the defense was poised with a severely difficult task. The Eagles have struggled at times on offense. Still, they offense is filled with playmakers like Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith. For the Bears to limit their opponent how they did is telling of how good the defense can be.

Despite that 37 point explosion in Week 1, Chicago is now exciting Week 3 ranked 15th in total defense, allowing 324 yards per game. Of course, the Bears are looking to climb up the rankings. But not many expected the franchise to be in the top half at any point in 2026.

Chicago will now look to build off of their performance in Week 4. The Bears can’t afford to take Geno Smith and the New York Jets lightly.

The post Chicago Bears defense sends Philadelphia Eagles to new NFL low appeared first on ChiCitySports.

When Caleb Williams suffered his hamstring strain, the Chicago Bears were forced to make a crucial decision. Who would start at quarterback during his absence?

Under normal circumstances, Tyson Bagent would be in line for the role. He is listed as the backup on the depth chart. However, an untimely concussion took him away from the team for most of the week. He did return later on, but his number of reps were limited.

During Bagent’s absence, Keenum soaked up playing time with the first-team. With over a decade of NFL experience, the quarterback knows what it takes to succeed in the league. But he was able to shake off the rust while throwing to Chicago’s top pass catchers.

That ended up being the difference. By the end of the week head coach Ben Johnson felt confident in his decision. Keenum would start against the Philadelphia Eagles.

When Bears’ Ben Johnson knew Case Keenum would start

Chicago, and especially during Williams’ injury, are taking things week-by-week. The coaching staff wants to see where each player stands before they enter battle. Prior to the Monday Night Football matchup, Keenum looked the most prepared, via Johnson’s postgame press conference.

“The course of the week. From the base day to third-down day to red zone day, the totality of it all. We just felt really good about what that looked like,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t fair to Tyson, not getting those same quality reps with new pass catchers. Throughout the course of the week was really important to getting a little bit of chemistry going.”

Chicago’s decision proved to be successful, as they earned a 27-7 victory over the Eagles. In the win, Keenum completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for another score.

Coming off that start, there will be plenty of calls for Keenum to remain under center. But now Bagent will get his fair shake in practice after clearing the concussion protocol. Whichever quarterback seems more well equipped to succeed in Johnson’s eyes will earn the Week 4 start.

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As the Chicago White Sox begin their Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, they’ll be utilizing a bullpen game led by Hagen Smith in Game 1. While Will Venable doesn’t have a firm plan yet, the manager has a strong idea of how the White Sox will operate in Game 2.

Chicago’s pitching rotation has been deemed their week point entering the postseason. It’s clear to see why, as their starting pitchers finished the regular season ranked 26th with a collective 4.60 ERA.

On the flip side, the White Sox’s bullpen ranked eighth overall with a 3.70 mark. In a best-of-three series, and for as long as they’re in the playoffs, Chicago will rely on their relief pitching.

The franchise isn’t without standout starters though. One is expected to play a significant role in Game 2.

White Sox’s Will Venable turning to Sean Burke for Game 2

Among pitchers with five or more starts in 2026, Sean Burke led the way with a 3.34 ERA. Now, he is set to be on the bump in a major way come Game 2, via James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Will Venable will not announce a Game 2 starter, but said if Sean Burke doesn’t start, he will have a “significant role,'” Fegan wrote. “Sounds like it’s just a question of whether Burke will have an opener or not.”

The White Sox will either have Burke operate as a traditional starter or bring him in after using an opener. That decision may be based on how taxed the bullpen is in Game 1. Regardless, expect to see Burke on the mound at some point in Game 2.

Over his 32 games total, featuring 27 starts, Burke has put up a 185/62 K/BB ratio along his career-best (in seasons with 20+ innings pitched) ERA mark. The right-hander led the White Sox in strike outs by 56.

Chicago is on a journey no one expected would end up in the playoffs. But now at the postseason table, the White Sox don’t want to give up their spot. The pressure will be on for Burke from the minute he steps on the mound.

The post White Sox’s Will Venable already has Game 2 pitching plan in mind appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are riding high after their 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. But the victory didn’t come without a bit of controversy.

As Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was headed towards the sidelines, he was blasted by Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson. Hurts was forced to leave the field before backup Andy Dalton threw an interception in the end zone.

The quarterback was able to return to the game, but head coach Nick Sirianni was heated. He was seen shouting expletives at Jackson and was overall heated up about the the exchange. It was a high intensity moment involving his star quarterback.

Looking back though, Sirianni knows he probably took things a bit too far. His effort to defend the Eagles came with a side of remorse.

Eagles’ Nick Sirianni regrets Bears hit reaction

In the moment, neither side can tell exactly what happened. Jackson was ultimately flagged for the play, leading to more animosity. As he re-analyzes the scenario, Sirianni acknowledges both sides were just trying to make a play. It’ll be a teaching moment for him going forward, via Tim McManus of ESPN.

“Obviously, you want to always fight for your players, and protect your players. I always come away when I have a moment like that with remorse of, ‘Man, I shouldn’t have let my emotions get the best of me,'” Sirianni said.

“Those guys are out there trying to make a play. It was close on the sideline, ended up being a penalty,” he continued. “Obviously, you never want to see your quarterback get hit like that, but it’s in the heat of the moment. I know nobody is trying to hurt anybody out there, and I always have remorse when I act that way. But I always love fighting for our players.

“I have to be more steady in that situation. I didn’t like how I handled that.”

With Hurts coming away uninjured, the moment will now be water under the bridge; although Jackson may be fined for the flag. Sirianni knows his emotions will rise again. But he will do his best to control them.

The post Philadelphia Eagles’ Nick Sirianni backtracks Chicago Bears big hit outburst appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Shortstop Colson Montgomery’s 31 home runs are the third-most on the Chicago White Sox. But he also set a new MLB single season record with 227 strikeouts.

Of course, the White Sox want Montgomery to be more consistent at the plate. Especially in the playoffs, Chicago can’t afford an untimely strikeout. But at the same time, Montgomery is a major power source for the South Siders. They don’t want his bat out of the lineup.

Taking on the Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series, Montgomery and the White Sox at large have plenty to prove. The shortstop is looking to show he isn’t a liability. And Chicago wants the MLB world to acknowledge their regular season wasn’t a fluke.

With both player and team aligned, the White Sox are ready for Game 1. Still, Montgomery will be in a situation he hasn’t been throughout the entire 2026 campaign.

Chicago White Sox move Colson Montgomery to ninth

On Tuesday, Montgomery will be batting ninth. It marks the first time the shortstop has hit from that spot in the lineup all season.

The @whitesox lineup for Game 1 of the AL Wild Card vs. Houston

Tune in to White Sox Countdown Live at 3:30 p.m.: https://t.co/NM28HuX6pk pic.twitter.com/524jjZLoEK

— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) September 29, 2026

Most often, Montgomery has bat from the cleanup position in 2026. But with this now being the playoffs, manager Will Venable decided to shake things up. Montgomery has moved all around the lineup this season, hitting at every spot except leadoff and ninth, so it’s not like he is locked into being the clean up hitter. Still, the shortstop will face a different challenge come Game 1.

With his strikeout issues, Venable likely didn’t want to risk that possibility in the middle of the lineup. But at the same time, there aren’t many nine hitters who smashed 30+ home runs in 2026. Chicago is hoping having a power hitter at the bottom will make their lineup more dynamic.

With a .197 average, alongside the strikeouts, stability has not been the name of Montgomery’s game. But 31 home runs and 87 RBIs are hard to replicated. The White Sox will hope the shortstop’s power stroke plays from the bottom of the lineup.

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The Chicago Cubs are about to begin their three-game, all-on-the-road Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres Tuesday evening at Petco Park. Needless to say, it’s going to be an uphill climb to get past the red-hot Padres without even a single game back at Wrigley.

More News: Chicago Cubs facing big problems in Padres series, per analyst

But the team will not be a pushover. As a matter of fact, experts and analysts seem divided on who will take the series.

The Cubs definitely have their weaknesses and question marks—notably a bullpen that has looked horrid at times and a starting rotation that’s been inconsistent throughout the season.

The team’s strengths, however, can sometimes be overwhelming.

Chicago has the top-rated offense in all of baseball and, when hot, the lineup can pile up runs. The team, also, by the way, has the best defense in baseball as well—a defense so good that it’s almost historical in its excellence.

PCA represents the Cubs’ strengths

More News: Chicago Cubs still deciding on Alex Bregman’s Wild Card place

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is the primary asset in both of the Cubs’ major strengths. As such, his ability to execute and thrive in the playoffs is absolutely essential to the team’s postseason fortunes.

As a matter of fact, one writer/analyst has declared “PCA” to be “the most important player in the MLB postseason,” noting that it’s not even close.

Oliver Fox of Fansided placed Crow-Armstrong No. 1 on his list of the Top 15 most important playoff figures heading into the postseason, well ahead of Shohei Ohtani at No. 2 and Aaron Judge at No. 3.

Per Fox:

“If you had suggested before this season that someone not named Shohei Ohtani would top the list of the most important players in the MLB playoffs as the Los Angeles Dodgers go for a three-peat, I would have called you crazy. I also would have called you crazy if you suggested the Pete Crow-Armstrong would throw down 10.7 WAR, but here we are.

PCA is so overwhelmingly the most important player in the playoffs — he has carried the Chicago Cubs to the postseason, joined the 40-40 club and is one of the greatest fielders in the history of baseball. If the Cubs accomplish anything this postseason, and they can, it will be on the shoulders, back and quadriceps of PCA.”

Another accolade for PCA

Going hand in hand with this bold declaration is the latest accolade heaped on the slender shoulders of the 24-year-old star. According to MLB Stats, Crow-Armstrong finished the 2026 season with a Fielding Run Value (FRV) of plus-27—the best-rated defensive season registered since Statcast started tracking FRV in 2015.

Already headed for a much-deserved MVP award, Crow-Armstrong is looking to cap off a career year with a playoff performance that helps the Cubs overcome odds and make a strong championship run.

The Cubs will take on the Padres at Petco Park in San Diego—the first of the three-game Wild Card series—on Tuesday at 9:00 pm CT, broadcast on Peacock and NBCSN.

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Kamilla Cardoso and the Chicago Sky did not qualify for the WNBA playoffs this year. However, she remains in good spirits and attended the “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. The star forward turned heads at Soldier Field, with fans praising her looks and presence.

She was one of several Chicago athletes and sports personalities at the venue. Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham and star guard Josh Giddey watched the game live. WWE star Seth Rollins, a longtime Bears fan, was also in attendance.

Cardoso and the Sky finished 11th in the standings with a 16-28 record and missed the postseason for the third straight year. Meanwhile, the Bears are coming off a NFC North title and reached the Divisional Round in 2025.

Chicago Sky: Kamilla Cardoso’s attendance for Bears-Eagles game causes a stir

The Bears posted an Instagram video of Cardoso near the end zone. She expressed her excitement for the game and wished the team well.

“Hi, this is Camilla Cardoso,” Cardoso said. “I’m here at the Bears game and I’m super excited. Go Bears!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chicago Bears (@chicagobears)

Fans dropped their reactions in the comments section.

“Killa Milla so beautiful,” a fan said.

“Money Milla!!!” one comment read.

“Kamila Brazilian BADDIE,” a user commented.

“K-MILLLY !!!!” posted another.

“This bae ,” one reaction read.

“Queen Kamila ,” another fan wrote.

With the Sky already eliminated and the WNBA season nearing its end, Cardoso and other players of the league could watch NFL games more. Chicago is looking to surpass its achievements last season despite the facing the toughest schedule. The team has seven primetime games this year and has a big target on its back for its 2025 success. However, head coach Ben Johnson and his team are ready for the challenge. They have a chance to continue silencing their critics with another strong campaign.

Related reading:

Fever announce Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston updates before Game 2 vs. Aces

Stephanie White facing backlash over postgame comments

Sophie Cunningham turns heads with outfit for WNBA playoffs

Caitlin Clark sets new WNBA record after Fever lose Game 1 to Aces

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#22G

Chicago Bulls

Jaylin Sellers

Guard

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2027 Season Stats

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#19F

Tobe Awaka

#13G

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#14F

Matas Buzelis

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The Chicago Bears are coming off an impressive victory, as last night they took down the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. They were without QB Caleb Williams, as third-string QB Case Keenum had the game of his life in the victory.

This moves the Bears to 2-1, sitting tied for second in the NFC North. They’ll host the New York Jets next week, as they look to pick up their third victory.

After that, they’ll face off against their division rival Green Bay Packers in a game that was supposed to be played at 3:25 CST. That has now been moved to noon, according to the NFL, as the game was flexed for unknown reasons.

The NFL has moved the Week 5 #Bears #Packers game at Lambeau Field to noon.

It was originally scheduled to be at 3:25 pm.

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) September 29, 2026

One wonders if this was a decision made earlier in the week, as the Bears will likely be without Caleb Williams again in Week 5.

Some could also speculate that the poor play by the Green Bay Packers was another reason. As of right now, the Packers sit last in the NFC North. They’re coming off a brutal loss at home to the Atlanta Falcons, where they were heavy favorites.

The Chicago Bears will need another big-time defensive performance against their rival Green Bay Packers

Defensively, the Bears looked as good as ever last night.

They shut down Saquon Barkley, pressured Jalen Hurts, and forced three turnovers in the victory. A massive step forward for a group that needs as much confidence as it can get.

“They continue to trend the right way,” head coach Ben Johnson said. “It’s great to see the takeaways. I thought that was huge for us, it really was. And I can’t say enough good things about the plan that DA (Dennis Allen) had in and the coaching staff coaching it up.”

When they face the Packers in a few weeks, it’ll need to be the same effort. Sitting at 1-2, Green Bay is in need of some victories, especially in an NFC North that features some tough teams.

More Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson reveals the new identity for his defense

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With the NBA season right around the corner, Chicago Bulls fans are hopeful for an improved product.

This offseason, the Bulls made a plethora of moves to improve the roster. They also hired a new head coach, Tiago Splitter, with hopes that he can lead this young group in the right direction. Splitter is coming off his first season as a head coach, as he led the Portland Trail Blazers to the playoffs in his one interim year.

As far as the returning players go, one of the main guys to watch this upcoming season is Matas Buzelis.

The former 11th overall pick will be entering his third season in the league, which is usually the year in which a major jump can be made. Buzelis is coming off a strong 2025-26 campaign, where he averaged 16.3 points per game, doubling his total from his rookie season. He also doubled his rebounding totals, as well as his assists.

This increase can be attributed to his minutes per game (16 in his rookie season, to nearly 30 in his second). It’s a welcome sign for Bulls fans to watch a young player like Buzelis continue to take strides.

However, Buzelis thinks he can be even better, especially with increased freedom on offense.

“I feel like there’s gonna be more freedom for me offensively, be more aggressive defensively.” Buzelis continued, “This offseason I’ve been mainly focused on playing through physicality, getting to the rim more. I believe I was shooting too many 3s last year. I’ve been focusing on getting downhill, getting to the midrange more. Putting on weight and getting stronger has been one of the key factors for me.”

In terms of his three-point attempts, they did take a massive jump from his rookie season. Buzelis shot nearly 6.5 threes last year, which was higher than his two-point attempts, which were 6.1.

Matas Buzelis earns praise from Shaquille O’Neal: “Will be a force to be reckoned with.”

It’s encouraging that Matas Buzelis wants to continue getting better. Entering year three, he’s clearly got a list of things to work on. It’ll be a big season for the young forward.

Interestingly enough, some think Buzelis will just get better with time. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently spoke in Lithuania as an ambassador for NordVPN and praised Matas.

“Well, he needs to improve nothing. What I mean by that is, he’s a player that will get better every year,” O’Neal said.

“I’ve known him since he was 17, 18 years old. He wants it, wants to be the guy, plays hard. He practices hard. And he’s signed to Reebok. So I actually really know about his work ethic.”

O’Neal is a major part of Reebok, so it comes as no surprise that he endorsed Buzelis so heavily.

“But, you know, sometimes you just have to let it happen. You know, we see the potential, and we see that he will become a great player. But I like the path that he’s on. And in about two more years, he will be a force to be reckoned with.”

Strong words of praise from the ‘Big Diesel’, who has never been shy with the media, especially on current NBA players. If Buzelis can continue progressing, he’ll be a massive part of this Chicago Bulls rebuild.

More: Center Nic Claxton wants to bring the Chicago Bulls back to the glory days

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Quarterback Case Keenum is the talk of the Windy City after leading the Chicago Bears to 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he isn’t guaranteed to start in Week 4 against the New York Jets.

Ultimately, when Caleb Williams is healthy, he will be under center again. But in the meantime, either Keenum or Tyson Bagent will operate in the starting role.

Bagent would’ve been in line to start in Week 3 under normal circumstances. But a concussion eliminated most of his practice week. Bagent ultimately cleared the concussion protocol. But the Bears deemed Keenum was in a better place to start.

Bagent will now be able to practice with the starters again. That’ll force head coach Ben Johnson to make a difficult decision in Week 4.

Bears’ Ben Johnson has difficult QB decision to make

The fact Keenum completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns will certainly help his cause. But Johnson and company have numerous different evaluating points. One of them being Bagent’s place on the depth chart, via Brendan Sugrue of Bears Wire.

“We’ll have a discussion as a coaching staff and we’ll see where we need to go from here but I said it last week and I’ll say it again: There was a reason why Tyson ended training camp as our No. 2 quarterback,” Johnson said.

Conventional wisdom points to your QB2 being under center over your QB3 should QB1 go down. Because of that, Bagent would be in line to start. But now Keenum has thrown a wrench in those plans. His performance on Monday Night Football may have earned him another opportunity to start.

Now fully healthy, Bagent will look to take back his starting role for the time being. Chicago may have momentum entering Week 4 after their latest victory. But the franchise now again has a tricky quarterback decision to decipher.

The post Bears’ Ben Johnson leaves door open for Tyson Bagent Week 4 start appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are basking in the glow of their 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. However, not everything was positive coming out of Monday Night Football.

Defensive back Cam Lewis was forced to leave the game with a hip injury. He went back to the locker room with his helmet off, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

In his absence, the Bears used a potentially telling defensive alignment. Tyrique Stevenson entered the game while Malik Muhammad moved inside, via Mason Williams of the Times of Northwest Indiana.

“Tyrique Stevenson is now playing outside corner for the Bears, moving Malik Muhammad inside to nickel,” Williams wrote.

Muhammad took Stevenson’s starting spot entering the game with Lewis operating as the nickel back. Stevenson had been dealing with a hamstring leading up to the game. Furthermore, Muhammad has impressed early in his rookie season.

Still, if pressed into a lack of depth situation, the Bears’ preferences are clear. Stevenson has spent his entire career outside and will remain there, while Muhammad is capable of operating inside and out. That doesn’t mean it is a set and stone plan. But the fact Muhammad started outside and was moved after injury shows Chicago wasn’t comfortable making a one-for-one swap between Stevenson and Lewis.

The Bears will now be paying close attention to Lewis and his injury leading into Week 4. If he can’t play, Chicago may already have an idea on how they’ll operate. Still, the mounting injuries will only make things more difficult.

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