Vikings Head Coach Delivers Stunning Comment On Darnell Wright
Kevin O’Connell is one of the best head coaches in the NFL. He’s also one of the best offensive minds. When he offers an assessment of players, it would be wise to heed his words. His Minnesota Vikings prepare to host the Chicago Bears for the rematch of their week one battle. O’Connell knows his team took that game and absolutely needs this one. He also knows that the Bears are a far different team from the one his guys took down two months ago. It starts with their offensive line, headlined by right tackle Darnell Wright.
O’Connell has kept an eye on what the Bears have done offensively. Everybody is playing better, but no one can hold a candle to Wright. The head coach said as much in his latest presser.
It’s one thing to hear it from local media and fans. It is another when a top coach from another team says it out loud. Wright has given up seven pressures on the quarterback this season. That’s it. He is also among the highest-rated run blockers. It’s no coincidence that the Bears run much of their offense through him.
Darnell Wright could set the tone for the Bears in this game.
Minnesota has struggled to stop the run this season. They allowed 152 yards last week against Baltimore and 207 yards two weeks before that in Los Angeles. Chicago had 119 yards in the first meeting this year, so Ben Johnson knows it is possible. The trick this time is to execute better. Darnell Wright should lead the charge. Many of their biggest plays this season have come from running behind the right side of the offensive line. There is no doubt the Bears would love to stick it to Minnesota early.
The biggest key will be handling the Vikings’ exotic blitz packages. Few are better in the league than Brian Flores. He will likely throw everything at them. Wright has been good at picking up late rushers and is difficult to beat one-on-one. If he has a strong performance, the Bears can win.
Matt Forte Says Ben Johnson Reminds Him Of Surprising Former Bears Coach
The Chicago Bears have produced a top 10 offense twice in the past 30 years. The first was in 1995, and the last came in 2013. That is it. Otherwise, it’s been a long trudge of mediocre-to-bad on that side of the ball. So you can understand why many fans and media are stunned at the unit’s rapid ascent this season. They rank 3rd in yards and 7th in scoring. All of it is thanks to the arrival of head coach Ben Johnson. Everybody knew he was a wizard in Detroit, but they probably didn’t think he’d have such a profound impact so quickly. Former Bears running back Matt Forte can already see one of the reasons the coach is so good at what he does.
Forte explained on 670 The Score that Johnson is excellent at disguising the true intentions of his plays. Chicago is highly adept at making run plays look like pass plays and vice versa. Play action can come from anywhere. The same formation can deliver several different results. It was here that Forte said it all reminds him of another Bears coach. One that fans might be shocked to hear.
Matt Forte seems to think Mike Martz wasn’t appreciated enough.
The former Bears offensive coordinator joined the team in 2010. It was a mess in the early weeks. Jay Cutler took a lot of sacks and things were constantly off-kilter. However, Martz made adjustments, and they finally found some cohesion down the stretch. Chicago reached the NFC championship. Then in 2011, Cutler overcame a rough start to begin looking like a possible MVP contender midway through the season. Then he broke his thumb. The offense fell apart without him, and Martz was fired. Many still wonder if things could’ve been different had he stayed.
From the way Matt Forte speaks, you can tell he had great respect for his former coach. After all, the running back had probably the best season of his career in 2011, going for 997 yards in just 12 games. Martz gave them lots of advantages with his scheming, even if his preferred style of attack was pass-heavy at times. Johnson is much the same way, only his career is just getting started. Martz’s was coming to an end.
The Buzz Is Growing For This Coby White Mega-Trade
On Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison. He’s better known as the person who willingly traded away Luka Doncic, one of the game’s best and youngest talents. At only 26 years old, he’s got five All-NBA First Team selections and an NBA Finals appearance. The entire NBA world was in disbelief, and Dallas fans pressured the franchise to a breaking point with their former GM. With his departure and the slow start the Mavericks have begun the 2025-26 season with, many are wondering if they’ll engage in a fire sale of aging assets to build around their most recent first overall draft selection, Cooper Flagg. The Chicago Bulls are one of the most commonly mentioned teams when seeking a suitor for the established All-Star talents.
Anthony Davis Homecoming
Born in Chicago, Illinois, superstar big man Anthony Davis has always hinted at playing for his hometown team. He’s mentioned that the Windy City is the “mecca of basketball,” and has raved about the history and pride within the city. This might present the most likely scenario for finally wearing a Chicago Bulls uniform. What would it cost the Bulls? More than they’re willing to part ways with.
The Bulls are a team to monitor for a potential Anthony Davis trade pursuit.
Chicago possesses nearly $90 million in expiring contracts, plus all of their picks.
A deal built around Coby White, Nikola Vucevic and picks for Davis seems realistic for both the Mavericks and Bulls. pic.twitter.com/qjSBYC4c7W
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) November 12, 2025
In his 14 seasons at the NBA level, Davis has missed 250 career games. His injury-prone nature has been his most glaring weakness. He is undoubtedly a superstar when he’s between the lines, but he has missed roughly 24% of his possible outings across his career, which deters any future trade partners.
Josh Giddey And Anthony Davis Duo
This move would be a significant bet on the Josh Giddey and Anthony Davis duo. This season, Giddey’s ability to finish inside and push the pace in transition has complemented Nikola Vucevic‘s stretch-five archetype and pick-and-roll game well. Davis is more frequently working from the post and would change this dynamic. This deal would be too costly for the Bulls to gamble on. Losing their most promising offensive player, Coby White, and any future draft picks would ultimately mean Giddey and Davis need to catapult this team to instant contention to win the trade. Another additive is the cap situation. Davis is inked to a contract through the 2027-28 season, making an average of $58 million annually. This price is far too steep for the Bulls to absorb willingly, given his age and injury history.
Anthony Davis trade idea per @ZachLowe_NBA:
Bulls Receive: Anthony Davis
Mavs Receive: Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, Portland 1st round pick, Bulls 1st round pick.
“This would almost be like a free agency signing”
Core: Giddey/Ayo/Okoro/Matas/AD pic.twitter.com/iIbW9LpduX
— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) November 12, 2025
All the trade chatter will continue to surround Chicago with its young core, draft assets, and ample cap space following this season. This deal in particular will not happen. Arturas Karnisovas has shown no signs that he would execute a trade of this nature. The team has started the year much better than anticipated, and he has learned many lessons the hard way, including trading away youthful assets or draft capital for aging stars.
More Bad News On The Josh Giddey Injury Front
Chicago played their first game of the year on Monday without Josh Giddey‘s potent offense on the floor. The newly extended star guard was sidelined due to an ankle injury suffered on Saturday night, one that he would return to finish the game after a brief visit to the locker room. Two days later, he was announced out as the Bulls hosted the San Antonio Spurs. Tonight, four days post-injury, more negative news is spilling into the situation. What was first thought to be a one-game absence if he missed any time at all has now become more than a week on the pine. Here’s the latest word from Billy Donovan on his All-Star caliber point guard’s return to play.
Announced Out Tonight Versus Detroit Pistons
Per head coach Billy Donovan, Josh Giddey will not suit up tonight in Detroit and will miss his second straight outing. This is a rematch of Chicago’s opening night game, a contest in which they stunned the Pistons 115-111 behind Nikola Vucevic‘s 28-point performance. Cade Cunningham had one of his worst games of the season that night and was also announced out for tonight’s chance at redemption. The silver lining for Giddey missing tonight’s battle is that they’ll also be without their star point guard. Kevin Huerter is starting again in his absence.
Bulls have three days between games and a contact practice scheduled for Friday. Soft target is for Giddey to be available for West Coast trip, perhaps even Sunday in Salt Lake City. https://t.co/M0sT7w6Wxq
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 12, 2025
Full Strength On The West Coast
Sunday could be the most exciting day of the season for the Bulls. Chicago will visit the Utah Jazz as part of a three-game West Coast road trip, which has been the target return date range for their two best players. Coby White and Josh Giddey have both been targeted sometime between Sunday and next Wednesday for a return to action. After a 6-1 start without Coby White, missing Ayo Dosunmu for a handful of games, and now without Giddey, this will be their first look at a nearly entirely healthy roster. The lone injury will be Zach Collins, who isn’t due back for at least another month.
Coby White returns soon 👀
K.C. details how the Bulls offense can flourish once their top scorer from last season returns to the lineup
Full episode of The Fastbreak, presented by @dunkindonuts ➡️ https://t.co/cKhsjBcDr5 pic.twitter.com/5LMdJ5fvEo
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) November 11, 2025
With a backcourt duo who have both averaged 20 or more points on their own, what can the young pairing of White and Giddey propel the Bulls to for the remainder of the season? Thankfully, next week we will get a glimpse of one of the best backcourts in the league.
DJ Moore Reveals Unexpected Reason Caleb Williams Is Scrambling More
Everybody knew that Caleb Williams was mobile. He’d proven it many times in college, using his legs to escape pressure and buy time for big plays down the field. Taking off and running was also something he could do, but it wasn’t typically utilized by him as a regular part of the game plan. It was more of a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency thing. However, it feels like there’s been a shift in recent weeks. Through the first seven games, Williams had 35 runs for 130 yards and two touchdowns. In the past two games, he has 13 runs for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Something has changed. DJ Moore provided an answer.
The wide receiver revealed after the win over the Giants that Williams got a green light from head coach Ben Johnson to run more. It wasn’t just because it was something the quarterback could do. It was largely due to the type of coverage that defenses were playing.
“I think he got the green light to go ahead and use his legs more,” Moore said, “because teams are playing like the two-mans, quarters and man-to-mans, so he can just be able to get out there with his legs and be another weapon.”
Those coverages are designed to squeeze opposing passing attacks and limit explosive plays. In those situations, the best thing to counter them is to run the ball. In the absence of a straight hand-off, nothing is more effective than the quarterback taking off.
The game proved this.
On one of the pivotal plays of that 4th quarter comeback, Chicago was at New York’s 31. The Giants showed man coverage across the board against a four-receiver set. Williams reads a blitz coming. That meant the second linebacker would be covering D’Andre Swift, leaving nobody to account for the quarterback. Williams took off for 29 yards, setting up a touchdown to close the gap 20-17.
Caleb Williams got them again on the next drive, this time with help from Johnson.
Once again, New York shows blitz. What he needed to know was whether they were playing man or zone coverage. Cole Kmet goes in motion, and #27 travels with him. That signaled it was man coverage. Johnson had a bootleg fake called. Durham Smythe was then sent in late motion, making it look like a Swift run. That would leave Brian Burns free. If Caleb Williams could make him miss, he’d have a clear path around the edge for a big gain. That is precisely what happens.
A perfectly-timed block from Kmet down the field enables Williams to take it the distance for the game-winning touchdown. This is why watching film is so important. It provides coaches with details on what opponents want to do on defense and how they will likely deploy to counter your team’s biggest strengths. While teams respected Caleb’s mobility, they didn’t play as if they felt he was a true rushing threat. So Johnson decided to change that.
Which Bears Actually Deserve Pro Bowl Nods?
Ten weeks in, the Bears are 6-3 and smack in the middle of the NFC playoff hunt. That alone is a damn miracle if you’ve watched this franchise over the last five years. But now it’s time to separate the hype from the legit when it comes to Pro Bowl voting. Here’s who’s earned it — and who’s still window shopping.
Pro Bowl Locks
Rome Odunze
If you’ve got a Pro Bowl ballot and Odunze isn’t on it, throw it in the trash. The kid’s a certified WR1 now. He’s cooked corners at every level of the field, and his numbers back it up:
- 37 catches
- 559 yards
- 6 touchdowns
- 15.1 yards per reception
- 90.1 PFF grade from outside the numbers
- 78.9% success rate vs. press (87th percentile)
DJ Moore? Love him, but he’s been a ghost compared to Odunze. This offense runs through Rome now, and the fact that he’s doing it with a his draft partner at QB makes it even more impressive. No debate. He’s should be a lock.
Tremaine Edmunds
This dude has four picks through nine games. Four. That ties him for the league lead, not just among linebackers — everyone. Throw in 80 tackles and a sack, and he’s balling out.
- 7+ tackles in 8 of 9 games
- Leads all active LBs in picks since 2018
- Had a two-pick game against Dallas
He’s always been solid, but now he’s flashing big-play juice. That’s the kind of shit that gets you Pro Bowl votes. Slam dunk.
Bubble Boys
Kevin Byard
Byard’s 32 and still making QBs pay. Four interceptions and 47 return yards on those picks. He’s tied with Edmunds and Devin Lloyd for the NFL lead.
Problem is, the NFC safety room is stacked. Kerby Joseph’s a fan favorite, and guys like Xavier McKinney are getting more hype. Byard’s playing at a Pro Bowl level, but whether he makes it depends on who’s voting. If the Bears win 10+ games, he’s got a shot. If they fade? He’s out.
Darnell Wright
He won’t make it, but he should. Wright has been stonewalling defenders all year:
- 82.0 PFF grade (6th among tackles)
- 87.3 run-blocking grade (2nd in NFL)
- Only 1 sack allowed, 6 pressures, 2.1% pressure rate
That’s elite stuff. But offensive linemen need name recognition and national buzz to get votes, and Wright doesn’t have either — yet. Keep an eye on him.
Missed the Cut
Caleb Williams
Let’s be clear: Caleb’s making progress. He’s cut down on mistakes, made smart plays, and kept the Bears in games.
- 2,136 passing yards
- 13 TDs, 4 INTs
- 246 rushing yards, 3 TDs
- 92.2 passer rating
He’s not near the Staffords or the Goffs of the NFC. And Darnold’s somehow turning the clock back. But Caleb? He isn’t ready for the Pro Bowl yet, but if this is his floor, the ceiling’s gonna be fun (No this is not a diss on Caleb — f*cking excited for the kid’s future).
Montez Sweat
Five and a half sacks through ten weeks? Not bad, but not good enough. He’s heating up, with a sack in four straight games, but the Pro Bowl edge rusher bar is high.
- 5.5 sacks (18th in NFL)
- 2 forced fumbles
- 4 passes defended
He’s got juice, but to sniff the Pro Bowl, you need 9-10 sacks minimum. Sweat needs to finish strong. If he ends up with 10+, he enters the conversation.
Joe Thuney
Thuney’s been his usual reliable self. But nothing flashy, no dominant metrics, and the guard position in the NFC has beasts ahead of him. He’s doing his job, but this ain’t the year — unless voters throw him in based on name recognition alone. And to be fair, he’s earned that kind of respect.
Others Who Miss the Cut
- D’Andre Swift: Solid. 544 rushing yards, 4 TDs, and 210 receiving yards. But with guys like Jahmyr Gibbs and Jonathan Taylor killing it, Swift’s not cracking that top tier.
- Gervon Dexter Jr.: 3.5 sacks from the interior is nice, but it’s not game-changing.
Final Verdict
Pro Bowl Locks:
- Rome Odunze (WR)
- Tremaine Edmunds (LB)
Bubble Boys:
- Kevin Byard III (FS)
- Darnell Wright (RT)
Missed the Cut:
- Caleb Williams (QB)
- Montez Sweat (DE)
- Joe Thuney (OG)
The Bears are on the upswing. If they finish 10-7 or better, next year’s ballot is gonna be stacked. But for now? Two clear Pro Bowlers and a couple who deserve a second look.
This isn’t a team full of hype merchants. They’ve got legit dogs — and for the first time in a long time, it’s fun as hell to be a Bears fan.
Insider Teases a Shōta Imanaga Multi-Year Reunion with Cubs
We got a little bit of news from the GM meetings this week in Las Vegas as Jon Heyman reports that Shōta Imanaga will decline the qualifying offer and test the free-agent market after spending two seasons with the Chicago Cubs. However, for fans who still want to see the Japanese lefty remain on the north side of Chicago local baseball insider Bruce Levine teased a multi-year reunion as negotiations between Imanaga and the Cubs will seemingly continue once the pitcher makes his decision on the qualifying offer.
Jed Hoyer spoke to media on Tuesday night and when discussing Imanaga the Cubs’ top boss in the baseball department dispelled the notion that there was any bad blood between the organization and Imanaga.
The Cubs did not extend Imanaga’s contract that would have guaranteed him $57 million over the next three years. Meanwhile, Imanaga declined a two-year, $30.5 million contract and became a free agent. Imanaga now has until Nov. 18, to accept or decline the qualifying offer that’s worth $22.05 million.
Levine later added some interesting language, saying the Cubs and Imanaga may ultimately negotiate a new, two-year deal to reunite this offseason.
We’ll see how things shake out as the Cubs wait on Imanaga’s decision next week and if the two sides continue to work on a multi-year contract as Levine alluded to.
(Previous Update)
The Chicago Cubs extended the qualifying offer to left-handed starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga after the two sides both declined multi-year options to extend his time with the club. If Imanaga accepts the qualifying offer, then he’ll be locked into a one-year, $22.05 million contract and stick with the Cubs in 2026. As a reminder, Imanaga declined a two-year, $30.5 million player option to become a free agent.
According to national MLB insider Jon Heyman, Imanaga is expected to decline the qualifying offer from the Cubs.
It certainly seems like a bit of a shock, considering that Imanaga can guarantee himself a higher salary in 2026 if he accepts the qualifying offer. Plus, if he does indeed decline, then it’ll probably be tougher for him to get a longer contract because whatever team does sign him would then lose a draft pick.
But I guess Imanaga has enough confidence in his market and believes he’ll get as much as the $30.5 million that he has previously declined this offseason. However, we’ve already seen a couple head-scratching decisions from potential free agent starting pitchers who elected not to test free agency and remain on modest deals for 2026.
Shane Bieber opted back in with the Toronto Blue Jays and will earn $16 million next season, a decision that is still leaving folks within the industry scratching their head.
Jack Flaherty was the other starter who passed on testing the marker as he picked up a $20 million option to stay with the Detroit Tigers.
And you know, there’s that whole potential of a lockout following the 2026 season, so it’s not like there’s a lot of certainty about when baseball will start up again in 2027. We’ll see what ends up happening with Imanaga, but I do think it’s a bit of a surprise if he does indeed decline the qualifying offer.
There’s No Way Shōta Imanaga is About to Do This
The Chicago Cubs extended the qualifying offer to left-handed starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga after the two sides both declined multi-year options to extend his time with the club. If Imanaga accepts the qualifying offer, then he’ll be locked into a one-year, $22.05 million contract and stick with the Cubs in 2026. As a reminder, Imanaga declined a two-year, $30.5 million player option to become a free agent.
According to national MLB insider Jon Heyman, Imanaga is expected to decline the qualifying offer from the Cubs.
It certainly seems like a bit of a shock, considering that Imanaga can guarantee himself a higher salary in 2026 if he accepts the qualifying offer. Plus, if he does indeed decline, then it’ll probably be tougher for him to get a longer contract because whatever team does sign him would then lose a draft pick.
But I guess Imanaga has enough confidence in his market and believes he’ll get as much as the $30.5 million that he has previously declined this offseason. However, we’ve already seen a couple head-scratching decisions from potential free agent starting pitchers who elected not to test free agency and remain on modest deals for 2026.
Shane Bieber opted back in with the Toronto Blue Jays and will earn $16 million next season, a decision that is still leaving folks within the industry scratching their head.
Jack Flaherty was the other starter who passed on testing the marker as he picked up a $20 million option to stay with the Detroit Tigers.
And you know, there’s that whole potential of a lockout following the 2026 season, so it’s not like there’s a lot of certainty about when baseball will start up again in 2027. We’ll see what ends up happening with Imanaga, but I do think it’s a bit of a surprise if he does indeed decline the qualifying offer.
(Previous Update)
The Chicago Cubs have extended the qualifying offer to a pair of pending free agents and one comes at a bit of a surprise. All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker was the obvious of the two, but the Cubs also extended the QO to left-handed starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga.
A few days ago the Cubs declined to pick up their team option that would have extended Imanaga’s contract with the club for another three years at $57 million. Imanaga then declined a player option worth $15.25 million, making him a free agent.
Now, Imanaga will once again get to decide whether or not he will remain with the Cubs in 2026.
So, what happens now?
- Imanaga accepts the qualifying, immediately agrees to 1 year, $22.05 million contract and stays with the Cubs in 2026, then becomes a free agent following next season.
- Imanaga and the Cubs negotiate a new contract.
- Imanaga rejects the qualifying offer, becomes a free agent and if he signs elsewhere the Cubs will receive a draft pick after the second round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
As for Tucker, pretty straightforward, as he will reject the qualifying offer and early indications point to him definitely signing with another team, which will then net the Cubs a draft pick.
We’ll see what Imanaga decides to do. In the history of the qualifying offer only 14 players have ever accepted it. He obviously declined his player option, believing that he would either get the QO, which he did, or that he can beat two years for $30 million in free agency. As for the Cubs, they obviously don’t mind having Imanaga back for $22 million, but it’s only a one-year deal, which is a lot easier to stomach for them than committing to three more years after the huge struggles in the last three months of the 2025 season.
A total of 13 players have received the qualifying offer this offseason.
Players have by Nov 18, to either accept or reject the one-year deal from their respective team.
Twins Hire Grady Sizemore From White Sox Coaching Staff
Despite reportedly being offered a role with the White Sox for next season, Grady Sizemore is leaving for a division rival.
The Minnesota Twins have hired Sizemore to be their outfielder and baserunning coach under new manager Derek Shelton. Sizmore will also serve as a first base coach.
The 43-year-old has spent the last two seasons with the White Sox coaching staff. When Sizemore was initially brought into the White Sox organization, it was under the designation of “Major League Coach” in 2024.
However, the former three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner took over as interim manager for 45 games after Pedro Grifol was dismissed, guiding the team to a 13–32 record and winning five of his final six games. This past season, he served as the White Sox’s offensive coordinator, a role the organization did not have in 2024.
The White Sox did not renew the contracts of four coaches at the end of the season, but Sizmore was not one of them. He was reportedly offered a role with the organization for next season in a yet-to-be-determined role. Instead, he will join the Twins in a more expanded role.
Sizemore still stands as one of the great “what ifs” of his era. He was on a Hall of Fame trajectory before injuries took their toll. Between 2005 and 2008 with Cleveland, he hit .281 with 107 homers, 115 steals, and an .868 OPS (128 OPS+), while anchoring center field with Gold Glove caliber defense. Over those four years, he averaged more than 6 WAR per season, made three All-Star teams, and finished in the top 12 in AL MVP voting three times.
