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Midseason Grades for the Chicago Bears: Who’s Ballin’ and Who’s Blowin’ It?

By
Ficky
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Nov 2, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) reacts as he walks off the field after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Hard to believe, but we’re already at the halfway mark of the 2025 NFL season. And the Chicago Bears? They’re not the same sorry-ass squad that’s been sleepwalking through autumns past. At 5-3 and tied for the NFC North lead, they actually resemble a competent, dangerous football team for once. But don’t let the record do all the talking — you’ve got to dig deeper to see what’s really cooking (and what still smells funky) under the hood.

This isn’t a love letter. It’s a blunt-force breakdown of every position group on this roster — who’s carrying their weight, who’s riding coattails, and who needs their Halas Hall key card revoked.

Quarterbacks: B

Caleb Williams has arrived, folks. He isn’t just surviving in Ben Johnson’s scheme; he’s thriving. Completion percentage is up. INTs are down. His 93.5 passer rating, 7.5 YPA, and 4.7% TD rate scream growth. Hell, he has a 124.0 rating when trailing. That’s clutch.

He’s also moving the chains with his legs (183 rushing yards, 2 TDs), and his 8.7 ADoT shows he’s not afraid to sling it. Sure, he’s still inconsistent — that PFF rollercoaster proves it — but he’s trending way up and that’s all you can ask for from your 2nd year QB.

Verdict: He’s cooking with real gas now. If he irons out the inconsistencies? League trouble.

Running Backs: B+

Swift’s box score might look clean, but don’t get seduced by fantasy stats. Early on, he ranked 60th in success rate, 70th in total EPA, and averaged just 2.5 yards after contact. Translation: dude was leaving meat on the bone. But since the bye week? He’s flipped the switch. Ben Johnson stopped forcing him into traffic and started leaning into what Swift actually does well — stretching runs wide in outside zone. And it’s working.

Then there’s Kyle Monangai, who just detonated for 170+ yards last game. Seventh-rounder, by the way. Between Swift hitting stride and Monangai flashing juice, this backfield’s starting to look like Sonic and Knuckles 2.0 — exactly the kind of thunder and lightning setup Johnson made work in Detroit.

Verdict: Shaky out of the gate, but this group is finally hitting stride and showing real signs of life.

Wide Receivers: B+

Rome Odunze is that dude. Finally, the Bears have a WR1 worth fearing — something this team hasn’t had since Brandon Marshall was bullying corners. He leads in yards, touchdowns, and target share (unfortunately drops too). DJ Moore? Steady as ever. No drops, clutch catches, and tough yards after the grab.

Then you’ve got Luther Burden III and Olamide Zaccheaus filling their roles perfectly. OZ has been Mr. Clutch on key downs — especially third down — while Burden was starting to find his groove before a concussion slowed him down. Still, the upside is real.

When your depth guys can make plays and your stars are consistent? That’s when you get ranked 4th in explosive pass plays. And trust me — that’s not by accident.

Verdict: This group has legit juice. They’re giving Caleb options all over the field.

Tight Ends: C

Let’s be real: the TE room has been mostly underwhelming. Cole Kmet’s been in and out with injuries, and Bears fans were rightfully scratching their heads over using the 10th overall pick on a guy who wasn’t getting enough looks. But that changed in a big way last game. Enter Colston Loveland — the rookie just announced himself as TE1 of the future. That Week 9 breakout (118 yards, 2 TDs)? That’s why he went in the first round.

To be fair, both Loveland and Kmet have held up well in the run game, so they’re not getting dinged there. But this group needs to show it can be more than just functional blockers. We want consistent production, not just a flash in the pan.

Verdict: Loveland is finding his rhythm, and if the ground game stays consistent, this tight end group could become a serious problem for defenses down the stretch.

Offensive Line: A-

Massive overhaul, and it’s finally paying off. Caleb’s no longer running for his damn life like he was in 2024. Thuney and Dalman have firmed up the interior, and Wright’s finally looking like the first-round mauler fans were promised — that Week 9 PFF grade of 94.1? Straight up dominant.

This group gave up 68 sacks last year. Sixty. Eight. This year? Less than 15 so far, and they’re hovering around top 10 in the league. That’s a ridiculous turnaround. Run blocking is still a work in progress though — the Bears sit at 18th in Run Block Win Rate — but you can see the physicality creeping in.

Verdict: Night and day from last season. The pass protection is legit. If the run blocking levels up too, this line becomes a real strength.

Defensive Line: D+

Montez Sweat got the bag and promptly disappeared. Four sacks? Doesn’t tell the full story. He’s caused three turnovers on his own and has respectable pressure numbers — top-10 among edge defenders. But let’s be real — when you sign a $98 million deal, “decent” isn’t cutting it. And once again, the man has zero help.

The Bears rank dead last in pass rush win rate (12%) for a reason. Dayo Odeyingbo? Total flop before getting shut down. The only sliver of hope is Austin Booker, who just came off IR and looked promising in limited snaps. But one flash ain’t enough.

The interior? No better. Gervon Dexter’s shown glimpses, but Billings is a run-only guy and Grady Jarrett’s contract might be the worst investment since NFTs. That run defense? Flat-out worst in the league at 5.1 YPC allowed.

Verdict: All bark, no bite. This line’s dragging the whole defense down.

Linebackers: B+

Let’s be real: this unit has been the most consistently solid part of the defense since the Bears brought in Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. Edwards had been the more dependable of the two since signing, but this year? Tremaine said, “hold my beer.” The man is balling out — 73 tackles, 4 picks, and he’s flying sideline to sideline like a heat-seeking missile.

Edwards still provides that steady presence when he’s healthy, and Sewell has been decent in rotation. He’s stout against the run but more of a liability in coverage. They’re not flashy blitzers, but they make tackles, force turnovers, and don’t miss many assignments.

Verdict: Strong, steady, and keeping the defense from completely collapsing.

Secondary: C-

Kevin Byard is holding this secondary together with duct tape and sheer willpower — 4 picks, veteran leadership, and consistently showing up when it matters. Brisker brings the heat in the box, doing the dirty work no one wants to talk about. But the corners? Man, they’ve been a mess.

To be fair, the group has been absolutely decimated by injuries. Jaylon Johnson’s barely played, Terrell Smith’s done for the year, and both Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon have been in and out. That’s left the Bears trotting out practice squad guys against WR1s, and it shows — 72.2% completion rate allowed, dead last in the NFL.

Throw in too many blown coverages and straight-up bad technique, and you’ve got a back end that bleeds yards. The only saving grace? Turnovers. Wright, Stevenson, and Byard have all snagged picks. But outside of those splash plays, there’s not much to hang your hat on.

Verdict: Ballhawks in spurts, burn victims in others. Dangerous dangerous mix.

Special Teams: C

This was the toughest group to evaluate because it’s the definition of a mixed bag. Tory Taylor has been everything we hoped for out of Australia — booming punts, flipping field position, doing his job at a high level. Then there’s Jake Moody, who basically stole a win or two while Santos was sidelined.

Speaking of Cairo, he’s nails from inside 50 and automatic on extra points. But over 50 yards? Forget it. And in today’s NFL, where kickers are drilling 60-yarders like chip shots, that’s a problem.

And don’t get me started on the return game — it’s a trainwreck. Bottom-five unit, gave up a touchdown to start last game, and the Bears keep shooting themselves in the foot with return penalties. If that doesn’t get fixed soon, Richard Hightower might be polishing up his resume come January.

Verdict: Peaks and valleys. But nothing catastrophic — yet.

Coaching: A+

You know we had to save the best for last. Let’s be honest — this team wouldn’t be anywhere near 5-3 if not for the guy steering the ship: Ben F*ckin’ Johnson. Fun stat? The Bears have already matched Eberflus’s win total from last season… in eight games. That tells you all you need to know.

Johnson took an offense that was dead on arrival and turned it into a damn juggernaut. Top 5 in total offense, top 10 across most major categories, and leading the league in explosive plays. He’s not just designing plays — he’s building belief. The third-down jump alone is absurd.

But don’t sleep on the staff he brought with him, especially Dennis Allen. Sure, the defense is the weaker unit, but it’s not all on him. Injuries have gutted this group. Despite that, the Bears lead the league in takeaways and rank among the best on third down. Yeah, the pass rush and run defense are still gross, but Allen’s been cooking with scraps. You can’t make a five-star meal when all you’ve got is a can of beans and spoiled milk. 

Verdict: Johnson’s building something real. If Allen cleans up the trenches, watch out.

Final Verdict

This team is a playoff-caliber squad with real upside. The offense is borderline elite, the defense is opportunistic, and coaching is finally an asset instead of a liability.

But until that D-line gets a pulse and the run defense stops playing matador, this team has a ceiling.

Still, for the first time in years? I havent had to look at tankathon yet… and thats a win for us Bear’s fans. 

Final Team Grade: B

Eric Bieniemy Reveals Comparison He Used To Sell Bears On Kyle Monangai

By
Erik Lambert
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eric bieniemy
Nov 2, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) runs with the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (52) during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears had wanted to select a running back in the 2025 draft earlier. Unfortunately, circumstances worked against them. Ashton Jeanty went 6th overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. TreVeyon Henderson went one pick ahead of them to New England in the 2nd round. Cam Skattebo went near the top of the 4th round. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson couldn’t catch a break. They were running out of options. However, running backs coach Eric Bieniemy wasn’t worried. He knew the team still had a solution out there. The trick was convincing Poles and Johnson that the kid was worth it.

Kyle Monangai had put together two excellent seasons at Rutgers in college, going over 1200 yards rushing each time. The primary issue was his overall lack of physical traits. He had average size and average speed. Nothing really stuck out about him. Bieniemy felt differently. In watching film, he noticed right away that Monangai had certain traits that would translate perfectly to the NFL. In fact, the young running back reminded him of somebody the coach knew well. He revealed the comparison to Nicholas Moreano of Marquee Sports.

“When I first had an opportunity to watch Kyle, he reminded me of someone, not myself,” Bieniemy said. “Reminds me of Kareem Hunt, and watching him and studying him on tape, going back to my days of reviewing tape on Kareem, those two are very, very similar. That’s the person that I see. Now, he has a lot to live up to because Kareem has had an outstanding career, but the kid takes a tremendous amount of pride in the little things, so that’s important. Now we just got to continue to grow.”

Eric Bieniemy knows what he’s talking about.

He was with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017 when they drafted Kareem Hunt. Like Monangai, he was a highly productive player in college at a less notable program, Toledo. However, his average size and athleticism didn’t wow scouts and draft experts. Still, the Chiefs saw enough to take him in the 3rd round. He proceeded to start that season, rushing for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns, which earned him a Pro Bowl selection. Since then, he has remained a strong contributor for years, averaging 4.0 yards per carry this season at age 30.

So when Monangai gashed the Cincinnati Bengals for 176 yards last Sunday, one can imagine how vindicated Eric Bieniemy must’ve felt. It was proof again that traits aren’t everything. If a running back has good vision, contact balance, strength, and versatility, he will have success in the NFL.

Try Not To Cry Hearing Story Behind Tyson Bagent’s Trick Play Vs. Bengals

By
Erik Lambert
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tyson bagent

The Chicago Bears offense went deep into its bag against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. This was always something for which head coach Ben Johnson was known. He loves to weaponize gadget plays in the right situations. That creativity reached new heights when he decided to put two quarterbacks on the field. It featured an alignment of three receivers stacked to the right. One of them was backup Tyson Bagent. On the snap, Caleb Williams threw a backwards pass to him, making it seem as if Bagent would be the one to throw down the field. Instead, he fired the ball back across the field to a waiting Williams, who took it 20 yards for a first down.

Bagent revealed some fascinating details about how it all came about. He found out about the play on Tuesday night, leading up to the game. They spent all week practicing it. Yet that wasn’t the best part. The best part was the name Coach Johnson gave the play: “Baby Daddy.” Confused? It was, in fact, a tribute to Bagent, who’d recently had a newborn daughter. In case you wondered how Johnson managed to win over the locker room so fast, it is probably because of little things like this.

Tyson Bagent clearly loves Johnson.

It was evident from the moment he chose to sign a contract extension, which would keep him in Chicago for two more years. Most young quarterbacks wouldn’t do something like that, knowing there was a high draft pick in front of them. They’d look for a chance to play elsewhere. Tyson Bagent understood that the best thing for his career was to spend the next couple of seasons learning from Johnson. Not many quarterbacks get opportunities like this. Getting to learn from one of the true offensive geniuses is something he wants to take advantage of. There will be time enough to chase a starting job.

He certainly made the most of his first opportunity to play. That throw by Tyson Bagent helped set up a Bears field goal. It was on target, proving again how calm the young QB is. Plenty of others would’ve underthrown or sailed that pass. Bagent put it on the money. It is easy to see why Johnson likes him so much. Seeing such poise from a quarterback is never a bad thing.

Keegan Thompson Officially Leaves Cubs

By
Aldo Soto
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Right-handed pitcher Keegan Thompson became a free agent back in October and after appearing in 104 career games with the Chicago Cubs he has officially left the organization that drafted him out of college. Thompson made his big-league debut back in 2021, when the Cubs were rebuilding, became a fan-favorite at Wrigley Field, but unfortunately had a tough 2025 season and now he’s off to a division rival.

On Tuesday, the Cincinnati Reds announced that they signed Thompson to a one-year deal. The 30-year-old last pitched in the majors during the 2024 season, when he recorded a 2.67 ERA in 24 appearances. However, Thompson was suddenly out of the bullpen mix to begin the 2025 season and was never called up by the Cubs after he dealt with an injury and ineffectiveness during the summer.

Now, Thompson will get another shot in the big leagues with the Reds in 2026.

Thompson posted a career 3.64 ERA during his time with the Cubs. The right-hander came up as a starting pitcher, but he achieved much of his success in the majors as a multi-inning reliever. He was primed to be an important piece to the Cubs’ bullpen in 2023, but early struggles earned him a demotion a couple months into that season and the organization’s confidence in Thompson was never the same.

He did have a good year in 2024, but even his positive momentum was derailed throughout the season because of various injuries.

A decent gamble for the Reds, who had an average bullpen in 2025. In 81 career relief appearances Thompson has recorded a 2.71 ERA with a 26.2 K% in 132.2 innings.

(Previous Update)

Well, the writing may have been on the wall for a while. The Chicago Cubs ended up having one of the best bullpens in MLB to end the regular season, but the group had to climb out of a hole early on in the season. Yet, when guys were struggling former fan-favorite Keegan Thompson was never called upon to add a boost to the reliever group. The right-handed pitcher spent the entire 2025 season in the minor leagues, had good numbers through the first two months, suffered an injury and then struggled in the second half.

Now, Thompson’s time in the Cubs’ organization could be done for good. The 30-year-old was picked in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Auburn and has pitched in 104 games with the Cubs in his career, but following the team’s elimination in the postseason, Thompson elected free agency.

Thompson battled for a roster spot this past spring training, but was DFA’d as the Cubs prepared to travel over to Japan for their Tokyo Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-handed pitcher cleared waivers and remained in the organization, but he was taken off the 40-man roster and out righted to Triple-A, where he stayed throughout the 2025 season.

In 64 innings with the Iowa Cubs, Thompson recorded a 4.50 ERA with 83 strikeouts, 25 walks and seven home runs allowed. He had an up and down season, posting a 3.60 ERA through May 20, but that’s when he went on the injured list and missed the next five weeks of action. His return was shaky as Thompson had a 10.67 ERA in his first 11 appearances coming off the injured list. The righty did have a good, final stretch in 2025, with a 1.37 ERA in 19.2 innings with 28 strikeouts in 10 games to close out the year in Triple-A.

Overall with the Cubs, Thompson had a 3.64 ERA in 227.1 innings.

Joe Tryon-Shiyonka Couldn’t Contain His Elation At Trade To Bears

By
Erik Lambert
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joe tryon-shoyinka

The Chicago Bears were in a tough spot. Injuries had already been hounding them for weeks since the season began. Unfortunately, things took a brutal turn when they lost Shemar Turner to a torn ACL and then Dayo Odeyingbo to a torn Achilles. Dominique Robinson also suffered a high ankle sprain. Just like that, a huge section of their defensive line was out of action. GM Ryan Poles knew he had to do something, but a major splash wasn’t in the cards. It had to be a calculated swing on somebody cheap. That is how Joe Tryon-Shoyinka came into the picture.

He was a 1st round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. His first three seasons were decent, amassing 13 sacks. However, he never quite developed into the cornerstone they hoped for. That is why he left in free agency this year, signing with the Cleveland Browns. That decision proved unwise as the team barely used him through the first half of the season. So when the Bears came calling for a trade, you can imagine how thrilled he was. Not only would he join a team that is having a more successful season, but he will also have the opportunity to play. The energy at his introductory presser was palpable.

“I feel like I’m part of the team already…(Bears players are) all super welcoming. They’re excited to have me. Just a bunch of laughs. Just ready to get ready for a win…

…“It’s an amazing opportunity, go out and play,” Tryon-Shoyinka said. “Amazing defense with some of these dudes on his defense. We all trying to get to that next game. We got a lot in front of us, but it’s one game at a time right now. I’m trying to just find my identity with this team and fit in where I can.”

Cleveland’s decision to sideline Joe Tryon-Shoyinka remains puzzling.

Obviously, he wasn’t taking any snaps from Myles Garrett. Yet others, like Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire, and Cameron Thomas, got the majority of their work on the opposite side. It hasn’t gone well. Garrett has 34 pressures this season. Those three have combined for 22. In 14 snaps, Shoyinka had three pressures, which was the exact amount Thomas had in 48. The only explanation is that the Browns never trusted him as a run defender, which was his primary weakness in Tampa Bay.

This doesn’t matter much for the Bears. They didn’t bring Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in to shore up their run defense. They added him to hunt the quarterback. He has good size, athleticism, a strong motor, and a quick first step. Chicago doesn’t need him to be a star. All they need are two or three pressures on the quarterback per game. If he can provide that, the trade will have been worth it.

Future Hall Of Famer Thinks Chicago Bears Found A Superstar

By
Erik Lambert
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darnell wright
Nov 2, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) runs with the ball against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Oren Burks (42) during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears took a risk on the first day of the 2023 draft. GM Ryan Poles knew who he wanted. So when he got a call from the Philadelphia Eagles to swap places, it was an easy decision. They took Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Chicago went with Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright. Most experts thought Carter was a lock for the Bears. He was the exact type of interior pass rusher Matt Eberflus would’ve loved. However, Poles felt the offensive line needed an anchor to build around. While not entirely untrue, many viewed Wright as somewhat of a reach at the time.

Recent evidence suggests Poles knew what he was doing. Andrew Whitworth is destined for the Hall of Fame. He was one of the best left tackles in the NFL in the past quarter-century. So he has a sharp eye for what good players look like. He’s quickly falling in love with Wright, who he thinks will anchor the Bears’ offensive line for years to come. That would be a departure for this organization, which hasn’t employed an offensive tackle for a decade or longer since Keith Van Horne retired in 1994.

The Chicago Bears have constructed one of their best offensive lines.

Suddenly, they have proven commodities at almost every position up front. Joe Thuney is still a stud at left guard. Drew Dalman has played some of his best football at center. Jonah Jackson regained his old Detroit form at right guard. Yet it’s Wright who has blossomed the most, transforming into a star. He has allowed six pressures in 273 snaps this season. That is better than Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro Lane Johnson. If that weren’t enough, he is also the second-highest-rated run blocker in the NFL, trailing only Detroit’s Penei Sewell.

Wright is not a one-trick pony. He can do it all. This is the culmination of everything the Chicago Bears envisioned when they drafted him. No doubt the arrival of offensive line coach Dan Roushar was a critical piece to that puzzle, along with head coach Ben Johnson. History says the Bears tend to win a lot of football games when they have at least one star up front.

Cubs Not Done with Shōta Imanaga Just Yet

By
Aldo Soto
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Apr 29, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) surveys the field before pitching against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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?

  1. 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.
  2. Imanaga and the Cubs negotiate a new contract.
  3. 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.

(Previous Update)

This isn’t all that surprising because if you’re not going to use one of your starting pitchers in a win or go home postseason game, then you probably have little to no interest in locking him for multiple more years. Plus, Shōta Imanaga’s home run trends, coupled with a decline in swing and miss were certainly enough to concern the Chicago Cubs about his future status in the starting rotation.

On Tuesday, Imanaga officially became a free agent after the Cubs declined to pick up a three-year option. That triggered a one-year option for Imanaga, who also declined, making him a free agent heading into the 2026 season.

The Cubs could ultimately extend the qualifying offer to Imanaga, which means he could accept it and earn $22.05 million for the 2026 season and then become a free agent following next season. Or Imanaga could decline that as well, enter the free agent market and have draft pick compensation attached to him if he signs elsewhere.

At this point, I’d probably lean toward the Cubs not extending the qualifying to Imanaga and instead go out and get a more proven pitcher in free agency. Imanaga finished the 2025 season with a 3.73 ERA in 25 starts, but he struggled in the second half, recording a 4.36 ERA in his last 16 starts. That included a stretch of allowing at least one home run in nine straight games to end the regular season and then Imanaga was also taken deep in each of his two playoff appearances before he was pretty much benched in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Coby White Just Provided His Own Injury Return Date

By
Ryan Dauterive
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Apr 6, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) stands on the court during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-Imagn Images

After the Chicago Bulls’ practice today, Coby White talked with the media. He discussed the team’s hot start, the excitement and boredom while being on the sidelines rather than in the game, and his return to play. The Bulls have started 6-1 in his absence, doing so without their leading scorer from the last two seasons. He’ll easily be the best bucket-getter on the roster when healthy, and the most dangerous volume three-point threat. He mentioned his fit in the current system and even toyed with a return date.

Eyeing The West Coast Trip In 10 Days

In just over a week, the Chicago Bulls will head to the West Coast for a three-game slate against the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, and Portland Trail Blazers. These games begin on November 16th, with the finale scheduled for November 19th. Per White, he’s aiming to return at some point during that stretch. At practice, he has been doing endurance training, smaller live-action games, and testing his calf.

The Bulls have four games between now and Utah, all against teams with a record of 5-3 or better. The Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Detroit Pistons gauntlet of a week will quickly teach the NBA world how legitimate the 2025 Chicago Bulls are. The sooner they can regain their top offensive weapon, the better.

He Fits “Perfectly” With The Current Dynamic

While a counterargument was made yesterday that White’s skillset might not align precisely with how Chicago envisions it, he thinks otherwise. His preferred way to play is fast, with constant ball movement, and playing to win. The shot distribution in previous years with White might suggest that he shoots more often than passes, but he’s also adamant that he won’t force the issue individually; instead, he will add his contributions where needed to an elite offensive unit.

Coby White is the ultimate teammate in Chicago, the ultimate locker room guy, the longest-tenured player in the franchise, and a fantastic asset on the court. If the Bulls can sneak out a few more wins in his absence, this team will add one of its best players in the midst of a brutal stretch.

Kyle Tucker’s Surprise Win Angers Fans

By
Aldo Soto
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Oct 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) reacts after hitting a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning for game four of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Huh, congrats to Kyle Tucker! The outfielder was named a 2025 National League Silver Slugger award winner and by all means keep the honors coming for the Chicago Cubs. However, I’m not entirely sure Tucker deserved the victory.

Tucker was fantastic through the first three months of the regular season and it’s a real shame that Cubs fans did not get to see a full season of Tucker at his best. The talented left-handed hitter had the worst slump of his career for close to two months and then right when he appeared to get back on track during the final couple weeks of August, Tucker went down with a calf injury that sidelined him for most of September.

At the end, Tucker finished the year with 22 home runs, a 136 wRC+ and a slash line of .266/.377/.464, in 136 games. Juan Soto and Corbin Carroll were the other two outfield winners in the National League.

This was Tucker’s second Silver Slugger Award with his first win coming in 2023.

The other three finalists for NL outfielders were Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Stowers and James Wood. You can make a strong argument that Stowers should have been the third winning outfielder for the silver slugger. Stowers had a 149 wRC+ compared to Tucker’s 136, slashed .288/.368/.544, an OPS 71 points higher than Tucker, and Stowers hit 25 home runs, three more than Tucker in 19 fewer games.

Meanwhile, Wood hit 31 home runs and had 94 RBI, both higher totals than Tucker. PCA also hit 31 home runs and drove in 95 runs, but his overall numbers were significantly lower than Tucker, so no one’s really banging the drum for the Cubs’ center fielder.

Chalk this one up for name recognition because despite the great reputation, Tucker’s 2025 season with the Cubs wasn’t exactly close to his best.

Kyle Tucker’s complicated 2025 season

I hate this feeling. For years we’ve been complaining how Jed Hoyer’s front office hasn’t been aggressive enough in free agency or the trade market. We see other teams make big swings, get star players, take a step forward, and then the Cubs kinda sit back and hope their marginal moves all pay off. But then, fans were finally blessed with an elite player last offseason, when the Cubs made a blockbuster move and traded for Kyle Tucker. A legit top-10 player in the league and he did make the Cubs better in 2025.

Yet, the Cubs were bounced from the playoffs by the Milwaukee Brewers and as we look ahead to the offseason I’m not exactly pounding the table, demanding that the Cubs re-sign Kyle Tucker and that sucks. This year started off with so much promise and it’s unfathomable to now think that maybe the Cubs are better off not signing Tucker a to $300 million deal.

Remember when those rumors of extension talks surfaced in April, which turned out to be false, but think about the real conversations that were happening. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had just signed a $500 million contract extension over 14 years to continue his career with the Toronto Blue Jays and with Tucker positioned to be the top free agent in his class fans were thinking how much the Cubs would need to pay up to have him stick around. At least $400 million, probably $450 million to get it done.

Now? I mean, there’s no way Tucker is getting anywhere near that $400 million figure in free agency.

At his end of the year press conference, Hoyer spoke about Tucker and while he didn’t go into much detail regarding the All-Star’s pending free agency, Hoyer said the following.

“When we were at our best, Kyle was at his best, and vice versa. “There’s no question he had a huge impact on this team. Obviously he had dealt with some injuries and struggled a bit in the second half, but again, when you take the totality of the season, he had a huge impact, as we hoped he would. Obviously now we’re sort of into free agency, and we’ll be talking to [Tucker’s agent], and we’ll be having those conversations. Like I said a bunch of times during this season, everyone can use a guy like Kyle Tucker. Everyone gets better by having a player like that.”

Tucker ended the year with an .841 OPS, 22 home runs and a 136 wRC+ in 136 games. He was the second-most productive player on offense, trailing only Michael Busch, while Tucker’s 4.5 fWAR was third on the Cubs in 2025, behind Pete Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner.

The Cubs had the No. 1 offense in MLB through the first week of June and as Hoyer alluded to, Tucker was a big part of that success. It’s insane to think how bad Tucker looked in July and most of August compared to his three months with the Cubs because we’re not talking about a guy who was leading the team, Tucker was a top-5 hitter in the league. Heading into July, Tucker had a 157 wRC+, slashing .291/.395/.537.

Then, there was the finger injury that led to Tucker changing his mechanics, which turned into a weeks-long slump and eventual benching in August. But then, Tucker returned and was great for two weeks…and then suffered a calf strain that sidelined him for most of September.

So, what do we even think of Tucker as a player anymore? Is he that top-5 hitter we saw through June? He’s not bad, let’s not overreact here and run this guy out of town because he went through his struggles, but is Kyle Tucker the star player we thought when he came from Houston?

He had a good season, the Cubs were better than they were before, so thank you, Kyle Tucker.

But, it wasn’t a great season. I have no clue what to think of Kyle Tucker’s future on the field. There’s no clarity and that sucks.

Detroit Fans Are Crashing Out Over Ben Johnson’s Replacement

By
Erik Lambert
-
dan campbell
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks to offensive coordinator John Morton at warmup ahead of the Minnesota Vikings game at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Ben Johnson has the Chicago Bears in the middle of an offensive renaissance. Remember, this organization hasn’t produced a top 10 offense since 2013 and has only done it twice in the past 30 years. Johnson has the Bears ranked 6th in points scored and 4th in total yards through eight games. He’s accomplished this with numerous moving parts. The Bears switched left tackles midway through the season. They’ve lost multiple starters to injuries and dealt with the inexperience of quarterback Caleb Williams. Despite all of that, things have coalesced into something exciting.

It was exactly why the Bears hired him.

By contrast, it sounds like frustration is mounting with his Detroit Lions replacement. John Morton was brought in as the team’s new offensive coordinator this offseason. Things started great. The Lions averaged 38.4 points through the first five games of the season. However, things have cooled off since then, and cracks are starting to form. You could see from fan reactions to the team’s 27-24 loss to Minnesota.

It appears the Lions are having a hard time adjusting when opposing defenses throw something unexpected at them. Minnesota did this by firing A-gap blitzes whenever Jahmyr Gibbs was on the field, forcing him into pass protection, which is not his strength. Even head coach Dan Campbell admitted the team did a poor job adjusting to that.

Ben Johnson was always a master at adjusting.

He proved it against the Cincinnati Bengals last week. Williams struggled in the first half, unable to find a rhythm. Rather than stick to the game plan, Ben Johnson shifted to a more quick-hitting passing attack in the second half. The hope was to string some completions together for Williams, getting him on track. It worked out. The Bears quarterback lit up the Bengals for 34 points in the 3rd and 4th quarters, capped by that epic 58-yard touchdown to Colston Loveland in the final seconds.

Detroit is still a really good team. They should make the playoffs, but at 5-3, it feels like they’re not quite the team they were last year. Something is missing. That certain edge they seemed to have in every game. Johnson was that edge. His ability to maximize their already considerable talent made the Lions impossible to defend. With him gone, they’ve begun discovering what mortality feels like again.

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