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Injury Update From Cincinnati Is Great For Chicago Bears

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan poles
Dec 22, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) runs onto the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears suffered a tough setback last week in Baltimore. It left many wondering if they can rebound this week against the Cincinnati Bengals. The last time they lost after starting the season 4-2, they imploded, going 5-12. Many remain skeptical they have the mental toughness to handle situations like this. On paper, this is a game they should win. Cincinnati is playing with an injured 40-year-old quarterback and has one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Even if it’s on the road, the Bears are strong enough to take care of business in this game.

It gets even better. As bad as the Bengals defense already was, it’s about to look even worse. Their superstar pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, is doubtful for the game with a hip problem. Remember, the Bengals only have 11 sacks as a team. Hendrickson has four of them. The same is true for Logan Wilson, probably their best linebacker for the past several years. Not only is he dealing with a calf injury, but he recently requested a trade. Things are not great on that side of the ball. Cincinnati is already dead last in points and yards allowed.

The Chicago Bears rolled the last time they faced a terrible defense.

That was against the Dallas Cowboys last month when they cruised to a 31-14 victory on the back of Caleb Williams, who tossed four touchdowns. It will be on him to deliver again on Sunday. The running game might not be able to lead the way this time. D’Andre Swift is out with a groin injury, leaving the job in the hands of rookie Kyle Monangai. Don’t be surprised if Ben Johnson decides to craft a game plan around Williams passing more often. The absence of Hendrickson might embolden him to do so.

Scoring is essential in this game. Cincinnati is stacked with playmakers at wide receiver. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are certain to get their catches against the Chicago Bears’ undermanned secondary. This is one of those games where the offense will have to win it. They have no excuses. The matchup favors them in every category. If they can’t put up at least 28 points, it is a significant failure.

Pope Leo XIV “Accidentally” Recieves Unexpected Gift

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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Ever since Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost ascended to the papacy as Pope Leo XIV, Chicago sports have been on a miraculous upswing.

The Bulls, Blackhawks, and Bears have all opened their seasons with winning records, while the Cubs are coming off a competitive campaign that ended in the NLDS, and the White Sox are showcasing some of the most exciting prospects in baseball.

When you have a pope from one of America’s most storied sports cities, it’s bound to turn heads. Chicago native Pope Leo XIV made headlines when he donned a White Sox cap at the Vatican, playfully teased the Cubs after their NLDS loss, and told a fan he roots for the Bulls.

On Tuesday, Mar Awa III, who is also a Chicago native, used his visit to the Vatican to get back at Pope Leo. Awa “mistakenly” gifted Leo a Cubs jersey. 

Pope Leo did not look particularly thrilled with the exchange. 

The Cubs enjoyed a strong 2025 season, winning 92 games and finishing second in the NL Central.

Pope Leo XIV grew up on Chicago’s South Side as a devoted White Sox fan. His baseball loyalties, though, came from a divided household as his father cheered for the St. Louis Cardinals, while his mother rooted for the Cubs from the city’s North Side.

In 2005, Leo witnessed history firsthand, attending the game that clinched the White Sox’s first World Series title since 1917.

Ben Johnson Revealed Toughest Thing To Fix With Caleb Williams

By
Erik Lambert
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caleb williams

Developing a quarterback is not easy. If it were, plenty of head coaches throughout history would’ve kept their jobs. It is an art form that few have mastered over the past century. Some became famous for it, like Sid Gillman, Don Coryell, Bill Walsh, and Andy Reid. Ben Johnson understood what he was walking into when he took over the Chicago Bears job this year. He’d done incredible work for the Detroit Lions between 2022 and 2024. However, that came with an asterisk. All of it had been accomplished working with a proven veteran, Jared Goff.

Chicago presented a completely different challenge with Caleb Williams. Here was a young quarterback with immense talent, but also considerable inexperience in playing the position professionally. Last year’s botching by the previous coaching staff didn’t help. Johnson is quickly finding out that this process is taking longer than it did with Goff. That hasn’t discouraged him, but it has forced him to re-evaluate what he must do. Over the past few months, he’s come to realize a big obstacle still stands in the way.

He admitted it to Bears media on Friday: accuracy.

“You make sure it’s on the forefront of his mind in everything we do. It’s the drill work, it’s routes on air, it’s the team periods in practice. You expect it to carry over to games.

“Man, accuracy is the hardest thing to — I’m not going to say improve on — but really teach when you’re a coach. A lot of quarterbacks, when they come into the NFL, they usually have it or they don’t.

“You’re always looking as a coach to, how do we get guys open cleaner? How do we help get aligned properly with our lower-body mechanics to where we can be most accurate with throwing the football? As long as it’s a conscious effort every single rep, whether it’s a walkthrough or over the course of practice, I do think those things add up and you see improvement over time.”

Ben Johnson is realizing a common truth with QBs like Williams.

They are phenomenal out of structure, utilizing their instincts and improvisational skills to pull off incredible plays. However, that free-flowing style doesn’t function when asked to play with timing and rhythm. You must have complete command of the line of scrimmage, and just as important, complete command of your feet. Nothing determines accuracy from the pocket more than footwork. If your steps are too wide, too narrow, or wavering too much to the left or right, the ball will sail on you.

That has haunted Williams a lot this season, as he has completed only 61.9% of his passes. Not all of that comes from inaccurate passes, but a sizable chunk does. Until he starts mastering his lower body, those occasional sprays will continue. Ben Johnson and his staff are working tirelessly to improve it. This isn’t the first time a young quarterback has dealt with this issue.

Steve Young did. Brett Favre did. Russell Wilson did. Josh Allen did. The trick is knowing if they’re willing to put in the work and whether you have the patience to let them learn. That is where Johnson is at right now.

The Chicago Bulls Are 5-0 For The First Time Since 1996

By
Ryan Dauterive
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Oct 31, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) goes to the basket against New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Tonight’s matchup with the New York Knicks was the most revealing game for the new-look Chicago Bulls. After starting 4-0, the masses claimed it was due to weak opponents, the opposition’s abysmal three-point shooting, and some luck sprinkled in. After today’s statement win against a fully healthy Eastern Conference title contender, the naysayers are running dry of justifications for why the Bulls have been successful this season. After five games, there’s no denying they are not only a much different product than anyone expected, but a genuine contender.

Playing For One Another

Anyone who has watched the Bulls over the past decade can point to the most significant difference between this year’s team and previous ones: inclusivity. Many will agree that the dynamic of a team starts with the top players, and in Chicago’s case, it has changed the trajectory of the entire organization. For the past seven seasons, Zach LaVine was an on-ball, elite scoring guard. This season, Josh Giddey is a pass-first, facilitating star. His ability to involve the entire team while also finding his shots at an efficient rate has made all the difference. The most noticeable change has been with Nikola Vucevic, who is posting career numbers in a more fluidly flowing offensive style with less isolation than the previous handful of seasons.

With 11 players aged 25 or younger, the cohesion shines on the court. This group is young, unproven, and hungry for success. They seem to play with a sense of not knowing or caring which players handle the ball or shoot the most on any given night. They rank second in the league in assists and third in passes per game.

Defensive Effort Making The Difference

Chicago’s most impressive turnaround from last season is its defense. They’ve been deploying the strategy of not giving up three-point makes and forcing teams to outdo them with two-point baskets. While they give up the most points in the paint in the NBA, they are limiting the opposition to the lowest three-point field goal percentage. With the majority of the roster consisting of young, athletic, and explosive players, the entire rotation is playing as a cohesive unit, flying around the court and causing chaos on that end.

Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic, And Ayo Dosunmu Carrying The Load

Many fans and analysts wondered if paying Josh Giddey the $100 million that the Bulls did was a good decision. Of course, many Chicago fans are still haunted by the max contract given to LaVine, which ultimately led to the organization’s demise for the next four years. Through the first handful of games in 2025, Giddey is looking worthy of every penny. In his biggest game with the team, he put up a monster 32-point, nine-assist, and ten-rebound performance.

Nikola Vucevic has been excellent. Dipping into the fountain of youth, he’s racking up nearly 20 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists per night. His usage and ability to stretch the floor have been invaluable to this offensive attack.

Ayo Dosunmu is playing the best basketball of his career. He’s currently the best player off the bench, and might be in the running for the league’s Sixth Man of the Year honor. He’s averaging over 15 points per night, shooting over 52% from the floor and a blazing 50% from three-point land.

Sitting atop the Eastern Conference and undefeated in NBA Cup play, are the Bulls a genuine title contender? The evidence for arguing that they are simply lightning in a bottle is running dry. How many more impressive wins do they need to stack before they’re taken seriously?

Against all odds, basketball buzz has officially returned to Chicago.

Mike Breen Says This Is Why Matas Buzelis Is A Future Star

By
Ryan Dauterive
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Jan 17, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Breen during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls have a potential franchise-altering talent in Matas Buzelis. Much of the buzz surrounding the organization has been centered around their 21-year-old sophomore, and rightfully so. After being named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team last season, he has his eyes set on the league’s Most Improved Player award next. While this might seem like a far-fetched goal for the youngster, it may not be out of reach after four games. What does NBA play-by-play announcer Mike Breen see in the kid, and can it propel him to stardom?

High Praise From A Basketball Legend

Breen is one of the most talented sports announcers and has been working at the highest level for over 30 years. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021, he is cemented as one of basketball’s most iconic voices and figures over the last several decades. He’s seen more hoops and called more games than nearly anyone, and had some special words for Chicago’s newcomer.

Tonight, Breen is on the call for the Bulls versus Knicks, where he’ll see Buzelis’s overwhelming potential firsthand.

Backing Up The Bold Claims

It’s one thing for young players to make proclamations about their goals and aspirations in the league, and another thing entirely to do it between the lines. Although it’s only been four games, Buzelis has had the skills to back the talk. Last game, he dropped 27 points, including four three-point makes, to spoil Zach LaVine’s first trip back to the United Center as a visiting player. This season has been littered with highlight dunks, high-flying blocks, and electric athleticism. Maintaining consistency on both ends is where Buzelis can show the most improvement.

Through four games, he’s averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 boards, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 blocks per night. These are all significantly higher than his rookie campaign, including nearly doubling his points per outing. At this rate, the league’s Most Improved Player honor is well in sight.

Taking Chicago To The Promised Land

The city of Chicago has longed for a new face of the franchise for over five years. They haven’t made the playoffs or had an All-Star representative in four years, and are seeking their first winning season since 2021. Their success early on in 2025 has heavily depended on Buzelis’s impact. Can he, Josh Giddey, and Nikola Vucevic continue to carry the load for the surprise product that the Bulls have been this season? Currently beating the Knicks in their first NBA Cup matchup, a 5-0 start would be a significant turnaround from seasons past.

If they can finish the job against New York, they’d be undefeated through the first five games for the first time since 1996. Is this the beginning of a new era in Chicago, or will the hot start come to a screeching halt?

White Sox Report Card: How Jordan Leasure Graded Out This Season

By
Craig Rowland
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Sep 1, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Jordan Leasure (49) throws to the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The White Sox improved by 19 wins from the 2024 to the 2025 season, marking significant improvement. Additionally, the White Sox played much better than a 60-102 team for most of the second half, as they had some important contributions from the rookies on the roster.

As we dissect the 2025 season, we will take a look at how each player performed, as well as their outlook for 2026 and beyond. The next player we will take a look at will be relief pitcher Jordan Leasure.

Leasure was acquired at the 2023 trade deadline, as he was sent along with Nick Nastrini from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly. This trade was considered as a win for the White Sox, as Nastrini was a highly rated pitching prospect and Leasure was dominant in the minor leagues as a relief pitcher.

Leasure would finish the 2023 season in the minor leagues and started the 2024 season in the minors before making his MLB debut with the White Sox early in the year. Leasure ended up finishing the 2024 season with a 6.32 ERA in 31 innings. He showed flashes of being a very effective reliever, but the results were not where the White Sox wanted them to be.

Leasure would play the entire 2025 season with the White Sox, as he accumulated .7 WAR over 64.1 innings according to Baseball Reference. Leasure finished the season with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.228 WHIP. He also struck out 81 batters and was 7 for 12 in save opportunities.

Leasure had a decent start to the season, as he had a 4.82 ERA through the month of April. After that is where he started to get off track, as he had 5 ERA over the month of May. He settled down after that and had a 4.66 ERA in June and a 4.82 ERA in July.

However, the later part of the years is when Leasure started to really pick it up, as he had a stellar 3.09 ERA with a .69 WHIP in August, with hitters just hitting .122 against him. September was even better, as he had a 2.63 ERA with a .66 WHIP and a .114 batting average against.

Leasure had a much better 2025 season, as he still has less than 100 career MLB innings under his belt, so he still has plenty of room for improvement. I would grade this season out as a B, as he really came on strong to finish the year.

Leasure will have a role locked down in the 2026 bullpen, as he will be counted on to get some key outs late in games. If he plays like he did in the second half of the season, he will likely carve himself out a role in 2027 and beyond.

White Sox Report Card: How Michael A. Taylor Graded Out This Season

By
Craig Rowland
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Sep 25, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Michael A. Taylor (21) follows through on a two run home run against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The White Sox improved by 19 wins from the 2024 to the 2025 season, marking significant improvement. Additionally, the White Sox played much better than a 60-102 team for most of the second half, as they had some important contributions from the rookies on the roster.

As we dissect the 2025 season, we will take a look at how each player performed, as well as their outlook for 2026 and beyond. The next player we will take a look at will be outfielder Michael A. Taylor.

Michael A. Taylor was signed as a free agent by the White Sox in February, as he was brought in to bolster the depth of the outfield on the major league roster. Prior to the season, there were a lot of question marks in that position group, so Taylor added veteran stability.

Taylor ended up being a stable force throughout the season, as he hit .200 with a .259 OBP, adding nine homeruns, 35 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. While not overly impressive numbers at the plate, Taylor offset it with very solid defense in the outfield. Despite that solid defense, Taylor finished the season with exactly 0 WAR according to Baseball Reference.

I would say that Taylor looked better than the numbers say, as he was much more valuable to the team than just 0 WAR. While he wasn’t the most productive player at the plate, he still managed to hit 9 homeruns in 285 at-bats, which would be close to a 20 homer place over a full season’s worth of at-bats.

According to Baseball Savant, Taylor was an elite fielder, as he graded in the 83rd percentile in outs above average and the 68th percentile in fielding run value. On top of that, he was in the 60th percentile in sprint speed, which is very impressive for a 34 year old in his last season.

Overall, I would grade Taylor out as a C+ on the season. He did exactly what he was signed here to do: provide a decent bat with good defense and production on the bases, all while being a great clubhouse guy. This was exactly what the White Sox were hoping for when they signed Taylor.

Unfortunately, this was Taylor’s last major league season, as his last game came on September 28th against the Washington Nationals. Taylor had a very good 12 year career, and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

White Sox Report Card: How Tim Elko Graded Out This Season

By
Craig Rowland
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Jun 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Tim Elko (30) claps after he hit a two run home run during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The White Sox improved by 19 wins from the 2024 to the 2025 season, marking significant improvement. Additionally, the White Sox played much better than a 60-102 team for most of the second half, as they had some important contributions from the rookies on the roster.

As we dissect the 2025 season, we will take a look at how each player performed, as well as their outlook for 2026 and beyond. The next player we will take a look at will be first basemen Tim Elko.

Tim Elko has been a fan favorite for the last few years now, as he has absolutely lit up the minor leagues. In 390 minor league games, Elko hit .289 with a .344 OBP, he added 77 homeruns, 265 RBIs, and five stolen bases, en route to a very good .840 OPS. This led to many fans wanting to see what he could do in Chicago.

Fans got what they wanted, as Elko made his major league debut on May 10th against the Miami Marlins. He went 0 for 3, but his second game was when he got to give fans a taste of what they saw in the minor leagues. In his second major league game Elko hit a three run moonshot, showing off the power he had in the minor leagues.

Elko would finish May with an interesting line, as he hit three homeruns and had five RBIs, while hitting .161 with a .188 OBP. Elko was then optioned back to AAA on May 23rd, before making his return in early June. His June would be much of the same, as he hit .148 with one homerun, while adding three RBIs. His OBP did improve significantly however, as it was .258. Elko was optioned back to AAA on June 14th.

After June 14th, Elko would bounce around the big-league club, AAA, and the injured list, as he only played in five games after his last official game on June 12th. This was slightly disappointing, as he was only able to get 67 at-bats in his first major league action.

Now in the offseason, Elko is recovering from a knee surgery that will likely sideline him for a significant chunk of the 2026 season. This is unfortunate, as he may lose playing time when he returns, especially if players like Curtis Mead and Miguel Vargas continue their upward trajectory. 

While Elko didn’t get many opportunities, he still showed off his power, as he hit four homeruns in just 67 at-bats. I would grade him out as a C-, as he unfortunately did not do much else with his limited opportunities.

Moving forward Elko can be a DH/1B candidate, as the White Sox don’t have much depth there. However, if they sign a player or two to fill those spots, the opportunities may no longer be there for Elko.  Hopefully he gets another shot, as he has absolutely raked in the minor leagues and has earned more than 67 MLB at-bats.

White Sox Report Card: How Curtis Mead Graded Out This Season

By
Craig Rowland
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Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox first base Curtis Mead (29) at bat against the San Diego Padres during a game at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

The White Sox improved by 19 wins from the 2024 to the 2025 season, marking significant improvement. Additionally, the White Sox played much better than a 60-102 team for most of the second half, as they had some important contributions from the rookies on the roster.

As we dissect the 2025 season, we will take a look at how each player performed, as well as their outlook for 2026 and beyond. The next player we will take a look at will be infielder Curtis Mead.

Mead was acquired by the White Sox during this year’s trade deadline in exchange for Adrian Houser. This was a very nice haul for the White Sox, as Mead was a consensus top-50 prospect in baseball over the last few years.

After he was acquired, he was sent to AAA, however that did not last long, as he made his White Sox debut on August 5th. Mead would go on to get consistent playing time with the White Sox after that, and he did not disappoint.

Over 66 at-bats in August, Mead hit a very solid .258 with a .310 OBP. He added three doubles, seven RBIs, and one stolen base. While the power wasn’t there, he found a way to get on base, as this was a solid debut.

Mead didn’t play as many games in September, but he still put-up alright numbers. Over 59 at-bats, he hit .220 with a .246 OBP. He hit five doubles and drove in four runs. The average is a bit lower due to a 1 for 15 stretch to end the year, otherwise they would have been significantly better, as through August and the middle of September Mead consistently got on base.

Overall, with the White Sox, Mead hit .240 with a .280 OBP, he added eight doubles, 11 RBIs, and one stolen base in 40 games. The power wasn’t there, but Mead showed flashes of the hit tool that scouts loved when he was in the minor leagues.

According to Baseball Savant, Mead was right around average in the field, as he played first and third base for the White Sox. I would grade Mead out as B for the season, as if he didn’t end up on a 1 for 15 run, the overall numbers would have looked much better.

Moving forward, Mead should get some significant playing time to show that he belongs with the core beyond 2026. With the emergence of Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, and Chase Meidroth, the infield has gotten crowded quickly, but Mead should find himself getting significant playing time next year.

Bulls Already Getting Bad News For Tonight’s Matchup

By
Ryan Dauterive
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Dec 23, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) drives to the basket against New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA’s midseason tournament kicks off tonight as the Chicago Bulls host the New York Knicks. This will be one of four pool play games, followed by a single-elimination tournament between the top seed from each grouping and two wild card spots. Chicago enters the meeting with a 4-0 record, something that nobody saw coming. Through their first week, many are attributing the wins to horrendous three-point shooting from the opposition, off-nights from the other team’s All-Star talents, and sheer luck. While those statements might be somewhat truthful, there’s no denying that as one of four remaining undefeated teams in the league, the Bulls have turned a new page. Without Zach LaVine for the first time in eight years, and with Josh Giddey at the helm, can this team make a real statement tonight against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference?

Knicks Getting Fully Healthy

Coby White, one of the most potent scoring and playmaking options in Chicago, remains out for at least another week. Zach Collins also remains sidelined, and the Bulls have suffered at the backup center position in his absence. The Knicks were without Miles McBride for the last week, and have been without Mitchell Robinson the entire year, until tonight. Both are expected to make their returns in the most crucial game of the season thus far. Robinson in the lineup creates significant matchup issues for the Bulls because it means Nikola Vucevic will draw that matchup, leaving Matas Buzelis to guard the taller and stronger Karl-Anthony Towns. Last time he pulled a similar assignment, it was Paulo Banchero, and Buzelis fouled out with only 12 minutes of action.

The make-or-break matchup of the night instantly becomes Buzelis versus Towns. If the Knicks’ versatile big man can do anything close to what Banchero or Kristaps Porzingis did to Chicago, it might be a long night in the Windy City.

True Test Of Legitimacy

A fully healthy New York Knicks squad is one of the best teams in the NBA. Tonight will be the most daunting and challenging task for the Bulls, and it will heavily determine whether the team is a genuine contender or a scrappy bunch that will sneak out a few upsets but ultimately miss the playoffs and land in the draft lottery. Even though the group is 4-0, many are assuming the latter. Today represents a massive opportunity to put the entire league on notice and officially stamp the Chicago Bulls as an Eastern Conference contender.

Can Buzelis rise to the occasion in his biggest challenge yet? Will Giddey and Vucevic continue to be the backbone offensively? At 7:00 PM tonight, all questions will be answered, and a new tone will be set for the future.

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