The Chicago Bears place running back Zavier Scott on injured reserve on Thursday, November 5, 2026, after a thumb injury forces him to miss at least four games. Scott, who was promoted from the practice squad nine days earlier and contributed on special teams in a recent win over Seattle, joins an already injury‑laden backfield that includes Kyle Monangai. The move leaves the Bears shorthanded as they prepare to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday night at Soldier Field.
The New England Patriots add depth to their secondary by signing cornerback Kindle Vildor to the practice squad, according to the NFL Transaction Wire. The 28‑year‑old, a 2020 fifth‑round pick of the Bears, has bounced around the league—stints with the Titans, Eagles, Lions (where he earned a $1.3 M one‑year deal for 2024), and Buccaneers—before joining New England in 2026. Vildor has already played five games for the Patriots, posting seven tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass defended and a forced fumble.
The Chicago Blackhawks face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6:00 p.m. CT at Benchmark International Arena. View it on CHSN (Chicago) or The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 (Tampa) and stream via the CHSN app, CHSN on Prime Video (Chicago), the Lightning app (Tampa) or ESPN+ out of market. Chicago, 4‑11‑1, is on a four‑game skid; Connor Bedard leads with 12 points, while Patrick Kane misses with an upper‑body injury. Tampa Bay, 9‑3‑2, is unbeaten at home; Nikita Kucherov tops the chart with 20 points. DraftKings lists the Lightning at -425 and the Blackhawks at +330.
The Chicago White Sox officially name 30‑year‑old Matt Roffe, a former Brewers scout who helped win the 2023 World Series, as their director of amateur scouting. Announced Thursday, the hire follows earlier reports and clarifies the role after GM Chris Getz had mentioned a “director of amateur acquisitions.” Roffe brings five seasons in Milwaukee, including a stint as assistant director of scouting, and prior experience with the Diamondbacks. He replaces Mike Shirley, who left after overseeing the 2026 draft that featured the largest bonus pool and first‑overall pick Roch Cholowsky. Roffe will lead the Sox’s 2027 draft strategy.
The Chicago Bears are facing new defensive line concerns after trading for Jeffery Simmons, with injuries leaving the interior thin.
The Los Angeles Dodgers secure three 2026 Silver Slugger nominations despite a late‑season slump. Third‑base finalist Max Muncy, at 35, posts a career‑high 29 homers, 76 RBIs and an .837 OPS, vying against Alex Bregman. Designated‑hitter Shohei Ohtani, limited by injuries, still hits 30 homers and 81 RBIs over 135 games, though his OPS drops below .900, facing Kyle Schwarber’s league‑leading 45 homers. The team itself is nominated for the Team Silver Slugger after a strong first half (111 wRC+, 204 homers, 801 runs) but loses momentum to the Chicago Cubs, who finish with the league’s top offense.
The Short Porch breaks down the free‑agent starting‑pitcher market ahead of the upcoming MLB lockout, noting that while the elite tier features Tarik Skubal, Trevor Rogers and Freddy Peralta, depth quickly evaporates. Using MLB Trade Rumors rankings (with cross‑checks from The Athletic and FanGraphs), the piece lists roughly 30 pitchers, highlighting ages, rank positions and contract outlooks, and explicitly excludes international prospects. The author stresses that the class isn’t strong beyond the top three and promises a later deep dive on Japan/Korea talent. Cubs fans get a clear snapshot of who’s available and how the market stacks up.
The Chicago Blackhawks fall to 4-11-1 after a 5-3 defeat by the Florida Panthers on November 5, 2026. Rookie Dillon Boucher makes his NHL debut, even moving to the first line, while veteran Frank Nazar silences critics with a shorthanded goal and a late tying marker, bringing his season total to five. Roman Kantserov scores for Chicago, but Sam Reinhart’s empty‑netter caps the Panthers’ win. Analyst Paul Bissonnette lambasts the Blackhawks’ lack of identity, underscoring a tumultuous start compared to last season.
Chicago Bears left tackle Braxton Jones undergoes right‑knee surgery after a partially torn patellar tendon forced him out in the third quarter of the Bears’ 27‑7 win over the Eagles on Sept. 28. The procedure ends his season, removing a potential late‑year option at left tackle and thinning the line’s depth as the team heads into the stretch run. Theo Benedet and Ozzy Trapilo will now handle the position through the final games, starting Sunday’s matchup against the Buccaneers. Jones, 27, signed a one‑year, $5 million deal and becomes an unrestricted free agent in March, with a recovery timeline aimed at late spring.
The Chicago Bears cement their contender status with a 34‑17 blowout of defending champion Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. Quarterback Caleb Williams throws for 247 yards and a TD, while D’Andre Swift rushes 27 times for 69 yards and three touchdowns, putting him on pace for a franchise‑record season. New All‑Pro addition Jeffery Simmons leads a revived defense with six tackles, two TFLs and a sack, and Montez Sweat adds pressure despite a penalty setback. The victory, coming in a hostile stadium against a top defense, brings the Bears to 6‑2 ahead of a Sunday Night Football clash with Tampa Bay.
Emma Lingan and Michael Augello are joined by Frank Zawrazky to discuss the Buffalo Sabres’ slow start to the season, the Chicago Blackhawks’ continuous struggles, Elias Petterson’s return to form, and more.
The White Sox lead the American League with five Silver Slugger finalists, highlighting an explosive offensive season. Miguel Vargas posts 33 homers, a .837 OPS and 93 RBIs, while Chase Meidroth shines at second base with a .765 OPS, 31 doubles and 4.5 fWAR. Rookie outfielder Tristan Peters adds 12 homers, three walk‑offs and a cycle, earning AL Rookie of the Month honors. Chicago tops the AL in runs (776) and ranks third in home runs (213), also securing a club nomination for Offensive Team of the Year.
Patrick Kane will miss at least the next couple of games with an upper-body injury after leaving the Blackhawks' loss to Colorado, coach Blashill confirmed.
Bears offensive coordinator Press Taylor admits the loss of tight end Cole Kmet forces Chicago to craft a new TE game plan each week. Kmet’s season-ending knee injury came in the 30-24 win over New England (Week 7); he finished with 10 catches, 87 yards and a TD. With veteran Colston Loveland leading the position (33 receptions, 309 yards, 2 TDs) and rookie Sam Roush still developing (3 catches, 33 yards), Taylor says Roush’s progress is encouraging but the team needs him to step up quickly to fill the void.
The preview warns that the Chicago Blackhawks, despite a promising draft history, may be a “desperate” opponent for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 5, 2026 at 7 p.m. in Tampa. The Lightning enter as 475‑to‑1 favorites at Benchmark International Arena, with TV/stream options on The Spot, CHSN, ESPN+ and radio on 102.5 The Bone. The article questions whether Chicago’s recent talent haul will translate into performance after they traded away a top‑ten pick.
The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly eyeing Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who has one year left on his $14.5 million contract for the 2027 season. CBS Sports' Dayn Perry lists the Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners as potential suitors, noting the Phillies could benefit from Hernández’s right‑handed power to complement Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. However, his below‑average defense and the need to surrender prospects and absorb his salary make the deal risky. The article weighs the trade‑off between bolstering the Phillies’ lineup and the financial and defensive costs of acquiring the veteran slugger.
The Chicago Bears head into Sunday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with key injury updates. Linebacker D’Marco Jackson (ankle) and rookie running back Kyle Monangai (thumb/toe) are listed as DNP, while Monangai misses his fourth game and may sit again. On the bright side, offensive lineman Theo Benedet (shoulder) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (groin) move to limited status, and DB Malik Muhammad remains limited. The Bears also placed RB Zavier Scott on IR and added Stephen Carlson after waiving Kentavius Street. The Buccaneers report OLB Yaya Diaby (knee) and WR Chris Godwin Jr. (rest) as DNP, with A’Shawn Robinson and S Tykee Smith limited. The matchup kicks off at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
Dalton Knecht, a former Tennessee standout, finally shines after joining the New York Knicks in October. In his Knicks debut against Chicago, he scores 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, grabs 7 rebounds, blocks a shot and logs zero turnovers in 16 minutes, including a put‑back slam and two threes. Coach Mike Brown praised him, saying Knecht is “a scorer, not just a shooter,” and highlighted his ability to attack the rim and hit mid‑range shots. The performance marks a promising fresh start for the rookie heading into his third NBA season.
Even though the Chicago Bears already made the biggest move of the early season, NFL insider Ian Rapoport believes they're not done yet.
The New York Mets announce Johnny Washington as their new co‑hitting coach, according to The New York Post. Washington, 42, comes from a diverse background: drafted by the Rangers in 2003, he played in the minors until 2009 before moving into coaching. He’s served as a minor‑league coordinator for Atlanta, first‑base and hitting coach for the Padres, KBO hitting coach for the Hanwha Eagles, assistant hitting coach for the Cubs, and hitting coach for the Angels in 2024‑25. Washington joins interim manager Andy Green, who secured a three‑year extension in September, while the Mets retain hitting coach Troy Snitker but part ways with director of hitting Jeff Albert.
Texas Rangers utility star Ezequiel Duran has been named a finalist for the 2026 Silver Slugger Award for utility players. Duran, who already captured a Gold Glove at the same spot, posted a .260/.320/.419 slash line with a 114 OPS+ and stole 12 of 16 attempts while logging 49 starts at shortstop, 41 at third, 25 at second, 20 in the outfield and one at first. He competes against Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle ( .278/.376/.430, 126 OPS+, 7.1 bWAR) and Chicago White Sox’s Sam Antonacci (.277/.370/.396, 116 OPS+).
Seattle’s backup quarterback Drew Lock says his elbow injury is “doing a lot better” and he’s ready to take reps in practice ahead of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Lock, who moved to third‑string after hurting his elbow in a rainy practice, expects to start after Sam Darnold was ruled out with a quadriceps injury following the Seahawks’ 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. Lock previously threw for 235 yards and three TDs in a Week 2 win over the Patriots and hopes to replicate that performance. Seattle sits 4‑4 in the NFC West, tied for second place.
The NFL has named Chicago Bears defensive back Josh Blackwell as the team's 2026 nominee for the USAA‑backed Salute to Service Award, honoring his two‑year involvement with Naval Station Great Lakes and outreach to military families. Blackwell’s talks with recruits, autograph sessions, and personal story inspire service members, echoing the award’s 16‑year tradition. Fans can vote now through November 30, with finalists announced in January and the winner revealed at NFL Honors during Super Bowl LXI week in Los Angeles.
Analyst Jim Duquette reveals the likely suitors for free‑agent right‑hander Tarik Skubal, noting the Dodgers, Padres, Mets and possibly the Giants as frontrunners, while dismissing the Cubs as unlikely spenders on a starter. Skubal, acquired by Los Angeles from Detroit last season, is a top priority for a Dodgers team looking to bounce back after a NLCS loss to Milwaukee. Duquette highlights the Dodgers’ willingness to spend big under owner Mark Walter, but warns that landing Skubal could bolster a NL rival and impact LA’s title hopes.
With DJ Moore in Buffalo, Rome Odunze was supposed to inherit the Bears' top receiver job. Instead Luther Burden III took it, and Caleb Williams' target share proves it.