Chicago Sports

Lucas Patrick looks like he’s ready to start at center for the Chicago Bears in Week 3

Through the first two games of the 2022 season, the Chicago Bears have used a rotation on the offensive line at right guard. Teven Jenkins has started both games so far but has split time with Lucas Patrick the rest of the game.

The move is due to Patrick having a brace on his right hand and not being able to snap after suffering an injury early in camp. The idea is to get Patrick game reps somewhere and with his experience at right guard, it made sense. But ideally, the Bears want Patrick at center and Jenkins at right guard full time.

It sounds like that’s going to happen sooner than later.

Patrick was spotted snapping the ball during Wednesday’s practice at Halas Hall as you can see in the video below:

On Thursday, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy confirmed that Patrick would once again snap during practice. That likely means he’s ready to go for Week 3 against Houston.

If that’s the case, it likely means Sam Mustipher hits the bench with Lucas Patrick replacing him but with this regime, we just never know.

This is something to monitor the rest of the week leading into kickoff on Sunday afternoon as the Texans come to town.

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The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ game Sunday against Lovie Smith’s Texans at Soldier Field:

RICK MORRISSEY

Bears 17-16

Just because the Texans are bad doesn’t mean this is a gimme for the Bears, who, by the way, aren’t very good, either. Justin Fields should be able to improve on his 11-pass performance against the Packers if, you know, pass plays are called. Season: 1-1.

RICK TELANDER

Bears 20-16

These are two really dull teams. The Texans have already tied a game, which is as exciting as drying dishes with your sister. The Bears have lost a game in which they passed the ball 11 times. In the mundane second-year-quarterback race it’s a doozy between Davis Mills and Justin Fields, with Fields ahead by a sideways buckeye leaf. Season: 1-1.

LAURENCE HOLMES

Bears 17-16

This is a real opportunity for the Bears. There won’t be a weather incident. Fields doesn’t have to operate in a hostile environment. Matt Eberflus will take more risks than Lovie Smith and that will benefit the Bears. Season: 1-1.

PATRICK FINLEY

Texans 21-20

The Texans don’t stink. Football Outsiders ranks them No. 21 in overall DVOA, No. 26 in offensive DVOA and No. 16 in defensive DVOA. They’re above the Bears in all three categories. This is a game the Beas can win — but at this point we can’t assume they’ll beat anyone. Season: 1-1.

JASON LIESER

Bears 26-10

For a moment, everything will look OK for the Bears. But it’s important to remember that the Texans are probably the absolute worst team in the NFL. Everyone should beat them. Season: 1-1.

MARK POTASH

Bears 20-10

After playing two playoff-caliber teams, the rebuilding Bears still should beat the teams at their level. With or without Roquan Smith, the Bears defense should make the difference. But these are the Bears we’re talking about, so … all bets are off. Season: 1-1.

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FOCO releases a new Justin Fields rising star bobblehead for 2022 season

The main focus of the 2022 Chicago Bears season is on quarterback Justin Fields as he enters his second year with the franchise. So far, through the 12 starts he’s made, Fields has flashed some potential but it hasn’t been consistent.

And the Bears are hoping things are turned around in 2022.

Our friends over at FOCO have released a new Fields bobblehead that is perfect for any Bears fan to show off in their man cave. The Bears Fields Rising Star Bobblehead features Fields in an action pose atop a Rising Star theme base. The bobblehead will be numbered out of 222 units, retail for $65, and stand at 8in tall.

Check it out below:

Justin Fields FOOC bobblehead

The bobblehead is available for preorder now at FOCO and is sure to sell out quickly.

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What is going on with Bears TE Cole Kmet?

Cole Kmet was supposed to be a big part of the hypothetical Chicago Bears success in 2022. So far through two weeks Kmet has practically been a ghost. Cole Kmet has zero catches and only two targets through week two. This could be due to the fact that the Bears are not throwing the ball, whatever it may be, Cole Kmet literally has not produced anything for the Bears so far in the young season.

Ex Bears TE Zach Miller Weighs in on Cole Kmet’s lack of production

Zach Miller who spent three seasons with the Chicago Bears is a firm believer in Cole Kmet’s potential and ability. Miller who also went through trials and tribulations early in his NFL career offred some advice on The “Under Center” Podcast from NBC Sports Chicago that Kmet may find useful.

don’t listen to anybody because, at the end of the day, that will piss you off even more. I think if he’s confident in his abilities, truly, if he’s confident in himself and what he knows he can do, it’s just a matter of working and grinding until it starts to happen.

And then you basically force them to start using more. Right? You got to force them to say, ‘Okay, he’s getting open, or he’s doing this.’ Even if the ball’s not coming his way right now, you have got to get to a point where you’re saying, ‘Hey, look, I need this here, I need this ball here.’ Start to force them to throw your way and make some plays.

I would have to agree with Miller’s advice to Kmet. The season is extremely young, of course there’s going to be haters calling for Kmet due to his lack of production. But if Kmet sticks to his guns and believes in himself like Miller advised, the stats will start piling up for Cole Kmet.

Matt Eberflus knows the offense can’t succeed without a successful passing game

One of the biggest stories surrounding the Bears in this early part of the season is the failure to get their passing game going. Eberflus acknowledged this in a recent interview on Monday.

In the passing game, let’s highlight our skill, Let’s feed the guys that have skill that can take a short throw and turn it into a big gain, that can go downtown. And we have a good deep ball thrower so we should utilize that too. And we’re going to look at all aspects of that.

In order for the Bears passing game to wake up, they need to find ways to get guys like Kmet and Darnell Mooney the ball. Although Cole has barely been apart of the Bears offensive plan so far, Kmet has kept a rather positive attitude throughout his struggles early on.

I am going to remain optimistic like I always am about it. And we’re just going to keep working every day and keep grinding through it. We have a bunch of guys who work their tails off every day and we’re going to get this thing figured out.

It Sounds like Kmet and the rest of the Bears are confident they will turn this struggle to get the pass attack going around. This is the exact positive attitude you want to see when a young, rebuilding team is going through an early season hurdle. No one is pointing fingers, no one is complaining, everyone just wants to work hard and achieve every football team’s end of the week goal, which is to win the day. There’s no doubt the talent is there for the Bears on the offensive side of the football, therefore the Bears are due for an explosion offensively in the coming weeks.

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DuSable coach Konesha “K” Rhea (left) and Fenger coach Jouscelyn “Knikkie” Mayfield (right) accept Certificates of Excellence for coaching the first high school football game in history between two female coaches.

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Morgan Park vs. Kenwood, 1 p.m. Saturday at Lane

The Red South is the Public League’s best division, and these are two of its top teams along with No. 7 Simeon. Two-way standout Tysean Griffin, a four-star prospect with a couple of SEC offers (Tennessee, Missouri) leads Morgan Park (4-0, 1-0). Sophomore quarterback Marcus Thaxton and junior receiver Chris Durr are two more playmakers for the Mustangs. Kenwood (3-1, 1-0) has as much top-level talent as any program in the state outside of East St. Louis. Division I talents for the Broncos include defensive backs Kahlil Tate (Iowa) and Kiwaun Davis (Western Michigan) along with edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot, running back Davonte Johnson and linebacker K’Vion Thunderbird.

No. 11 Bolingbrook at No. 3 Lincoln-Way East, 7 p.m. Friday

Bolingbrook quarterback Jonas Williams established himself as the state’s best freshman in week one, passing for 407 yards and seven touchdowns in a statement win over Minooka. He had 330 yards and three TDs against previously unbeaten Lincoln-Way West two weeks later. I’Marion Stewart, Williams’ favorite receiver, and Northwestern-bound defensive back Damon Walters are two more to watch for Bolingbrook (3-1, 1-0 Southwest Suburban Blue). Lincoln-Way East (4-0, 0-0) started the season with decisive wins over Crete-Monee and Batavia. Junior quarterback Braden Tischer, senior running back James Kwiecinski and senior receiver Jayden Cook are difference makers on offense for the Griffins.

Cary-Grove at No. 17 Prairie Ridge, 7 p.m. Friday

These two Fox Valley schools, less than eight miles apart, have developed one of the state’s best rivalries based on a legacy of mutual success in Class 6A and their shared belief in option football. Quarterback Tyler Vasey and fullback Nathan Greetham, running behind an experienced line, have led the way for Prairie Ridge (3-1, 3-1), which is coming off a 42-35 loss to Jacobs. Defending 6A champ Cary-Grove (3-1, 3-1) lost a lot to graduation, but has been getting better by the week. The quarterback this year is Peyton Seaburg, whose dad Brad is the Trojans’ coach. Gavin Henriques has three interceptions in the past two games to spark the defense.

No. 24 York at No. 14 Lyons, 1:30 p.m. Saturday

The West Suburban Silver is yet another league on the rise, with a 15-1 nonconference record and three ranked teams including No, 5 Glenbard West. York (4-0, 2-0) is coming off a 24-17 overtime win vs. previously unbeaten Downers Grove North in which Damian Glodz kicked a game-tying field goal on the last play of the fourth quarter and Kelly Watson ran for the game-winning TD. Lyons (4-0, 2-0) has one of the state’s top juniors in two-way lineman Eddie Tuerk along with Yale-bound tight end Graham Smith.

St. Charles North at Geneva, 7 p.m. Friday

The first two weeks of conference play haven’t offered much clarity about the DuKane pecking order. But they have left these two teams playing for the right to be the last unbeaten in league play. Defensive back/running back Drew Surges is a playmaker on both sides of the ball for St. Charles North (3-1, 2-0), which came from 15 down to edge defending 7A champ Wheaton North 22-21 last week. Junior quarterback Nate Stempkowski and sophomore receiver Talyn Taylor have been an effective combo for Geneva (4-0, 2-0).

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From the time she first stepped on a basketball court as a kindergartner, Jordan Wood had never played another sport.

Until now.

The Carmel senior’s college future is settled — she’s committed to Michigan State — and she wanted to try something new before turning her attention to defending the Corsairs’ Class 3A state title this winter.

So Wood is bringing her 6-5 presence to the net for the Carmel girls volleyball team.

“I feel like I’m quickly picking it up,” she said, though this sport is understandably still a little less instinctive than her main one.

“When I think about playing basketball, I know the rules,” Wood said. “With volleyball, I can’t hit this way. With basketball it’s easy, if you miss a shot the other team doesn’t get a point.”

Wood and the Corsairs didn’t miss much last season when they won state in the program’s first appearance. They avenged two earlier losses to East Suburban Catholic Conference rival Nazareth by winning the final 43-39.

Wood is one of four starters back from that team (though one is injured and not expected back till January). The motivation this year, Wood said, is to show last season wasn’t a fluke.

“We want to try our best to defend that, to show why we deserved to win last year,” she said.

The Corsairs had a rare luxury last season with four 6-footers on the roster led by Wood and 6-4 Grace Sullivan, the one starter who graduated.

That didn’t mean Wood and Carmel played slow, or that all the offense was funneled into the post.

Besides averaging 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds last season, Wood also led the Corsairs in assists (3.2 per game) and showed the ability to hit a three-pointer when the occasion presented itself.

“I think she’s developed even more of her perimeter skills,” Carmel coach Ben Berg said. “She can go inside or out. If they put a guard on her, she’s developed her low post game with her back to the basket. If they put a big on her, she can step out and shoot the three.”

As for Wood’s passing, Berg said, “she’s always had that vision, even as a freshman. Every year she’s evolved on the offensive end of the floor, making the right read at the right time.”

That’s clearly what Michigan State saw in one of the leaders of Illinois’ exceptional senior class. At No. 57, Wood is one of seven IHSA players in the espnW/HoopGurlz top 100 national rankings. Three others also are committed to Big Ten schools: No. 73 Katy Eidle of Hersey to Michigan, No. 79 Emily Fisher of Libertyville to Maryland and No. 81 Lenee Beaumont of Benet toIndiana.

Michigan State checked off a lot of boxes for Wood, who remained in close contact withSpartans coaches throughout the process and made her campus visit as soon as the pandemic-related recruiting restrictions were lifted.

“My family felt it too: this is home,” she said.

Playing in the Big Ten, with most venues within driving distance for her family to see games, was a big part of her decision.

“I’m very [much a] homebody,” Wood said. “I love being with my family. I could not imagine going super far.”

She has gone far, of course, in a basketball sense. The national ranking, the Power Five commitment and the state title all prove that.

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Chicago Blackhawks general manager, Kyle Davidson minces no word about the future of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews with the franchise

The Chicago Blackhawks officially kicked off training camp, Wednesday ahead of the 2022-23 National Hockey League season, with general manager Kyle Davidson and head coach Luke Richardson speaking to the media before Thursday’s first on-ice session.

In his chat, Davidson alluded to the fact that the organization has not been involved in any discussion about trading star Patrick Kane and captain Jonathan Toews.

“We’re not anywhere near that point,” the general manager hinted at of possibility of parting ways with the pending unrestricted free agents.

Kane and Toews are entering the final season of their respective eight-year contracts signed in 2014. The three-time Stanley Cup champion players have identical $10.5 million cap hits for the Chicago Blackhawks, who finished in seventh place in the Central Division last season and have qualified for the playoffs just once since 2017.

Toews, 34, said in July that a potential multi-season rebuilding process “doesn’t sound appealing to me at all.”

Kane, 33, recorded team-leading totals in assists (66) and points (92) in 78 games last season.

A former Hart Trophy recipient as the league’s MVP, Kane has 1,180 points (430 goals, 750 assists) in 1,107 career games since the Chicago Blackhawks selected him with the top overall pick of the 2007 NHL Draft.

Toews totaled 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) in 71 games last season.

A former Selke Trophy recipient as the league’s top defensive forward, Toews has 852 points (357 goals, 495 assists) in 1,014 career games since the Blackhawks selected him with the third overall pick of the 2006 NHL Draft.

The team play their their first game of the season against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, October 12th at Ball Arena in Denver. The home opener is Friday, October 21st against the Detroit Red Wings.

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The “summer of prospects” now entering the training camps, then moving on to the pre-season schedule vying for a spot on the roster.

So, as we know, the Chicago Blackhawks management were really active in the beginning of the summer to form a list of candidates to replace the all-stars the team had once possessed.

Demonstrating to the general manager first hand, with a rash of players that stood out in his opinion, and the two main stars of the tournament that made the team believe that there is in fact a future in the coming years.

Which players stood out and to the liking of Kyle Davidson?

There was a shopping list of players that came to the liking of the general manager, and the solid figure that indeed stood out was forward/ center Lukas Reichel, who is looking to become a permanent addition to the Blackhawks lineup.

A few more notable names that demonstrated grate skating ability on both ends of the ice.

Defenceman Ethan Del Mastro, who recently won a gold medal with his team; Team Canada, played a solid game along with his partner, Fillip Roos, who both earned praise from the observers and mainly management.

The second more notable name that drew interest to the observers, was Kevin Korchinski, according to reports he also had a game as solid as Reichel’s.

The best overall performance in my opinion would go to this gentleman here, by the name of Samuel Savoie, who did an mvp type of job shutting down the offence for the opposing team in the second game of the double header.

Even though the Blackhawks prospects lost in the first game, by a count of 5-2, they had recovered incredibly well in the second game and performed in spectacular fashion.

Where do we go from here?

Most of the players assigned will be competing at the training camp in a day or so, but realistically speaking most of them will be assigned to their respective farm leagues.

Many have proved that they are working towards an NHL level playing time, but despite the reports working with the veterans of the team will help them fit in comfortably and hopefully work their way into the system.

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On the day after the White Sox were essentially eliminated from playoff contention, they looked like a team that was never really in it, losing 8-2 to the AL Central leading Guardians Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Lance Lynn allowed six runs over six innings but three of the runs were unearned. And from the get-go, the Sox looked flat at third base where Yoan Moncada was involved in three negative results at a hot corner.

Moncada, who has played good defense this season, took his time on Amed Rosario’s ground ball that the hustling Rosario beat out for a hit in the first inning. After Lynn walked Josh Naylor, Moncada almost made amends stepping on third and throwing across his body for an attempted double play but Jose Abreu couldn’t glove the throw on a bounce, allowing Oscar Gonzalez to reach first. Andres Gimenez then bounced an infield single off Moncada.

In the third, left fielder Andrew Vaughn charged in as Moncada peeled off on Josh Naylor’s pop up but dropped it, starting a three-run inning.

Moncada did homer against Triston McKenzie, who struck out 13 and walked none over eight innings of two-run ball. Steven Kwan homered against Lynn and Naylor homered against Jose Ruiz.

The Sox (76-73) dropped to six games behind Cleveland (82-67) with 13 to play.

Cairo learning on the job

Miguel Cairo was hard on himself after the Sox, needing a three-game series sweep against the Guardians to stay in contention, lost 10-7 in 11 innings Tuesday. Perhaps too much so.

“When you win, the players win,” Cairo said Wednesday. “When you lost, I lost. It’s my job to put them in the right, best position to succeed and I didn’t do that. So it was my loss. They battled [Wednesday], they fight, we just came up short. Today’s a new day.

“This is my first time managing so I’m learning a lot.”

The Sox are 13-7 under Cairo and lost two games in a row for the first time since Cairo took over Tony La Russa’s duties.

Robert not in lineup

Luis Robert, who is playing with discomfort in his left wrist when he plays, did not start.

Robert’s wrist gets increasingly sore as games go on from swings, but Cairo said he can’t do more damage to it by playing.

Anderson “will play” before end of season

Tim Anderson, recovering from surgery on the middle finger of his left hand, tracked pitches from Lucas Giolito and moved closer to being activated. It seems more likely Anderson will join the Sox with a minor league rehab assignment, and Cairo said he will definitely play, and play regularly when he returns, this season.

Cease in select company

Dylan Cease, who pitched six innings of one-run ball in a 10-7 loss to Cleveland in 11 innings Tuesday, allowed one earned run or less for the 22nd time this season, the most among MLB starters. Julio Urias of the Dodgers ranks second with 19.

Cease’s 22 starts allowing one earned run or less are one shy of Wilbur Wood’s club record of 23 in 1972. The last MLB starter to allowed one earned run or less 22 or more times was Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell in 2018 (23).

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