It’s been a dark season for the Chicago Bears as they sit at 4-9 overall with just four games to go. There’s really no doubt that changes will be made, the only thing that’s in question is how many changes will be made.

But while it’s been a season filled with chatter, there are some bright spots including defensive back Jaylon Johnson. The second-year standout out of Utah has been one of Chicago’s best players overall and has been consistent week in and week out. However, according to Johnson not everyone in that locker room that has started to go into the tank.

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Billy Donovan has no idea what Sunday’s scheduled game against the Lakers at the United Center will look like come tip-off.

The Bulls coach has no idea on how many players he’ll have eligible, who Los Angeles will have, or even if the game will be played.

Understandable, considering Donovan didn’t even know Friday what his own practice facility would look like.

The first NBA team to have a game postponed this season, the Bulls are trying to work their way out of the league’s health and safety coronavirus protocols, just days removed from having 10 players shut down.

The good news on Thursday was that climb seemed to be taking place, but it’s obviously a very slow one.

Guard Coby White and wing Javonte Green — the first two to enter the protocols almost two weeks ago — had both been cleared and had started working out at the Advocate Center.

The last group to get hit on the Cleveland/Miami trip? They likely won’t see the floor until after Christmas, according to the coach.

That included Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu, Alize Johnson and Troy Brown Jr.

Then there’s DeMar DeRozan, Matt Thomas, Derrick Jones Jr., and Stanley Johnson, who remain the unknowns.

A lot to take in? Imagine how Donovan feels.

“So we really haven’t been able to do anything at all,” Donovan said via a Zoom call with the media on Thursday. “It’s been kind of maybe two categories of guys: The guys that are recovering or been able to come out of protocols, which is Javonte and Coby. The league has allowed those guys to kind of start to ramp up activity. So they’ve been doing that. Then the other piece is anyone that’s dealing with any ailments, for example a guy like Alex Caruso who has been dealing with a hamstring, he can come in and get treatment, he can come in and get physical therapy. But the only two guys we have at this point and time that have been able to be in the gym coming out of protocols are Coby and Javonte.”

Donovan did say that there had been no new players or coaching personnel added to the protocols, which he was hoping meant the end was sooner than later.

Broadcasters Stacey King and Bill Wennington, who were in the traveling party, also went into the protocol last week.

The next step for the franchise was to get word from the NBA on what they can do in preparation for the Lakers game.

As of Thursday, they had 10 eligible players up and running, but nowhere to run them. Donovan was hoping that they could at least get some practice time in, but that wasn’t his call.

What the coach did know was his team was hit harder than any other NBA team, which could be a blessing in disguise for the next few months, and he also knew that expect the testing to only go up league-wide as the holiday season grows closer.

“I think the league is trying to do everything it can possibly do to play games and also keep teams safe and healthy,” Donovan said. “I don’t know what the right number is in order to say this team should play or this team shouldn’t play. Certainly we got hit really hard with this and we lost a lot of players. Other teams have been hit a little bit but not as much. And I’ve always said this, when you lose key players off your team, it definitely impacts you.

“A lot of this stuff that is going on to be quite honest is decisions the league is making based on the information they’re getting from probably the CDC, medical experts of how we need to progress and go forward and whether or not things should be postponed or teams should continue to play. I’m not really privy to those conversations.”

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A man with a concealed carry license opened fire on two dogs attacking a woman near St. Charles earlier this week, killing one of them and scaring off the other.

The woman, 51, was airlifted to the trauma center at Good Samaritan Hospital for emergency surgery, but officials said her injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The attack happened around 9:15 a.m. Monday as the woman was jogging, according to the Kane County sheriff’s office. A Labradoodle dog ran from a yard into the street, and the woman stopped and began taking the dog back to the homeowner, who was in the driveway.

Two Rottweiler dogs ran out and began attacking the woman, the office said. The homeowner and a passerby tried to get the dogs off her but couldn’t. The passerby got his handgun and fired one shot into one of the Rottweilers. Both dogs released the victim and retreated.

The dog who was shot died a short time later. The second Rottweiler was euthanized the following day, the office said.

The dogs’ owner was also transported to Delnor Hospital for treatment of injuries from trying to separate the dogs, the office said.

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All three Bears coordinators have the coronavirus.

Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, defensive coordinator Sean Desai and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor tested positive this week.

The team is still working through who will call plays if they can’t coach Monday night against the Vikings. They will participate in meetings via Zoom.

The Bears changed Thursday’s practice to a walk-through, and may do the same Friday, coach Matt Nagy said Thursday.

With very few exceptions, all coaches league-wide are vaccinated. Vaccinated players and coaches must test negative twice in 48 hours to be eligible to return.

The Bears have put six players on the reserve/COVID-19 list — five this week.

Monday, they put defensive lineman Mario Edwards on the list. Tuesday, he was joined by starting nose tackle Eddie Goldman, starting cornerback Artie Burns and outside linebacker Sam Kamara. Wednesday, starting right tackle Larry Borom on the list. Tackle Elijah Wilkinson — who would ordinarily be Borom’s backup — has been on the list since late November.

Three of the Bears on the list are unvaccinated: Edwards, Wilkinson and Goldman. Unvaccinated players who have tested positive must sit out at least 10 days. Edwards tested positive for the virus, so he’ll miss Monday’s game against the Vikings. It’s unclear if Goldman tested positive or is a close contact. If it’s the latter, he must quarantine for at least five days.

The league put the Bears under intensive protocols earlier this week, which limits how they can gather and mandates mask usage.

The Bears could turn to senior defensive assistant Mike Pettine, a former Browns head coach and Packers coordinator, to call plays if Desai can’t coach in the game. Brian Ginn is the Bears’ assistant special teams coach. Nagy could call plays on offense.

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Four people were injured in a fire December 16, 2021 in Belmont Central. | Sun-Times file photo

Firefighters responded to a call of a fire in the basement apartment in the 3100 block of North Marmora Avenue.

A man died and three people were seriously injured, including a firefighter, after a fire broke out in a basement apartment in Belmont Central early Thursday.

Firefighters were called to the two-story building in the 3100 block of North Marmora Avenue just after 2 a.m., police said.

Two men with burns were taken in critical condition to hospitals, and one of them was pronounced dead, a fire official said. A woman, also burned, was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition, police said.

A firefighter who had just celebrated his one-year anniversary with the department was seriously injured and was taken to Community First Hospital, then transferred to Loyola, according to Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt.

She said a mayday was briefly called for a “firefighter down.” She had no details on the injuries to the firefighter.

“This is heartbreaking to be standing here this morning,” Nance-Holt told reporters. “Right before the holidays, and families fighting, you know, hoping and praying their loved ones will make it.”

The home had smoke detectors but it was unclear if they were working.

No other details were available.

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For weeks now, there have been rumblings around Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy and just how much longer he will survive. At one point, it seemed inevitable that Nagy would not make it past the Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions. A pretty damning report made that seem all but set in stone. […]

Chicago Bears Rumors: Latest on Ryan Day possibly replacing Matt Nagy – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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This late in the season, it’s all about pride. The Chicago Bears are officially in the midst of a losing season at 4-9. Playoffs simply aren’t an option at this point. But, in a few days, they get their first crack of the season at the Minnesota Vikings, and it comes on Monday Night Football. […]

The Chicago Bears can bury the Minnesota Vikings’ playoff hopes – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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Roland Hemond, whose 70-year career in baseball included three Executive of the Year awards as general manager of the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles, died Sunday night. He was 92.Read More