The Chicago Bears had a strong NFL season last year under head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams, winning their division and reaching the playoffs. Coach Johnson has set high goals for the new season, aiming to win the Super Bowl and to have the highest-scoring offense ever, despite some injuries and a difficult schedule ahead.
Key Facts
The Bears won the NFC North and reached the NFC Divisional Round last season.
Caleb Williams threw nearly 4,000 yards in his second season as quarterback.
Coach Ben Johnson wants to surpass the 2013 Denver Broncos’ record of 37.9 points per game.
The Bears averaged 25.9 points per game last season.
Receiver Luther Burden was injured in training camp but is expected to miss only a short time.
Defensive players Coby Bryant and Kyler Gordon have significant injuries, affecting defense strength.
The Bears face one of the toughest schedules in the NFL this season, with strong opponents like the Panthers, Vikings, Eagles, Patriots, and Seahawks.
Sports analysts expect the Bears to win fewer than 10 games this year, possibly less than last season’s total.
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The New York Knicks will start their NBA Cup title defense against LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers on October 30. The Knicks will also celebrate their NBA championship ring ceremony on October 20 during the regular season opener against the 76ers.
Key Facts
The Knicks won the NBA Cup last year and will defend their title starting October 30 against the 76ers.
The Knicks and 76ers will also meet on October 20 at Madison Square Garden for the regular season opener.
The Knicks will receive their NBA championship rings at the October 20 game, celebrating their first title since 1973.
LeBron James recently joined the Philadelphia 76ers.
The NBA Cup is an in-season tournament in its fourth year.
Other NBA Cup group stage games are on November 6, 13, 20, 24, 25, and 27.
The NBA Cup quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in early December at various team sites.
The NBA Cup championship game will be held December 11 in Indianapolis, the first time outside Las Vegas.
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Myles Lewis-Skelly, a young Arsenal football player, has had mixed seasons but is showing good form again. There are reports that other clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea might want to sign him, but Arsenal says they have not officially offered him to any team.
Key Facts
Lewis-Skelly is 19 years old and has made 75 appearances for Arsenal.
He had a strong breakthrough season in 2024-25 and played for England’s national team.
Last season, he fell to third choice left-back behind two other players.
Arsenal signed him to a new five-year contract but considered selling him to get at least £100 million combined with another player.
He has performed well in pre-season matches and played as a central midfielder recently.
Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly show interest, but Arsenal denies formally offering Lewis-Skelly to them.
Manchester United needs a left-back and might consider Lewis-Skelly for that role.
Lewis-Skelly wants to stay at Arsenal and fight for a regular starting spot despite competition.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka left a practice session due to an injury but was able to walk off the field by himself. The seriousness of his injury is unknown, and he did not return to practice that day.
Key Facts
Emeka Egbuka is a second-year wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He left practice on Wednesday after being examined by athletic trainers.
Egbuka was able to limp off the field on his own but did not return to practice.
The exact nature and seriousness of the injury remain unclear.
Egbuka was the Buccaneers’ 19th overall draft pick and had a strong rookie season.
Last season, he had 63 catches, 938 yards, and six touchdowns.
With veteran receiver Mike Evans no longer on the team, Egbuka is expected to have a bigger role in the 2026 season.
The Buccaneers start their 2026 season on September 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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The Cincinnati Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the 2025 NFL season. To improve, they traded for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II and signed him to a big contract, hoping he will lead their defense and help the team succeed.
Key Facts
The Bengals finished 31st in total defense and 30th in points allowed during the 2025 season.
Their offense is strong with players like Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
Dexter Lawrence II was acquired from the New York Giants for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Lawrence signed a two-year, $54 million contract with an extension through 2028.
Lawrence’s performance stats dropped in 2025 compared to 2024 despite playing more games.
The Bengals also signed Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook, Kyle Dugger, and Ja’Sir Taylor to improve their defense.
The team is counting on Lawrence to be the key player to improve their weak defense.
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Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane was ranked No. 26 on the 2026 NFL Top 100 list, voted by active players. Achane had a strong 2025 season and will play a bigger role for the Dolphins after key players left the team.
Key Facts
De'Von Achane was ranked 26th in the 2026 NFL Top 100 by current players.
In the 2025 season, Achane rushed for 1,350 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
He also caught 67 passes for 488 yards and four touchdowns.
Achane was drafted in the third round and is in his third NFL season.
The Miami Dolphins lost players Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle.
Achane is expected to be the main player on offense with quarterback Malik Willis.
Achane said he is getting comfortable with being the team's leader.
The Dolphins will start their season on September 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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College football analyst Josh Pate said Notre Dame has a team good enough to win the SEC conference if they played there this season. Notre Dame wants to win the national championship after missing the College Football Playoff last year, partly due to close losses and the selection committee’s choices.
Key Facts
Josh Pate said Notre Dame could win the SEC if they were in that conference.
Notre Dame has one of the top three rosters in college football along with Texas and Oregon.
The Fighting Irish missed the College Football Playoff last year despite a strong team and wins.
Last year, Notre Dame lost close games to SEC teams Georgia and Texas A&M.
The playoff committee picked SEC and Big 12 teams over Notre Dame, which some say shows bias.
Notre Dame beat the 2024 SEC champion Georgia in a playoff quarterfinal game.
Notre Dame faces a tough schedule this year with little room for mistakes to reach the playoff.
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The Baltimore Ravens put quarterback Skylar Thompson on injured reserve, meaning he will miss playing for a while. To fill his spot, they signed free agent quarterback Austin Reed, who will compete to be the backup quarterback.
Key Facts
Skylar Thompson was placed on injured reserve after missing recent training camp practices.
Thompson joined the Ravens this year after playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.
He was competing to be the backup for Lamar Jackson along with Tyler Huntley.
The Ravens signed Austin Reed, a free agent quarterback, to replace Thompson on the roster.
Reed previously played for the Dallas Renegades in the United Football League and set a touchdown record there.
Reed entered the NFL in 2024 but was waived by the Chicago Bears after his rookie season.
Reed will compete with rookie Joe Fagnano for the backup quarterback role.
Thompson was a seventh-round draft pick in 2022 and has thrown for 721 yards in his NFL career.
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Mike McCarthy, the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Eli Heidenreich, a rookie player from Pittsburgh, are both experiencing significant homecomings as the NFL preseason begins. McCarthy is leading his hometown team for the first time, while Heidenreich aims to secure a spot on the team after a strong college career at Navy.
Key Facts
Mike McCarthy was hired as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach in January 2026.
Eli Heidenreich grew up near the Steelers’ stadium and was drafted in the seventh round.
Heidenreich previously set records for receiving yards and touchdowns while playing football at Navy.
Heidenreich is working to earn a place on the Steelers' roster, focusing especially on special teams.
He is competing for chances to play as a running back and kick returner.
Heidenreich recently had a minor hamstring injury that limited his practice time.
Both McCarthy and Heidenreich will be part of the Steelers’ preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers.
The Steelers’ preseason events have personal meaning for both due to their Pittsburgh roots.
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Vaughn Grissom, a baseball player, said the Boston Red Sox did not believe in him because they relied too much on computer data. Since joining the Los Angeles Angels, Grissom says he has received more chances and support, though his performance has improved only slightly.
Key Facts
Vaughn Grissom is a 25-year-old infielder with a .255 career batting average.
He has more than three times as many strikeouts as walks in his career.
Grissom played two years with the Boston Red Sox but says they did not believe in him.
He blames the Red Sox’s focus on analytics (computer data) for their lack of trust.
Grissom now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, who have given him more opportunities.
His performance with the Angels is better but still modest with a .707 OPS and 0.5 WAR this season.
The Red Sox traded pitcher Chris Sale for Grissom, showing they wanted him to succeed.
Critics say Grissom’s struggles may be due to his own play, not just team decisions.
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The Carolina Panthers got good news when offensive lineman Damien Lewis returned to practice after a calf injury. The team still deals with injuries to both starting tackles, making Lewis’s health important for their offense.
Key Facts
Damien Lewis, a starting offensive lineman, returned to practice after a calf injury.
The Panthers lost left tackle Ikem Ekwonu to a torn patellar tendon.
Right tackle Taylor Moton is out with a blood clot in his lung.
Both tackles are expected to miss games into the regular season.
Lewis joined the Panthers on a four-year contract in 2024.
Last season, Lewis gave up only one sack and earned a strong performance grade.
It is unclear if Lewis practiced fully during his return.
The Panthers begin preseason against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.
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The Los Angeles Lakers basketball team will be sold for a record $12.5 billion. Josh Kushner and Bob Iger will buy the majority ownership from Mark Walter, who previously bought it from the Buss family.
Key Facts
The Lakers are being sold for $12.5 billion, a record price for a sports team.
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are the buyers of the controlling interest.
Mark Walter bought a majority share less than a year ago for about $10 billion.
The sale was approved by the NBA Board of Governors in October 2025.
Josh Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Bob Iger is the former CEO of Disney.
The new owners said they plan to continue building the team and support its fans.
The Lakers are one of the most famous basketball teams in the world.
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Josh Kushner and Bob Iger have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for more than $12 billion, less than a year after the team was sold for $10 billion. The deal, pending NBA approval, shows the rising value of top sports teams and how they are now seen as valuable financial assets.
Key Facts
The Lakers were sold for over $12 billion, which is about 20% more than the $10 billion paid nine months earlier.
The Boston Celtics were sold for $6.1 billion in August 2025, making the Lakers' new price nearly twice that.
The sale marks a quick change in ownership after 46 years of the Lakers being controlled by the Buss family.
Mark Walter bought the Lakers in October 2025 and may sell them again within a year.
The high sale price highlights the strong market value of the Lakers, due to their location, history, and global following.
Josh Kushner has been expanding his investments in sports, including Major League Baseball and NBA teams.
Kushner is President Donald Trump’s brother-in-law, which has drawn some political attention but no direct links to the transaction.
The deal reflects a trend where top sports franchises are seen more like rare financial assets that can be sold quickly for profit.
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Lionel Messi shared a message honoring his late father, Jorge Messi, who died after a long illness. He expressed how hard it was to play in the World Cup final without his father and said he is unsure if he will keep playing soccer much longer.
Key Facts
Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and agent, died at age 68.
Lionel Messi led Argentina to second place in the 2026 World Cup.
Messi was emotional during the World Cup, saying he cried for reasons not related to sports.
He dedicated the World Cup final to his father and tried to push himself physically but felt unable to perform fully.
Messi posted on Instagram about his doubts on continuing his soccer career without his father.
He missed Inter Miami’s recent Leagues Cup match following his father’s death.
Messages of support for Messi and his family have come from many people.
There is no confirmed date for Messi’s return to play in club matches.
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The Los Angeles Lakers basketball team will be sold for $12.5 billion to Bob Iger, former Disney CEO, and Joshua Kushner, a venture capitalist. This is a record price in sports, coming about 14 months after the previous sale for $10 billion. The team’s new era will focus on star player Luka Doncic after LeBron James left.
Key Facts
Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion.
This sale sets a new record for professional sports team sales.
Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, sold the team after buying it 14 months earlier for $10 billion.
Jeanie Buss, former Lakers governor and daughter of Jerry Buss, may have an unclear role under new ownership.
Bob Iger also owns the LA women’s soccer team Angel City FC.
Joshua Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner and son of U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner.
Luka Doncic is the Lakers’ new star player after being traded in February 2025.
LeBron James left the Lakers and will finish his career with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will play Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, Austria, aiming to win the first of six trophies this season. PSG won the Super Cup last year, and the match features the Champions League winner (PSG) against the Europa League winner (Villa).
Key Facts
The UEFA Super Cup match is on Wednesday at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria.
PSG aims to win its second straight Super Cup and has six possible trophies this season.
Aston Villa last won the Super Cup in 1983.
Villa's manager, Unai Emery, has lost three straight Super Cup finals with previous teams.
The referee is Omar Artan from Somalia, who was barred by the U.S. from the World Cup due to concerns about connections to terror groups, though no proof was provided.
UEFA chose Artan to referee this match, showing tension between UEFA and FIFA.
Some key players from both teams are missing due to injuries or recent World Cup rest.
PSG’s coach Luis Enrique may decide whether to include recently returned players from World Cup breaks.
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Businessmen Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are buying the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team for $12.5 billion, a new record price for a U.S. pro sports team. The sale must be approved by the NBA’s board of governors before it is final.
Key Facts
The Lakers are being sold for $12.5 billion, which is the highest price ever paid for a U.S. professional sports team.
This is the second sale of the Lakers in one year; Mark Walter bought a controlling stake last year.
Kushner and Iger had been trying to get a new NBA team in Las Vegas but chose to buy the Lakers instead.
The NBA board of governors must approve the sale, with the next meeting in New York next month.
The Lakers were valued at $10 billion last year when Walter bought a controlling stake.
NBA team values have risen rapidly, with the Charlotte Hornets sold for $3 billion three years ago and the Boston Celtics for over $6 billion last year.
The Lakers have won 17 NBA championships, second only to the Boston Celtics with 18 titles.
Recently, star player LeBron James left the Lakers and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Arsenal is renewing its interest in Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, who played for England in the recent World Cup. Arsenal previously offered about £30 million, but Villa values Konsa at £60 million, so Arsenal may need to increase their offer to sign him.
Key Facts
Ezri Konsa is a 28-year-old central defender for Aston Villa and played for England at the World Cup.
Arsenal tried to sign Konsa earlier in the summer but only offered around £30 million.
Aston Villa values Konsa at £60 million.
Konsa played 48 games for Aston Villa last season and helped them win the Europa League.
Arsenal recently signed midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and now wants to strengthen its defense.
Arsenal is also talking to Tottenham about their captain Cristian Romero, but Tottenham does not want to sell him to rival Arsenal.
Romero missed the end of the last domestic season because of a knee injury but played in the World Cup final for Argentina.
Konsa is currently on holiday and not playing in Aston Villa’s upcoming Super Cup match against Paris St-Germain.
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Joey Crawford decided at age 13 to become a basketball referee, inspired by his father who was a professional baseball umpire. After a long career officiating in the NBA, including over 2,500 regular-season games and 50 NBA Finals games, Crawford has been selected for the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Key Facts
Joey Crawford knew early he wanted to be a referee, influenced by his father, a baseball umpire.
He watched NBA referees closely as a child and set refereeing as his goal by age 13.
Crawford officiated more than 2,500 NBA regular-season games and nearly 400 playoff games.
He refereed 50 NBA Finals games during his career.
Crawford was known for both his skill and his fiery temper early on.
Despite controversy, he became a widely respected and beloved figure in basketball.
He is being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026.
Fellow Hall of Famer Mike D’Antoni praised Crawford for fairness in calling games.
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Peyton "Pop" Houston, a top high school quarterback, signed a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal with Nike. Peyton and his father, Shaun Houston, talked about working together as player and coach and about Peyton’s training on CBS Mornings.
Key Facts
Peyton "Pop" Houston is a highly ranked high school quarterback.
He signed an NIL deal with Nike, making him one of 11 top high school athletes to do so.
NIL deals allow athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness.
Peyton’s father, Shaun Houston, is also his coach.
They shared details about their working relationship on CBS Mornings.
The interview also covered Peyton’s training routine.
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