Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Bears rookies set to begin minicamp
Apr 26, 2024; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears first round draft choices Rome Odunze (left) and Caleb Williams (right) pose for photos at a press conference at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze spent time working out together during the pre-draft process. The duo even flew to the draft in Detroit together. Then the Bears paired the two as cornerstone pieces of the storied franchise’s next attempt at glory.
Pinch me — it still doesn’t feel real.
Friday marks the first opportunity Bears fans will have to see the team’s newest additions in orange and blue when rookie minicamp kicks off at Halas Hall.
The two-day camp gives the Bears’ five-man draft class and a flock of undrafted talent a miniature head start before the entire team is likely in the building for OTAs at the end of May.
It’s a fair assumption that all five of the Bears’ 2024 NFL Draft class make the 53-man roster out of training camp. However, there will be 15 UDFAs in attendance for Chicago’s rookie minicamp vying for spots on gameday rosters and practice squads.
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Angel Reese talks Chicago, Met Gala at Sky media day
Angel Reese is feeling right at home in Chicago ahead of her first WNBA regular season. The Chi-Town Barbie celebrated her 22nd birthday in style, gracing the red carpet at the Met Gala on Monday night. On Tuesday night, Reese scored 13 points in 19 minutes during the Sky’s dismantling of the New York Liberty, 101-53. Reese has scored 26 points and brought in 14 rebounds in the team’s two preseason games.
During the team’s media day festivities on Wednesday, Reese boasted about her strong ability to defend at any level: “I can guard all five positions, as you can see. I mean, I can switch on point guards and get steals. That’s just something I love to do.”
Reese is just one of the Sky’s recent additions to Chicago’s rapidly expanding rolodex of young elite athletes. No. 3 overall pick Kamilla Cardoso’s preseason debut was short-lived when she exited last Friday’s preseason opener with an apparent shoulder injury. Cardoso is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Cardoso isn’t the only rookie from the 2024 draft class injured. Brynna Maxwell, the No. 13 overall selection, injured her knee and will be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks.
Friends of the Parks plans to fight Bears, Chicago on lakefront stadium project
Rendering released by the Chicago Bears of a new stadium and greenspace.
The Illinois state legislature isn’t the only influential body pushing back against the Bears’ proposed $4.7 billion stadium project on the Chicago lakefront. Friends of the Parks, the group that kept a George Lucas museum out of Chicago, is “prepared to fight for the lakefront” according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The advocacy group didn’t lay out a plan to engage the team or city in a legal battle but hasn’t ruled out a potential lawsuit.
Gin Kilgore, the organization’s acting executive director, highlighted the city’s shaky past with projects of this magnitude, saying “It is common in Chicago for promises to be broken, whether willfully or through, ‘Oops, we’ve run out of money.”
It’s just another hurdle for Bears team president and CEO Kevin Warren after JB Pritzker’s office called the proposal a “non-starter” last week. For Bears fans, it’s a lot of politicking without any reward until shovels are in the ground, whether that’s somewhere in the city or Arlington Heights.
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Roundup: Cubs getting healthy, White Sox starting sell-off
Cody Bellinger returned to the Cubs on Tuesday night, smashing a line-drive home run in his first game since April 23. Michael Busch sent the rain-soaked crowd home with smiles on their faces after launching a walk-off home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth.
Justin Steelepitched well in his return to the Cubs’ rotation on Monday, completing 4.2 innings of shutout baseball. The Cubs also expect to add Seiya Suzuki back into the mix soon. The right-fielder is on a rehab assignment in Iowa after straining his oblique three weeks ago.
The White Sox sent OF Robbie Grossman to the Texas Rangers in exchange for minor league RHP Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa. It’s the first move of what’s expected to be a busy season for GM Chris Getz. Transparency has never been an issue for Getz, who warned of a full rebuild shortly earlier this year, and solidified that stance when the team dealt Dylan Cease to the Padres during spring training.
⚾ NEXT | White Sox vs. Guardians — Thursday, 6:40 on NBC Sports Chicago | Cubs at Pirates — Friday, 5:40 on Marquee Sports Network
