DETROIT — After rolling out the red carpet for quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick Thursday, the Chicago Bears added to his offensive arsenal by selecting wide receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Odunze, a product of the Washington Huskies, finished the 2023 college football season with 92 catches for 1,640 yards with 13 receiving touchdowns. It’s Official: Chicago Bears select Caleb Williams with No. 1 overall pick in NFL Draft Odunze and Williams began building a relationship even before the draft kicked off on Thursday. The two accidentally ran ..read more

DETROIT — It's official Bears fans. University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams is the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, cementing him as the latest rookie signal caller in Chicago charged with ushering in a new era for the franchise. Williams comes to Chicago heralded by many as the most talented quarterback prospect since the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Clemson-alum Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and at least one NFL draft analyst saying he's the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck in 2012. In three seasons spent playing at USC ..read more

WREXHAM, Wales (AP) — Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are taking Wrexham back to the United States this summer. Details were announced in an online video on Thursday, confirming two games in California and another in Vancouver, Canada, as part of the Welsh club's preparations for the English third tier next season. Wrexham shot to global fame after being bought by Hollywood actors Reynolds and McElhenney in 2021. Under their stewardship, Wrexham has earned promotion in two successive seasons. Wrexham will play Bournemouth in Santa Barbara on July 20, Chelsea in Santa Clara on July 24, and th ..read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears have generated more headlines this week than perhaps any week during an NFL offseason in the franchise's long history. Essentially, the franchise's future is under the microscope. As far as the team on the field, Thursday night's first round of the NFL Draft is monumental for the Bears, who possess two top-10 overall picks, including the No. 1 selection. With that pick, the Bears are expected to take quarterback Caleb Williams out of USC, who — assuming the Bears pick him — will instantly become the face of the franchise. Bears GM Ryan Poles says ‘tune in on Thursd ..read more

CHICAGO — Wilmette native and Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic agreed to terms with the club on a six-year contract extension Thursday. Vlasic, 22, had 16 points this season and averaged 21:29 time on the ice per game — second among all Blackhawks. The extension runs through the 2029-30 season and has a $4,600,000 salary cap hit per year. “Alex made enormous strides this year and proved he is a legitimate top-four defenseman in the NHL,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson. “In his first full season in the NHL, Alex established himself as an important piece of our young core, and w ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Chicago White Sox conclude their seven-game road trip Thursday afternoon in Minnesota. They're hoping not to come home winless. Report: White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf offers own money to help finance proposed new ballpark in the South Loop The White Sox fell to 0-6 on the trip and dropped their sixth straight overall in Wednesday night's 6-3 loss to the Twins, continuing a miserable start to the season. Chicago is 3-21 entering Thursday. In Wednesday's game, Willi Castro hit a 3-run home run on his 27th birthday and Joe Ryan pitched six innings for his first win of the ..read more

CHICAGO (AP) — Despite a growing injured list that continues to claim key players, the Chicago Cubs keep finding ways to win. Propelled by another big first inning, they found a way again Wednesday night. Dansby Swanson hit a three-run homer during Chicago's four-run first, and the short-handed Cubs beat the struggling Houston Astros, 4-3, at Wrigley Field. Despite their mounting injuries, the Cubs have won the first two games of their three-game series with Houston and can finish off a sweep Thursday afternoon to conclude the homestand before heading back on the road. Chicago begins a seven ..read more

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs reliever Luke Little said he had to change his glove before he entered Wednesday night's 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros because of an American flag patch. Manager Craig Counsell went to insert Little into the game with one out in the seventh inning. But as the 6-foot-8 left-hander went through the usual check by umpires for pitchers coming into the game, he was told he had to swap out his glove. Cubs OF Cody Bellinger sidelined by two fractured ribs on his right side “The issue was the American flag was on his glove,” Counsell said. “Pitchers' gloves, they're p ..read more

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger has two fractured ribs on his right side, sidelining another key player for the Chicago Cubs. Bellinger got hurt when he hit the wall in center while trying to make a play on Yainer Diaz's RBI double in the fourth inning of Tuesday night's 7-2 victory over Houston. He was replaced in the field before the Astros batted in the seventh. X-rays were negative, and Bellinger downplayed the injury after the win. But he had a CT scan on Wednesday morning that showed the fractures. “He woke up feeling good,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “He was encouraged how he w ..read more

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears know who they're taking with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and so does just about everyone else too. General manager Ryan Poles just wasn't ready to announce it's Caleb Williams on Tuesday. He opted to leave that to commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday night. “So unfortunately it’s one of those things I think everyone’s got to tune in on Thursday to watch and figure out, but I feel really good about our process and where we are and where we’re headed," Poles said, smiling. "So we know what we’re going to do but everyone is going to have to wait un ..read more