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The Chicago Bears are in Week 2 of organized team activities, and as with any team in the early stages of a rebuild, questions abound at many positions. Brad Biggs’ weekly Bears mailbag covers the running backs, secondary and offensive line — and starts by asking where the biggest holes are.Now that the draft and the first few rounds of free agency are over, where do you think the roster is most deficient? Are there any players currently available that would address those needs or will they need to wait until preseason cuts to fill those holes? — @theengineer_danAdvertisementThe Bears certainly hope they have players on the roster who can emerge as options beyond 2022 by proving themselves this season. The offensive line has legitimate questions. Is Larry Borom a starting-caliber player, especially at left tackle? Can Teven Jenkins be a good fit for this offense with his first look coming at right tackle? Who will play right guard? As for the rest of the offense, are the wide receivers good enough to be productive? Are the positive early signs from Justin Fields that the coaching staff has outlined proof he will take a significant step forward in his second season? Without significant investments on the defensive line, with the exception of pass rusher Robert Quinn, can the Bears be solid not only stopping the run, but also rushing the passer? Is there a high-caliber nickel cornerback on the roster? Can free safety Eddie Jackson bounce back from a couple of seasons that weren’t to the level of his contract? The Bears have players in place for all of these positions, and some will step up and provide good answers. How many remains to be seen. Some will fall short and there will be clear needs entering next offseason, when general manager Ryan Poles will have cap space, cash and more draft picks.AdvertisementI wouldn’t expect a windfall of solutions via preseason cuts. Generally, players whom other teams let go can serve as bridge players and depth. It’s less common that a player who is cut loose can be a real building block for the future. Try to be patient with the process. The roster will evolve over the next 15 to 16 months before the 2023 season starts.What positions are most deficient? I’d say the offensive line, wide receiver and maybe the defensive line. But we’ve yet to see the Bears in full pads or in the preseason, and real answers will come during the regular season.[ [Don’t miss] The Bears are back at Halas Hall for OTAs. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of their roster. ]Do the Bears get a deal done with David Montgomery after this year or do you think they ultimately let him walk? I’m factoring in the emergence of Khalil Herbert. It was a small sample size but given the position, well, you know. — @runbackdaveIt’s difficult to project what Montgomery’s market will look like after this season without knowing how he will perform in the new offense. As a general rule, running backs are largely replaceable. It’s probably the easiest position on the roster to plug in help other than specialists. Look at the variety of backs the San Francisco 49ers have used with great success, and that’s a similar offensive system.Montgomery has been solid for the Bears, but for him to prove real value in this offense, he has to be more dynamic and productive as a pass catcher. Running backs who get paid now, with the exception of someone like Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans, are multidimensional threats. To me, this has less to do with how Herbert performs this season and more with what Montgomery does.Bears running back David Montgomery practices Tuesday, May 24, 2022, during OTAs at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Ryan Poles may have successfully remade the secondary on the cheap. The linebacker and defensive line core seems solid too with some promising players. What do you think the defensive ceiling/floor could be for this roster? — @jmcdavittI assume you are talking about the defense in 2022. I agree the Bears made some strong moves in the secondary by drafting cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker in the second round. They will make some rookie mistakes — that’s natural for any first-year players — but the Bears have gotten out of the pattern of seeking veteran bridge players on the back end, at least at those two spots.The defensive line has legitimate questions. It lacks a signature interior player — someone like Tommie Harris, who was in the same scheme the last time the Bears ran the Tampa-2, or DeForest Buckner, who played for Matt Eberflus with the Indianapolis Colts. This defense requires some special players up front to play at a high level because you’re sacrificing size for athleticism, and that makes it challenging to defend the run.AdvertisementAre the Bears going to keep Robert Quinn for the season? If they do, will they get the record-setting 2021 version or the 2020 version? Free safety Eddie Jackson is coming off a couple of subpar seasons. There are fair questions about who will man the nickel position, which should be viewed as a starter. The ceiling for this group in 2022 is probably middle of the pack, and that might be attainable because the Bears don’t face the toughest schedule in terms of quarterbacks. The floor is a little below that.[ [Don’t miss] 3 Bears storylines to watch, including Justin Fields versus Mac Jones — and Lucas Patrick’s nasty edge ]Why is Jaylon Johnson taking second-team reps? — @wustinwields1The coaches wanted to look at a handful of other players who have been involved in the entire offseason program. Matt Eberflus said not to read too much into who is playing with which unit in May, and that’s good advice in this case. Eberflus said a week ago he hadn’t seen enough of Johnson on the field to say a whole lot about him. When asked about Johnson on Tuesday, he was pretty upbeat.“Now I’ve seen him for a week and I like what I see,” Eberflus said. “He’s moving around really good. His change of direction is nice. He’s got really good hands. As you know, he’s got good size. So now just really looking at his coverage ability and it’s in a good spot. We’re just working with him and trying to assess his skills and we’ll coach him as we go.”Barring something unexpected, Johnson will be a starter with second-round pick Kyler Gordon. I wouldn’t be surprised if Johnson is running with the ones at mandatory minicamp in mid-June, if not sooner. It doesn’t hurt for the coaches to send a message that those who consistently show up for voluntary work will get the first chance to be evaluated. That’s probably a motivator on some level.Is there any hope Kindle Vildor can sustain CB1? I know it’s OTAs. — @just_acyAdvertisementThat seems unlikely with Jaylon Johnson entering his third season and second-round pick Kyler Gordon getting consistent work with the starters already. A realistic best-case scenario for Vildor, who struggled at points last season, is to have a competitive training camp and preseason and put himself in position to be a top backup on the outside.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11 Meet the Chicago Bears’ 2022 NFL draft class. (Jae C. Hong/AP)Likelihood one of the rookie offensive linemen starts Week 1? — @dwcprodzThat seems like a long shot. It looks like the Bears are rolling with Larry Borom at left tackle and Teven Jenkins at right tackle — or at least it’s headed in that direction for the start of training camp. I highly doubt the Bears have a rookie offensive tackle who will prove he’s ready to start in Week 1. The best chance — and again, I don’t think it’s a high probability — is one of the rookies getting in the mix for the right guard job, where Sam Mustipher and Dakota Dozier have spent most of the time with the ones.There’s still a chance a newcomer will arrive with a shot at the right guard job, and remember, sometimes those things play out late. The Bears sort of fell into adding guard Josh Sitton to the starting lineup back in 2016 after the Green Bay Packers released him on Labor Day weekend. When GM Ryan Poles used four Day 3 picks on offensive linemen, it was with the idea that one or two of them could push for a spot in 2023. You can’t rule it out, but speculating now is incredibly difficult because they haven’t put pads on.Any chatter about how Charles Snowden is doing? He would seem to be the fast, lengthy, smart, try-hard kind of defensive end that Matt Eberflus’ system calls for. Pre-draft some even saw him as a Day 2 pick. Obviously his broken ankle turned teams off. He definitely has the measurables. — John R., VietnamI have not heard coaches single out Snowden, but with veterans Robert Quinn and Al-Quadin Muhammad not participating in the voluntary portion of the offseason program to this point — at least from what media have been allowed to view — that has given a handful of other players more reps, more exposure and in some cases more time with the first team. Training camp and preseason will be big for players such as Snowden, who is a holdover from the previous regime. The spring is critical for Snowden to show he can pick up the techniques the coaching staff is highlighting and can understand the defense. When it comes to turning the corner and really getting after the quarterback, he’ll have to wait until pads go on in training camp.Advertisement“It’s hard to me to assess a couple things this time of year,” Matt Eberflus said. “Pass rush is hard to assess because it’s a little bit easier for the rushers to get around because there’s no pads on, but once you put the pads on and those tackles can really block ‘em, I think that’s when you really assess what it is. Same thing in the running game. How do you really assess the running game as well?”[ [Don’t miss] Bears 2022 schedule: Here’s who they’ll play — and our predictions for each matchup ]How do you think they are gonna work with Khyiris Tonga? Will they still line him up at nose tackle or try to move him to three technique? — @chicagostatmuseTonga, a seventh-round pick in 2021, was a nice surprise for the Bears as a rookie, appearing in 15 games and logging 216 defensive snaps (23%). He was an ideal fit as a nose tackle in the 3-4 scheme, so there’s a little bit of projection for him in the new front. The Bears listed him at 6-foot-4, 338 pounds last season, and they have yet to adjust the measurements for returning players. When I asked defensive line coach Travis Smith what the target weight is for Tonga this season, he said that’s a decision that involves the strength staff and powers above him. For comparison, the Colts didn’t have a defensive lineman above 314 pounds (veteran tackle Grover Stewart) at the start of last season. Tonga definitely is not a three technique, but he has a chance to play the nose in this defense, even though it’s different from manning that spot in a 3-4.“Our big thing in our front is to make sure that we’re effort first,” Smith said. “We can correct everything else. And so as long as our guys — whatever their weight is — (are) able to run and play consistently at a high level, I’m good with it.“He’s moving good. For a big man, he’s got really great feet. Recall the (term) dancing bear. We have some big men that can move, stay on their feet. We want our big men to play sideline to sideline. We’re a penetrating, vertical, edge-setting defense, but we run. All four of us. We want all four guys running. As long as they can do that, their weight is good to me.”ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 30Virginia McCaskey, the daughter of George Halas, took over as majority owner of the Chicago Bears in 1983. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Memorial Day Weekend is almost here, which means it’s time to crown the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s lacrosse champions. After more than two weeks of games, only four teams remain in the respective brackets.Here’s what you need to know:AdvertisementMENNo. 1 seed Maryland 18, Virginia 9AdvertisementNo. 5 seed Princeton 14, No. 4 seed Yale 10No. 6 seed Rutgers 11, No. 3 seed Penn 9No. 7 seed Cornell 10, Delaware 8WOMENNo. 1 seed North Carolina 8, No. 8 seed Stony Brook 5No. 2 seed Maryland 18, No. 7 seed Florida 5No. 3 seed Boston College 20, No. 6 seed Loyola Maryland 13No. 4 seed Northwestern 15, No. 5 seed Syracuse 4AdvertisementMEN(at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut)No. 6 seed Rutgers vs. No. 7 seed Cornell, Saturday, noon, ESPN2No. 1 seed Maryland vs. No. 5 seed Princeton, Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2WOMEN(at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field in Baltimore)AdvertisementNo. 1 seed North Carolina vs. No. 4 seed Northwestern, Friday, 3 p.m., ESPNUNo. 2 seed Maryland vs. No. 3 seed Boston College, Friday, 5 p.m., ESPNUMENRentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., Monday, 1 p.m., ESPNWOMENJohns Hopkins’ Homewood Field in Baltimore, Sunday, noon, ESPNAdvertisementChris Cotter, Ryan Boyle and Katie George will handle the call of Saturday’s first semifinal between Cornell and Rutgers on ESPN2. Anish Shroff, Quint Kessenich and Paul Carcaterra will provide the play-by-play and commentary for the second semifinal between Maryland and Princeton on ESPN2 and will return to call Monday’s national championship on ESPN.For the women, play-by-play commentator Jay Alter and analysts Sheehan Stanwick-Burch and Dana Boyle will be on the call for the semifinals and championship game from Homewood Field in Baltimore. The semifinals will be broadcast on ESPNU, and the national championship will be broadcast on ESPN for the first time.MENNo. 1 seed Maryland: Seeking fourth NCAA Tournament title (first since 2017)No. 5 seed Princeton: Seeking seventh NCAA Tournament title (first since 2001)No. 6 seed Rutgers: Seeking first NCAA Tournament titleAdvertisementNo. 7 seed Cornell: Seeking fourth NCAA Tournament title (first since 1977)WOMENNo. 1 seed North Carolina: Seeking third NCAA Tournament title (first since 2016)No. 2 seed Maryland: Seeking 15th NCAA Tournament title (first since 2019)No. 3 seed Boston College: Seeking second straight NCAA Tournament titleNo. 4 seed Northwestern: Seeking eighth NCAA Tournament title (first since 2012)AdvertisementMENNo. 1 seed Maryland: Fifth-year senior attackman Logan Wisnauskas (55 goals, 40 assists)No. 5 seed Princeton: Senior attackman Chris Brown (30 goals, 41 assists)Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.No. 6 seed Rutgers: Junior attackman Ross Scott (49 goals, 23 assists)No. 7 seed Cornell: Fifth-year senior attackman John Piatelli (60 goals, 15 assists)WOMENAdvertisementNo. 1 seed North Carolina: Fifth-year attacker Jamie Ortega (64 goals, 41 assists)No. 2 seed Maryland: Graduate student attacker Aurora Cordingley (66 goals, 50 assists)No. 3 seed Boston College: Graduate student attacker Charlotte North (82 goals, 23 assists)No. 4 seed Northwestern: Graduate student attacker Lauren Gilbert (74 goals, 26 assists)

This has been a banner spring for Abby Bosco. After spending four years with the Penn women’s lacrosse program, she will play in her first Final Four as a member of Maryland’s team.Nearly as rewarding is the amount of support Bosco has received from her former Quakers teammates — with many of whom she still communicates.Advertisement“There have been a ton of congratulatory texts, even from the coaches and trainers,” she said. “Everyone is definitely in my corner. A lot of people have said, ‘It’s so cool you’re getting to play in the Final Four. This is awesome.’”Maryland’s Abby Bosco, left, is one of several players who used the NCAA transfer portal to their advantage and contributed immediately to their new teams. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun )Bosco is one of several players who used the NCAA transfer portal to their advantage and contributed immediately to their new teams. For the No. 2 seed Terps (19-1), Bosco, a graduate student defender, ranks second among all Division I players in total ground balls (63). She is joined by former Johns Hopkins graduate student attacker Aurora Cordingley, who ranks fourth in the nation in points per game (5.8), and former North Carolina sophomore midfielder Shannon Smith, who is the only player on the team with at least 10 goals, 10 assists, 10 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers and 10 draw controls.AdvertisementIn fact, three of the four semifinalists have benefitted from the transfer portal. Top-seeded North Carolina (20-0) — which will open play Friday against No. 4 seed Northwestern (16-4) at 3 p.m. — has been buoyed by former Notre Dame graduate student attacker Andie Aldave (50 goals and 11 assists), former Penn State junior midfielder Olivia Dirks (19 goals and 30 draw controls) and former Richmond graduate student attacker Sam Geiersbach (29 goals and 25 assists).And No. 3 seed and reigning national champion Boston College (18-3) — which will face Maryland at about 5:30 p.m. — paired former Temple graduate student defender Courtney Taylor (84 draw controls, 31 ground balls and 25 caused turnovers) with former Duke graduate student attacker and 2021 Tewaaraton Award winner Charlotte North (82 goals, 23 assists and 132 draw controls).As much as the Terps, Tar Heels and Eagles have capitalized from the transfer portal, their respective coaches expressed some caution about going to the well too often.“The transfer portal, to me, is very dangerous and can be a slippery slope,” said Boston College coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein, an Annapolis High and Maryland graduate.Added North Carolina coach Jenny Levy, a Roland Park graduate: “Overall with [name, image and likeness deals] and the transfer portal, I think some of this needs to be re-evaluated, quite honestly.”Emily Sterling would rather shift the spotlight around, continuing to share any praise with her teammates on the defensive end of the field. But she acknowledged that she has recently raised her level of play.https://t.co/XUePCjakWM— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) May 25, 2022

Their concerns stem from the notion that greener pastures in the form of more playing time and greater glory await players diving into the transfer portal. Walker-Weinstein said it can be good for players who “genuinely have not found a home,” but it also provides an “out” for athletes.“I think in some ways, one of the toughest and most important lessons you can learn is that sometimes there isn’t an out,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to find a way and tough it out and find happiness because there’s happiness everywhere.”Levy is quick to acknowledge that the Tar Heels have taken advantage of the transfer portal. But she noted that the portal has opened the door for dissatisfied or disgruntled players to leave their current teams for shinier and brighter toys.Advertisement“Even my own players here who have gone from freshman year to senior year, when they reflect on their first two years, [there is] the growth that they’ve gone through in just learning how to play the game, learning how to be a good teammate, learning how to work and train,” she said. “I think it’s a bad message to send to players, ‘Well, I’m not getting what I want, so I can transfer.’”Taylor, the Eagles defender, had planned to call it a career after her senior year at Temple last spring. But training with the U.S. national team in June refreshed her, and after entering the portal in June, she chose Boston College over Northwestern. What she’s found in Chestnut Hill is what she was looking for: “That every single person on the team gives 110% every day.”“I didn’t really find that at Temple,” added Taylor, who graduated with a bachelor’s in supply chain management and is working towards her MBA. “I loved my four years, but I just thought that was enough. I didn’t want to go back and not have a chance to win again.”Joining a new school means making new friends, adjusting to an unfamiliar campus and academic schedule, and absorbing a different playbook. Aldave, the North Carolina attacker who hails from Baltimore and graduated from McDonogh, admitted that moving from Notre Dame to North Carolina took some time, noting “you’re kind of like a freshman.”No. 2 seed Maryland women’s lacrosse returns to NCAA Final Four for 12th time in 13 seasons with 18-5 thumping of No. 7 Florida https://t.co/cEJH7RSPQG— Baltimore Sun Sports (@BaltSunSports) May 19, 2022

When the fit is right, however, transfers can enhance a team’s outlook. The trio of Bosco, Cordingley and Smith turned a Maryland program that went 10-7 and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season into one that will make its 12th Final Four appearance in the last 13 years.Advertisement“It just gives me chills,” Bosco said of helping the Terps capture what would be an NCAA-leading 15th title. “You dream of winning a national championship, and to do something so special with such a special group of people, it would mean everything.”Bosco’s coach, Cathy Reese, said she thinks the popularity surrounding the transfer portal has increased as athletes ponder how to use the extra year of eligibility provided by the NCAA. But she admits she’s worried about “the trickle-down effect,” citing the thousands of basketball and football players who enter the transfer portal seeking more playing time.“We’ll see how that transitions,” she said. “This is all still pretty new right now, and I think adding that COVID year is what made it possible.”Will more programs follow the path traveled by North Carolina, Maryland and Boston College and mine the transfer portal? Much like professional organizations, the NCAA can be a copycat league.“I’ve spoken to a few coaches who didn’t use the transfer portal this year, and they’ve all said, ‘We’re going to hit the transfer portal hard after this year,’” said ESPN analyst and former Virginia midfielder Dana Boyle. “So I think that they’re recognizing the importance of it. I think it does create this wild, Wild West sort of dynamic, but I do think that is part of sports in general. I don’t know if you can get away from that.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.ESPN analyst and former Georgetown attacker Sheehan Stanwick Burch said the financial temptation of the transfer portal is different in lacrosse compared with football and basketball, which can offer full scholarships. But she said teams that have holes to fill or are seeking to strengthen a certain position can capitalize on the transfer portal.Advertisement“I don’t see it going away in the near future,” she said.NCAA Final FourNO. 2 MARYLAND VS. NO. 3 BOSTON COLLEGEFriday, 5:30 p.m.Homewood FieldTV: ESPNU

The Chicago White Sox recalled Jake Burger from Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday after center fielder Luis Robert went on the COVID-19-related injured list.Burger was in the lineup Wednesday and hit a go-ahead three-run homer to help the White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 in front of 21,075 at Guaranteed Rate Field.Advertisement“Timing was right,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “Huge, huge hit.”The White Sox didn’t any have hits until the fifth against Red Sox starter Rich Hill.AdvertisementJosé Abreu broke up the no-hitter with a double to right. AJ Pollock reached on a throwing error by third baseman Rafael Devers. Burger followed with the 444-foot home run, his third of the season.“I want to play baseball and I want to compete, no matter where I’m at,” Burger said. “It’s kind of how I take it. Obviously, I hate referencing back to the three years I missed, but I was sitting on the couch for 2½ of those years. I’m going to put my best foot forward, no matter where I’m at.”Burger missed all of 2018 after suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon in spring training, then missed all of 2019 because of a bruised left heel.With the 2020 minor-league season canceled because of the pandemic, Burger played in a local league in Missouri before joining the White Sox alternate site in Schaumburg.He spent time with the White Sox and Charlotte last season.“Take every day as a blessing,” Burger said.Burger came in hitting .239 (17-for-71) in 21 games with the White Sox in 2022. He has a .213 average (10-for-47) with three homers and eight RBIs in 13 games with Charlotte.“These past two weeks in Charlotte were good for me in terms of just relaxing a little bit and not doing too much,” Burger said. “I get a tendency, a habit, to try to get ahead every single at-bat instead of taking it pitch by pitch and being able to control my emotion and not overswing.”AdvertisementThe homer put White Sox starter Lucas Giolito in position for the victory.“I’ve experienced a little bit of the up-and-down grind and it’s not pleasant, but he keeps proving time and time again that he’s very effective at this level,” Giolito said of Burger. “Huge home run to give us the lead there. He’s been a wonderful teammate, he works his (butt) off. I look forward to seeing him contribute more.”Giolito allowed one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and four walks in six innings. The run came in the first on a two-out hit by Alex Verdugo.The Red Sox had at least two batters reach in each of the first four innings, but Giolito kept finding ways to work out of the jams.“It was a grind,” Giolito said. “I really lacked rhythm and tempo in my delivery, especially out of the windup early. It led to really, really poor fastball command, at times not really knowing where my fastball was going. Luckily I was able to make good pitches with runners on bases early and limit the damage.”Giolito credited catcher Reese McGuire for “keeping me locked in.”Advertisement“We really had to get that slider going,” Giolito said. “We did. That was a good pitch to work off of. All the fastballs I was throwing down in the zone when I usually want to be up. Just working through it and I was able to find a good rhythm later in the game in the last couple of innings.”Relievers Aaron Bummer, Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly and Liam Hendriks followed.Kelly exited with left hamstring tightness after striking out two batters in the eighth. He will be reevaluated Thursday.Joe Kelly left the game with left hamstring tightness. He will be reevaluated in the morning.— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 26, 2022

Hendriks got the final four outs for his 14th save.“It just rained on this parade here,” La Russa said of Kelly’s injury. “It’s hard to enjoy the moment. That’s exciting, not just for the fans but for our team, when you have that kind of depth coming out (of the bullpen).“But nobody said it would be easy. We’ve gone through this before. We’ll wait and see what kind of hamstring (injury it) is.”

CINCINNATI — Nico Hoerner’s fluky right ankle sprain cost him only two weeks.Hoerner initially feared he could miss more time after colliding with an umpire in shallow right field May 11 in San Diego. He bounced back well, though, and suddenly the Chicago Cubs infield depth is a strength.AdvertisementHoerner came off the injured list before Wednesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. In a corresponding move, catcher Yan Gomes went on the IL with a left oblique strain. Willson Contreras was available off the bench and could be back in the lineup for Thursday’s series finale.Gomes’ injury creates an extended chance for backup P.J. Higgins, who started again Wednesday.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] How the Cubs’ Patrick Wisdom — one year after his call-up — is erasing questions about his long-term fit ]Manager David Ross indicated Gomes’ oblique strain is on the milder side, which is encouraging for an injury that can be tough to come back from.“The news we got back is not as bad as we thought,” Ross said.Hoerner’s return gives Ross a lot of middle infield options, depending on how he wants to mix and match Hoerner with Andrelton Simmons, Christopher Morel and Jonathan Villar. Nick Madrigal (lower back strain) remains on the IL and went through a second day of full baseball activities Wednesday as he continues to progress.Cubs shortstop Andrelton Simmons fields a ball against the Pirates at Wrigley Field on May 16, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)Hoerner was not in the lineup Wednesday as the Cubs started Simmons at shortstop and Morel at second base. On days Hoerner and Simmons are both in the lineup, expect to see Hoerner at shortstop despite Simmons never playing anywhere else in the field during his 11 seasons in the majors.There’s a reason Ross wants that defensive setup between the two.“There’s a real benefit from a guy that young and upcoming getting as many reps at short for us,” Ross explained. “And the versatility of Simmons — I don’t know that there really is a real position in the infield anymore. I mean, half the time, (third baseman) Patrick Wisdom (is) at shortstop, right? So I think moving those guys around, you’ll see that.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.When Simmons joined the Cubs after missing the first 32 games on the IL, he acknowledged his shoulder was not yet 100%. Giving Simmons time at second base could help as he gets stronger with more game reps.[ [Don’t miss] As the Cubs move past the quarter mark of the season, many big-picture questions remain: ‘Got to let guys continue to develop’ ]More importantly, the Cubs can find out whether Hoerner is a long-term answer at short. Advertisement“Nico is a big-league shortstop,” Ross said. “He’s proven he can play big-league shortstop pretty consistently already in this season. Let’s see what happens at the end of the year and assess there. It’s easy to say you can be a shortstop in the big leagues long term, but you also have to do it. You have to prove it.”Hoerner’s defensive performance this season made Simmons feel he didn’t need to rush back before his body was ready. He has been highly complimentary of Hoerner’s play, especially his backhanded jump throws from the hole.Hoerner appreciates the praise from Simmons, a four-time Gold Glove winner.“He’s someone who’s done it at the highest level,” Hoerner said Wednesday. “I mean, some of those stats that have been flashing, defensive runs saved in the last decade and things like that, that’s pretty amazing.“So he’s a guy who not only does it but understands how he does it. He’s always thinking a play ahead and someone I’m excited to share the field with for sure.”

Lance Lynn pitched to several Chicago White Sox teammates before Tuesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.In one instance, he shattered Eloy Jiménez’s bat.AdvertisementManager Tony La Russa liked what he saw from the right-hander, who is recovering from right knee surgery to repair a torn tendon.“I was overruled by the general manager (Rick Hahn) and the trainer, but I thought he was ready to go five days from now,” La Russa joked.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Luis Robert goes on the COVID injured list — and the center fielder might miss the entire White Sox homestand ]Lynn said he is in line to start this weekend — but it will be on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte.“It’s right on pace,” Lynn said Wednesday of the rehab process. “When you look at how everything goes, it’s all about how you can recover. Some days you are going to feel worse than others. It’s how you get through it and how you respond. The more I get on the mound, the better I feel, the more comfortable I feel.“Now it’s on to games this weekend it looks like. That’s the next step of intensity. I’m sure I’ll have some soreness and things of that nature you’ve got to get through. And that’s what the rehab process is all about so you feel comfortable when it’s time to be back here.”Lynn — one of three finalists for the 2021 American League Cy Young Award — anticipates needing three appearances before making his first start for the White Sox. La Russa cautioned it will be “at least three” starts.“We’re trying to be patient,” La Russa said. “It’s hard. But he’s so excited about the progress that he’s made. We’re going to have a lot of people eyeballing him because there’s nothing worse than getting excited, getting him back and then losing him.”Lynn has been out since he hobbled off the mound in an April 2 Cactus League game after throwing a pitch to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll. He underwent surgery April 5.Lynn knows the importance of being patient.“The more you push the thing, the more it kind of pulls you back,” he said. “It’s part of the process. My body is telling me how much I can give, the effort I can give and the intensity I can give. As long as you keep moving forward, everything is in a good spot. I’m looking forward to competing, but I have to make sure everything is ready to go before I fully let it go.Advertisement“The process of being injured and getting back is probably the worst process there is, especially for athletes. You miss competing. You miss being part of the team. You miss trying to help your team win. But as long as you get yourself back ready to go and you are 100% when you get back, then you did your job.”[ [Don’t miss] Tim Anderson ready to move on from Josh Donaldson’s attempt to provoke him: ‘I’m not looking for friendship’ ]Lynn is managing the situation by trying to “stay in (his) process.”“Make sure you are there for your teammates, doing everything you can to help them prepare for games or see what you see during a game,” Lynn said. “But make sure you hit all your checkpoints that day. You do it that way and the process keeps going.”Tuesday’s live batting practice was another step in the right direction.“The ball was coming out good, had good command,” La Russa said. “Exciting to think about (him) being back with us. But patience is going to be important.”Lynn said: “The first two times (against) the hitters went according to plan, and now it’s on to games and that’s going to be a totally different type of intensity. Each day you have to reassess, but there’s been nothing to hold anything back.”AdvertisementLynn went 11-6 with a 2.69 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 28 starts last season, his first with the White Sox, and placed third in Cy Young voting.He knows a player returning from an injury can provide a boost.“Yeah, if you do well,” he said with a smile. “If you suck when you get back, nobody cares. So I’ve got to be ready to go.”

Colin Kaepernick went from being blackballed to working out for the silver and black.Kaepernick, 34, a Black quarterback exiled from the NFL for his stance against police brutality and racial injustice, worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday.AdvertisementThe workout was first reported by ESPN. NFL Network reported it was happening Wednesday.Raiders owner Mark Davis recently reiterated support for giving Kaepernick a look in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area. That’s exactly what is happening under first-year GM Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels.Advertisement“I believe in Colin Kaepernick,” Davis said during an episode of “Race in America: A Candid Conversation.” “He deserves every chance in the world to become a quarterback in the National Football League. I still stand by it. If our coaches and general manager want to bring him in or want him to be the quarterback on this team, I would welcome him with open arms.”Colin Kaepernick showcased his arm during halftime of Michigan’s intrasquad scrimmage in April. (Carlos Osorio/AP)Davis said something similar in the summer of 2020. His late father, Al Davis, was a trailblazer who hired the NFL’s first Black head coach, Art Shell, and its first female chief executive, Amy Trask, in the modern era.“Since 2017 I’ve told the coaches and general managers that if they want to hire Colin Kaepernick, they have my blessing,” Davis said, per ESPN.In 2016, Kaepernick began protesting racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling on the sideline during the playing of the national anthem. He hasn’t played for an NFL team since, while scores of less talented backup QBs have been cycled through rosters.He opted out of his Niners contract in the spring of 2017 when the 49ers told him he would be cut because he didn’t fit the system under new coach Kyle Shanahan.Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid sued the NFL and its owners alleging collusion to keep them out of the league. The league settled with both players in 2019. Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid reportedly split less than $10 million in the deal.Reid played for the Carolina Panthers in 2018 and 2019. Kaepernick remained a free agent.Almost nine months after Kaepernick and Reid settled with the league, it hosted an impromptu workout session for Kaepernick and invited all 32 teams to watch. But the workout was overall viewed as a joke by many. It was scheduled on a Saturday in November in the middle of the 2019-20 season in Atlanta, and Kaepernick was given just two hours to decide whether to go through with the workout, among several other oddities of the situation. Only eight teams sent scouts to that workout.AdvertisementIn 2020, commissioner Roger Goodell admitted the NFL was “wrong” for not listening to player protests earlier. Goodell then said “I welcome” and “support a club” signing Kaepernick “if he wants to resume his career in the NFL.”The Seattle Seahawks hosted Kaepernick on a visit in 2017, but didn’t sign him. He hasn’t had a single workout with a team until this week’s planned session with the Raiders.Kaepernick worked out during halftime of this year’s Michigan spring game, a platform provided by Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, his former 49ers head coach. Kaepernick led Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII in the 2012 season.Kaepernick has a pre-existing relationship with Raiders offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi, who was on the 49ers’ staff from 2013-16 while Kaepernick was their QB.Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens are the Raiders’ only backups of note behind starter Derek Carr at the moment. So there is a clear path to Kaepernick securing a backup job with a strong workout.Davis and the Raiders have been in the news a lot lately. On Wednesday, a judge denied two NFL motions: 1) to dismiss a lawsuit brought by fired Raiders coach Jon Gruden; and 2) to push it into arbitration. So the discovery process in that case should get interesting.AdvertisementFormer Raiders president Dan Ventrelle also alleged that Davis fired him recently in retaliation for raising concerns about a hostile work environment in the organization to the NFL’s attention.Kaepernick said recently on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast that he realizes he’ll have to accept a backup role to break back into the league, but that he’ll compete to get his old job back.“I know I have to find my way back in,” he said. “So if I have to come in as a backup, that’s fine. But that’s not where I’m staying. And when I prove that I’m a starter, I want to be able to step on the field as such.“I just need that opportunity to walk through the door.”

CINCINNATI — Patrick Wisdom quickly rattled off a few words that summarized his last 12 months.Whirlwind. Surprising. Exciting. Fun. Grateful.AdvertisementOne year ago today, the Chicago Cubs called up Wisdom, unknowingly giving him the extended big-league opportunity he had been waiting for. Since then, Wisdom has gone from a 29-year-old rookie making the most of his chance nine years into his professional baseball career to making himself a factor on the Cubs and forcing the organization to view him as a viable power hitter.In those 145 games, Wisdom has produced a .230 average, .298 on-base percentage, .514 slugging percentage, 116 OPS+, 21 doubles, 38 home runs, 79 runs scored and 84 RBIs over 524 plate appearances.AdvertisementWisdom’s willingness to do whatever the Cubs ask of him, notably playing anywhere defensively including center field in one game this year, and the thump in his bat has stood out to manager David Ross.“Being able to go through a full major-league season with the ups and downs that have come with his performance, it’s been really rewarding to watch him have the consistent at-bat that we expect every time he’s in the box,” Ross said. “He’s been able to consistently be in the lineup, have the at-bats, work in walks and feel like he improves on something daily.”Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom high-fives teammates after hitting a home run at Wrigley Field on May 20, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)There were no guarantees this past offseason that the Cubs viewed Wisdom as a player with both short-term value as an every day player and a long-term fit for a rebuilding franchise. Seven weeks into the 2022 season, Wisdom couldn’t say whether he believes he’s shown enough to the organization for them to envision him as part of the Cubs’ next contender.“If they keep running me out there, that’s great,” Wisdom told the Tribune before Tuesday’s 11-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds. “If that time comes where they don’t, then that’s the nature of the beast and nature of the game. So I just take it game by game, day to day. I come in and if I’m in the lineup, I’m going give it my all. And if I’m not, I’m going to be ready to go when they call on me.“I guess selfishly I’d like to think that I have, but at the same time, I’m out there to prove myself every single day.”Beyond his numbers, Wisdom is proud of his daily game readiness and that the team knows he will give it his all on the field. He’s done a better job of limiting how extreme his slumps have become, something the Cubs wanted to see. And his stellar defense at third base makes Wisdom playable even when things aren’t going well in the batter’s box.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Criticize the Chicago Cubs? Not on Marquee Sports Network’s ‘The Reporters’ show. ]Wisdom believes that part of his game, along with his baserunning, has been a huge part of why he’s stayed in the lineup when he does hit an offensive rut.“He’s understanding who he is as a big-league hitter,” hitting coach Greg Brown said. “He’s understanding what his process is, and he’s been able to put together more consistent at bats. He’s had some really good takes, which I think leads to a lot of the barrels that he gets to.”AdvertisementStrikeouts are part of Wisdom’s game, and the Cubs are willing to live with that because of his power numbers and defensive boost. While he is still striking out at a 40% rate, his hard-hit rate is up and he is pulling the ball less, going up the middle more.Brown said Wisdom has been working hard in the cage to keep his barrel in the zone for a longer distance, attributing that and his consistent at-bats for a hot week that saw him homer in four straight games.[ [Don’t miss] As the Chicago Cubs move past the quarter mark of the season, many big-picture questions remain: ‘Got to let guys continue to develop’ ]“Once you start putting it together over a calendar year and doing damage, seeing how they pitch to him because of the fear factor of the power that he does possess, he’s a huge asset,” Brown said. “When he makes contact, he’s going to hit it hard.”Wisdom’s 38 home runs since his season debut a year ago are tied with Bryce Harper and Yordan Alvarez for sixth most in the majors. The guys ahead of him? Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Pete Alonso, Aaron Judge and Salvador Perez. That type of power is extremely valuable, hard to find and much needed for the Cubs.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“I mean, that’s impressive,” Ross said. “That’s some big-time pop.”Patrick Wisdom is greeted at first base by first base coach Mike Napoli after hitting an RBI-single during the fourth inning against the Padres on May 11, 2022. (Gregory Bull/AP)Wisdom was a great story in 2021 after breaking Kris Bryant’s franchise rookie home run record. But he wants to be more than a one-year momentary success. It’s in the Cubs’ best interest too that Wisdom, who turns 31 in August, can be part of their lineup the next couple seasons.AdvertisementSelf-confidence plays a part in breeding success. Wisdom has started 39 of the Cubs’ first 42 games. Knowing Ross plans to play him every day regardless if he strikes out three times or tallies three hits provides a boost. It can’t be ignored, either, that Wisdom’s production has largely come without much protection in the lineup, especially after the trade deadline last season. Teams have been able to exploit Wisdom when he’s not surrounded by contact hitters.[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer is confident his long-term game plan is working: ‘We’re on the right track’ ]As his manager put it: “If you put Chipper Jones in the box and you surround him with a bunch of David Rosses, he’s not going to get a lot of pitches to hit right? They’re going to pitch around him every time he comes to the plate, or you’re going to make him hit his pitch because you’re not worried about David Ross hitting behind him.”Ross wants to set up Wisdom for success by slotting him around hitters who put the ball in play like Frank Schwindel, Nico Hoerner, Nick Madrigal and Yan Gomes — and all them to all play off each other.The Cubs still have a lot of big-picture questions to answer with this roster. Wisdom’s yearlong sample size indicates he might not be a question mark any longer.“I’ve learned, more importantly, that the confidence is there,” Wisdom said. “I can play at this level and I can help the team.”

Brittney Griner’s wife Cherelle wants President Joe Biden to secure her partner’s release, doing whatever is necessary to get the WNBA star home from Russia where she has been detained for more than three months.“I just keep hearing that, you know, he has the power. She’s a political pawn, ” said Cherelle, who became emotional detailing what little she knows about Griner’s detainment during an interview that aired Wednesday on Good Morning America. “So if they’re holding her because they want you to do something, then I want you to do it.”AdvertisementThe Phoenix Mercury center has been detained since Feb. 17 after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage at an airport near Moscow.The 31-year-old Griner — a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the U.S. — faces drug smuggling charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Earlier this month, the Biden administration said Griner is being wrongfully detained.AdvertisementCherelle has talked with Secretary of State Antony Blinken about Griner’s case, but not the president.“I was grateful for the call, you say she’s top priority, but I wanna see it. and I feel like to see it would be me seeing BG on U.S. soil,” Cherelle said. “At this point I don’t even know who I’m getting back when she comes back.”

Though Robert Quinn hasn’t been present for the voluntary portion of the Chicago Bears offseason program to this point, he’s still making an impact in the defensive line meeting room.New line coach Travis Smith spent the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders working alongside Rod Marinelli, who coached Quinn with the Dallas Cowboys in 2019.Advertisement“A lot of our tapes we’ve shown in our room are skill-development progression tapes of (Quinn) in Dallas that I had cut up already from Marinelli,” Smith said. “When we set it for the young guys especially, it’s good for them to see how he works his pass-rush progression.”Smith has met Quinn, who came to Halas Hall last month to receive the Brian Piccolo Award two days before the draft, and they have spoken on the phone. When Smith will have an opportunity to actually coach Quinn remains to be seen. Coach Matt Eberflus said “it’s my hope” Quinn will be at mandatory minicamp in mid-June.AdvertisementQuinn’s absence — and veteran free-agent signee Al-Quadin Muhammad also hasn’t been on the field while media were present — has created a surplus of opportunities for young players such as Trevis Gipson and rookie Dominique Robinson and even veteran Jeremiah Attaochu.[ [Don’t miss] More Pilates, less beer: How Teven Jenkins is working to earn the trust of his new Bears coaches ]Smith believes the switch to a 4-3 front could benefit Gipson, who played with his hand in the dirt in college at Tulsa before the previous coaching staff converted him to outside linebacker. Gipson had seven sacks while playing 49% of the defensive snaps in 2021 and could be ready for another jump.“The first thing with Gipson I noticed is he has a very good awareness of the quarterback,” Smith said. “He had a lot of ball production last year. That’s not something that just comes naturally to everyone.“He has good awareness that when you’re an edge rusher, that if guys get high in the pocket, he can come back inside. Or if he has the edge, then he can turn it, where then he can affect that quarterback and also go for the ball.”Robinson has rare athletic ability for the position as a former quarterback and wide receiver and although he’s raw, the Bears believe there’s a chance he could be a situational pass rusher as a rookie.The Bears won’t learn a ton about their pass rush in the post-Khalil Mack era until pads go on in training camp, but they’re at least getting chances to evaluate the movement skills of the young players while testing their aptitude for learning the scheme.[ [Don’t miss] 3 Bears storylines to watch, including Justin Fields versus Mac Jones — and Lucas Patrick’s nasty edge ]General manager Ryan Poles traded Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers for a second-round draft pick that he used on safety Jaquan Brisker and a 2023 sixth-round pick that he traded for two seventh-rounders this year. He selected safety Elijah Hicks and punter Trenton Gill with those choices.The Bears moved Mack because they’re nowhere near being a contending team in 2022, although the thought at Halas Hall at this time last year was that they were in that mode. Trading Mack also helped clear up the team’s salary-cap position after this year.AdvertisementQuinn is perhaps the only veteran remaining from the previous regime whom Poles could likely turn into draft capital via a trade, and CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported last week that the Pro Bowl pass rusher wants out of town. If that’s the case, finding a trade partner could be a win for all parties.“I’m excited about Robert,” Poles said earlier this month during an interview on the “Mully & Haugh Show” on WSCR-AM 670. “In terms of moves and all that, this league is crazy. You know, I can’t rule anything out and give absolutes, but I want him on this team.”Bears outside linebacker Robert Quinn pressures Giants quarterback Mike Glennon on Jan. 2, 2022, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)You can make a case why the Bears would want the 32-year-old on the team. He’s a consummate professional and a perfect scheme fit, certainly a more natural one in Eberflus’ 4-3 defense than the 3-4 scheme he played in the previous two seasons. Quinn is coming off a franchise-record 18½-sack season and is the only player on the front who currently would be a matchup issue for offenses.A stronger argument, however, can be made for dealing Quinn. It’s hard to imagine him being productive when the roster has been reloaded to the point the Bears would be a threat in the NFC. He’s due $13 million this season and is signed through 2024, but all of the guaranteed money in the contract has been exhausted.Maybe Poles saying he wants Quinn to be a part of the team is his way of maintaining leverage in any trade discussions. Quinn certainly could become attractive if a contending team suddenly experiences a need during training camp, preseason or the first two months of the season. Then Poles could flip him for a 2023 draft pick. The trade deadline hasn’t been announced, but last year it was Nov. 2, the day after Week 8 ended.Of course, the Bears assume the risk of losing Quinn to injury by carrying him on the roster, but he has been pretty durable over the last five seasons and said he’s spending this offseason getting his body ready for the grind of another year.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] 4 things we heard from Bears assistant coaches, including Justin Fields reinforcing expectations ]“I didn’t expect to go anywhere or want to go anywhere, but again, this is a crazy business,” Quinn said after receiving the Piccolo Award a couple of weeks after Mack was traded. “If something’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”Maybe Quinn has changed his stance since or maybe he’s an anti-diva who won’t publicly discuss playing for a contender as he prepares for his 12th season.Whatever the case, the Bears probably wouldn’t have been much worse than 6-11 last year even without Quinn’s sack production. His presence in 2022 is unlikely to be the difference between this being a playoff roster or not. As active as Poles was in making trades on Day 3 of the draft, getting a return for Quinn would put the first-year GM in better position next April, when the Bears should be closer to having some of their holes filled with young players who have bright futures.It’s all about timing, and maybe Poles will be a seller at the trade deadline. If so, he has to hope Quinn picks up where he left off in 2021. For now, Marinelli’s cut-ups of Quinn will be good teaching points for the rest of the room.