Sports
Jordan Love, Packers use clash vs. Bears as postseason tune-up
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51) in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, December 29, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sunday’s meeting between the host Green Bay Packers and Chicago marks the first time that the Bears have visited their longtime rivals in the regular-season finale in successive years.
Darned if this one doesn’t feel similarly sunny for the playoff-bound Packers (11-5) and eerily murky for the Bears (4-12).
The Packers, who can move up to the No. 6 seed in the NFC with a victory and a Washington loss at Dallas, announced this week that cornerback Jaire Alexander needs season-ending surgery on his right knee.
“He was trying to get his knee right and it wasn’t getting right,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. “It’s a tough deal for everyone. It stinks that we’re here, but we’re here.”
Green Bay has shown it can win without him. Alexander hasn’t played since Nov. 17 when he left the Packers’ 20-19 win at Chicago after playing 10 snaps.
That victory sparked a run of five wins in seven games for Green Bay, with the lone losses coming by a combined five points to NFC North co-leaders Detroit and Minnesota.
While Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love hasn’t thrown an interception in six straight games, he aims to improve his accuracy and deep-play ability.
“Definitely stuff to clean up and keep working on and get better at, and that’s the mindset,” Love said.
Chicago is seeking to snap a 10-game losing streak that dates to Week 8 as well as an 11-game skid against the Packers. The Bears are 0-5 this season against their NFC North counterparts.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” Bears tight end Cole Kmet said. “That’s just being honest about where we’re at and where the division’s at — three really good teams right now, and they’re all playing their own style, their own really good brand of football.”
The Bears were 7-9 and out of the playoff hunt when they visited the Packers to close last season. They also knew they had the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft by virtue of a previous trade with the Carolina Panthers.
Chicago used that pick on quarterback Caleb Williams, who has set Bears rookie passing records for yards (3,393), touchdowns (19) and completions (330) amid significant coaching turnover that includes the firings of head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
Williams also has been sacked an NFL-high 67 times but finds fault in the suggestion that injuries and inconsistency along the offensive line solely are to blame.
“The stupid connotation behind my offensive line being bad is not the truth,” Williams said. “I’ve taken a good amount of sacks that have been my fault.”
Chicago appeared on the verge of stopping its funk against the Packers on Nov. 17, taking a 19-14 lead on a 39-yard touchdown run by D’Andre Swift in the final minute of the third quarter.
Love’s 1-yard scoring run gave Green Bay a 20-19 advantage with 2:59 to go before Williams helped drive the Bears into range for a would-be, game-winning field goal. But the Packers’ Karl Brooks blocked Cairo Santos’ attempt from 46 yards as time expired to preserve the victory.
Chicago wide receiver Rome Odunze (illness), running back Travis Homer (hamstring), defensive back Elijah Hicks (ankle, foot), and offensive linemen Teven Jenkins (calf) and Larry Borum (illness) did not practice on Wednesday.
In addition to Alexander, wide receiver Christian Watson (knee), linebacker Quay Walker (ankle), safeties Zayne Anderson (concussion) and Evan Williams (quadricep), offensive tackle Andre Dillard (concussion) and defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. (foot) did not practice on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.
“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”
Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.
While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.
The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
Apr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.
Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.
Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.
“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”
Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.
Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.
The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.
Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.
The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.
“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”
–Field Level Media
