Justin Fields and the Bears having rough go of it; QB Power Rankings; NBA teams needing a shooter are in luck

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🏀 Good morning to everybody however particularly …

NBA TEAMS SEEKING AN ELITE SHOOTER

With business rumors following him apparently his complete occupation, Buddy Hield has been on way more hypothetical teams than actual teams. This time, it looks as if a transfer is in fact going to occur. The Pacers are reportedly exploring business locations for Hield as coaching camps are set to open subsequent week.

• Hield, 30, has averaged 16.1 issues on 40.2% 3-point capturing over his occupation. Very quietly, since Hield entered the league in 2016-17, best Stephen Curry has made extra 3-pointers. Last 12 months, best Klay Thompson made extra.
• That’s just because Hield is an exceptional shooter. Another explanation why? He’s relatively sturdy having performed in 548 video games since getting into the league, maximum of any participant.
• Outside capturing plus sturdiness? Sounds like precisely what NBA teams covet. The Lakers have been in business talks with the Pacers referring to Hield final season and once more forward of this summer season’s draft.

😄 Honorable mentions

🐻 And now not such a just right morning for …

JUSTIN FIELDS AND THE CHICAGO BEARS

Oh boy. Where do we commence with this one?

Saying issues are now not having a look just right in Chicago is hanging it too frivolously. The Bears — two weeks into the season — already look like they are coming aside.

Wednesday, quarterback Justin Fields mentioned he felt like his play used to be “robotic” and “not like [himself].” The explanation why for the ones struggles, consistent with the third-year quarterback? “Coaching.”

• Fields later tried to stroll it again, pronouncing, “I’m not blaming anything on the coaches. I’m never going to blame anything on coaches, never going to blame anything on my teammates. … Put it on me.”
• Still, the message used to be loud and transparent. Fields mentioned his purpose this week used to be “to say ‘F it.’ Play football like I know how to play football.”
• This season, Fields ranks close to the backside in maximum main passing classes, together with Twenty eighth in interception charge and thirty first in sack charge. He has a league-worst 19% detrimental play charge.

Three issues are true right here, all unlucky for the Bears:

1. Fields has now not been just right. Doug Clawson has a nice breakdown of Fields’ struggles.
2. The cases round him are now not just right. The training is deficient, the offensive line is dangerous, and the guns — whilst stepped forward — don’t seem to be nice. Things were given even worse Tuesday as beginning left take on Braxton Jones hit the IR with a neck factor.
3. Fields calling out the training isn’t just right. If he is really going to simply say “F it” and play his method, why must the coaches even hassle?

And that is simply the offense.

Also Wednesday, defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned to concentrate on his well being and his circle of relatives. He used to be now not with the crew final week, and trainer Matt Eberflus known as defensive performs. Keep in thoughts that is a crew that has misplaced 12 instantly video games whilst permitting no less than 25 issues in each and every one. That’s the longest streak in NFL historical past.

Oh yeah, the Bears face the reigning Super Bowl-champion Chiefs this week. Have amusing with that!

😟 Not so honorable mentions

👀 Rams business Cam Akers to Vikings

Cam Akers‘ tenure with the Rams — brief, extraordinary and Super Bowl-winning — is over. Los Angeles traded its 24-year-old working again to the Vikings for a 2026 late-round select change.

• After a cast rookie season, Akers tore his Achilles in the summer season of 2021. He someway made all of it the long ago inside seven months and used to be the Rams’ function again in their Super Bowl overcome the Bengals.
• Things were given bizarre in Akers’ 0.33 season. He and Sean McVay publicly had their variations, Akers ignored time for “personal reasons,” and the crew explored business choices. However, Akers ended up staying and in fact completed robust with 3 consecutive video games of no less than 100 yards speeding.
• After a 22-carry, 29-yard, one-touchdown Week 1, Akers used to be a wholesome inactive in Week 2, and with Kyren Williams taking up the backfield, the Rams in the end discovered a business spouse for Akers.

If Akers can put his substantial promise on show extra constantly, the Vikings can surely use his lend a hand. They’re averaging a measly 2.7 yards in line with deliver, thirtieth in the NFL. As such, Minnesota were given a “B” in Bryan DeArdo’s business grades.

• DeArdo: “Give credit to the Vikings for actively trying to improve their situation at running back. It was clear after two weeks that they needed something to kickstart their ground game, and in Akers the Vikings have a former second-round pick who is familiar with Kevin O’Connell. Minnesota got extra credit for acquiring Akers for minimal cost.”

🏈 QB Power Rankings: Tua (NFL), Shedeur (school) upward push

Quarterbacks make the international go ‘around. If you might have one, you might have a likelihood. If you do not, neatly, you do not. Tua Tagovailoa has spent his complete occupation looking to turn out the Dolphins have one. Injuries have got in the method, however this season, he is as soon as once more appearing simply how just right he can also be in Mike McDaniel‘s superb, whimsical offense. He’s as much as No. 2 in Cody Benjamin’s newest NFL QB Power Rankings.

• Benjamin: “So, by the looks of it, the early 2022 explosion was not a fluke. Does he underthrow a ball here and there? Sure. But how about every other pass, when he’s dropping dimes to effortlessly execute Mike McDaniel’s speed attack? He’s got ‘it.'”

Tagovailoa lately leads the NFL in yards passing, yards in line with strive and yards in line with finishing touch. Seems beautiful just right to me. Here’s Cody’s best 5:

1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Tua Tagovailoa
3. Brock Purdy
4. Jordan Love
5. Josh Allen 
   

When Tagovailoa is wholesome, I really imagine the Dolphins can play with someone, and Cody ranks the Dolphins third-best amongst the 9 undefeated teams.

Looking at the school facet of issues, Shedeur Sanders additionally had masses to turn out shifting from Jackson State to Colorado, and he has completely proved it. He’s as much as 0.33 in Tom Fornelli’s College Football QB Power Rankings.

• Fornelli: “He didn’t look great for most of the game, but in crunch time, he turned into the greatest QB of all time while leading the Buffs on a comeback victory. Clutch goes a long way at the QB position.”

Here’s Tom’s best 5:

1. Caleb Williams
2. Sam Hartman
3. Shedeur Sanders
4. Michael Penix Jr.
5. Quinn Ewers

⚽ Champions League recap, up to date Power Rankings

A 4-3 scoreline does not inform the complete tale: Bayern Munich cruised previous Manchester United, main via a couple of objectives a lot of the fit ahead of a couple of past due objectives from the Red Devils made the ultimate nearer than it actually used to be in their UEFA Champions League opener, writes Jonathan Johnson.

Manchester United used to be chasing the sport after Andre Onana conceded a Twenty eighth-minute shocker. Onana took blame for the loss after the fit, however Jonathan wonders if supervisor Erik ten Hag may pay the worth.

• Johnson: “It is not all doom and gloom for ten Hag as his players are clearly still putting in the effort and trying to execute his game plans, but there is no legislating for Onana making such a basic error while Christian Eriksen was just unlucky. Things can still turn around but they need to as soon as possible before this spirals further out of Ten Hag’s control.”

It’s secure to mention Onana — and all different Manchester United avid gamers — don’t seem to be making James Benge’s Champions League crew of the week. The Red Devils additionally fell in Chuck Booth’s Power Rankings.

Here are all of Wednesday’s effects and takeaways, highlighted via Jude Bellingham‘s past due game-winner for Real Madrid.

📺 What we are staring at Thursday

⚾ Orioles at Guardians OR Mets at Phillies, 7:15 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Georgia State at Coastal Carolina, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Giants at 49ers, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video