The Chicago Cubs are hunting for pitching help, and they may have a significant internal answer on the horizon.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, left-hander Justin Steele is expected to begin throwing off a mound in the first week of August. Nightengale also reported that Cubs manager Craig Counsell said it would be too late in the season for Steele to get back into the rotation, but that he could be used out of the bullpen in September.
“Chicago Cubs ace Justin Steele, who hasn't pitched since April 7, 2025, is expected to start throwing off a mound the first week of August, but Cubs manager Craig Counsell said it will be too late in the season for him to rejoin the rotation and instead would be used in the bullpen in September,” Nightengale writes.
Steele has been on the injured list all year and has been working his way back from an elbow issue. The mound work in August marks a meaningful step in that process, even if a return to the majors still appears to be a September possibility.
That timing lines up with the MLB trade deadline on August 3, which leaves the Cubs still free to look outside the organization for help while also waiting on Steele’s progress. If he does make it back, even in a limited bullpen role, it would give Chicago another arm for the stretch run and, potentially, the postseason.
The 3.30 ERA All-Star left-hander has been out since April 7, 2025, but this latest update suggests he is moving closer to rejoining the club. For a Cubs pitching staff dealing with injuries and uneven production, that’s the kind of news they’ve been waiting to hear.
In Other News...
Bears Suddenly Need One Rookie To Save Their Secondary
The Bears spent the 2026 draft trying to shore up a secondary that needed more answers, taking Dillon Thieneman in the first round and then circling back for Malik Muhammad in the fourth. Thieneman has drawn positive reviews from spring workouts, which is exactly what you want from a premium pick, but the bigger conversation around Chicagos defensive backfield has started to shift toward how quickly the rookie class can help overall.
Muhammad, the No. 124 pick out of Texas, has become the more intriguing developmental piece because the Bears need young corners who can grow into meaningful roles. With defensive backs coach Al Harris on hand to help guide the group, Chicago at least has a strong teacher in place, and the next step is seeing whether Muhammad can turn that coaching into real stability for a unit still searching for it. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Williams Just Reached An Elite Deep Ball Milestone
Caleb Williams second NFL season gave the Bears a much clearer picture of what his arm can do when the play design and timing start to click. According to PFF data, he finished with 13 touchdown passes on throws of 20 or more yards, a mark that speaks to real growth in the kind of explosive passing Chicago has been chasing.
The part that makes the number stand out is the context around it: Williams did it in his first season under Ben Johnson, with a new offensive voice shaping the attack. It also put him in rare company among young passers, alongside Bo Nix, who matched that deep-ball production while also coming off a playoff win over the Bills and Josh Allen. [Read more 🡒]
Why Bears Fans Are Finally Letting Themselves Believe Again
For much of the last decade and a half, Bears fans have been asked to treat hope like a risky habit. The franchise has spent too many seasons near the bottom of the NFC North, and the familiar pattern of disappointment has made even modest optimism feel like a trap. That is what makes the current mood around the team so notable: there is now a real sense that Chicago has a foundation worth believing in, not just a temporary spark.
The difference is not just about one good stretch or a lucky bounce. It is about the kind of setup that can change how a fan base talks about the future, with a promising quarterback and coaching tandem giving the Bears a chance to think beyond survival and toward contention. For a team that has lived through so many false starts, the idea of consistent NFC relevance and a deeper playoff push is enough to make people lean in, even if they are still trying not to get burned again. [Read more 🡒]