The Bears are staring at one key loss in the trenches, while two more injuries have left Ben Johnson juggling his defensive depth.
Montez Sweat’s two-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy is already carrying a hefty financial cost. The Bears defensive end will forfeit $2.3 million of this year’s salary, and the remaining $12.7 million on his 2026 salary is now unsecured because the violation wiped out all future guarantees, per Spotrac.
Johnson also said DL Dayo Odeyingbo will miss time because of a quad injury, though the Bears do not expect to place him on injured reserve, according to Kevin Fishbain. On top of that, Johnson labeled LB T.J. Edwards week-to-week with a hamstring injury and CB Tyrique Stevenson day-to-day for the same reason.
In Green Bay, Micah Parsons is taking a measured approach to his comeback from a torn ACL. Speaking on his podcast, The Edge, the Packers OLB said he knows the temptation to rush back, but he’s focused on getting everything right before he returns.
“The biggest thing that people worried about with me, they’re like, ‘Man, why ain’t he back yet?’ If the Super Bowl was this week, I’m playing in the Super Bowl,” he said, via the Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.
“But it’s just about me making sure I have all the small things fixed first. What a lot of people don’t figure out is it’s not just the ACL.
It’s like, why did the ACL happen? What was weak?
Because it all works together. It’s a chain.
And throughout the history of ACL, they notice if you come back early, there tends to be an overcompensation injury on the other side … we just gon’ make sure everything is right before. Because everyone knows, it’s like, what’s the point of getting me back for four weeks and then next thing you know, my groin bothering me.”
In Minnesota, Aaron Jones gave the Vikings exactly what they needed in Week 5. The veteran back ran 25 times for 113 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Saints, and Kevin O’Connell made it clear afterward how much Jones has been carrying the load.
“What a warrior over the last few weeks, what he’s been able to do,” O’Connell said, via VikingsWire. “Really, Aaron would hate for me to say this, but his ability to be a warrior on game day, find a way to make it to the next one, and then just be able to be leaned on the way he is; he’s an inspiration to this group.”
O’Connell also said RB Jordan Mason could come off injured reserve after Minnesota’s Week 6 bye.
In Other News...
Twins Free Agency Comes With A Cost Fans Might Not Expect
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That matters in a bigger-picture way for a club trying to balance immediate help with long-term depth. The twist is that Minnesotas own roster decisions could feed back into that same system, with Ryan Jeffers one possible name to watch as the Twins plan for both the lineup and the draft board at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Hot Start Isn't Ending One Debate About Their Quarterback
The Vikings strong start has not quieted every question around the quarterback position, especially with the offense still lagging behind the level of the defense. NFL Network analyst Kyle Brandt added to the conversation by expressing skepticism about Minnesotas postseason outlook, saying he does not see the team making a deep run if the passing game does not become more dependable under Kyler Murray.
Brandts concern was rooted in playoff pressure and Murrays history in that setting, an issue that tends to linger for teams built more on defense than aerial production. Minnesota has given itself room to dream with the way it has played early, but the debate around Murray remains unresolved, and it is the kind of thing that will follow the Vikings until they prove they can answer it in January. [Read more 🡒]
Randy Moss Is Back In The Spotlight With A New Jordan Tribute
Randy Moss is back in the conversation for more than his Hall of Fame rsum, this time through a Jordan Brand tribute that leans into one of the most recognizable parts of his football-era style. Moss, long tied to Jordan Brand, is being linked to an upcoming Air Jordan 9 "Super Freak" sneaker inspired by his original Air Jordan Super Freak shoe, with images of the design already circulating online and drawing plenty of attention.
The shoe nods to a player who always seemed to carry a little extra flair, and the timing only adds to the intrigue with Super Bowl season looming. For now, the buzz is built on those leaked looks and the connection to Mosss signature sneaker, leaving the bigger question of when the tribute will actually hit shelves still hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]