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Errol Spence Jr. will return to boxing soon following his cataract surgery.
Spence has been out of the ring since his defeat to Terence Crawford. Bud stopped the Truth in round nine to become the first Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the four-belt era. Spence’s defeat was accompanied by three knockdowns, as the manner of the performance raised question marks over whether he should retire. Spence expressed his desire to rematch Crawford, but that broke down as the welterweight underwent cataract surgery. Now that he has had some time to recover, he expects to return to boxing very soon.
Spence’s Return
b back in 2 weeks https://t.co/wwrouPZHG4
— Errol Spence (@ErrolSpenceJr) February 12, 2024
This naturally begs the question: Who could Spence face? Outside of Crawford, the other big fight at 147 is Jaron Ennis. Boots is the IBF Welterweight Champion, a belt secured after Crawford was stripped for not facing him due to the Spence rematch. A fight would likely take place at 147, but it would require Spence to boil himself down to welterweight.
There were suggestions that the weight cut also hampered him in the Crawford fight, as he wanted the rematch at 154. Another option is to move up to 154 pounds and target a world title. Tim Tszyu, the current WBO Junior Middleweight Champion, has spoken about his desire to fight Spence in the past.
“There have been talks between us. And I give Crawford all respect. He’ll fight anyone. And that’s why I see him as such a great challenge. There’s a lot going on. It could be Crawford, Errol Spence, whichever one is easiest to make,” Tszyu said
Spence’s Options
If that fight is not on the table, there is an outside chance that Spence chases a Canelo Alvarez fight. Before his loss to Crawford, Spence did target the Mexican. Unlike Crawford, Spence is a much bigger fighter than 147.
He has spoken about fighting over 154 pounds, as Canelo offers the chance to make an in-house PBC fight. But since Canelo faces pressure to fight David Benavidez, there are question marks over whether the fight will sell. Spence may not be seen as the same fighter now that his undefeated aura has gone. But based on his prior comments, Spence wanted that bout.
“[A fight against Alvarez] sounds good, but I mean, [Alvarez has] a three-fight deal [with Premier Boxing Champions]. So, I don’t know who it could be in that deal. It could be [David] Benavidez, then Jermall [Charlo], and whoever else. He and [PBC head] Al [Haymon] and whoever he did the deal with – they probably already got the names picked out. It’s already pre-written. I have no idea. I get people’s speculation, but at the end of the day, it’s nothing but speculation,” Spence stated
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Steelers Are In Position To Make Interesting Trade For 2023 First Rounder To Strengthen Defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off an upset victory at home on Sunday over the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts came into the Steel City riding high, boasting one of the most complete offenses and teams in the NFL. The Steelers were three-point home underdogs, but the game quickly started going Pittsburgh’s way. The defense forced six takeaways from the Colts’ offense, and the Steelers held on to win 27-20, sending a statement across the league. Now, with the trade deadline hitting on November 4th, all eyes are on contenders to see what moves they might make at the last minute as they try to improve their rosters for the crucial stretch of the 2025 season. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has made it clear through his history of bold moves that he will always bang the phones if he sees a chance to strengthen the roster. With the Steelers in such a unique spot this season with Aaron Rodgers only in town for 2025, timing is critical. The focus has largely been on acquiring another weapon for Rodgers, but on Monday, Steelers insider Brian Batko revealed another potential target. He mentioned former 2023 first-round pick and New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks as a possible trade option in his article for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. With the Steelers showing defensive dominance on Sunday and the trade deadline approaching, fans and pundits alike are watching closely to see if Khan can pull off another impactful move before the critical stretch of the season. "One of the more intriguing ideas is to offer a change of scenery for Giants cornerback Deonte Banks, a 2023 first-round pick who visited the Steelers before that draft and has been benched at times this year for a 2-7 team," Batko said on Monday. Like Batko mentioned, Banks was a player the Steelers had interest in back during the 2023 NFL Draft when he was coming out of Maryland. Banks is now in a unique situation with the Giants, where he has lost his footing on the depth chart and the team is not competitive. That means they could be sellers, and Banks could become an option for Pittsburgh. Another intriguing idea from Batko is Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen, but because the Seahawks are now contenders, acquiring him could be trickier. "Riq Woolen, the speedy 6-4 cornerback who has reportedly fallen out of favor in Seattle, would be fun but might be needed for a Seahawks team that’s put itself in contender territory," Batko said. There are all sorts of directions that Khan and the Steelers front office can go. With the Steelers sitting at 5-3 and in first place in the AFC North, the time is now to leave no stone unturned and figure out how to maximize the 2025 season with Rodgers. Khan could try and add a wide receiver to this roster but it also sounds like a defensive trade is also on the table. Steelers Are In A Rare Spot The Steelers are in a rare position this season where a smart move could have an immediate impact. With a veteran quarterback like Rodgers leading the offense, even one addition on either side of the ball could shift momentum in the critical final stretch. The front office has shown a willingness to be aggressive in the past, and with the trade deadline looming, they have a window to make a statement. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if Khan can identify the right pieces without sacrificing future flexibility. Whether it’s shoring up the secondary with a cornerback like Banks or adding another weapon for Rodgers, the next few days could define how competitive Pittsburgh is in the AFC this year. What trades do you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers make before the trade deadline hits on November 4th?
Detroit Lions 2025 Trade Deadline Rumors, Tracker
The Detroit Lions are a team looking to rebound quickly after losing a disappointing contest to the Minnesota Vikings. Dan Campbell, speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, following the team's 27-24 loss, expressed the sky is not falling and the roster will do whatever it takes to weather the current storm. He has not spoken to general manager Brad Holmes on Monday, as the coaching staff reviewed the film and graded the players. He did not have any additional comments regarding if the team would be active at the deadline, given the team suffered an injury to left guard Christian Mahogany. It would appear the team is need of additional depth along the offensive line, but the young offensive lineman suffered a broken bone, giving him an opportunity to still return this season. Detroit's offensive line has not performed as consistently as many would have expected, and several facets of the offense have been impacted negatively. Quarterback Jared Goff is currently on pace to be sacked the most he has ever been throughout the course of a regular season. Detroit's running game was stifled against a Vikings squad that came into Ford Field prepared to make a statement. Prior to the game against the Vikings, offensive coordinator John Morton was asked how he felt about the run game, through the first seven games of the 2025 season. “I think we’ve been pretty efficient as of late. I know we’ve got some big plays. Listen, (Run game coordinator/offensive line coach) Hank (Fraley) does a great job, Coach (Dan) Campbell. Those guys do a great job with the run game of trying to scheme," said Morton. "Again, people play us differently. It’s a loaded box. "We’re running the ball in a loaded box where normally people say, ‘Let’s just throw it.’ But why do we do that? Because our wideouts block. Our wideouts block, and teams know that," Morton added. "But we don’t care, because they block. A lot of teams do care because a lot of receivers don’t block the way our guys do. Because that’s why we’re a great team, we’re unselfish. So, I’m not worried about that right now.” Currently, there are growing rumors regarding which teams are interested in making deals and which players could be made available. Prior to the Tuesday deadline, track all of the Lions trade rumors and news here: 11/3/25, 2:40 p.m. -- According to Dianna Russini, "Trey Hendrickson becomes a free agent at the end of the year. Teams calling the Bengals inquiring about a trade are hopeful that Cincinnati will lower its asking price for a deal to get done between now and 4 p.m. ET tomorrow, sources say. 11/3/25, 1:45 p.m. -- According to Jordan Schultz, "The Washington Commanders are open to trading several players, including OL Andrew Wylie and OL Nick Allegretti, both of whom bring extensive starting and playoff experience."
Green Bay Packers: Does Tucker Kraft’s Injury End the Team’s Super Bowl Hopes?
The Green Bay Packers had an all-around depressing outing on Sunday afternoon. An ugly loss to the Carolina Panthers was made worse by star tight end and fan-favorite Tucker Kraft going down with a season-ending ACL injury. As much as the poor performance dimmed the light on the team’s Super Bowl aspirations, the loss of Kraft means that the Packers must continue on without one of their best players. What does the injury do to the team’s championship hopes? Green Bay Packers Lose Tucker Kraft for Season Tight end Tucker Kraft was in the middle of a career year for the Green Bay Packers before his knee buckled on Sunday. He exited the game against the Carolina Panthers, one that the team went on to lose, and later received the news that his ACL was torn – he had played his last snap for this season. Kraft was on pace for a 1,000-yard season and had already hauled in 6 touchdowns in eight games played. He still leads all tight ends in yards after catch with 344 and total EPA (estimated points added) with 49.49. In Sunday’s contest, he had 2 catches for 20 yards prior to exiting the game. If Kraft had continued to play well throughout the rest of the season, he would likely be in line for Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Instead, quarterback Jordan Love‘s most reliable target is now going to be on the shelf for the rest of season. Can the Packers Still Make a Deep Playoff Run Without Kraft? It’s a tough question to ask, but one that Packers fans are grappling with in the aftermath of a bleak afternoon. Undeniably, the Super Bowl chances took a dramatic hit. Any time an offense loses a top weapon, things do not look good. Head coach Matt LaFleur now has the task of ensuring the offense can resume clicking even without their most trustworthy pass-catcher. Musgrave had just 54 receiving yards entering Sunday and is now going to be hugely needed as the season continues on. The third-year tight end has shown that he has the ability to be a good offensive player, but filling Kraft’s shoes will be a tremendously tall task. While Packers fans search for signs of hope, let’s take a look back in time and see how Super Bowl contenders of the past were able to handle losing top offensive players. Historical Examples for Teams Making Deep Playoff Runs While Missing Top Offensive Players In 2022, the Los Angeles Rams demonstrated the ability to fight through significant injuries to their receiving corps. In Week 10 of the regular season, top wideout Robert Woods went down with a torn ACL. Later, the team lost tight end Tyler Higbee in the NFC Championship Game. Two of the team’s top receivers being out did not stop Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and trade acquisition Odell Beckham Jr. from winning the Super Bowl. In 2018, the Rams also made the Super Bowl despite Kupp tearing his ACL. While they of course lost the Super Bowl and only scored 3 points in the biggest game of the season, Woods and Brandin Cooks picked up the slack with Kupp being out. Ten years ago, in 2015, the Carolina Panthers lost their top receiver to an ACL tear before the season even started. Cam Newton’s favorite target Kelvin Benjamin never played a snap, but the Panthers went on a miraculous 15-1 season and reached the Super Bowl despite not being viewed as contenders entering the year. Of course, there are countless examples of teams that had the talent to go all the way but had injuries contribute to disappointing outcomes. Yet, even with that understanding, there is precedent for teams overcoming. Moving Forward Kraft is a special player, and the reality is, even great teams do not survive losing multiple top players. LaFleur will be expecting Musgrave as well as young receivers like Matthew Golden and Savion Williams to collectively fill the void in the offense. The margin for error for Jordan Love is dramatically smaller now. Without his most reliable pass-catcher, avoiding costly turnovers and inefficient play is more important that ever.
Stars to be shorthanded in Western Conference Final rematch with Oilers
The Dallas Stars will be without some significant talent ahead of the Western Conference Final rematch Tuesday night. According to team reporter Brien Rea, the Stars won’t have forwards Roope Hintz or Matt Duchene against the Edmonton Oilers. Additionally, Jake Oettinger is also doubtful, given that he and his wife just had a child. It’s more of the same for Duchene. The 17-year veteran will have missed Dallas’ last eight games due to an upper-body injury after Tuesday night’s contest. He’s only appeared in four games this year, scoring one goal and two assists with a 52.2% success rate in the faceoff dot. Meanwhile, Hintz will miss his fifth straight game due to an undisclosed injury. He’s been a much bigger void to fill, given that he’s been a point-per-game player to start the campaign. Since Duchene left the lineup, the Stars have averaged two goals per game. Other injury notes from the Central Division: In some positive news, the St. Louis Blues will return Robert Thomas to the lineup Tuesday. According to Lou Korac of the NHL, Thomas returned to practice Monday morning and was included in all line rushes. He’s missed the team’s last four games with an upper-body injury. Unfortunately, Thomas’s absence was notably evident, as the Blues lost all four contests. The positive news isn’t only isolated to St. Louis. According to Joe Smith of The Athletic, Minnesota Wild veteran Mats Zuccarello looks very close to returning. Zuccarello suffered a lower-body injury before the start of the regular season. Like Thomas, his absence has been noticeable. Despite leading the league in power-play goals, the Wild are only averaging 1.61 even-strength goals through their first 13 games.
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