Bears Get More Bad News on Kyler Gordon Before Ravens Game
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Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon.
The situation with cornerback Kyler Gordon has gone from bad to worse for the Chicago Bears ahead of Week 8’s road matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.
Gordon popped up on the injury report Thursday after injuring both his groin and calf in practice and spending the day’s session as a limited participant. The Bears then held him out entirely from Friday’s walkthrough before ruling him out for Week 8’s game.
Things grew worse Saturday when the Bears officially placed Gordon on the injured reserve list, meaning he will miss at least the next four games for Chicago’s defense.
The Bears will now play at least their next four games — including Sunday’s road game against the Ravens — without two of their top cornerbacks. Pro Bowl starter Jaylon Johnson underwent core-muscle surgery in September and is out indefinitely on IR.
The Bears also won’t have their other perimeter starter, Tyrique Stevenson, available against the Ravens. Stevenson injured his shoulder early in Week 7’s win over the New Orleans Saints and sat out every practice this week before the team ruled him out.
The Bears (4-2) will kick off against the Ravens (1-5) at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Losing Kyler Gordon Could Cripple Bears’ CB Room
With Gordon now out for a minimum of four games, the Bears are severely depleted at the cornerback position because of injuries and could remain that way for some time, depending on how much time Stevenson winds up missing with his shoulder injury.
The Bears will count Nahshon Wright, Nick McCloud and Josh Blackwell as their top three cornerbacks when they face the Ravens on Sunday. They will also have Jaylon Jones and practice-squad elevation Dallis Flowers available as backups, though the lack of high-level playing experience across the board raises some alarm bells for them.
On the plus side, the Bears won’t have to deal with two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson after the Ravens announced Saturday that he will miss his third straight game with his hamstring injury. The Ravens will start backup Tyler Huntley (11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 26 career games) in his place — a better matchup for Chicago.
Even still, the sudden depletion of depth could force the Bears to consider their options for improving their cornerback room — such as signing a vet — in the coming weeks.
Bears Also Shut Down Braxton Jones With Knee Injury
Gordon is not the only Bear who landed on injured reserve before Week 8’s game.
The Bears also placed offensive tackle Braxton Jones on injured reserve Saturday with a knee injury. He was a limited participant in Wednesday’s first practice before the team downgraded him to a non-participant for the final two sessions to close out the week.
Jones lost his job as the Bears’ starting left tackle when the team benched him for Theo Benedet midway through Week 4’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, but he still provided the Bears with valuable depth and experience at the position before his new injury.
The injury is also likely to diminish — if not completely wipe out — any trade interest Jones may have garnered before the NFL trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET on November 4.
In a corresponding roster move, the Bears signed defensive tackle Jonathan Ford from the practice squad to the 53-man roster after elevating him in each of their past three games. Ford has played 36 defensive snaps this season, but he is less likely to see any playing time now that veteran Grady Jarrett (knee) has been cleared to play again.
NFL Announces Punishment for Broncos Duo Before Cowboys Game
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Riley Moss #21 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.
Dre Greenlaw was not the only Denver Broncos player who received discipline from the NFL this week. Teammates Justin Strnad and Riley Moss also got bad news from the league as the Broncos prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys.
All three players’ infractions occurred during the Broncos’ 33-32 win over the New York Giants in Week 7.
However, Moss and Strnad have not been suspended for their actions, as Greenlaw was for his.
Riley Moss Fined for Facemask Penalty in Broncos-Giants
GettyRiley Moss #21 of the Denver Broncos tackles Wan’Dale Robinson #17 of the New York Giants.
According to the NFL’s football operations portal, Moss received a fine for an unnecessary roughness/facemask penalty he incurred in the third quarter of the Broncos’ win over the Giants in Week 7.
Moss, a former third-round pick in the third year of a four-year, $5.4 million contract, received an $8,253 fine as a result. It is the first fine Moss has received from the NFL in his career.
This was also the least costly of his two penalties in the game, as the Giants eventually punted.
Moss was also penalized for pass interference in the fourth quarter, which, while questionable to draw protest from Broncos head coach Sean Payton, more importantly led to a Giants touchdown on the following play.
“That was silly,” Payton told reporters on October 19. I had just felt like, man, I’m close with a number of people on that crew. But it just so happens in the last three times, the numbers haven’t been good. And I knew the certain penalty was wrong. That’s hard, because it made it first and five that led to their first score [of the second half]. That’s happened one other time. I just wanted them to hear me. You can’t do that.”
NFL EVP Telegraphed Justin Strnad Fine
GettyJustin Strnad #40 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the New York Jets.
Like Moss, whose unnecessary roughness penalty was sure to draw a fine, Strnad’s comes as little surprise. In one key way, it is even less surprising.
Strnad had an interaction with referee Brad Allen before Greenlaw confronted the latter.
“There was some contact with, I think it was Justin, No. 40, and each one of those are just isolated,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told Mike Florio on “Pro Football Talk” on October 23. “He’ll be held accountable. So, that will come in fine for him.”
Strnad, on a one-year, $2.8 million contract, received a $15,486 fine. Vincent said that while Strnad would be penalized, Greenlaw’s punishment served as an example.
NFL Made Example Out of Dre Greenlaw
GettyDre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers speaks to the media ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
Vincent presented the idea that the league was using Greenlaw as an example, suspending him and not Strnad, for not only their NFL brethren, but also future generations of pros. Greenlaw’s use of “abusive” and “threatening language” was the basis for his suspension.
Greenlaw was not fined for the incident. However, his suspension was without pay.
“There’s just no place no no place in the game for that,” Vincent told Florio. “Also, I think it’s part of the message that the NFL wants to send to all lower levels of sport. We’ve seen incidents postgame at the youth level between coaches and officials. We don’t need that to happen. And I think if you take a strong stand with the Dre Greenlaw, maybe – maybe – it sends a message to the other.”
Greenlaw can return to the field in Week 9, when the Broncos will visit the Houston Texans, who are 2-4 entering Week 8.
EXCLUSIVE: Federal agents intercepted phone records linking several NFL players to personal accounts connected to Chauncey Billups. Among them were two names Houston Texans fans never expected. What the FBI discovered next changed everything. Rumors spread quickly, but soon after, the insider himself officially broke his silence: “Someone is making it up, and I will prove it.”
FBI intercepts shocking phone logs — Texans players linked to Chauncey Billups’ secret betting accounts
The NFL is in chaos after multiple federal sources confirmed that FBI agents have intercepted encrypted phone records
Among the names that surfaced in the investigation were
According to insider reports obtained by SportsLine Now, the evidence “
One agent familiar with the operation described it bluntly:
“We followed the money trail — and it led us straight to people we never thought we’d find.”
What the FBI found next changed everything
Federal investigators began monitoring a private cluster of phone numbers suspected of being used by intermediaries who handled high-stakes wagers through offshore accounts.
When they cross-referenced the data, agents reportedly discovered multiple communication threads between known associates of Billups and several NFL players — including two from the Houston Texans organization.
A leaked segment of the internal report, reviewed by The Houston Ledger, described the discovery as “a web of coded language, encrypted apps, and unexplained transactions” — enough to trigger a deeper probe into potential illegal betting, inside information leaks, or game manipulation.
“This wasn’t casual betting,” said one federal source.
“This was coordination. We’re talking about a sophisticated network hiding in plain sight.”
The moment those logs were decrypted, one agent reportedly said, “That’s when we realized this case is about to get ugly.”
Two Houston Texans players abruptly take “personal leave”
Just 48 hours after the FBI delivered preliminary findings to league officials, two Texans players abruptly stepped away from practice, citing “personal leave.”
The timing raised immediate red flags inside the organization — and the speculation exploded across social media.
Texans General Manager Nick Caserio refused to comment, while head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters only:
“We’re focused on football. Everything else is being handled by the right people.”
But multiple sources close to the team have described a “tense and paranoid” atmosphere inside the facility.
Phones were reportedly confiscated, and staff were warned not to discuss the situation with the media.
“You could feel it — everyone’s walking on eggshells,” one insider told FOX 26 Houston.
“Nobody knows who’s talking to the feds, and nobody wants to be next.”
The Chauncey Billups connection — an NBA legend under federal scrutiny
The inclusion of Chauncey Billups’ name in the investigation has shocked the sports world.
Federal officials say Billups is not a suspect, but his personal accounts were flagged after investigators found repeated financial links to a network of crypto-based betting wallets.
Those wallets, according to an FBI memo, were allegedly used to “facilitate cross-league wagers” — a term suggesting that individuals across different professional sports may have been participating in the same underground betting operation.
Billups’ legal team was quick to respond.
“Coach Billups has absolutely no involvement in or knowledge of any illegal gambling activity,” his attorney said in a statement.
“These rumors are reckless, baseless, and defamatory.”
Still, investigators are continuing to examine communications and shared financial channels between Billups’ known associates and professional athletes across leagues.
“Whether Billups knew or not,” one law enforcement official said,
“his name keeps showing up in the data. And that’s impossible to ignore.”
“Someone is making it up” — insider breaks silence after rumors explode
As the rumors reached a boiling point, one of the Texans players allegedly linked to the case broke his silence late Thursday night.
In a carefully worded post shared on X (formerly Twitter), he pushed back against the allegations:
“Someone is making it up, and I will prove it. My name, my family, and my career mean more than any rumor. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
The message went viral instantly — over 1.3 million views in the first two hours — and ignited an avalanche of debate.
Some fans hailed his courage, while others accused him of trying to get ahead of bad news.
A legal analyst told The Athletic Wire:
“That kind of statement usually means the player’s legal team expects more information to drop soon — maybe even evidence. This is crisis control in real time.”
Texans headquarters on lockdown — “Like a crime scene without the tape”
Sources say that once the FBI’s findings became public, the Houston Texans headquarters turned into a fortress.
Security protocols were ramped up. All outside media access was revoked.
Even certain employees were temporarily restricted from the team’s internal database.
“It felt like a crime scene without the tape,” one staff member said.
“You could hear doors closing, lawyers whispering, and agents walking in and out. Everyone knew this wasn’t just a rumor anymore.”
Team insiders confirm that the organization’s legal department has been in constant communication with both the NFL and the Department of Justice, as they attempt to contain what could be one of the most damaging scandals in franchise history.
The league responds — NFL opens independent investigation
In a late-night statement, the NFL Integrity Office confirmed that the league has launched an independent investigation in collaboration with federal authorities.
Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a stern message emphasizing the league’s “zero-tolerance policy” on gambling violations.
“The integrity of the game is our highest priority,” Goodell stated.
“We are fully cooperating with law enforcement to uncover the truth and will take appropriate disciplinary action if violations are confirmed.”
Legal experts warn that if any players are found guilty of betting-related misconduct, they could face multi-year suspensions, contract terminations, or even criminal charges under federal law.
Sports attorney David Greene told USA Sports Legal:
“This isn’t a team fine or a slap on the wrist. If proven, this kind of violation could end careers.”
Social media in chaos — fans, players, and analysts react
The news has unleashed a firestorm across social media.
Texans fans expressed disbelief, frustration, and heartbreak in equal measure.
Some demanded transparency from the league, while others accused the media of sensationalism.
“I don’t believe it. Not these guys,” one fan wrote on Reddit.
“They’ve given everything to Houston. Someone’s trying to tear them down.”
Even rival players have weighed in.
J.J. Watt, the Texans legend, tweeted:
“We’re all watching closely. Let’s make sure facts come out before judgment.”
Meanwhile, conspiracy theories are spreading fast — with some claiming the FBI is being used to “make an example” out of NFL players amid the sport’s growing ties to legal sports betting.
Inside the FBI’s playbook — how the operation unfolded
According to internal sources, the FBI’s investigation began months ago as part of a larger crackdown on illegal online betting networks.
The agency used AI-based tracing software to follow cryptocurrency transactions across borders — which eventually led them to the phone logs now at the center of the NFL scandal.
“Technology doesn’t lie,” said one federal investigator.
“The data shows where the money went, when it moved, and who pushed the button.”
Officials say the case could expand beyond football, potentially implicating figures from basketball, baseball, and esports, as the betting ring allegedly spans multiple sports disciplines.
What’s next — possible suspensions, indictments, and reputational fallout
As of Friday morning, the Texans organization has yet to make any official statement regarding the names involved.
However, insiders suggest that the NFL has been quietly preparing for potential suspensions if the allegations gain further traction.
Federal prosecutors are expected to issue a public update within the next week, depending on the digital forensics timeline.
One thing’s certain — this story isn’t going away.
“We’re just at the tip of the iceberg,” said an FBI source.
“There’s more to uncover, and the next round of evidence could shake the entire league.”
The bottom line — trust, betrayal, and the fight to protect the game
For the Houston Texans, this isn’t just another PR crisis.
It’s a moment of reckoning — a collision between fame, money, and morality.
If proven true, the scandal could rock the foundation of the NFL’s integrity, already strained by years of controversy surrounding gambling policies.
As fans wait for answers, one quote from an anonymous league executive sums up the mood perfectly:
“The hardest part isn’t the betting — it’s the betrayal.
When the people you cheer for get caught in something like this, the whole game starts to feel different.”
In the end, whether the allegations hold or collapse, this investigation has already changed everything — for the Texans, for Chauncey Billups, and for the sport that’s now standing on the edge of its most explosive scandal in decades.
