After the NFL trade deadline, several teams are eager to see how their moves paid off in Week 10, which opens Thursday with the Chicago Bears (2-7) hosting the Carolina Panthers (1-7).

Chase Young said he already feels a difference in mentality with his new team, the San Francisco 49ers (5-3), who seek to snap a three-game losing streak against the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2). The NFC West co-leaders are favored in the road game.

Joshua Dobbs shocked the world by leading the Minnesota Vikings (5-4) to a win and now takes on the New Orleans Saints (5-4). Veteran quarterback Derek Carr is slightly favored to beat the newbie.

Over at Dobbs’ old team, Kyler Murray is expected to make his first start 11 months after tearing his ACL. The Arizona Cardinals (1-8) were shutout last week and seek redemption against the Atlanta Falcons (4-5).

Week 10 closes out with the Buffalo Bills (5-4) hosting the Denver Broncos (3-5), who are fresh off their bye week and a statement win.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

The Kansas City Chiefs (7-2), Los Angeles Rams (3-6), Miami Dolphins (6-3) and Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) have their byes this week.

If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place bets online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.

Here are the NFL betting odds for Week 10, according to the BetMGM NFL odds.

NFL Week 10 picks, predictions and odds

Carolina Panthers at Chicago BearsIndianapolis Colts at New England PatriotsCleveland Browns at Baltimore RavensHouston Texans at Cincinnati BengalsSan Francisco 49ers at Jacksonville JaguarsNew Orleans Saints at Minnesota VikingsGreen Bay Packers at Pittsburgh SteelersTennessee Titans at Tampa Bay BuccaneersAtlanta Falcons at Arizona CardinalsDetroit Lions at Los Angeles ChargersNew York Giants at Dallas CowboysWashington Commanders at Seattle SeahawksNew York Jets at Las Vegas RaidersDenver Broncos at Buffalo Bills

NFL Week 10 point spreads

Carolina Panthers (+4) at Chicago Bears (-4)Indianapolis Colts (-1.5) at New England Patriots (+1.5)Cleveland Browns (+6) at Baltimore Ravens (-6)Houston Texans (+7) at Cincinnati Bengals (-7)San Francisco 49ers (-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (+3)New Orleans Saints (-2.5) at Minnesota Vikings (+2.5)Green Bay Packers (+3.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5)Tennessee Titans (+1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1)Atlanta Falcons (-1.5) at Arizona Cardinals (+1.5)Detroit Lions (-3) at Los Angeles Chargers (+3)New York Giants (+16.5) at Dallas Cowboys (-16.5)Washington Commanders (+6.5) at Seattle Seahawks (-6.5)New York Jets (-1) at Las Vegas Raiders (+1)Denver Broncos (+7.5) at Buffalo Bills (-7.5)

NFL Week 10 moneylines

Carolina Panthers (+165) at Chicago Bears (-200)Indianapolis Colts (-120) at New England Patriots (+100)Cleveland Browns (+200) at Baltimore Ravens (-250)Houston Texans (+240) at Cincinnati Bengals (-300)San Francisco 49ers (-160) at Jacksonville Jaguars (+135)New Orleans Saints (-135) at Minnesota Vikings (+115)Green Bay Packers (+145) at Pittsburgh Steelers (-175)Tennessee Titans (-105) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-115)Atlanta Falcons (-120) at Arizona Cardinals (+100)Detroit Lions (-155) at Los Angeles Chargers (+130)New York Giants (+800) at Dallas Cowboys (-1400)Washington Commanders (+220) at Seattle Seahawks (-275)New York Jets (-120) at Las Vegas Raiders (+100)Denver Broncos (+290) at Buffalo Bills (-375)

NFL Week 10 over/under

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears: 39Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots: 43.5Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens: 38Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals: 48San Francisco 49ers at Jacksonville Jaguars: 46New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings: 41Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers: 39Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 38Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals: 43Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Chargers: 48.5New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys: 38.5Washington Commanders at Seattle Seahawks: 45.5New York Jets at Las Vegas Raiders: 36Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills: 47

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

The death of Minnesota native and former NHL player Adam Johnson after he was cut in the neck by a skate blade during an Oct. 28 game in England continues to have an impact on the team and on leagues around the world.

Johnson’s team, the Nottingham Panthers, said Wednesday that it was withdrawing from the Elite Ice Hockey League’s Challenge Cup. That involves three games.

Meanwhile, Boston Bruins forward Jakub Lauko said he would wear a cut-resistant neck guard because of what happened to Johnson and his own close call. Lauko was cut near the eye by a skate blade last month and returned to practice on Wednesday.

‘It’s too much of a risk,’ he told reporters. ‘When you can put something on the neck, it’s better. It’s the most vulnerable spot on the body. I’m going to start wearing neck guards, wrist guards, too, add some layer of protection to areas that are vulnerable. You know, it’s always better to be ready than sorry.’

The latest on the fallout from Johnson’s death:

Who is Adam Johnson?

Johnson, 29, who played parts of two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was in his first season with the Nottingham Panthers, scoring four goals in seven games.

‘Adam, our number 47, was not only an outstanding ice hockey player, but also a great teammate and an incredible person with his whole life ahead of him,’ the Panthers said. ‘The Club will dearly miss him and will never ever forget him.’

Johnson played two seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth and played 13 NHL games with the Penguins during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. He had a goal and three assists.

He scored his lone NHL goal on Oct. 12, 2019, at the Minnesota Wild as part of a two-point night.

The Penguins held a tribute before their Oct. 30 game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Johnson also played in the American Hockey League, Sweden and Germany before signing in England this season.

‘Everyone at the club including players, staff, management, and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adam’s passing,’ the Panthers said in a statement. ‘Our thoughts are also with the fans and staff of both clubs, especially those who attended or were following the game, who will be devastated following today’s news. The Panthers would like to thank everyone who rushed to support Adam last night in the most testing of circumstances.’

What is the status of the police investigation into Adam Johnson’s death?

Police said they had been investigating, as they do in all cases involving sudden death, and cautioned people to avoid speculation. They said the investigation remains ongoing.

‘Since Saturday, detectives have been carrying out a range of enquiries including reviewing footage, talking to witnesses and seeking the advice and support of highly specialised experts to seek to understand the circumstances surrounding what happened,’ the department said in a statement. ‘We have also been working closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our investigation. …

‘Our officers have now left the scene, however due to the complex nature of this tragic and unprecedented incident, it is likely the wider investigation will take some time.’

How have hockey organizations reacted to Johnson’s death?

The English Ice Hockey Association announced that approved hockey neck guard/protectors would become mandatory equipment for players at all levels after Dec. 31.

‘It is unacceptable for any player to lose their life while playing sport,’ the association said. ‘Our responsibility is not only to avert the recurrence of such a heart-breaking accident, but also to pre-emptively address other foreseeable incidents in the future.’

The Western Hockey League, a Canadian junior hockey league, announced that neck guards will be required as of Nov. 3 or whenever the equipment is available. The guards must be worn during games and practices.

The Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League already require them.

The NHL discussed skate cuts last season after several injuries, and deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Sirius XM that commissioner Gary Bettman reached out to NHL Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh to get cut-resistant guards on the radar.

“We have been really pushing hard cut-resistant materials and guards for our players,’ Daly said. ‘It is an adjustment for them.”

Daly noted that the AHL and ECHL require cut-resistant materials for wrists and forearms.

“Obviously (with) the most recent horrific accident, really we’ll step up the neck guards for sure,” he said.

Walsh told the Associated Press: “We’re going to explore everything. We have to continue to have conversations on this as we move forward here. It’s a change for the players, but it’s also about protecting them, so I think we will have those conversations as we move forward here.”

The arduous and embarrassing Kamila Valieva Russian doping saga hits its 640th day Thursday — and it’s not anywhere close to being done.

Valieva’s Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland, which abruptly adjourned Sept. 28 when the three-member CAS panel ordered “the production of further documentation,” resumes Thursday and is expected to conclude by Friday.

But no one should expect a decision on Valieva’s guilt or innocence this week, or anytime soon.

A final ruling by the CAS panel is expected to come sometime in the next few months, perhaps in December but much more likely after the holidays in early 2024. If that’s the case, the arbitrators’ decision could come close to marking the two-year anniversary of the team figure skating competition at the Beijing Olympics Feb. 7, 2022, when Russia won the gold medal, the United States won the silver medal and Japan won the bronze.

To this day, the athletes from the U.S., Japan and of course Russia still have not received their medals. One of the loveliest and simplest tasks performed in the Olympic world, the presentation of the medals to the athletes who won them, has turned into an international debacle.

Why? Because the sole organization charged with conducting the Valieva investigation, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency — an organization that was suspended from 2015-2018 for helping Russian athletes cheat — dithered and delayed through most of the rest of 2022, setting the process back by months.

“This is a continuation of the travesty that has undermined the confidence that athletes have in the system,” U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart said in an interview Wednesday.

“Justice hasn’t just been denied for the athletes who have been waiting nearly two years now for their medals. Justice has been defeated. The athletes will never be able to replace the moment they would have had on the Olympic medal podium.”

It is believed that the most recent delay — the sudden adjournment of the CAS hearing in late September — was caused by a request by Valieva’s legal team to see documents that had not been originally included in the proceedings but were known to exist.

“Of course, we all are for full and complete due process,” Tygart said on Sept. 28, “but this reeks of just further manipulation by the Russians and the system has to change to ensure this cannot continue to happen.”

Once the Valieva hearing concludes, the arbitrators will deliberate and write their decision. When that ruling is announced, the International Skating Union, the worldwide governing body for figure skating, will then decide the final results of the 2022 team figure skating competition.

If Valieva, considered a minor or “protected person” under world anti-doping rules because she was 15 at the time, is found to be innocent, the results likely will stand: Russia, U.S., Japan.

If she is deemed guilty, it’s likely the U.S. would move up to the gold medal, followed by Japan with the silver and fourth-place Canada moving up to take the bronze.

When all this will happen, and how the skaters will receive their medals, is anyone’s guess. One idea that has been floated is to honor the figure skating medal winners with a ceremony at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games next summer, but if Russia keeps the gold medal, there is no way that will happen as long as Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on.

One thing we do know is that the next Winter Olympics will be held in Italy beginning Feb. 6, 2026. Presumably, the skaters will have received their medals by then.

And while that might seem like a huge plus for the lowly Arizona Cardinals – and probably, in fact, is – the quarterback’s return is also likely to present quite the dilemma over the remainder of the 2023 season … and perhaps deep into the 2024 offseason.

Murray, activated to the 53-man roster Tuesday – deemed fit to play 11 months after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament – rejoins a team with the league’s worst record (1-8), second-worst passing offense (162.7 yards per game), a battered O-line and coming off a 27-0 loss at Cleveland, where the Cards managed 58 total yards after rookie Clayton Tune was forced into the lineup following the trade of primary backup Joshua Dobbs to the Minnesota Vikings.

What’s next?

“No incomplete passes and five to eight touchdowns a game,” first-year Arizona offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who’s never called a game with Murray on the field, said Tuesday regarding his expectations.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Good luck with that, K1.

Petzing’s remark was clearly made tongue-in-cheek, but it also cuts to the Cardinals’ conundrum for the rest of the season.

Murray – the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year and a two-time Pro Bowler who’s armed with a five-year, $230.5 million contract – is undoubtedly the face of this franchise. He’s expected to lift all boats, even coming off major surgery – and even if Petzing’s offense forces him into uncomfortable situations, specifically removing Murray from his preferred shotgun formation.

“Decision-making, in and out of the huddle, communication with me, communication with his teammates, making sure that his feet are comfortable, his eyes are in the right place and the ball is going where it needs to go,” Petzing answered when asked what he wants to see from Murray, whose 2023 debut will come Sunday at home against the Atlanta Falcons and their sixth-ranked defense – assuming he has no setbacks in practice this week.

“I think that’s going to be a big part of getting his feet back under him as he starts to play at full speed.”

So really … what’s next?

Can Murray really be expected to reach “full speed” this season? Mobility has always been a huge component of his game, and most players don’t feel like they’re fully over an ACL reconstruction until the season following their return. And it’s not like the Cardinals are going anywhere this year – their four remaining home games, save maybe against the Rams, pitting them with NFC teams vying for playoff positioning. Three of their four remaining road matchups are in cold-weather sites.

And if Murray, who’s lost four consecutive starts and 12 of his past 16, flops – and the team effectively tanks – is that a bad thing holistically?

The Cardinals are currently positioned to pick first overall in the 2024 draft – a selection that would confer the opportunity to take 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, a highly regarded quarterback who’s drawn (fairly or not) comparisons to two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes. It’s a scenario that’s a bit of a callback to 2019, when Arizona drafted Murray, also a Heisman winner, first overall – a year after taking UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen with the 10th pick. It was a justifiable decision given Murray’s immense talent and the opportunity to deploy him in then-coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, one that seemed tailor-made to Murray’s multi-dimensional talents.

If the Cards stay in the top spot, totally feasible that history repeats itself – particularly since Williams would arrive to a rebuilding organization with five seasons of contractual control on a relatively cheap rookie deal. However the flip side of that script is worse than 2019, when Arizona had to dump Rosen for a second- and fifth-rounder (even if that looks like a pretty good payout in retrospect). But offloading Murray could be much dicier, starting with the fact it’s unlikely he would have performed well if the Cardinals wind up with the No. 1 pick. Greatly complicating matters is the $35.3 million guarantee he’s owed in 2024 and the $46.2 million cap hit Arizona would incur to deal him – and it’s not as if rookie general manager Monti Ossenfort would be in a position to demand premium draft picks and/or players if Murray is carrying a “damaged goods” label in addition to his massive contract. And cutting him is virtually a non-starter, such a resort triggering a dead cap hit of more than $81 million.

The alternate universe is just as promising … and messy.

Murray seemed to be in a steady regression since a damaging playoff loss to the Rams at the end of the 2021 season. He was a less effective player, and his leadership skills and dedication to his craft – or lack thereof – were seemingly a constant source of fodder in the media and Arizona’s locker room. Yet if he’s able to rebound under Petzing and first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon, then the Cardinals might rest assured that they have the franchise quarterback they’ve already invested so heavily in.

Yet a revitalized Murray means Ossenfort and the Cards aren’t picking first overall. And just a few months ago, there was some speculation they might have the first two selections in 2024 given they also possess the Texans’ first-rounder – one that’s value continues to diminish as rookie Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud’s play continues to ascend.

Should be quite a show in the desert for some portion of the next six months, whether it’s on the field or off. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it almost certainly can’t be both.

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.

Matt Ulrich, a reserve offensive lineman who played two seasons for the Indianapolis Colts, including the Super Bowl XLI-winning team, has died at 41, according to team owner Jim Irsay.

‘I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Matt Ulrich. Matt was with us only two seasons, but left his mark on many,’ Irsay posted to X. ‘Great guy, I hear he was a great dad — and he was a Super Bowl champ. My prayers to his family.’

A cause of death has not been announced.

Ulrich was married and the father of four boys. His wife, Alison, made an emotional post on Facebook after his death.

‘Our beloved, one of a kind Matt has passed away and is in a better place,’ Alison wrote. ‘Matt, we love you so so much. You are profoundly missed. We all want you back for just one more day. One more hug. One more kiss. One more laugh. One more joke. One more wrestle with the boys. It seems impossible to do this life without you.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

‘Please pray for peace and comfort for the boys. They have lost their greatest fan, coach and friend.’

Ulrich’s greatest joy in life was being a father and helping other young athletes, according to his company bio at Profitable Ideas Exchange in Bozeman, Montana, where he worked as chief growth officer and partner.

‘Keeping up with my four pre-teen sons is the highlight of my life and keeps me on my toes. I also invest my time in helping young athletes in our area reach their full potential through coaching and training. This is one of my true passions,’ Ulrich wrote in his bio. ‘I can also often be found at the gym, where I recently bench pressed 505 pounds at the age of 40. The goal setting doesn’t stop.’

Ulrich, originally from Chicago, played college ball at Northwestern on a football scholarship, where he was a three-year starter on the offensive line and team captain as a senior in 2004. While playing at Northwestern, he helped lead the team to two bowl games and a Big Ten title in 2000. He was also a member of the Academic All-Big Ten team.

Shortly after the 2005 NFL draft, Ulrich landed a free-agent contract with the Colts, where he played two years on the active roster, appearing in 10 games.

After the NFL, Ulrich went back to Chicago where he founded a sports performance clinic in 2007. He soon moved to Montana, a place Ulrich said in his bio that he and his wife, Alison, had dreamed of raising a family.

Ulrich is listed as head coach at Mountain Edge Athletics, a speed and strength training facility in Bozeman, with a myriad of athletic accomplishments.

‘Through hard work and dedication in the gym on and off the field, he became a three-time Iron Cat, an award bestowed only to athletes achieving the highest level of strength, speed, and overall conditioning,’ according to Mountain Edge Athletics’ website.

Ulrich still holds many lifting records at Northwestern, including bench press (475 pounds); incline press (425 pounds); squat (715 pounds); and dumbbell military (120s for seven reps).

‘After college Matt took his training to the next level. Working on his speed and footwork with former USA Olympic coaches in Cincinnati, Matt impressed NFL scouts with more than his strength,’ writes Mountain Edge Athletics. ‘On his Pro Day, Matt showed his athleticism at 304 pounds with top offensive linemen scores in all of his combine events.’

Those included a 5.05 40-yard dash, 4.22 pro shuttle, 6.76 three-cone drill, 32-inch vertical jump and an 8-foot, 8.5-inch broad jump.

On his company’s website, Ulrich wrote about his greatest professional accomplishments, including earning executive education certifications from Stanford in strategic marketing management and from Harvard Business School in leading professional services firms.

He also talked about the Colts’ Super Bowl win in February 2007, ‘which instilled in me the importance of teamwork, grit and leadership,’ Ulrich wrote.

At the time of his death, Ulrich was a player advisor for Harvard’s Football Players Health Study, which was launched in 2014 as a comprehensive research program examining causes that impact the health and well-being of former NFL players.

Details on services for Ulrich are pending, according to Alison’s Facebook post. ‘Thank you to everyone for reaching out and offering help,’ she wrote. ‘We appreciate it and are surrounded in love.’

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: dbenbow@indystar.com.

The NHL trade deadline is March 8 and already a few moves and other transactions are trickling in.

The latest was the Minnesota Wild moving out one defenseman to bring in a different style of blue-liner in a separate trade.

General managers will be guided by another year of a tight salary cap, but it’s expected to rise next season, possibly by $4 million. Last summer, a lot of players signed low-cost, one-year deals, increasing the pool of potential unrestricted free agents who could be moved out for draft picks or prospects.

Follow along this season for news and analysis on deals and other major transactions that have happened in the months leading up the trade deadline:

Nov. 8: Minnesota Wild trade Calen Addison to San Jose Sharks, acquire Zach Bogosian from Tampa Bay Lightning

Addison was sent to the San Jose Sharks for forward Adam Raska and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick. The defenseman is a power play specialist, but he is unreliable in his own zone. That led to him being a healthy scratch often down the stretch last season. With the Wild likely getting Jared Spurgeon back soon from injury, the power play opportunities will dwindle. Addison will be more valuable to the Sharks, who dealt Erik Karlsson last summer. He will be a restricted free agent at season’s end.

Bogosian lacks Addison’s offense, but the veteran takes care of his end of the ice. He’s a right-handed shot, like Addison.

“He’s a big guy,’ Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin told reporters. ‘He still skates well. He brings heaviness. He brings some grit and we need that.”

The trade buys the Lightning a little bit of salary cap breathing room. Bogosian, in the final season of a three-year contract, has a $850,000 cap hit.

Nov. 7: Edmonton Oilers place goalie Jack Campbell on waivers

Campbell, who signed a five-year, $25 million free agent deal in 2022, hasn’t played well since arriving. Stuart Skinner surpassed him last season and was a rookie of the year finalist. This season, Campbell was chased in the season opener and has gone 1-4 with a 4.50 goals-against average and .873 save percentage. He cleared waivers and will work on his game in the American Hockey League as the struggling Oilers try to get into a playoff spot. Edmonton recalled Calvin Pickard from Bakersfield (California) to back up Skinner.

Oct. 13: Colorado Avalanche sign defenseman Devon Toews to seven-year extension

He’ll average $7.25 million in the deal, which begins next season. Heading into the season, Toews led the league with a +120 plus-minus rating since he was acquired from the New York Islanders in 2020. He’s right behind defenseman Cale Makar in average ice time during that time.

Oct. 10: Carolina Hurricanes acquire forward Callahan Burke from the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Caleb Jones

The Hurricanes loaded up on defense this offseason and Jones was the odd man out. Both players will play for the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Angels have hired Ron Washington, 71, who last managed 10 years ago, to be their new manager.

Washington signed a two-year contract, replacing Phil Nevin as the club’s new manager.

Washington met for two hours with Angels GM Perry Minasian on Tuesday, along with owner Arte Moreno, and then went to dinner at a steakhouse in Scottsdale with Minasian on Tuesday night.

Washington, who recently signed a three-year contract extension with Atlanta as their third-base coach, where he has been the last seven seasons, led the Texas Rangers to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010-2011.

He stepped down after eight years with the Rangers in September 2014 for personal reasons. He remains the most successful manager in franchise history, leading the Rangers to first- or-second place finishes in six consecutive seasons.

FOLLOW THE MONEY: MLB player salaries and payrolls for every major league team

‘I’m honored that I got a chance to work with him,’ Atlanta GM Alex Anthopoulos said. ‘He’s everything you could want. He deserves the opportunity. He’s excited, obviously I’m excited for him.

“It’s a huge loss for us. I emphasize that in caps, bold, italicized, all of it. Huge, huge void. I had six years with him, and I can’t imagine I’ll be around another guy like that in my entire career. …

“Presence, intellect, respect, work ethic, integrity, off-the-charts ability to lead. I mean, that guy walks in a room, it’s over. He’s got it. He’s special. I’ve been in baseball since 2000. I’ve never been around someone like this before.”

Washington, the first Black manager hired since 2020, plans to have a diverse staff and is expected to bring on Chili Davis as hitting coach, Torii Hunter as first base coach, Eric Young Sr. at third, Clint Hurdle as bench coach and Ryan Goins as infield coach.

Washington’s 664 career victories rank eighth among active managers.

The Angels’ hire leaves the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros with the remaining managerial vacancies.

Veteran linebacker Roquan Smith is reflecting on the one-year anniversary of his trade from the lowly Chicago Bears (2-7) to the championship contender Baltimore Ravens (7-2), who are tied for the second-best record in the league.

‘Man, it makes me so happy, just knowing my career is not going down the drain, in the sense of playing somewhere where I’m not truly competing for a title,’ Smith told Sports Illustrated.

Smith was selected out of the University of Georgia by the Bears with the eighth pick of the 2018 NFL draft. Through five seasons in Chicago, Smith recorded 524 total tackles, seven interceptions, 20 passes defended and 16.5 sacks in 69 games (67 starts), earning second-team All-Pro (2020, 2021) honors. In August 2022, Smith requested a trade, saying ‘the new front office regime doesn’t value me here.’ He was shipped to the Ravens in October 2022.

The Ravens have a 12-6 record since Smith’s trade, while the Bears have gone 2-16 during that stretch.

“It’s pretty crazy thinking back to when I was initially traded,” Smith told the outlet. “It was bittersweet for me, just knowing Chicago and rightfully so. But if I would’ve stayed there, honestly, (I) wouldn’t have been able to compete for a title anytime soon.’

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

AFC NORTH IS GROUP TO BEAT: In NFL’s most cutthroat division, every team is a playoff contender

Smith got what he wanted in Baltimore. He signed a five-year, $100 million extension ($60 million guaranteed) with the Ravens in January to become the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL after earning his first team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2022. And Smith, voted as the 24th best player in the league by his peers in the NFL’s annual Top 100 Players list, has been able to compete and help the Ravens’ defense thrive.

‘When I came over here, it took me a while, like a couple of weeks, to really realize how stacked this team was, as well as how many good people there are on this team, and how they just bring in truly good people,’ Smith said.

The Ravens (7-2) defense is ranked first in the league in opponent points per game (13.8) and second-best in yards allowed per game (262.6). Smith cites Baltimore’s Pro Football Hall of Famers Ed Reed and Ray Lewis as his motivation.

“When I just think about it from that perspective, man, it makes me proud just knowing that I’m playing behind such a historic tradition. And guys that was well before (me). How they set the standard for being a Raven,’ Smith said. ‘I believe it’s playing lights out on the defensive side of the ball… not giving the offense time to breathe. Smothering them. And when they come up for a breath, you take them right back down. I feel like that’s what being a Raven is all about.”

The Ravens moved to 7-2 on the season following an impressive 37-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks (5-3) on Sunday. They face the (5-3) Cleveland Browns, another of the league’s premier defenses. So far this season, Smith has recorded 87 total tackles, the fourth-most in the league, five passes defended and 1.5 sacks through nine games (all starts).

“It means the world to me, being a Raven,” Smith said. “And how they came and got me when I was in Chicago.’