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Victor Hedman stepped away from Lightning to focus on his mental health

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Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed Tuesday that he missed the team’s final 15 regular-season games and the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs while tending to his mental health.

Hedman last suited up for the Lightning on March 19 before taking a temporary leave of absence. He returned to practice throughout Tampa’s first-round series with the Montreal Canadiens but didn’t play in any games before the Lightning were eliminated in Game 7 on Sunday.

The 35-year-old defenseman detailed the circumstances around his absence in a statement released by the Lightning, saying he hoped it might help others take care of their mental health. He also said he’s in a “much better place” now.

“Wearing this jersey — and serving as captain — is the greatest responsibility of my professional life,” Hedman said. “That responsibility doesn’t only apply on the ice. Over the past couple of months, I made the decision to step away and focus on my mental health. It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one. I’ve always believed that being a leader means doing what’s best for the team.

“In this case, it also meant doing what was necessary to take care of myself, so I can be the best player, teammate, husband and father I expect to be.”

Hedman has been one of the NHL’s top defensemen for a decade, winning the Norris Trophy in 2018 and Conn Smythe Trophy in 2020. He twice won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning.

However, he endured a difficult 2025-26 season, battling an elbow injury that eventually required surgery before returning just ahead of the Milan Olympics, where he sat out the quarterfinal game due to a lower-body injury as Sweden was eliminated. He played just 33 games for the Lightning, registering one goal and 17 points.

Hedman has three years remaining on his contract and sounded hopeful about the future.

“I’ve been fortunate to have strong support from my family, my teammates and the organization, my therapist, and I’m in a much better place today,” Hedman said. “This is something that exists in our game, more than people see. If this moment helps make it easier for others to take care of themselves when they need to, that matters.

“I’m proud of this team, and I look forward to what’s ahead.”

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Chicago Bears 27-7 Philadelphia Eagles: Case Keenum drives Bears to three touchdowns in first NFL game since 2023 | NFL News

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Case Keenum passed for two touchdowns in his first NFL start in almost three years as Chicago Bears shut down Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles for a 27-7 victory on Monday night.

Stepping in for Caleb Williams, Keenum starred completing 24 passes from 34 attempts to make 247 yards. He also scored his first rushing touchdown since 2019 on a one-yard plunge with seven minutes and 19 seconds left to play, capping a 13-play drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock.

It was Keenum’s first action since he started for Houston in a 36-22 loss to Cleveland in December 2023.

“To get a shot again like this? You dream of it,” Keenum said. “That’s why I’m still here doing this when I get knocked down.

“I got knocked down my whole career. I just keep getting up, coming to work, just keep bouncing back.”

Williams was sidelined by a right hamstring injury, and Tyson Bagent backed up Keenum after he cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol on Sunday.

“He [Keenum] knows where everyone is supposed to be on every single play and so he is really quick to recognise coverage,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said.

“He knows why we’re calling the play and what we’re looking for and if we’re not getting that he’s accelerating through it really quickly. That’s what you get when you’re 15-plus years playing that position in this league.”

Kalif Raymond had six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown as Chicago, who have won two and lost one game this season, bounced back after an ugly 9-3 loss to Minnesota.

Philadelphia, who also hold a record of 2-1 this season, turned the ball over three times and failed to record a takeaway for the third consecutive game to begin the season.

Hurts successfully threw 16 passes out of 25 attempts for 153 yards, but conceded an interception, and Saquon Barkley rushed for 82 yards from 15 carries.

“We all have to own that loss right there,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said.

“I don’t think anybody coached well. I don’t think anyone played well. It was a true team loss. And when it’s a true team loss, you know I have to look at myself first.”

Stats leaders:

Chicago Bears

Passing: Case Keenum, 24/34, 247 yards, two touchdowns

Rushing: D’Andre Swift, 20 carries, 84 yards

Receiving: Kalif Raymond, six carries, 90 yards, one touchdown

Philadelphia Eagles

Passing: Jalen Hurts, 16/25, 153 yards, one interception

Rushing: Saquon Barkley, 15 carries, 82 yards

Receiving: DeVonta Smith, six carries, 65 yards

Keenum capped Chicago’s first drive with a shovel pass to Luther Burden for an eight-yard touchdown, and he connected with Raymond open out wide on a 41-yard touchdown in the second half.

Trailing 7-0, Hurts drove Philadelphia deep into Chicago territory in the second quarter before he absorbed a late hit by linebacker D’Marco Jackson along the sideline.

Hurts was pulled off the field to be checked for a concussion, while backup Andy Dalton was intercepted by rookie Dillon Thieneman in the back of the end zone with just over six minutes to half-time.

Hurts said he was waiting for clearance to go back in when Dalton turned it over.

“I was just waiting for the thumbs up,” Hurts said. “I felt fine, we already checked it. I don’t know the extent of the process. Obviously, I wish we could have expedited things. I know I felt fine.”

Hurts scored on a quarterback sneak as time expired in the first half, but Chicago controlled the final two periods.

Hurts was picked off by linebacker TJ Edwards late in the third quarter. Edwards dropped a potential interception on third down on Philadelphia’s first drive of the second half.

Chicago finished with 24 first downs and 128 yards rushing. The Bears had 28 first downs and 281 yards on the ground in a 24-15 win at Philadelphia last season.

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Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

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Highlights of the Philadelphia Eagles at the Chicago Bears from Week 3 of the NFL season.

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Chicago Bears 27-7 Philadelphia Eagles: Case Keenum shines on first start since 2023

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Veteran quarterback Case Keenum starred on his first start for almost three years as the Chicago Bears handed the Philadelphia Eagles their first defeat of the season.

Starting his first NFL game since December 2023, the 38-year-old threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another as the Bears won 27-7 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

It is the first time he has thrown multiple touchdowns in a game since October 2019, while he is also the oldest player to score a rushing touchdown for the Bears.

Keenum, an NFL journeyman playing at his eighth franchise, was called into action because of a knee injury to Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent’s concussion.

Wide receiver Kalif Raymond, who scored a touchdown, said: “He was like, ‘I may not be a cowboy, but this is definitely not my first rodeo – a lot of confidence in him; a lot of confidence in himself.

“He practises, preps every week, but particularly this week. We didn’t expect anything different from him.”

Keenum’s first drive resulted in a touchdown for Luther Burden III, and Cairo Santos added a 29-yard field goal before Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts rushed for a touchdown to cut the Bears’ half-time lead to 10-7.

Santos added a second field goal early in the third quarter before the Bears scored two touchdowns among 17 unanswered points.

The Bears defence limited the Eagles to 248 yards and picked off an interception off Jalen Hurts and replacement Andy Dalton.

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