Category: Regular Season

Bears injury report: Trey Burton DNP, David Montgomery limited Wednesday

The Bears released their first injury report of Week 11, where RB David Montgomery was a surprising name that popped up on the report.

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The Chicago Bears (4-5) are preparing for a Week 11 primetime matchup against the Los Angeles Rams (5-4), and they’re starting the week off more banged up than usual.

After suffering a calf injury against the Detroit Lions last Sunday, tight end Trey Burton did not practice Wednesday. The Bears are thin at the tight end position, with Burton’s injury and Adam Shaheen’s benching.

Ben Braunecker scored a touchdown against the Lions last week, and he figures to get more looks heading into Sunday’s game against the Rams.

But the surprise name that popped up on Wednesday’s injury report is rookie running back David Montgomery, who was limited with an ankle injury.

After suffering a gruesome elbow injury in the first quarter against Detroit, Danny Trevathan did not practice Wednesday. Matt Nagy hasn’t given an official update on Trevathan, but Nagy didn’t seem optimistic and said it’s possible he’ll join defensive tackle Akiem Hicks on injured reserve.

Linebacker Isaiah Irving continues to nurse a quad injury that has held him out for the past two games. Practice squad linebacker James Vaughters has seen action against the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions as a result.

If Irving can’t go again Sunday, expect Vaughters to be elevated to the active roster.

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NFL.com Week 11 Power Rankings: Bears’ win doesn’t change much

The Bears snapped their four-game losing streak with a win over the Lions, but they didn’t crack the top 20 in power rankings.

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The Chicago Bears snapped their four-game losing streak with a divisional win over the Detroit Lions in Week 10. But even a win wasn’t enough to change the minds of many when it comes to the Bears.

The Bears moved up one spot to No. 21 in NFL.com’s Week 11 Power Rankings, where they rank just three spots ahead of the Lions.

Things got more interesting than they should have in the final minutes, but the Bears held on against a Lions team missing Matthew Stafford. The Bears offense managed just 20 yards total in their first four possessions, a funk that summoned memories of Week 9, when Chicago managed just 9 total net yards in the first half against the Eagles.

The turning point Sunday came on Chicago’s final possession of the first half: A 10-play, 80-yard march that ended when Mitchell Trubisky found Ben Braunecker in the end zone for the go-ahead score. Trubisky threw two more touchdown passes in the third quarter, taking control of the game and releasing the pressure valve at Soldier Field.

Though the Bears’ attack remains The Problem in Chicago, you can see a few beams of sunshine breaking through the clouds in the last two weeks. Can they build on it?

While the Bears remain “in the hunt” for the playoffs, they’ll have to prove that they can beat a team with a winning record before deserving a higher ranking.

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Bears have highest drop rate in NFL through Week 10

Nothing has been working for the Bears’ offense this season. So it’s no wonder why they lead the NFL in the highest drop rate.

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When you have a struggling offense, there’s little room for error. Unfortunately for the Chicago Bears, there have been plenty of errors over the first 10 weeks of the 2019 season.

And it doesn’t just fall on third-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who deserves a fair share of the blame for the offense’s struggles.

When your young quarterback is struggling, you need to do everything you can to help him. Establish the run game (which has been inconsistent and suspect this season), give him a clean pocket (which hasn’t always been the case this season) and have your playmakers come down with the ball.

Given that most of these factors — including the quarterback’s play — haven’t been working, it’s no wonder the Bears boast the NFL’s 29th-ranked offense.

In fact, the Bears have the highest drop rate in the NFL at 7.36 percent. Of 299 attempts, Bears receivers have 22 drops, which also ranks highest in the league. They’re the only team that has a drop rate greater than 7 percent.

The Bears have two players that rank in the top 35 in the NFL in drops: running back Tarik Cohen (6) and receiver Allen Robinson (3).

This certainly doesn’t let Trubisky off the hook, who needs to do a better job of giving his receivers a chance to catch the ball, for the offense’s struggles.

But Trubisky would certainly benefit from better pass protection from his offensive line, which ranks 22nd in the league with 27 sacks allowed through the first 10 weeks.

Which isn’t to say that Trubisky hasn’t had a hand in several of those sacks. You could argue that most of his five sacks last Sunday against the Detroit Lions were on him.

Simply put, the entire offense needs to do better. It’s not just one guy. It would be easier if it were.

Bears S Eddie Jackson is feeling the stress as he searches for first takeaway this season

Bears S Eddie Jackson was known for his ballhawking ability in 2018. But that hasn’t been the case in 2019, and he’s feeling the pressure.

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Last season, Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson was considered a turnover machine. At one point in 2018, Jackson had forced turnovers in three of the first four games.

Jackson capped an All-Pro season with six interceptions, two forced fumbles and amassed five touchdowns in his first two seasons.

But 2019 has been a different story for Jackson, who has failed to notch a single takeaway in nine games. Why is that?

“You know I really can’t even answer that,” Jackson said Tuesday, via NBC Sports Chicago. “We’ve just got to continue flying around and try to make plays on the ball.”

“That’s like a trick question – I really don’t know how to answer that. You’ve got to fly around. Guys got to make plays on the ball, strip the ball, or get in position to make plays and try to intercept it and things like that. Really don’t know.”

In fact, it’s approaching the one-year mark since Jackson last scored a touchdown. That came last Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions, where Jackson intercepted Matthew Stafford at a critical moment in the fourth quarter that gave the Bears a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

But it’s now been 12 games since his last takeaway, and Jackson is feeling the pressure.

“This is the longest it’s ever been in my life , playing football, without an interception, without a touchdown – ever,” he said. “So it’s getting stressful. I’m just happy we won the last game, but just being that type of competitor, you want the ball. It’s going to come, that’s all I can tell myself.”

Over his first two seasons, Jackson has established a reputation for always being around the ball, something that hasn’t been true this season. While he’s not making excuses, including learning Chuck Pagano’s scheme, he also knows that he needs to put himself in better situations to make plays.

“I’m one of my biggest critics, so I just feel like I need to get in more positions to make plays, if that makes any sense,” he said. “Like I said, it’s a different system, there are different things, so you’ve just got to buy in and control what you can control. And that’s dominating my square and my man. Wherever I’m in, just got to dominate that.”

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Chicago vs. Los Angeles: Which Rams player would you want on the Bears?

The Bears will play the Rams in a primetime matchup, which features a ton of talent. But which Rams player would you want in Chicago?

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The Chicago Bears (4-5) will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams (5-4) in a rematch of last season’s defensive showdown.

But make no mistake, these two teams are far from the teams they both were a season ago. The Bears, who were deemed Super Bowl contenders, just broke a four-game losing streak and while they remain “in the hunt,” their chance at the playoffs are slim.

Then there are the Rams, who are coming off a Super Bowl appearance but appear headed in the wrong direction. While their defense continues to be a solid unit — led by reigning Defensive Player of theYear Aaron Donald — it’s their offense that has been struggling of late. The offensive line is a mess, and quarterback Jared Goff has looked as bad, if not worse, than his buddy Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky at times.

But there’s still a ton of talent on the Rams — both on offense but especially defense.

Which begs the question — which Rams player would you want on the Bears?

VOTE!

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Should the Bears attend Colin Kaepernick’s private workout on Saturday?

Given the Bears will be exploring all options at QB in 2020, should they send scouts to Colin Kaepernick’s private workout Saturday?

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The Chicago Bears are no strangers to quarterback struggles from the time that Colin Kaepernick was left in NFL limbo following the 2016 season to the present, where former No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky’s struggles have him facing an uncertain future in Chicago.

Kaepernick will be participating in a private workout Saturday in Atlanta, where all NFL teams are invited to come out and watch his on-field work and interview him.

Given the Bears will likely be exploring all options at quarterback in 2020 — including sticking with Trubisky, bringing in competition, drafting a quarterback or bringing in a new starter — should Chicago give Kaepernick a look?

While there’s no denying that Kaepernick would do well in a system like Matt Nagy’s, the simple fact of the matter is that he hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016. Who’s to say he’s ready to return to the physical demands of the professional game?

But, then again, that’s exactly what his private workout will serve to do. Well, at least as well as it can aside from live game action.

Regardless, the Bears should do their due diligence and send someone to Kaepernick’s workout Saturday in case he’s a very real option for the Bears in 2020.

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Harry Hiestand clarifies why Bears switched Cody Whitehair and James Daniels

The Bears decided to switch Cody Whitehair back to center and James Daniels back to left guard to provide balance on the offensive line.

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Following Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy didn’t provide any clarification as to why they decided to switch Cody Whitehair back to center and push James Daniels back to left guard.

But when offensive line coach Harry Hiestand met with the media Monday, he provided as much context as we’re likely to get publicly.

While Nagy nor Hiestand would blame Daniels for the offensive line’s struggles this season, they did point to his inexperience as a reason why they made the switch. Although you have to wonder what took so long to make the decision with the line struggling as long as it has been all season.

Hiestand said having Whitehair at center “balances us out and gives us a steadying factor in there.”

While communication calls seemed to be more effective with Whitehair at center, he wasn’t without his faults. He struggled with snapping the football, something he hadn’t done since the Pro Bowl back in January. Mitchell Trubisky saved some of those poor snaps, but Whitehair vowed that it’ll get better as he gets back into the swing of things.

As for whether Daniels could eventually wind up back at center, it sounds like the Bears are comfortable with him at left guard for now.

“Right now he’s where [he] is best for us,” Hiestand said. “But you never know with that.”

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NFL announces Lions at Broncos will be on Sunday December 22nd

When the Detroit Lions 2019 regular season schedule was announced there was once curious date omitted: their Week 16 matchup with the Denver Broncos was scheduled as to be determined. Today, we know that matchup will take place on Sunday, December 22nd, 2019.

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When the Detroit Lions 2019 regular season schedule was announced there was once curious date omitted: their Week 16 matchup with the Denver Broncos was scheduled as to be determined.

Today, we know that matchup will take place on Sunday, December 22nd, 2019 at 4:05 PM, EST on CBS.

With the Lions record sitting at 3-5-1 and the Broncos at 3-6, it’s no surprise that the NFL elected to keep the game on the regular Sunday schedule rather than flex it to the national stage on Saturday.

Further adding to the list of reasons this game is not being flexed, is the starting quarterback situation of both teams — as a Jeff Driskel vs Brandon Allen (maybe Drew Lock) matchup isn’t made for primetime.

The Broncos have placed their starter Joe Flacco on injured reserve, while second-round pick (42nd overall) Lock is ready to start practicing again and may return from injured reserve in the next few weeks. Currently, the Broncos are starting Allen (undrafted free agent in 2016 out of Arkansas) at quarterback.

Meanwhile, the Lions are in the middle of deciding what to do with Matthew Stafford after it was discovered that he has a fractured bone in his back. Stafford’s injury isn’t expected to be longterm, just painful, but with his history of back injuries and the team all but eliminated from the NFL Playoffs, it’s fair to speculate if they will shut him down for the season.

Rams rule out WR Brandin Cooks, RT Rob Havenstein vs. Bears

The Rams have already ruled out two offensive starters for a Week 11 game against the Bears in WR Brandin Cooks and RT Rob Havenstein.

The Los Angeles Rams are banged up heading into a pivotal Week 11 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

After losing center Brian Allen for the season with an MCL injury, the Rams will also be without receiver Brandin Cooks (concussion) and right tackle Rob Havenstein (meniscus) come Sunday’s primetime game against the Bears.

The Rams’ offensive line is a mess due to an influx of injuries, which doesn’t bode well for quarterback Jared Goff, who will face a Bears defense that mauled him last season.

Cooks’ absence will heighten the pressure on receiver Cooper Kupp, who failed to catch a pass for the first time in his NFL career last Sunday in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with Cooks out.

The Bears defense might be catching the Rams offense at the right time. Although the Bears offense will have to face a dominant Rams defense led by All-Pro Aaron Donald.

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Was benching TE Adam Shaheen was the right move for Bears?

The Bears benched TE Adam Shaheen for Sunday’s game against the Lions, and it appears that he’s in Chicago’s doghouse.

Prior to the start of Sunday’s Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears made some moves on the offensive side of the ball.

Not only did they decide to switch Cody Whitehair back to center and James Daniels back to left guard, but they opted to make a change at tight end by benching tight end Adam Shaheen, who was inactive as a healthy scratch.

“We want all of our players to be able to be completely detailed and play hard and do everything they can to be the best player they can be,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said Monday.

While Shaheen was a healthy scratch in Week 10, don’t expect an immediate return to the lineup Sunday against the Rams.

“We’re still working through all of that,” Nagy said.

Reserve tight end Ben Braunecker seemed to have more success in one game than Shaheen and Trey Burton have had all season. Braunecker caught his first career touchdown pass — an 18-yard reception from Mitchell Trubisky in the waning minutes of the first half to give the Bears a 7-6 lead. It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Expect to see more of Braunecker moving forward as he’s a better receiver than Shaheen and a better blocker than Burton. The Bears have also utilized tight end J.P. Holtz in their offense, especially as a fullback.

Much has been made about the performance of Bears tight ends this season, and rightfully so. They haven’t been productive in this unit, but then again, who has? Chicago’s offense has struggled mightily in its first eight games, and they seemed to get a glimpse of a spark at the end of the first half leading into the third quarter.

Shaheen, a former second-round draft pick, has been ineffective and costly at times. His special teams fumble on the final play of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles ended any hope of a last-second miracle comeback by the Bears offense.

But even when Shaheen is on offense, he hasn’t done a whole lot. He has just nine receptions for 74 yards this season.

Matt Nagy seemed to send a message to his team by benching Shaheen and switching a struggling Daniels back to left guard: Do your job or we’ll find someone that will.

Shaheen’s benching and the switch on the offensive line likely won’t be the last changes we see on this Bears offense moving forward in the final seven games of the season if the struggles continue.

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