Tag: Alex Leatherwood

Here’s how impressive the Bears offensive line was against the Titans

The Bears played a great game against the Titans on Saturday, and the offensive line was graded as one of the best by PFF.

The Chicago Bears generally played well on Saturday against the Tennessee Titans, with many of the stars putting their best foot forward in their first live-action game of 2023.

Bears such as quarterback Justin Fields, receiver DJ Moore, running back Khalil Herbert and cornerback Kyler Gordon all impressed in their limited snaps. But the real treat was the strong showing of the positions many considered to be weaknesses, providing an extremely pleasant surprise for the fans.

The designated weak points of the team are considered both the offensive and defensive lines, extremely important positions that can prohibit the Bears from making a big leap in play this year. The guys in those spots, however, proved that they weren’t going to be written off so easily on Saturday.

The defensive line was the star of the show, as players like rookie defensive tackle Zacch Pickens and defensive ends Trevis Gipson and Terrell Lewis became a force that the Titans couldn’t contain. Conversely, the Bears’ offensive line was able to hold their own for most of the game, being a big reason why Moore and Herbert were able to score long catch-and-run touchdowns.

Evaluating the offensive line can be a tough task, considering they aren’t the focal point of any play and they don’t have a category of stats that you can look up following a game.

Pro Football Focus recognized the Bears as having the highest pass blocking grade in the first week of preseason (87.1). They also had the second-highest run blocking grade (88.3).

The Bears’ O-line as a whole allowed only three QB pressures, the second fewest of all NFL teams in preseason Week 1, trailing only the Las Vegas Raiders. Offensive linemen Alex Leatherwood (86.4), Ja’Tyre Carter (85.7), Larry Borom (83.5), and Doug Kramer (82.5) led the way for Chicago.

As for those three QB pressures, Borom allowed one while Aviante Collins allowed two pressures.

It’s encouraging that what was widely considered the most suspect aspect of the team had such a strong showing. The play of the offensive line should only get better too, as starting right guard Nate Davis returned to practice Monday.

Things are starting to come together for the Bears.

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Bears G Teven Jenkins leaves Wednesday’s practice with possible injury

Teven Jenkins was spotted leaving Wednesday’s practice with a Bears trainer.

The Chicago Bears were unable to escape Wednesday’s training camp practice unscathed. A little over halfway through practice, offensive guard Teven Jenkins was seen leaving the field to go to the locker room with head trainer Andre Tucker. Alex Leatherwood took his spot on the starting offensive line.

Not much is known yet about any potential injury but the good news is Jenkins was able to walk off the field. The Bears are already missing right guard Nate Davis for the second practice in a row and now could be without their left guard in Jenkins.

The third-year offensive lineman has dealt with a variety of ailments since he was picked in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Jenkins missed much of his rookie year with a back injury and last year, battled a number of issues while missing a handful of games.

Hopefully whatever he’s dealing with now doesn’t linger and he can return to the field sooner rather than later. Other players who did not practice include defensive end DeMarcus Walker, defensive tackle Justin Jones, tight end Chase Allen, and linebacker Jack Sanborn. Running back Roschon Johnson and wide receiver Dante Pettis were present, but did not participate.

Bears Wire will provide more information as it becomes available.

7 Bears veterans in need of a strong training camp

These Bears players may not necessarily be on the bubble heading into camp, but they need a good showing when practices begin.

We’re inching closer and closer to the start of training camp for the Chicago Bears and many storylines will begin to unfold, from the ascent of the rookies to how new veterans will gel with the team. No matter what direction you look in, there’s going to be something of note to watch when camp begins.

One of those storylines will involve veterans who may not necessarily be on the roster bubble but will need strong camp performances to solidify their position. Whether that’s as a starter or a backup. Here are seven of those players who will benefit greatly from a strong camp showing.

Bears 2023 training camp preview: Offensive line

Our next Bears position preview is the offensive line, a group that will look very different than it did in 2022.

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a month away, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.

We’re unveiling our Bears 2023 training camp position previews, where we’re breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.

Rounding out the offensive side of the ball is the offensive line, a group that only has one projected starter playing the same position they played in 2022. Braxton Jones is back at left tackle but the rest of the line has done more shuffling than the 1985 Bears.

Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair were both prominent starters in 2022 who are now playing new positions, while newcomers Nate Davis and Darnell Wright were added to anchor the right side of the line. Meanwhile, players like Lucas Patrick and Larry Borom are now backups after entering last year’s camp as starters.

Here’s a closer look at the Bears’ offensive line heading into training camp.

8 Bears players on the roster bubble heading into training camp

These Bears players will need a strong camp to secure a spot on the initial 53-man roster.

Chicago Bears training camp is drawing closer each day and it’s only a matter of time before players report to Halas Hall and begin practicing. While fans are eager to see players such as Justin Fields, D.J. Moore, Tremaine Edmunds, and Jaquan Brisker, training camp will be vital for those near the bottom of the depth chart looking to make the initial 53-man roster.

From former first-round picks to undrafted free agents, everyone will need to do their part to earn a roster spot when practices get underway. Here are eight players on the roster bubble heading into camp that will be worth watching.

1 Bears player on the roster bubble at each position group

From veterans to rookies, here’s a look at one player on the roster bubble at each position group ahead of Bears training camp.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the start of training camp later this month, where they’ve compiled their 90-man roster ahead of the summer.

Chicago will have to narrow its roster from 90 players down to 53 following the preseason, and there are some players on the hot seat who will need to step it up or risk losing their chance at locking down a roster spot.

Whether it’s a veteran looking to keep his roster spot or a rookie looking to carve out a role, here’s a look at one player on the roster bubble at each position group ahead of Bears training camp:

Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 70 days

It is now just 70 days until Nick Saban and Alabama take the field for the 2023 college football season!

The Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field for the 2023 college football season in 70 days, as Middle Tennessee State visits Bryant Denny Stadium on Sept. 2.

Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will be counting down the days until [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and his team take the field.

Today, with just 70 days remaining, we will take a look at a former Alabama star offensive lineman that wore No. 70, Alex Leatherwood.

Leatherwood helped anchor the Crimson Tide offensive front from 2017-20 before becoming a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Leatherwood has not lived up to his potential in the NFL and has bounced around to several different teams.

Alex Leatherwood’s Photo Gallery

Revisiting our bold predictions from the 2022 season

Warning: This article contains freezing cold Bears takes that could lead to frostbite.

When it comes to NFL predictions, there’s simply not enough accountability. Anyone can make a claim or prediction and boast if it comes true, or hide the evidence if it doesn’t. Not at Bears Wire though.

All season long, we’ve been providing bold predictions ahead of each Bears game, with various degrees of success. But prior to Week 1, we had a list of predictions that we saw playing out over the course of the entire season. Predictions such as offensive milestones or end-of-year awards that we believed had a legitimate shot of coming true.

Simply put, the results were not kind but we’re holding ourselves accountable. Here were our bold predictions heading into 2022 and the results of each one. But be warned as this article contains freezing cold takes that could lead to frostbite.

6 things we’re watching for in the Bears’ final four games of 2022

While the Bears have been eliminated from postseason contention, there’s still plenty to watch in their final four games.

The Chicago Bears are closing out a much-needed (albeit late) bye week, where they had a chance to regroup before the final four games to close out the 2022 season.

Chicago was officially eliminated from postseason contention before the bye week, which means there’s not much to play for (aside from a top-three draft pick) down the stretch.

While the Bears have no shot at the playoffs and are trending toward a bottom-three record, there’s still plenty to watch in their final four games. Here’s a look:

Patrick Mannelly doesn’t want Bears to sit Justin Fields, talks long snapper award, and more

Former Bears LS Patrick Mannelly sits down with Bears Wire to talk about his long snapper award, Matt Eberflus, Justin Fields, and more.

Patrick Mannelly has experienced more Chicago Bears games than any other player in team history. The former long snapper has team-record 245 career games under his belt that isn’t expected to be broken anytime soon. He’s seen the highs and lows of various NFL seasons, from Super Bowl appearances to bad collapses, spanning 16 years with four coaches.

In short, Mannelly knows what a good locker room should look like and believes this year’s Bears would benefit from winning the final few games of the 2022 season.

“It’s a culture thing,” Mannelly told Bears Wire. “You’re going to have Justin Fields back, Jack Sanborn back, Eddie Jackson back, Jaylon Johnson, Jaquan Brisker, Cole Kmet, all of these young guys. They need to make sure what they’re doing in-house right now is attacking work like they did in Week 1.”

Mannelly believes keeping the same fire they had to start the season will pay dividends going into 2023.

“They have to attack every work week and you can bring that culture into the next week,” Mannelly said. “I think coach [Matt] Eberflus can help sell that like Lovie Smith did to us.”

He’s a big believer in Eberflus’ H.I.T.S. principle and sees the players buying in during the coach’s first year.

“I love what he’s come up with,” Mannelly said. “I know some people in Chicago media think is funny or whatever it is and but you’re building a standard in that in that in that locker room in that building and it’s important for those guys to to uphold that.”