Tag: Arlington Hambright

Bears offensive line is an even bigger mess heading into Week 9

Offensive line has been one of the biggest concerns for the Bears this season. Now, there’s a new struggle: Injuries.

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Offensive line has been one of the biggest concerns for the Chicago Bears this season. And that was when all five starters were in place on the line. But now, the Bears are facing a new struggle on the offensive line: Injuries.

A couple of weeks ago, the biggest concern was left guard James Daniels’ season being cut short with a torn pectoral muscle. Now, center Cody Whitehair’s status is up-in-the-air as he recovers from a calf injury that Matt Nagy doesn’t expect to be long-term.

Then right tackle Bobby Massie suffered a knee injury against the Saints, and he was placed on injured reserve where he won’t be eligible to return until Dec. 6 against the Detroit Lions.

For the longest time, the concerns on the offensive line stemmed from the performance on the field, where they struggled in run blocking and pass protection. Things couldn’t possibly get worse for the unit.

But then Tuesday happened.

Offensive tackle Jason Spriggs tested positive for COVID-19, and right guard Germain Ifedi was said to be one of those in close contact with him. Both were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, although it’s still possible Ifedi could suit up for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.

As a result of both Massie being placed on IR and the COVID scare, the Bears promoted seventh-round rookie Lachavious Simmons to the active roster and signed Aaron Neary to the practice squad.

If Ifedi can’t go, as expected, here’s what the Bears’ offensive line could look like on Sunday:

Left tackle Charles Leno Jr.
Left guard Alex Bars
Center Sam Mustipher
Right guard Arlington Hambright
Right tackle Rashaad Coward

To make matters worse, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported that center Sam Mustipher, who was filling in for Whitehair, played through an injury suffered against the Saints, and Mustipher is expected to miss some time, which means things could look a whole lot different depending on the status of Whitehair and Mustipher.

There’s no doubt that the offensive line will be a major storyline to follow this week heading into Sunday’s game against the Titans. And an already-struggling offensive line could look a whole lot worse come Week 9.

 

 

REPORT: Bears OL Sam Mustipher dealing with injury

The Bears offensive line is already banged up, and now center Sam Mustipher is dealing with an injury that’s expected to sideline him.

Injuries and COVID-19 are impacting the offensive line of the Chicago Bears so much they may need to resort to planting discarded election campaign signs in front of quarterback Nick Foles just to give him some sort of protection.

Following the news of starting right tackle Bobby Massie going on injured reserve due to a knee injury and reserve tackle Jason Spriggs testing positive for COVID-19, while guard Germain Ifedi needs to quarantine as a “close contact,”the Bears might possibly be dealt yet another blow.

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, center Sam Mustipher was injured during Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. Although he finished the game, “it’s believed Mustipher will miss time,” writes Biggs.

Mustipher, starting his first NFL game after signing with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2019, was already filling in for starting center Cody Whitehair, who missed Sunday’s game due to a calf injury and may be out for this week’s game as well.

If Whitehair and Mustipher are unable to go against the Tennessee Titans, guard Alex Bars would likely be the team’s starting center. Bars was practicing snaps prior to last week’s game in case Mustipher went down.

With Massie and Spriggs already out and Ifedi, Whitehair, and now Mustipher all questionable, the Bears may need to get creative to shore up their biggest weakness on offense.

They already promoted rookie offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons from the practice squad to correspond with the Massie move and will likely activate their other rookie offensive lineman Arlington Hambright for the first time this season. If all else fails, those election signs will be available soon enough.

Bears place RT Bobby Massie on IR, promote OT Lachavious Simmons to active roster

It’s been a busy news day for the Chicago Bears in regards to their offensive line. And none of it is encouraging.

It’s been a busy news day for the Chicago Bears in regards to their offensive line. And none of it is encouraging.

The Bears have placed right guard Germain Ifedi and right tackle Jason Spriggs on the reserve/COVID-19 list. This after Spriggs tested positive for COVID, and Ifedi was ruled to be in close contact, according to Ian Rapoport.

Chicago also placed right tackle Bobby Massie on injured reserve after he suffered a knee injury that’s expected to keep him out at least a month. Massie will miss the next three games against the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers before he’s eligible to return on Dec. 6 against the Detroit Lions.

The Bears made several moves in response to both events, promoting seventh-round rookie offensive tackle Lachavious Simmons to the 53-man roster and signing Aaron Neary to the practice squad.

The Bears offensive line is going to look quite different when they face the Titans on Sunday, depending on Cody Whitehair’s availability. Whitehair is recovering from a calf injury that Matt Nagy didn’t expect to keep him out long-term.

Here’s what the offensive line could look like without Whitehair on Sunday.

LT Charles Leno Jr.
LG Alex Bars
C Sam Mustipher
RG Arlington Hambright
RT Rashaad Coward

The Bears are down three starting offensive linemen and three of Sunday’s presumed starters have one game or none of experience. Not exactly encouraging for Week 9 against the Titans.

WATCH: Bears rookies arrive at Halas Hall for training camp

Bears rookies have arrived at Halas Hall ahead of the start of training camp on Tuesday, and they’re ready to get started.

Chicago Bears rookies have arrived at Halas Hall for the first time ahead of the start of training camp on Tuesday. They got a tour of the facility, as well as completed their COVID-19 testing as mandated by the NFL. And, like everyone, they’re ready to hit the practice field.

Tight end Cole Kmet, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, receiver Darnell Mooney, cornerback Kindle Vildor, pass rusher Trevis Gipson and offensive lineman Arlington Hambright addressed Bears fans from Halas Hall via the team’s Twitter account.

Rookies were allowed to report to team facilities for training camp on Tuesday, which is when the Bears inked their entire rookie class to contracts. They underwent COVID-19 testing, which will continue for the first two weeks of training camp.

Considering players needed to have more than one negative test before being permitted to enter Halas Hall, it’s safe to assume that Kmet, Johnson, Mooney, Vildor, Gipson and Hambright all tested negative. The only member of the 2020 rookie class not in the video was seventh-round offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons.

Bears veterans will report to camp on Tuesday, where they will undergo COVID-19 testing and physicals one permitted inside the facility.

Here’s a look at the timeline for training camp, beginning Tuesday.

  • Day 1: Testing/virtual meetings
  • Days 2-3: Virtual meetings
  • Day 4: Testing/virtual meetings
  • Days 5-6: Physicals
  • Days 7-15: Strength and conditioning (with a day off)
  • Day 16: Practice starts
  • Day 21: First padded practice

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It’s official: Bears sign all seven of their 2020 draft picks

The Chicago Bears are wasting no time getting their rookies to work for the 2020 season, inking all seven draft picks to deals.

The Chicago Bears are wasting no time getting their rookies to work for the 2020 season. The team inked all seven of their 2020 draft selections to four-year deals on Tuesday, the day rookies are allowed to report to training camp (and for COVID-19 testing).

Here’s a look at Chicago’s 2020 draft class that signed four-year deals with the team:

  • Round 2 (43): TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
  • Round 2 (50): CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
  • Round 5 (155): OLB Trevis Gipson, Tulsa
  • Round 5 (163): CB Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern
  • Round 5 (173): WR Darnell Mooney, Tulane
  • Round 7 (226): OL Arlington Hambright, Colorado
  • Round 7 (227): OL Lachavious Simmons, Tennessee State

The Bears addressed two roster needs with second-round selections tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, both of whom are expected to contribute in their rookie seasons.

Kmet will occupy the starting “Y” tight end role, where the Bears can utilize his blocking and pass catching ability. Johnson will compete for the starting cornerback opposite Kyle Fuller, where he’ll have to compete with veterans Tre Roberson, Kevin Toliver and Artie Burns. But with his athleticism and ball skills, Johnson is the favorite to win the starting job.

General manager Ryan Pace has been known for his late-round gems, and he targeted three fifth-rounders in this year’s draft. He added some depth at pass rusher with Tulsa’s Trevis Gipson, a versatile cornerback and special teams contributor in Kindle Vildor and a speedy wideout in Tulane’s Darnell Mooney.

Pace used both of his seventh-round selections on developmental offensive linemen in Colorado’s Arlington Hambright and Tennessee State’s Lachavious Simmons.

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Bears 2020 training camp preview: Offensive line

The Bears return four of five starters on their offensive line heading into 2020. Let’s take a look at the unit heading into training camp.

The Chicago Bears will report to training camp on July 28 and one unit to keep an eye on is the offensive lineman. This offseason the Bears didn’t heavily invest into their offensive line that was ranked 29th in run blocking and 21st in pass protection.

The Bears also saw their long time offensive guard Kyle Long retire this offseason and looked into bottom tier free agents and late 2020 draft picks do fill some void and bring competition.

Let’s take a look at the offensive line heading into training camp.

Cody Whitehair

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

After switching from center to left guard before the start of the 2019 season, Whitehair saw himself playing center in the second half of the season. Entering his fifth year, Whitehair is confident that he’ll be playing center for the 2020 season, where he feels comfortable.

In 2018 Whitehair was very comfortable in playing center as he earned his only Pro Bowl selection so far through his career.

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Who will be the Chicago Bears’ rookie of the year in 2020?

Which Bears rookie is poised to help the team the most? Our Bears Wire staff shares their picks for Chicago’s rookie of the year.

The Chicago Bears are looking to rebound following a disappointing season, and they have some rookies that are poised to make an impact in 2020.

While the Bears were without a first-round pick for the second straight year, they did have a pair of second-round selections where they addressed two significant needs with tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

Chicago also snagged someone intriguing prospects in the fifth round in edge rusher Trevis Gipson, cornerback Kindle Vildor and receiver Darnell Mooney. The Bears also added a pair of offensive linemen in Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons in the seventh round.

But which Bears rookie is poised to help the team the most in his rookie season? Is it Kmet, who should bring in an instant burst to Chicago’s tight end room? Is is Johnson, who figures to be the favorite to land the vacant cornerback spot opposite Kyle Fuller? Or perhaps Mooney, who should bring speed to the Bears’ offense?

Our Bears Wire staff shares their picks for Chicago’s rookie of the year, and it’s nearly a clean sweep.

Alyssa: CB Jaylon Johnson

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears got an absolute steal in Johnson in the second round of the NFL Draft, who many had pegged as a first-round talent. He’s a versatile, athletic corner who has a great chance of locking down a starting spot in his rookie year. Johnson is the clear-cut favorite to win the starting job opposite Kyle Fuller, and he has the tools and opportunity to make an immediate impact in his rookie season. And if Chicago’s pass rush returns to its 2018 form, he’ll benefit significantly.

Johnson knows that there were six cornerbacks taken ahead of him in the draft, and that’s a chip that he’s carrying on his shoulders. He’s aiming to accomplish some significant milestones in his rookie season, including winning the starting job, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and winning a Super Bowl. Bears fans would love nothing better than for all of those to come to fruition.

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POLL: Who was Bears’ best draft pick in 2020 NFL Draft?

While we don’t know how the Bears’ 2020 draft picks will ultimately pan out, there is certainly potential there.

The Chicago Bears welcomed seven new members to their roster following the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite not having a first-round pick for the second straight season, Bears general manager Ryan Pace was able to find some solid contributors that could develop into starters down the line.

Chicago had a pair of second-round selections, where they added two first-round talents in Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet and Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Kmet was the best tight end prospect in the draft while Johnson was considered by some to be a top-three cornerback talent that dropped to the second round due to injury concerns.

With those second-round picks, the Bears appear to have found two new starters for the 2020 season — players that figure to have immediate impacts in their rookie years.

The fifth round also proved to be lucrative for Pace, where he traded for two additional fifth-round selections to lock up three potential gems in edge rusher Trevis Gipson, cornerback Kindle Vildor and receiver Darnell Mooney. The Bears added depth at pass rusher, where Gipson will get to learn under the best in Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn.

Vildor joins a crowded cornerbacks room, but he also brings some special teams prowess to the table. Chicago also added some speed to their offense with the addition of Mooney. The Bears also added depth on the offensive line with a pair of seventh-round selections in Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons.

While we don’t know how these seven selections will ultimately pan out, there is certainly potential there.

What do you think, Bears fans? Who was Pace’s best draft selection in the 2020 NFL Draft?

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Bears announce rookie, free agent jersey numbers

Chicago announced the jersey numbers for its rookies and free agent additions.

Wondering which number new Bears tight end Cole Kmet will wear on Sundays? The Chicago Bears have the answer for you. The Bears announced jersey numbers for their 2020 rookie draft class as well as their undrafted free agents on Saturday.

The Bears top two selections, Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, will wear numbers 85 and 33, respectively. 2019 sixth-round draft pick Duke Shelley, who wore 33 last season, will switch to number 20.

Edge rusher Trevis Gipson will don number 99, while their other cornerback Kindle Vildor will wear number 46. Their final fifth-round selection receiver Darnell Mooney has number 11. Finally, their pair of offensive linemen Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons will wear numbers 71 and 73, respectively.

The Bears also announced jersey numbers for their newest free agents signed this week. Receiver Trevor Davis will wear number 4, safety Tashaun Gipson has number 38, and defensive tackle John Jenkins will don number 90.

Chicago’s undrafted free agents also got their jersey numbers.

  • 2 Ahmad Wagner, receiver
  • 37o Artavis Pierce, running back
  • 44d Rashad Smith, linebacker
  • 46o Napoleon Maxwell, running back
  • 49d Keandre Jones, linebacker
  • 57 Ledarius Mack, linebacker
  • 60 Dieter Eiselen, guard
  • 63 Lee Autry, defensive tackle
  • 75 Trevon McSwain, defensive tackle
  • 76o Badara Traore, tackle
  • 97 LaCale London, linebacker

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Touchdown Wire gives Bears “B” grade for 2020 draft class

Despite not having a first-round pick for the second straight year, the Bears are garnering some solid grades for the 2020 draft class.

Despite not having a first-round pick for the second straight year — unless you count Khalil Mack — the Chicago Bears are garnering some solid grades for the 2020 draft class.

The Bears welcomed seven new members to their roster, including second-round selections tight end Cole Kmet and potential steal-of-the-draft in cornerback Jaylon Johnson. They also added depth with fifth-rounders edge rusher Trevis Gipson, cornerback Kindle Vildor and receiver Darnell Mooney and seventh-round offensive linemen Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons.

While there are some that aren’t pleased with the Bears’ selections, initial reactions to Chicago’s draft class has been positive. Touchdown Wire certainly feels so, as they’ve given the Bears a “B” grade for their 2020 draft haul.

The Bears didn’t have a first-round pick in 2020 as a result of the Khalil Mack trade, but they were able to get an absolute first-round defender in this draft. Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson had minor injury concerns, but he’s one of the smartest, most-targeted, and mistake-proof players at his position in this class, and he should be able to take the field and start right away. Johnson slipped enough from his first-round talent that Chicago were able to take Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet, also in the second round. Kmet isn’t the most dynamic tight end in this draft class, especially on intermediate and deep throws, but he’s a good all-round player.

The guy Bears fans might want to get excited about in this class is fifth-round pass-rusher Trevis Gipson out of Tulsa. At 6-foot-3 and 261 pounds, Gipson isn’t developed in his technique, but his raw physical tools explode off the tape.

While giving out grades are premature — we’re certainly guilty — it’s always interesting to see how these draft classes and players ultimately pan out several years down the line. There can be high-ranked draft classes that turn out to be complete and utter failures or low-ranked draft classes that can thrive.

There’s a lot of potential for the Bears’ 2020 draft class — including some potential steals and late-round gems — and it’ll be exciting to see how these newest Bears pan out.

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