Tag: Bilal Nichols

WATCH: Bears defense sets the tone vs. Panthers on first series with sack, INT

The Chicago Bears defense made a statement on the opening series of the game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Chicago Bears defense made a statement on the opening series of the game against the Carolina Panthers.

Following a special teams penalty, the Panthers offense started on their own 10-yard line, and the Bears defense brought the pressure on Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Bears defensive tackle Bilal Nichols sacked Bridgewater on the 1-yard line — nearly getting a safety. But it was a good thing Nichols kept Bridgewater out of his own end zone.

On the next play — third-and-19 — Bridgewater was intercepted by safety Tashaun Gipson, who made his second pick of the season. Rookie cornerback Jaylon Johnson tipped Bridgewater’s pass, and Gipson made the play.

The turnover set up the Bears on Carolina’s 7-yard line, where Chicago’s offense converted on third-and-goal — a Nick Foles to Cole Kmet touchdown, the rookie tight end’s first career touchdown.

The Bears lead 7-0 in the first quarter.

Bears DT John Jenkins suffers ligament tear in thumb, Daniel McCullers signed to replace him

John Jenkins suffered a ligament tear in his thumb and the Bears signed NT Daniel McCullers to replace him.

It appears that the Chicago Bears didn’t escape without any significant injury after all following Sunday’s bloodbath of injuries in Week 2.

Defensive tackle John Jenkins suffered a ligament tear in his thumb against the New York Giants, which he was able to play through. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Jenkins is expected to miss several games and could be placed on injured reserve.

The Bears didn’t take long to find Jenkins’ replacement as they’ve signed defensive tackle Daniel McCullers off the Steelers practice squad, according to Draft Diamonds.

Jenkins was splitting reps with Bilal Nichols at nose tackle for the Bears against the Giants, and now McCullers figures to serve a similar role.

McCullers is a mammoth of a football player standing at 6’7” and 348 pounds. He’s appeared in 73 games, including three starts for the Steelers, where he’s totaled 41 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 9 QB hits and 2.5 sacks.

3 keys for Bears defense vs. Lions offense

The Bears defense has found success against the Lions in the past, and they’ll be looking to slow down Detroit’s passing attack.

The Chicago Bears will be looking to win their first season-opening game in seven years when they face off against their NFC North rivals the Detroit Lions.

While there’s some apprehension about the Bears’ offense, that hasn’t been the case for the defense. They’ll be returning some key pieces in Year 2 of Chuck Pagano’s system, as well as adding some new talent in pass rusher Robert Quinn, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Tashaun Gipson.

The Bears will be without Quinn on Sunday, as he’s missed practice all week and has been listed as doubtful, but there’s still plenty of talent on this Chicago defense to take care of business against Detroit.

Here are three keys for the Bears defense when they open the season against the Lions.

1. Bring the pressure on Matthew Stafford

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

While the Lions have been bad as of late, they’re going to get a boost with the return of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was playing at an MVP level before injuring his back and missing most of last season. The Bears defense has had their way with Stafford in the past, but they’re going to need to bring the pressure and make it as uncomfortable back there as possible.

They should take advantage of a battered Lions offensive line that will be vulnerable on the right side. Detroit will be without veteran right tackle Vaitai Halapoulivaati, and they’ll be starting rookie Jonah Jackson at right guard, who will be challenged immediately going against Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols.

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4 takeaways from second episode of Bears’ training camp series

In the second episode of ‘1920 Football Drive,’ we went inside the QB and DL meeting rooms and got a peek at the Bears’ first scrimmage.

For years, the Chicago Bears have kept things under wraps when it comes to training camp practices. Whether it’s limitations with the media live-tweeting during practice or prohibiting fans from recording plays to share with other fans, it’s felt like Fort Knox at times.

The Bears are making a peace offering with their new behind-the-scenes series, 1920 Football Drive, which will give fans exclusive access to the things they’ve wanted a deeper look into in the past. Inside meeting rooms, exclusive access from practice and mic’d up coaches and players to bring it all together.

Here are four takeaways from the second episode of 1920 Football Drive.

1. Every rep counts in Bears’ QB competition

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Given the circumstances of this offseason, the Bears’ quarterback competition will be decided with training camp practices, which means that every rep is going to be judged in determining the starter between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles. In this second episode, we got a glimpse of quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo breaking down practice film with the quarterbacks, and it’s clear that they’re looking for the guy that can be the most consistent.

Unfortunately for the Bears, neither Trubisky or Foles has been consistent at this point in the competition. While Foles has had the best practice of a Chicago quarterback in camp, he hasn’t impressed outside of that. Trubisky has had his moments, including the best throw of camp to Jesper Horsted, but he hasn’t impressed either. But we haven’t seen or heard about every rep either in practice highlights or through media observation. The Bears have been watching every rep in determining who will be under center come Week 1 against the Detroit Lions.

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5 takeaways from Chicago Bears’ first padded practice

From the photos and videos to post-practice interviews, there was quite a bit to unpack from the Bears’ first padded practice on Monday.

Monday’s training camp practice for the Chicago Bears truly felt like football had finally returned. While the team had been practicing at Halas Hall over the last couple of weeks, this practice session was the first one in pads and the first time the local media was allowed inside.

From the photos and videos taken by reporters, to the post-practice interviews provided by head coach Matt Nagy and select players, there was quite a bit to unpack from Monday’s practice. Here are my five takeaways.

1. The Bears are finally figuring out how to utilize Cordarrelle Patterson

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, Pool

Ever since he came into the league seven years ago, All-Pro kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson has shown how dangerous he can be on special teams. But like other key specialists, he never truly found a home on an NFL offense despite being drafted as a wide receiver. Now in his second year as a Bear after signing as a free agent last offseason, he may finally have found one.

Patterson spent practice primarily with the running backs, taking handoffs and catching screens out of the backfield. It appears to be the best fit for the veteran, given his running style when he returns kickoffs and considering his success as a New England Patriot in 2018 when thrust into the backfield.

It also answers questions on why the Bears haven’t pursued another running back to compliment David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen. Montgomery still stands to be the bellcow and Cohen will continue to have a role coming out of the backfield in passing situations. But Patterson is set to have a role as well. Frankly, it’s where he’s best suited and I only wish the Bears made this decision last season to get him more touches.

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LOOK: Highlights from Bears’ first padded training camp practice

The Bears release some highlights from the first day of padded practice, which includes a look at some new faces and the QB competition.

The Chicago Bears suited up in pads for the first time this training camp, and it felt like Christmas morning for many Bears fans. Even with training camp closed to the public with COVID-19 concerns.

But with the media in attendance, there were real reports from practice that just made it feel like football is back.

The Bears release some highlights from the first day of padded practice, which includes a look at some new and returning faces, as well as both quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles throwing to skill players against Chicago’s defense.

Some of the highlights from the first day included receiver Cordarrelle Patterson working with the running backs, which certainly feels like a good fit for one of the NFL’s most explosive playmakers.

Speaking of playmakers, the Bears have a big one to replace on defense with the loss of nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who opted out of the 2020 season due to health and safety concerns with COVID-19. Which means the Bears have to do the very difficult job of finding his replacement. It’s looking like that could be third-year defensive tackle Bilal Nichols, who played nose tackle on Monday and reportedly wreaked havoc on Chicago’s offensive line alongside Akiem Hicks.

Cornerback Artie Burns surprised as he appeared with the first-team defense. While many had rookie Jaylon Johnson pegged as the presumptive starter, he was never going to be handed the job. But it was a shock to see Burns get the nod over Kevin Toliver, who worked with the second team. Although the shuffling at cornerback will surely continue through camp.

And, of course, the quarterback competition officially got underway with the start of padded practices as Trubisky and Foles split reps with the first team. The reports from practice weren’t encouraging, as Trubisky and Foles both had their share of struggles. But it’s only Day 1, after all. If this is still an issue on Day 12 of padded practices, then we can start to worry.

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DT Bilal Nichols played nose tackle in Bears’ first padded practice

DT Bilal Nichols took reps at nose tackle in the Bears’ first padded practice, and he and Akiem Hicks gave the offensive line some fits.

The Chicago Bears lost a vital member of their defense with nose tackle Eddie Goldman choosing to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.

While it’s certainly no easy task asking to replace someone like Goldman, that’s exactly what the Bears have to do. And there are a number of players that are willing to step up to the challenge.

Including third-year defensive tackle Bilal Nichols, who played nose tackle in place of Goldman in Chicago’s first padded practice of training camp. And according to The Athletic’s Adam Jahns, Nichols and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks gave the offensive line some fits in the run game.

The Bears have several players on their roster that could assume the nose tackle role in Goldman’s absence, including Nichols. Defensive line coach Jay Rodgers also said John Jenkins, Abdullah Anderson and Brent Urban will all get reps at nose tackle during training camp as they’re looking to find the guy to step in Goldman’s impressive shoes.

“We’d like to have options,” Rodgers told the media last week. “What you’d like to have is the best two, three, four guys out there on the field that you could possibly put out there with the ability to substitute when you need to and not have any drop-off. So we’re going to continue to train everybody at every position.”

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These 4 Bears veterans will see reps at nose tackle in training camp

Chicago will be without NT Eddie Goldman, who opted out of the 2020 season. And while the loss is brutal, the show must go on.

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This season is going to look unlike any other in recent history. But it’s not just the COVID-19 pandemic that has already made the NFL unrecognizable to a degree. For the Chicago Bears, they’ll have to hit the field without one of their best defensive lineman.

Chicago will be without nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who opted out of the 2020 season due to health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the loss is brutal, the show must go on.

The challenge with replacing Goldman is that you can’t replace someone like Goldman, which is why his loss is so significant. While the Bears certainly have some players that could very well take the next step, it’s hard to replace the kind of veteran experience that someone like Goldman has developed to help make him such an integral part of this defense.

“There are some guys on our team that do some things that Eddie does just as well; they just haven’t done it in that position for as long,” defensive line coach Jay Rodgers said, via ChicagoBears.com. “Eddie’s been the anchor point in the middle for five years now. Through experience, you learn. Eddie didn’t just arrive in his first year and have all that ability. He learned how to play the game. We’ve got some guys who are getting more experience in those positions and are learning to play the nose position at a high level.”

Still, the Bears need to find Goldman’s replacement this season, and it doesn’t sound like they’re going to look at free agency where nose tackle Damon Harrison still resides. Chicago feels comfortable with the guys they have, and they’re about to get a bigger workload. Rodgers said that veterans Bilal Nichols, John Jenkins, Abdullah Anderson and Brent Urban will all see some reps at nose tackle during training camp.

“We’d like to have options,” Rodgers said. “What you’d like to have is the best two, three, four guys out there on the field that you could possibly put out there with the ability to substitute when you need to and not have any drop-off. So we’re going to continue to train everybody at every position.”

Whoever lines up at nose tackle likely won’t have the same impact that Goldman would’ve. But there’s a reason why the Bears have one of the best defensive lines in the league — and it’s not because of just one player.

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What the loss of NT Eddie Goldman means for the Bears in 2020

The loss of Eddie Goldman is a huge one for this Bears defense. And it’s not going to be easy to make up for his absence.

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The Chicago Bears defense will be without one of its best players in 2020 with nose tackle Eddie Goldman opting out of the season due to health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Goldman falls into the high-risk category, as he has dealt with asthma in the past. Goldman, who signed a four-year extension with the Bears in 2018, will receive a $350,000 stipend as he does fall into the high-risk opt-out category.

Goldman opted out because of health concerns related to COVID-19. The 26-year-old defensive tackle has experienced issues with asthma in the past. Because Goldman falls into the high-risk category, he will receive a $350,000 stipend by opting out. Goldman signed a four-year extension with Chicago in 2018 that contained $25 million in guarantees.

ESPN examined the full list of NFL players that chose to opt out of the 2020 season and what that loss means for their respective teams. Obviously the loss of Goldman is a huge one for this Bears defense. And it’s not going to be easy to make up for his absence in the middle of that defensive front.

Goldman is one of Chicago’s best-run stoppers. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound nose tackle will be missed. A former second-round draft choice, Goldman never posted gaudy statistics, but the team considered him a valuable member of Chicago’s top-rated defense. The Bears must now find a new anchor in the middle of their defensive line. Veteran John Jenkins — recently removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list — is a strong contender to replace Goldman at nose tackle.

With Goldman opting out, the free-agent addition of defensive tackle John Jenkins looks better by the day. Jenkins, who is in his second stint with the Bears, has proven to be a solid defensive tackle. Chicago certainly needs him to step up, although there’s no replacing an Eddie Goldman.

The Bears are going to need more than Jenkins to step up this season. There are a slew of players on Chicago’s defensive line that were poised to make an impact this season, especially given the loss of Goldman. Defensive tackle Bilal Nichols and Roy Robertson-Harris are players that Chicago will be turning to take that next step. It certainly helps that defensive tackle Akiem Hicks is returning to the lineup following injury.

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The Bears are a top-five defense in new ranking by The Athletic

The Athletic recently ranked all 32 NFL defenses entering the 2020 NFL season and the Bears landed at No. 5.

While the Chicago Bears defense regressed last season, they were still a top-10 unit in the NFL. Which isn’t bad for a team that lost some significant pieces to injury in defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith.

The good news is that all three of those guys are returning in full health for 2020, and the Bears still have some of the best players at their position in the league in edge rusher Khalil Mack, safety Eddie Jackson and cornerback Kyle Fuller.

While they did lose cornerback Prince Amukamara and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix this offseason, they made some solid additions that should make this defense even better. That starts with pass rusher Robert Quinn, who is coming off a 11.5 sacks with the Dallas Cowboys. Quinn is a clear upgrade over Leonard Floyd, who struggled to sack the quarterback. The Bears also added second-round rookie cornerback Jaylon Johnson and veteran safety Tashaun Gipson in the secondary.

The Athletic recently ranked all 32 NFL defenses entering the 2020 NFL season and the Bears made top five at No. 5 behind the Baltimore Ravens (No. 1), Los Angeles Chargers (No. 2), Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 3) and New Orleans Saints (No. 4).

5. Chicago Bears
Last year: 8th

They have the potential to produce the best pass-rushing defensive line in the league. The combination of Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn on the edge will be as tough to block as any in the NFL. And Akiem Hicks (missed 11 games last season) is one of the league’s most disruptive interior linemen. On the back end, the Bears need second-round pick Jaylon Johnson (or someone else on the roster) to be a competent number two corner opposite Kyle Fuller. They have Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson, and Tashaun Gipson could prove to be an upgrade over Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. A couple things need to fall their way, but this group has a high ceiling.

The only bad news is that the Bears will be without nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who chose to opt out of the 2020 season due to health and safety concerns with COVID-19. Chicago’s defense won’t be the same without Goldman doing the dirty work in the trenches, but that just means they need some younger players to step up in his absence.

Defensive tackle Bilal Nichols and defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris will certainly have an opportunity to do just that, as well as defensive tackle John Jenkins, who will likely serve as Goldman’s replacement at nose tackle.

While the loss of Goldman is brutal, the Bears still have some great players on this defense that should help this unit remain one of the best in the league.

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