Tag: Demarcus Walker

Chicago Bears Stock Exchange: Who’s up, who’s down entering Week 6?

The Bears are coming off their first win of the year thanks to many players who are seeing their stock begin to rise.

For the first time in nearly a year, the Chicago Bears began a week of practice, coming off a regular-season win after they dismantled the Washington Commanders 40-20 on Thursday Night Football. The Bears were in control for most of the game as they got off to a fast start thanks to quarterback Justin Fields and wide receiver DJ Moore and never looked back. The score at halftime was 27-3, and though a late surge from the Commanders made things a bit more interesting late in the game, they were never a true threat to mount a comeback.

This was a team victory thanks to many different contributors on both sides of the ball, which means plenty of Bears players are seeing their stock rise as they get ready for a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Here is the latest look at the Chicago Bears Stock Exchange heading into Week 6.

Studs and duds from Bears’ impressive win vs. Commanders in Week 5

The Bears snapped their 14-game losing streak with an impressive win over the Commanders. Here are the (mostly) studs and duds from Week 5.

The Chicago Bears dominated the Washington Commanders in a 40-20 prime-time victory, snapping a franchise-worst 14-game losing streak.

It was Chicago’s first win in 347 days. It also came on the same day where Bears legend Dick Butkus passed away at age 80.

Chicago dominated in the first half, jumping out to a 27-3 lead. While the second half didn’t start well, the Bears were able to preserve the win in the fourth quarter thanks to the duo of Justin Fields and DJ Moore, as well as an inspired effort on an injury-depleted defense.

We’re taking a look at the studs and duds from the Bears’ Week 5 win over the Commanders.

5 keys to a Bears victory vs. the Chiefs in Week 3

The Bears need a lot to go right to get the win in Kansas City. We go over the 5 keys to a Bears victory.

Now that all of the drama and controversy from an eventful Wednesday have subsided a bit, Chicago Bears fans can look forward to a late afternoon Sunday game against the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Yay.

While the odds of the Bears winning are slim — and I mean, very slim — it’s not an impossible undertaking like it has been in years past. The Chiefs dropped their opening game of the season to the suddenly ferocious Lions, and Kansas City only scored 17 points against a solid-but-not-great Jaguars defense. The Chiefs may present a gigantic challenge, but it’s not an obstacle the Bears can’t overcome.

For the Bears to shock the NFL world, several things will need to happen. Let’s break down the five keys to a Bears win vs. the Chiefs in Week 3.

DeMarcus Walker excited to see this Bears defense when healthy 

DeMarcus Walker is eager to see this Bears defense when everyone is back healthy: “Man, I just want to see all the gangsters together.”

The Chicago Bears defense has been bringing the energy and physicality this summer, and that continued into joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Bears defense set the tone for those practices, where the Colts had to match them. It’s part of the HITS principle that has become the identity of this team under head coach Matt Eberflus.

While the defense dominated Thursday’s practice, it wasn’t even the entire starting defense. Several starters remain sidelined with injuries — that Eberflus noted aren’t serious — with linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safeties Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker.

Defensive end DeMarcus Walker, who recently returned from his stint on the injured list, is eager to see this Bears defense in its entirety when everyone is back healthy and ready to set the tone for the season.

“Man, I just want to see all the gangsters together,” Walker said, via The Athletic. “You know what I’m saying. I want to see all the gangsters together. With everybody healthy and everybody of one mind. One team. One defense. I can’t even tell you …”

While those injured starters are staying involved and meetings in such, it’s difficult to get the communication down, especially with MIKE linebacker Edmunds still sidelined.

“You’re missing your MIKE linebacker and that’s part of football,” Eberflus said. “We need to get the communication here with the guys that are running the defense.”

Eberflus has been forthcoming about the statuses of those injured players, nothing there’s no long-term concerns. So the expectation is the Bears will have their entire starting defense on the field come Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers. Just as Walker wished.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=103]

DeMarcus Walker among Bears players back at practice

DeMarcus Walker was among several Bears back in full pads as the Bears and Colts conduct their first joint practice.

The Chicago Bears have battled injuries over the last couple of weeks, but it seems like their luck is starting to turn around. With the Bears in Indianapolis for joint practices with the Colts, they saw several key players return to practice.

Defensive end DeMarcus Walker was spotted in full pads at the Bears’ joint practice with the Colts on Wednesday. This will be Walker’s first practice in the last few weeks as he’s dealt with an undisclosed injury.

Right guard Nate Davis, who has also missed most of training camp with an injury, was also spotted in full pads Wednesday. Davis was limited during Monday’s practice at Halas Hall. This would be his first padded practice of the summer.

Rookie cornerback Terell Smith, who’s missed the last week with an undisclosed injury, was also spotted back in pads at practice.

With about a month until the start of the regular season, it’s encouraging to see the Bears starting to get healthy.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=103]

How DE Yannick Ngakoue changes the Bears defense

The Bears are signing DE Yannick Ngakoue, filling a hole on the defensive line that completely changes Chicago’s defense.

It’s been speculated. Rumored. Anticipated. And Bears general manager Ryan Poles delivered.

The Bears are signing defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to a one-year, $10.5 million deal, and it was just the jolt of adrenaline that Bears fans were hoping for while they were watching the Hall of Fame game.

The Chicago faithful’s concerns for the team’s pass-rushing ability in the upcoming season instantly vanished, giving way to thoughts of how devastating a now enhanced defense will be with the addition of Ngakoue. That mental exercise is one worth undertaking, because the defensive end’s arrival to Chicago doesn’t just benefit the front four unit; it changes the way the rest of the defense will attack opposing offenses on Sundays.

Let’s address the obvious: Ngakoue will have a huge impact on the Bears’ ability to get to the quarterback. He made a name for himself disrupting the pocket and making life hell for signal callers. Ngakoue has recorded 65 sacks since joining the league in 2016, tied for seventh most in the NFL.

While chasing around quarterbacks will be Ngakoue’s calling card, he will contribute so much more to the team. Ngakoue will be to the defense what D.J. Moore is to the offense: a cataclysmic variable that both the opponent’s players and coaches will need to game plan for.

Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams must be salivating now that he has Ngakoue, because the amount of creative and complex plays he can call has just drastically increased. Stunts, bluffs, blitzes; all of these concepts and more suddenly have a much higher chance of working due to the threat of Ngakoue on the edge.

Offensive lines will overcompensate to eliminate him from the play, allowing the Bears defensive lineman to face less resistance as a result. If players like Trevis Gipson, DeMarcus Walker, and Dominique Robinson end up having a surprisingly productive year, Ngakoue will be the one they thank.

It’s important to note Ngakoue’s presence has an added effect when it comes to playbooks: while Alan Williams has more options with the edge rusher, the opposition’s playbook changes completely. Picture this: it’s week one, Bears vs. Packers, the bad guys receive the kickoff. First and 10 at the 25-yard line. Jordan Love takes the under-center snap, pivots for the handoff, ball fake, hits his backfoot, looks down the field… and all he sees is a face full of Yannick Ngakoue. Love is sacked, derailing the drive, allowing the Bears to get the ball back.

What’s the plan then for Green Bay offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich? Does he continue to draw up long passing plays for Love, risking another Ngakoue sighting in the backfield? No, the plan changes. The Packers offense would now consist of quick passes, shotgun runs, RPO’s, etc. This in turn makes their offense become one dimensional, giving Bears defenders a shot at reading the play and creating a turnover. That is what’s called the Yannick Ngakoue effect.

The phenomenon isn’t just a fantasy, either – the Bears practiced this philosophy when Khalil Mack was pile-driving offensive lineman in year’s past. Mack completely shut down facets of opposing offenses, as did other great pass-rushers like Joey Bosa, T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons. Is Ngakoue on the same level of those premier edges? Not in terms of talent, but he definitely can conjure that same effect on his opponents.

The Bears filled what may be the biggest hole on the team with the signing of Ngakoue and the effect will quickly be evident come the regular season. While the signing likely won’t move the needle when it comes to wins, it will in the very least allow for the 2023 Bears to reach their full potential.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=103]

Bears training camp: DeMarcus Walker, Jack Sanborn exit practice with apparent injuries

DeMarcus Walker and Jack Sanborn left Tuesday’s practice early with apparent injuries, while other Bears players were also sidelined.

The Chicago Bears conducted their first padded practice of training camp on Tuesday, where the energy and intensity was evident from those in attendance.

While the Bears have been relatively healthy since camp started last week, there were apparent injuries to a couple of notable starters: defensive end DeMarcus Walker and linebacker Jack Sanborn.

Chicago was also without right guard Nate Davis, rookie running back Roschon Johnson and fullback Khari Blasingame, who sat out of Tuesday’s practice. Tight end Chase Allen also remained sidelined.

Eberflus explained they won’t share information about the status of injured players. But he did say those missing players are dealing with things and working with the medical staff to get back on the practice field. Eberflus noted he’ll provide an update if there’s a “long term” concern with thsoe injuries.

Eberflus declined to speak on the injuries that Davis and Johnson are dealing with.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=103]

7 Bears who stood out on Day 5 of training camp

With the fifth practice of Bears training camp in the books, here are the players who stood out on Monday.

After a brief rest on Sunday, the Chicago Bears returned to the practice field for the second week of training camp.

While the pads aren’t on yet for the players — that’s coming tomorrow, according to center Cody Whitehair — several Bears stood out today, both on offense and defense. Even as the defense noticeably won the day for the first time this summer.

Let’s take a look at the seven Bears players who impressed on the fifth day of training camp.

Where Bears’ Trevis Gipson, DeMarcus Walker rank among edge rushers in Madden 24

See the ratings that Bears edge rushers DeMarcus Walker, Trevis Gipson and others notched in Madden 24.

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8169″]

The Chicago Bears’ biggest weakness heading into the 2023 season is at edge rusher, a position headlined by Trevis Gipson and free-agent addition DeMarcus Walker.

EA Sports has started releasing Madden 24 ratings, continuing with edge rushers. Considering it’s the Bears’ biggest weakness, no one believed there were Chicago players who would contend with some of the best in the league.

Gipson had the highest rating of all Chicago defensive ends with a 73, which was tied for 59th in the NFL. Following a breakout year, Gipson fell short of those expectations as part of the NFL’s worst pass rush. While he recorded two sacks against the Packers in Week 2, his next sack wouldn’t come until Week 17 against the Lions. Gipson’s season stat line was underwhelming: 31 total tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and three pass breakups. So

Walker was close behind with a 72 rating, which was tied for 72nd in the league. He had a career year with the Titans in 2022, where he notched 7.0 sacks, 32 pressures and 16 QB hits. Walker also earned a 72.8 grade from Pro Football Focus. Last season with Tennessee, Walker had more sacks than Justin Jones, Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson combined. Also, his 16 QB hits were just four shy of Chicago’s team total of 20.

Elsewhere, Rasheem Green earned a 72 rating while second-year edge rusher Dominique Robinson notched a 71 rating.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=103]

Bears 2023 training camp preview: Edge rusher

Next up in our Bears training camp preview is edge rusher, which is arguably the weakest position group on the roster.

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a month away, so 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, breaking down every player by position and examining the group’s biggest question.

Up next are the edge rushers, a noted weakness of the Bears’ defense. After finishing last in the NFL with 20 sacks, Chicago signed veterans DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green.

The Bears will aim to be two-deep at each position. Unless something changes, rookies D’Anthony Jones and Jalen Harris are probably fighting for the last roster spot. The winner will likely be the better pass rusher.

Here’s a closer look at the Bears’ edge rushers heading into training camp: