Tag: Germain Ifedi

8 Bears players among PFF’s Top 200 pending free agents

The Bears have several pending free agents that rank among PFF’s top 200 this offseason.

We’re just a few weeks away from the start of the NFL’s free agency, where there are no shortage of big-name players set to hit the open market.

The Chicago Bears have a few that figure to be attractive options for teams across the league, including wide receiver Allen Robinson, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and offensive lineman James Daniels.

Pro Football Focus unveiled their list of the Top 200 pending free agents, and the Bears were well-represented with eight players making the list.

Here’s a look at the Bears’ pending free agents that made PFF’s list of Top 200 players slated to hit free agency:

Bears 2022 offseason preview: Where does Chicago stand at OL?

We’re breaking down each position entering the 2022 offseason. Next is the offensive line, which needs plenty of work.

The Chicago Bears have a clean slate after hiring new general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, who will be looking to get this franchise back on track in 2022.

With the offseason in full swing, Poles has plenty of work to do with the current roster, which features some glaring holes at positions of need. Poles will have to decide who to re-sign, who to let walk and who to target outside of the current roster heading into free agency and the NFL draft.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2022 offseason. Next up is the offensive line, which needs plenty of work.

8 pending free agents the Bears should let walk in 2022

Ahead of free agency, we’re looking at some in-house free agents the Bears should let walk in 2022.

The offseason is in full swing, and we’re just over a month away from the start of the new league year and free agency. And the Bears have some important decisions to make when it comes to in-house free agents.

The Bears are slated to have nearly $30 million in salary cap space, but there are plenty of holes to fill on the roster for new general manager Ryan Poles. Perhaps some of those roster spots will be filled by some of Chicago’s in-house free agents. But there are just some veterans who won’t or shouldn’t be brought back.

Ahead of free agency, we’re looking at some in-house free agents the Bears should let walk in 2022.

Bears GM Ryan Poles doesn’t like what he saw from O-line last season

As a former offensive lineman, Ryan Poles knows what he’s looking for in his offensive linemen. Which includes running to the QB’s aid.

One of the benefits of having a former offensive lineman in Ryan Poles as Bears general manager is knowing he’s going to address the weaknesses that have plagued the offensive line.

Poles confirmed as much during his introductory press conference, when he said the offensive line will be a focal point for him. Which is great news for quarterback Justin Fields. After all, Fields was one of the most-sacked quarterbacks in the NFL last season.

As a former offensive lineman, Poles has a good idea of what he’s looking for in offensive linemen, which includes running to the quarterback’s aid after he’s been laid out. Something that didn’t happen often enough last season.

“It agitates me to see a quarterback get hit and be on the ground — and I watch the five guys and their body language,” Poles said, via The Athletic.

“If I see my guy on the ground, I’m running over there, getting him up, making sure he’s clean, ready to go. I don’t know if I saw that enough in the tape that I watched, and that’s critical. And also to protect your guy. If you see something cheap, something dirty, you need to set the tone that that’s not gonna happen, because if you do let it happen once, it’s going to happen over and over and next thing you know, your quarterback is hurt. So that (nastiness) mentality is critical and is something we need to add.”

That’s good news for Teven Jenkins, who played in five games with two starts during an injury-shortened rookie season.

As many Bears fans will recall, Jenkins was the only offensive lineman that stuck his neck out for Fields, when he took a brutal hit out of bounds. Jenkins got in an opposing lineman’s face and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after reacting to the lineman throwing a punch.

Teammate Germain Ifedi then proceeded to shove Jenkins and chastise him for simply defending his quarterback. Granted, there’s a time and place for it, which even Fields acknowledged. But Fields also said it was nice to see Jenkins stick up for him.

Well, at least Poles seems to be on Jenkins’ side.

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Bear Necessities: Why is Germain Ifedi getting the start over Larry Borom at right tackle?

Bears HC Matt Nagy told reporters, with a straight face, that Germain Ifedi is the starting right tackle instead of Larry Borom.

This is our online morning newsletter, Bear Necessities. Subscribe to get the latest Bears news delivered to your mailbox every day.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 4-10, recently eliminated from playoff contention and with nothing essentially to play for except pride. And the future.

It’s a future that head coach Matt Nagy won’t be a part of as the expectation is that he’s going to be fired at season’s end. Which gives Nagy no reason to care about the future of this team, as evidenced by his decision to roll with veteran Germain Ifedi, who won’t be on the Bears next season, instead of rookie Larry Borom, who looks like the future, at right tackle.

Borom, who missed the first few weeks with a high ankle sprain, was inserted into the starting lineup at right tackle with Ifedi sidelined with a knee injury. Borom stepped right into the role and impressed against some of the NFL’s best pass rushers, including T.J. Watt and Nick Bosa.

When Borom landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week, Ifedi returned to the starting lineup in his place, which was expected. But now that Borom is back and ready to go, Nagy told reporters — with a straight face — that Ifedi is the starting right tackle heading into this Seattle Seahawks game.

The decision to go back to Ifedi when Borom has been impressing in his rookie season is another knock against Nagy, and it’s a big reason why Nagy should be fired in-season — even if the Bears have never done it before.

Bears’ Germain Ifedi doubles down on reaction to Teven Jenkins’ personal foul

Germain Ifedi’s message to Teven Jenkins about his personal foul defending Justin Fields: ‘It hurts you and it hurts the team.’

There were several plays during the Bears’ 17-9 loss to the Vikings last Monday night that garnered plenty of attention throughout and after the game, including some questionable penalties.

One of those that got a lot of attention was rookie offensive tackle Teven Jenkins’ personal foul in the second half. Jenkins was defending his quarterback Justin Fields, who took a shot out of bounds on a play, and Jenkins got in the defensive line’s face to let him know that it wasn’t going to fly. A Vikings defender threw a punch his way, and when Jenkins retaliated with a swing of his own, he was called for the personal foul, which cost the Bears 15 yards.

Immediately after, veteran offensive tackle Germain Ifedi shoved Jenkins and was chastising him for responding the way he did. When Jenkins met with the media Thursday, he doubled down on his reaction to Jenkins.

“It hurts you and it hurts the team,” Ifedi told reporters. “We just can’t have that in any situation because 15 yards, you can’t get that back. …He’s a good kid. We’re a close-knit group so we can hold each other accountable.”

After the game, Fields said he appreciated Jenkins coming to his defense. But he also instructed his fellow rookie to make sure he keeps it between the whistles so as to not cost his team.

While Ifedi wasn’t a fan of Jenkins’ response, the same couldn’t be said for most Bears fans, who praised Jenkins for sticking up for Fields, who has taken a beating this season, when no other offensive lineman has.

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Bears OT Germain Ifedi, CB Duke Shelley will start 3-week window for return from IR

The Bears opened the 3-week window for OT Germain Ifedi and CB Duke Shelley to return from injured reserve on Thursday.

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Just as the Chicago Bears are dealing with injuries and another COVID-19 outbreak, there is some encouraging news as two key players are close to their return to the lineup.

Bears head coach Matt Nagy said the team opened the three-week window for offensive tackle Germain Ifedi and cornerback Duke Shelley to return from injured reserve on Thursday.

Which couldn’t have come at a better time considering Chicago is down two starting offensive tackles in Jason Peters (ankle) and Larry Borom (reserve/COVID) and cornerback remains a weakness on defense.

The Bears have struggled at the cornerback position this season, with the exception of Jaylon Johnson. With that said, Shelley has been one of the more reliable options in the slot this season as opposed to an Xavier Crawford.

While Borom looks to have solidified himself as the starting right tackle, Ifedi’s potential return is a big one, considering Chicago is missing its top offensive tackles.

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Seahawks: 8 bad draft picks that have contributed to their 2021 collapse

In order to turn this ship around, Seattle’s decision-makers have to identify how they got here in the first place.

The Seahawks head into Week 14 of the 2021 season in unfamiliar territory. At 4-8, their chances of making the playoffs are miniscule. Team owner Jody Allen is reportedly “not happy” with the team’s results, bringing on questions about potential major changes this coming offseason. In order to turn this ship around, Seattle’s decision-makers have to identify how they got here in the first place.

A lot of factors went into this seemingly-sudden decline, including significant injuries to key pieces like Russell Wilson and Chris Carson. More than anything else it’s declining returns in the NFL draft that have harmed this franchise, though. The 2015 class netted the team two legitimate stars in Frank Clark and Tyler Lockett. However, since then there’s been a dramatic dropoff. Let’s focus on eight poor picks this team has made in the last several drafts that contributed to this collapse.

Matt Nagy shares Bears injury updates on David Montgomery, Khalil Mack and others

Here are the latest Bears injury updates, which includes running back David Montgomery and outside linebacker Khalil Mack.

The Chicago Bears returned to practice Thursday in preparation for Monday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which Chicago will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak.

Bears head coach Matt Nagy was back at Halas Hall after clearing COVID-19 protocols, and he opened his Thursday press conference with some injury updates.

Here are the latest injury updates from Nagy’s Thursday press conference, which includes running back David Montgomery and outside linebacker Khalil Mack.

Latest Bears injury updates on David Montgomery, Khalil Mack and more

Here’s the latest about injuries to several Bears players heading into a Week 9 Monday Night showdown against the Steelers.

The Chicago Bears are coming off their third straight loss with a 33-22 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, where the offense showed signs of progress and the defense continued to regress.

As the Bears prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9, there are several injury situations worth monitoring this week, including outside linebacker Khalil Mack, running back David Montgomery and safety Eddie Jackson.

Here’s the latest about injuries to several Bears players heading into a Week 9 Monday Night showdown against the Steelers.