Tag: Trey Burton

Bears’ Jesper Horsted shows promise, but not ‘a full-on tight end yet’

Jesper Horsted has only been playing tight end for just six months, but the Bears are giving him a shot as they’re thin at the position.

With the Chicago Bears thin at the tight end position, they’re taking every opportunity to evaluate preseason stud Jesper Horsted to see if he’s got a future on this team.

Horsted, who’s only played tight end for six months, insists that it’s going to take him time to truly learn the position. But he did prove to be the Bears’ most promising prospect coming out of preseason.

‘‘Even though I’m a fast study, it’s going to take time — more than a few months,’’ Horsted said Wednesday, via the Sun-Times. ‘‘I’m going in the right direction, but by no means am I a full-on tight end yet.’’

Trey Burton, the Bears’ primary “U” or pass-catching tight end, is on injured reserve with a calf/groin injury, and the Bears are exploring their options with Horsted at the “U” position. Aside from Ben Braunecker, who played 50 offensive snaps against the Rams, Horsted is the only healthy option at the “U” position.

Horsted, an undrafted rookie out of Princeton, impressed during the preseason, where he had the Bears’ only two touchdown receptions. But it was his ability to make contested catches that certainly drew heads.

Horsted said that Burton and Brauncker, among others, have helped him learn the position.

‘‘They’re extremely good at it — like, so much better than I expected coming into the NFL,’’ Horsted said. ‘‘They’ve been so helpful. Not only when I go to them to ask them a question, but they will be on my case on the sideline: ‘So what do you have on this play? When are we killing this play?’ Maybe to a point where I’m like: ‘All right, leave me alone. I’m trying to watch.’ ’’

While Horsted isn’t expected to play a full-time role, as Braunecker will fill that spot, he serves to get some reps on offense and special teams.

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Bears promote TE Jesper Horsted to active roster

With the Bears thin at the tight end position, they promoted preseason stud Jesper Horsted to the active roster.

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After waiving linebacker James Vaughters on Monday, the Chicago Bears have promoted tight end Jesper Horsted to the active roster on Tuesday.

Sitting at 4-6 with any shot at the playoffs essentially over, it’s time for the Bears to start looking at their young roster to see what they have moving forward in 2020.

So with the Bears thin at the tight end position, activating Horsted is a move that makes plenty of sense in more ways than one.

 

Trey Burton was placed on injured reserve last week while Adam Shaheen has been a healthy scratch against the Lions and missed the Rams game with a foot injury, which you have to figure is indicative of his performance this season.

The Bears have gotten no production from their tight ends this season. Though you could argue that in two games Ben Braunecker was more effective than Burton and Shaheen.

Horsted, one of the Bears’ undrafted rookie free agents, will get a chance to show what he can bring to the table this week against the New York Giants. During the preseason, Horsted had eight receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns, which was enough to draw the eyes of other teams.

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Horsted had opportunities to go elsewhere, but the Bears offered him “a substantial pay raise to remain on the practice squad — $15,000 per week, nearly double the minimum of $8,000 per week.”

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Bears place TE Trey Burton on injured reserve, promote LB James Vaughters

The Bears have placed tight end Trey Burton on injured reserve after a season-long struggle with injury.

After a season-long struggle with injuries, tight end Trey Burton has been placed on injured reserve by the Bears.

Burton’s struggles have been well-documented this season, as he’s dealt with a lingering groin injury since the start of the season and his production dipped significantly.

Burton, who was one of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s top targets in 2018, caught 54 passes for 569 yards and six touchdowns last season. He finishes this year with 14 catches for 84 yards.

Last week against the Lions, Burton exited the game with a calf injury. He was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Rams prior to being placed on IR.

Chicago is thin at tight end, as Adam Shaheen has also been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Rams. Ben Braunecker and Bradley Sowell are the Bears’ lone tight ends on the active roster.

The Bears promoted linebacker James Vaughters from the practice squad in his place, as linebacker Isaiah Irving will miss his third straight game with a quad injury. Vaughters will see his third straight action for Chicago.

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David Montgomery questionable, Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen ruled out vs. Rams

The Bears released their final injury report ahead of Sunday’s game against the Rams, and four players have already been ruled out.

The Chicago Bears released their final injury report ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles, and the Bears will be without several players.

Tight ends Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen along with linebackers Danny Trevathan and Isaiah Irving have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Rams.

Running back David Montgomery, who lightly rolled his ankle in practice Wednesday, was limited Friday and is officially questionable for Sunday.

The Bears will be without two of their tight ends in Burton and Shaheen, which means that Ben Braunecker will be the featured tight end against Los Angeles.

Braunecker scored his first career touchdown last week against the Detroit Lions, and he already figured to see more playing time.

Offensive lineman turned tight end Bradley Sowell figures to get some time at tight end, as well. It was just last season against the Rams where Sowell scored Chicago’s lone touchdown in a 15-6 victory at Soldier Field.

Matt Nagy was so impressed that they decided to convert him to a tight end. Maybe this is the week that the Sowell legend continues.

If Montgomery can’t go, Ryan Nall figures to get reps along with Tarik Cohen and Cordarrelle Patterson.

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Bears injury report: David Montgomery misses Thursday’s practice with ankle injury

The Bears released their Thursday injury report ahead of a matchup against the Rams, and RB David Montgomery’s ankle injury is a concern.

As the Chicago Bears prepare for a pivotal NFC showdown against the Los Angeles Rams, there’s some concern about whether their starting running back will be ready for primetime.

Rookie David Montgomery popped up on the injury report Wednesday, where he was limited with an ankle injury. The fact that Montgomery missed Thursday’s practice is definitely concerning heading into a game where the offense really needs to establish the run game.

Coach Matt Nagy said Montgomery rolled his ankle during Wednesday’s practice.

Four other Bears players missed Thursday’s practice, including tight end Trey Burton (calf), linebacker Isaiah Irving (quad), linebacker Danny Trevathan (elbow) and newcomer to the injury report tight end Adam Shaheen (foot).

With Burton and Shaheen on the injury report, the Bears are thin at tight end, where Ben Braunecker and J.P. Holtz are currently the only healthy tight ends on the roster. Braunecker had success last week against the Detroit Lions, where he caught his first-career touchdown — a touchdown that jumpstarted three straight scoring drives.

Irving hasn’t practiced since before a Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, as he’s dealt with a quad injury sustained in that same game. His status will likely prompt linebacker James Vaughter’s promotion from the practice squad sometime this week.

There hasn’t been an update on Trevathan’s gruesome injury, and it’s no surprise that he didn’t participate in practice Thursday. Nick Kwiatkoski stepped in for Trevathan against the Lions, and the Bears will be looking for continued production from him.

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Bears injury report: Trey Burton DNP, David Montgomery limited Wednesday

The Bears released their first injury report of Week 11, where RB David Montgomery was a surprising name that popped up on the report.

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The Chicago Bears (4-5) are preparing for a Week 11 primetime matchup against the Los Angeles Rams (5-4), and they’re starting the week off more banged up than usual.

After suffering a calf injury against the Detroit Lions last Sunday, tight end Trey Burton did not practice Wednesday. The Bears are thin at the tight end position, with Burton’s injury and Adam Shaheen’s benching.

Ben Braunecker scored a touchdown against the Lions last week, and he figures to get more looks heading into Sunday’s game against the Rams.

But the surprise name that popped up on Wednesday’s injury report is rookie running back David Montgomery, who was limited with an ankle injury.

After suffering a gruesome elbow injury in the first quarter against Detroit, Danny Trevathan did not practice Wednesday. Matt Nagy hasn’t given an official update on Trevathan, but Nagy didn’t seem optimistic and said it’s possible he’ll join defensive tackle Akiem Hicks on injured reserve.

Linebacker Isaiah Irving continues to nurse a quad injury that has held him out for the past two games. Practice squad linebacker James Vaughters has seen action against the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions as a result.

If Irving can’t go again Sunday, expect Vaughters to be elevated to the active roster.

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Was benching TE Adam Shaheen was the right move for Bears?

The Bears benched TE Adam Shaheen for Sunday’s game against the Lions, and it appears that he’s in Chicago’s doghouse.

Prior to the start of Sunday’s Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears made some moves on the offensive side of the ball.

Not only did they decide to switch Cody Whitehair back to center and James Daniels back to left guard, but they opted to make a change at tight end by benching tight end Adam Shaheen, who was inactive as a healthy scratch.

“We want all of our players to be able to be completely detailed and play hard and do everything they can to be the best player they can be,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said Monday.

While Shaheen was a healthy scratch in Week 10, don’t expect an immediate return to the lineup Sunday against the Rams.

“We’re still working through all of that,” Nagy said.

Reserve tight end Ben Braunecker seemed to have more success in one game than Shaheen and Trey Burton have had all season. Braunecker caught his first career touchdown pass — an 18-yard reception from Mitchell Trubisky in the waning minutes of the first half to give the Bears a 7-6 lead. It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Expect to see more of Braunecker moving forward as he’s a better receiver than Shaheen and a better blocker than Burton. The Bears have also utilized tight end J.P. Holtz in their offense, especially as a fullback.

Much has been made about the performance of Bears tight ends this season, and rightfully so. They haven’t been productive in this unit, but then again, who has? Chicago’s offense has struggled mightily in its first eight games, and they seemed to get a glimpse of a spark at the end of the first half leading into the third quarter.

Shaheen, a former second-round draft pick, has been ineffective and costly at times. His special teams fumble on the final play of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles ended any hope of a last-second miracle comeback by the Bears offense.

But even when Shaheen is on offense, he hasn’t done a whole lot. He has just nine receptions for 74 yards this season.

Matt Nagy seemed to send a message to his team by benching Shaheen and switching a struggling Daniels back to left guard: Do your job or we’ll find someone that will.

Shaheen’s benching and the switch on the offensive line likely won’t be the last changes we see on this Bears offense moving forward in the final seven games of the season if the struggles continue.

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