With the NFL commerce deadline behind them, the Chicago Bears returned to observe Wednesday to arrange for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Miami Dolphins at Soldier Field.
Along with welcoming vast receiver Chase Claypool, listed here are three different issues we discovered from coach Matt Eberflus and gamers.
1. Roquan Smith — and his former teammates — are attempting to maneuver ahead.
Smith advised reporters in Baltimore he didn’t anticipate to be traded, however the fifth-year linebacker appeared OK with becoming a member of a 5-3 Ravens staff that sits atop the AFC North.
“Initially I was shocked, but I’m excited to be here,” Smith stated. “A very good group of fellows, guys who’re contending for a title, and that’s what I’m within the recreation to play for.
“I’ve an excessive amount of respect for this group and the way in which they deal with issues. I’m excited and know they’re making an attempt to recover from the hump and win the massive recreation. I really feel like I’m one of many guys that may assist with that. “
Smith wasn’t the one one who was shocked.
Bears security Eddie Jackson stated he was in disbelief. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson stated his first response was “WTF?” Linebacker Nicholas Morrow, who had been Smith’s teammate for just a few months, known as him “the heart and soul of this locker room,” noting his means to drag gamers collectively — and the way quiet it was with out him.
General supervisor Ryan Poles and Eberflus met with the 13-player Bears management council to elucidate the strikes. Quarterback Justin Fields stated the assembly helped get everyone on the identical web page, and Jackson stated it was wanted.
“There are a lot of things that start floating around, especially in the locker room, like, ‘They don’t take care of their guys,’ or, ‘They don’t care about their guys,’ or whatever the case may be,” Jackson stated. “That was pretty cool for them to come and talk to us as men. We get the business part of this. We respect that. But we like to be respected as men and football players as well.”
Defensive sort out Justin Jones, who was named a captain to exchange Smith, stated the gamers are dedicated to enjoying arduous regardless of shedding certainly one of their greatest gamers.
“It hurt that we lost him, but at the end of the day, we all have a job to do,” Jones stated. “And loads of guys on this staff have households. And so while you say waving the white flag on the season, that’s virtually like saying waving the white flag in your households. You can’t try this, man.
“These guys are my family. I’m their family. And nobody is waving the white flag on anybody. We’re going to play just as hard as if they were with us.”
2. Matt Eberflus famous one potential purpose for the hole in perceived worth between Smith and the staff.
Eberflus stated the Bears wished Smith again subsequent 12 months and echoed Poles’ feedback that the staff and Smith merely couldn’t discover widespread floor on contract extension numbers.
When Eberflus was in Indianapolis, the Colts signed linebacker Shaquille Leonard to a five-year, $98 million extension. When pressed on why Smith wasn’t as useful to the Bears protection as Leonard was to the Colts, Eberflus pointed to particular stats.
“We always base things on numbers and production, and we covet ball production in that position,” Eberlus stated. “So that right there is a very important thing that the Will linebacker needs to do. Again, we loved Roquan. We made him an offer and they couldn’t find common ground.”
In his first three seasons earlier than signing the extension, Leonard had seven interceptions and 9 pressured fumbles. He added 4 interceptions and eight pressured fumbles final 12 months and has one choose this season for a complete of 12 interceptions and 17 pressured fumbles. Through 4½ seasons, Smith has seven interceptions and one pressured fumble.
The Bears have an enormous gap to fill at weak-side linebacker with out Smith, who had 83 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 2½ sacks, three passes defended and two interceptions this season.
Eberflus stated the Bears would use a rotation in observe to find out who will begin. Options embody veteran Joe Thomas, rookie Jack Sanborn and newcomer A.J. Klein, a 10-year veteran who joined the Bears within the Smith commerce.
“Obviously you have a player that has been leading the NFL in tackles, I’m not sure that you do replicate that,” Eberflus stated. “But you shift guys around and put guys in place and next man up. It’s going to be good for that linebacker room getting experience, getting some playing time.”
Morrow, who was on the Raiders staff that traded Khalil Mack to the Bears in 2018, stated of discovering a alternative: “It’s one of those things that naturally happens over the course of the year.”
3. Left guard Cody Whitehair entered his 21-day window to return from injured reserve, however there are a number of unknowns on the offensive line.
Whitehair suffered a knee harm Oct. 2 in opposition to the New York Giants, and veteran Michael Schofield began in his place the final two video games.
Eberflus stated “we’ll see” when requested if Whitehair might be able to play Sunday.
“He’s in a good spot mentally,” Eberflus stated. “He has been working his tail off with the guys in the rehab. His strength numbers are good. His jump numbers are good. His velocity and speed in his jumps are good. We think he is going to be good.”
The Bears produce other questions, although, as proper sort out Larry Borom — who sat out Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys with a concussion — missed observe Wednesday and proper guard Teven Jenkins was restricted with a again harm.
Jackson and cornerback Kyler Gordon had been restricted with hip accidents.
Wide receiver Byron Pringle, who performed in three video games this season earlier than struggling a calf harm, is within the second week of his 21-day window to return from IR.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com