The Chicago Bears determine to be with out quarterback Justin Fields this weekend — and maybe past — clearing the stage for undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent to make his first NFL begin in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders at Soldier Field.
The Bears held their common Wednesday afternoon observe in Lake Forest and have optimism they’ll discover a successful method for Sunday’s recreation. Here are three issues we discovered Wednesday at Halas Hall.
1. Bagent is keen to take the following large check in his soccer profession.
When the rookie quarterback was wanted for emergency obligation within the second half of final weekend’s 19-13 residence loss to the Minnesota Vikings, he urged his coaches to not simplify the offense or change their mentality primarily based on his inexperience.
“I simply informed them, ‘I know you guys have a lot of faith in me. But I want to let you know I know the whole call sheet so don’t be afraid to do your factor and name your performs. Don’t hinder the offense simply because I’m getting into there. Because I’ve ready for this all week.’
The response from coach Matt Eberflus, coordinator Luke Getsy and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko? “They were just like, ‘Yeah, we knew that,’ Bagent said. “They have full confidence in me. (We have) full confidence in each other, really.”
Bagent oversaw 5 possessions for the Bears on Sunday and accomplished 10 of his 14 passes for 83 yards. He aided a 77-yard landing drive within the fourth quarter but in addition dedicated two essential turnovers, together with a loss-sealing interception on a possible game-winning drive.
Now, although, Bagent may have a full week of observe repetitions with the beginning offense to assist his preparation.
“It will be a little bit more comfortable with the amount of reps I’m going to receive this week,” Bagent mentioned Wednesday after observe. “Now you’ve just got to stack the days this week so we can be as prepared as (possible) on Sunday.”
Intense and detailed preparation has been a catalyst of Bagent’s success with the 23-year-old quarterback explaining his infectious self-confidence is rooted in the best way he readies himself to carry out. That, Bagent mentioned, is one thing he discovered as he developed by 53 profession begins at Division II Shepherd University.
“You start to see guys who are really good who don’t make it because they don’t know where they’re going,” Bagent mentioned. “So if you’re not the fastest guy here and you’re not the best athlete on the field, as long as you know what everybody’s doing, you’re usually going to operate a little bit better than guys who might be a little bit better than you physically. So I kind of learned that then.”
2. Cody Whitehair has taken possession of his snapping points and can settle for no matter position the Bears have for him in Week 7.
Whitehair’s management points with shotgun snaps have been problematic all through the season and have been notably troublesome in opposition to the Vikings final weekend. The eighth-year veteran and former workforce captain hasn’t run from that inconsistency. “I obviously didn’t play well,” he mentioned Wednesday. “And we all saw what the result was from what happened.”
Whitehair was eliminated within the third quarter of final weekend’s loss with Matt Eberflus explaining that snapping wasn’t the only real cause. Eberflus emphasised that Lucas Patrick may very well be higher at serving to settle Bagent down.
“This is adversity I have to face,” Whitehair mentioned. “And I have to get over it and get better.”
Still, for Whitehair, who was a Week 1 starter as a rookie in 2016 and has made 113 begins on the Bears offensive line, the abrupt benching stung.
“There’s a point where you have to keep your poise,” Whitehair mentioned. “So that’s what I did. I was there for my teammates. I’ve always been a team-first guy and that’s what I tried to do (Sunday). … I take a lot of pride in my work. Any time things aren’t going your way, you’ve got to dive in and dissect where you’re going wrong. That’s what I’m doing right now.”
Whitehair vowed to maintain engaged on his snapping. But there’s a chance he can also have to just accept a reserve position this week because the Bears once more reshuffle their offensive line.
It wouldn’t be a shock if Patrick began at middle, which would depart the Bears to resolve between Whitehair and Ja’Tyre Carter as their starter at proper guard with Nate Davis sidelined by at the very least the top of the month with a excessive proper ankle sprain.
“I prepare every week like I’m a starter,” Whitehair mentioned. “So whatever my role is going to be, I’ll be ready.”
3. Eddie Jackson stays restricted by the foot damage he suffered final month.
Jackson missed three video games after hurting his proper foot in Week 2 in Tampa. Then, upon returning to a beginning position Sunday in opposition to the Vikings, the veteran security lasted solely 14 snaps earlier than popping out with discomfort within the foot.
“It just flared up on him,” Eberflus mentioned.
Jackson was a restricted participant in Wednesday’s observe. The Bears will proceed to watch each his observe exercise and the way his foot responds as he pushes to tackle a fuller workload within the weeks forward.
Jackson missed the ultimate 5 contests of final season with an damage to his Lisfranc ligament in the identical foot.
In different damage information, rookie working again Roschon Johnson stays in concussion protocol after leaving the Bears’ Oct. 5 win over the Washington Commanders with a head damage. Johnson was one in all 4 Bears gamers who didn’t observe in any respect Wednesday. The others have been Fields, Davis and cornerback Terell Smith (mononucleosis).
In addition to Jackson, 4 different Bears have been restricted together with offensive sort out Darnell Wright (shoulder), defensive finish Yannick Ngakoue (again), working again Travis Homer (hamstring) and offensive lineman Dan Feeney (knee).
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Source: www.bostonherald.com