The Chicago Bears returned to apply Wednesday at Halas Hall, keen to construct on their 19-10 season-opening upset of the San Francisco 49ers.
Thhe Bears hit the highway this week to face the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night time at Lambeau Field. The rivalry sport presents the Bears an opportunity to enhance to 2-0 and put a two-game cushion between them and the Packers.
Here’s what else we realized Wednesday in Lake Forest.
1. Justin Fields’ resolve and emotional steadiness proceed to make an impression.
Fields in all probability received’t win many extra video games during which he completes solely eight passes and throws for fewer than 125 yards. Sunday’s moist situations clearly factored into his early struggles. And these struggles have been pronounced within the first half, when he posted a 2.8 passer ranking and accomplished solely 3 of 9 makes an attempt for 19 yards.
But when Bears coach Matt Eberflus was requested Wednesday what impressed him most about Fields’ 2022 debut and will be carried ahead, he shortly highlighted the second-year quarterback’s psychological toughness.
The lack of early offensive manufacturing, Eberflus famous, didn’t shake Fields. The ugly climate didn’t both.
“He was able to move all those things aside,” Eberflus mentioned, “determining how he was going to grip the ball higher, how he was going to function after which determining the sport as the sport went on and transferring the ball down the sphere.
“What an outstanding thing for a young quarterback to have that mental toughness, with all of those things going on and to be able to (have a) laser-like focus and get the job done.”
Eberflus talks usually together with his gamers about “the cycle of the snap,” reminding them to deal with each play as its personal entity, impartial of something that has come earlier than or will come after. Fields appears to have a deal with on that idea and has proven the stability to work by difficulties.
“That’s an important piece for him and for every player on our team,” Eberflus mentioned. “You simply flip the web page. You solely play one play at a time and you may’t play them unexpectedly. And there are going to be six or seven performs that are available every sport that make a distinction, and we don’t know when these are. That’s why it’s a must to be targeted inside each single play.
“I think that was in his mind. That’s what he did the whole game.”
Fields has emphasised the significance of his composure for your entire group. He mentioned the offense’s general power after the tough begin was remarkably sturdy at halftime.
“Everybody was so positive,” he mentioned. “(Offensive coordinator) Luke (Getsy) had a smile on his face at halftime. I think just that little body language brought everybody to their feet and kind of encouraged everybody to come out differently in the second half.”
The Bears responded with three consecutive landing drives within the second half to show a 10-point deficit right into a two-score win.
2. Lucas Patrick is happy for his return to Lambeau Field.
Patrick was designated because the Bears’ honorary captain for Week 2 as he prepares to move to Green Bay, the place he spent the primary six seasons of his profession. He acknowledged that storyline after apply and famous his familiarity with the setting.
“I definitely know where the play clock is. I definitely know where the scoreboard is,” Patrick mentioned. “I understand the stadium runs north to south, just off Oneida Street across from the Rev Center. So when we’re pulling up, I can kind of circumnavigate myself to find the place if the bus gets lost.”
Patrick performed 27 snaps at proper guard within the Week 1 win over the 49ers, splitting time with Teven Jenkins. He’s working his method again from surgical procedure on his proper hand early in coaching camp. But Patrick is feeling higher with every week and every apply and, for now, stays snug with no matter rotation the Bears use.
He expects to really feel a number of added feelings earlier than kickoff Sunday.
“Speaking honestly, probably a lot of gratitude,” Patrick mentioned. “I’m not going to take a seat right here and bash (that) group as a result of I wouldn’t be right here right this moment if it weren’t for the chance afforded to me.
“I had a lot of memories there with close family and friends. I know you guys probably don’t like to hear this, but we have personalities and feelings. And I have some friends still there. So, yeah, I’ll definitely have some gratitude and some emotion. But at the end of the day, I have a job to do.”
3. The Bears positioned offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood on the non-football harm listing.
Two weeks after the Bears claimed him off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders, Leatherwood’s assimilation into the offense hit a snag. Eberflus mentioned the 2021 first-round decide has an sickness that necessitated his transfer to the NFI listing.
To fill that gap on the 53-man roster, the Bears re-signed veteran guard Michael Schofield, whom they minimize on Aug. 30.
In different harm information, rookie receiver Velus Jones returned to apply however remained restricted with a lingering hamstring difficulty. Offensive deal with Riley Reiff (shoulder) additionally was restricted.
In Green Bay, receiver Allen Lazard returned to apply after lacking Week 1 with an ankle harm. Lazard was restricted Wednesday, as have been offensive linemen David Bakhtiari (knee) and Elgton Jenkins (knee). Guard Jon Runyan missed apply as he offers with a concussion.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com