The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers each are coping with quarterback accidents as they meet for the second time this season Sunday at Soldier Field.
Lots has occurred because the Packers gained the primary assembly 27-10 in Week 2 at Lambeau Field.
The Bears offense took off behind Justin Fields’ working sport however now faces main well being issues, together with to Fields’ left shoulder. The Bears protection misplaced a number of of its most necessary gamers to trades and accidents. And Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has handled accidents in a 4-8 season.
As kickoff approaches, right here’s our snapshot have a look at the sport.
Player within the highlight
Aaron Rodgers
The final time Rodgers performed at Soldier Field, he was yelling “I own you!” to bird-flipping Bears followers in a 24-14 Packers win. It was one among Rodgers’ 24 wins as a starter in opposition to the Bears with simply 5 losses.
He has a 108.1 profession passer score within the rivalry, together with a 125-plus score in every of his final 5 video games in opposition to the Bears.
“I’ve enjoyed the rivalry over the years and been a part of a ton of these games,” Rodgers advised reporters in Green Bay this week. “It’s a great rivalry, been around for a long, long time. Happy to be on this side of it, but a lot of good memories at Soldier Field.”
Rodgers is recovering from a proper thumb fracture from earlier within the yr and a ribs damage that knocked him out of the Packers’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12. But he nonetheless plans to play Sunday. And attending to play the Bears as soon as extra is simply a part of it.
“Pride, for one,” he stated. “Love of the game. They’re paying me to play. Lot of different issues, but I love to compete and I want to be out there with my guys.”
The Bears protection is likely to be catching a break dealing with an ailing Rodgers, however the unit is coping with its personal rash of accidents, together with security Eddie Jackson being declared out for the season with a Lisfranc damage in his left foot.
Defensive coordinator Alan Williams is aware of it’s by no means a simple check in opposition to Rodgers.
“It’s always a good time to get Aaron Rodgers — if you can get him,” Williams stated. “I remember there was a year where he had a calf (injury), and he was struggling and he still put up some good numbers. … You just have to make sure that you mix it up, give him different looks and not show him the same thing all the time. And there’ll be some times that you do fool him and there’ll be some times that you don’t.”
Pressing questions
Will Justin Fields return this week? And if he does, how will his shoulder damage have an effect on his play?
Fields was restricted in follow Wednesday however returned in full Thursday as he continues to get well from a separated left shoulder.
On Wednesday, Bears coach Matt Eberflus categorized Fields as “day to day.” In order to play, Fields should get clearance from the medical employees and coaches and really feel like he can defend himself and play as much as his capabilities, Eberflus stated.
Fields stated Wednesday that it’s not about being 100% however having the ability to carry out as much as his requirements.
“There’s a few people in this league that are quote-unquote 100% (in Week 13),” Fields stated. “So I’m just going to go out there and if I feel like I can help my team win … and put points on the board, then I’m going to go out there and play.”
Wide receiver Chase Claypool stated Fields’ return to practising in full “gets the juices going.”
“I can’t tell any difference from when he was healthy (before the injury) to now, so I think that’s a good sign,” Claypool stated.
If Fields can’t go, the quarterback state of affairs will get murky. Backup Trevor Siemian, who performed in Week 12 in opposition to the New York Jets, sat out Wednesday and Thursday practices with an indirect damage.
If neither Fields nor Siemian can play, the Bears may flip to third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman, who hasn’t thrown a cross in a sport since 2020 and hasn’t began a sport since 2018. The Bears additionally signed quarterback Tim Boyle off the Detroit Lions follow squad as a fourth possibility.
Keep a watch on …
The working video games
With quarterback accidents on each side, Bears and Packers working backs could possibly be in for loads of work.
The Packers gave up 363 speeding yards to the Eagles in Week 12, and quarterback Jalen Hurts had 157 of them. It stays to be seen if the Bears can damage them in the identical approach with a recovering Fields.
But David Montgomery had 122 speeding yards in opposition to the Packers within the groups’ first assembly this season, and Darrynton Evans may see some work after he had 9 carries for 34 yards Sunday.
“Philly does a really nice job running the football a bunch of different ways, and we’ve shown that a lot throughout the year, a bunch of different ways,” Getsy stated. “We hope to be able to have some of that success too.”
On the flip aspect, the Packers rushed for 203 yards in opposition to the Bears within the Week 2 assembly, led by Aaron Jones (132 speeding yards) and A.J. Dillon (61 speeding yards).
But Jones (shin/glute) and Dillon (quad) are additionally coping with accidents and had been restricted Wednesday and Thursday in follow.
Paging all receivers
Darnell Mooney’s season-ending left ankle damage was a giant blow for a Bears passing sport that also hasn’t hit its stride 12 video games into the season.
So a lot of the speak this week round Halas Hall was about how the Bears will fill the manufacturing of their high receiver, who had 40 catches for 493 yards and two touchdowns.
“You don’t replace Moon,” Getsy stated. “Moon means so much to this football team — his approach, work ethic, intelligence, flexibility to move him around. And obviously the talent is there too. The guys have got to step up. Whether it’s a collective or whatever, we’ve got to find a way to get that production from other areas. But he’s been such a good leader, good example of the play style and the mentality of this football team. That was a tough blow.”
Claypool and Byron Pringle noticed essentially the most offensive snaps and catches amongst large receivers Sunday. Claypool, whom the Bears acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers final month, had two catches for 51 yards on 5 targets, and Pringle had two catches for 12 yards and a landing on two targets.
“They presented some opportunities that allowed Chase to go in one-on-one situations, and we took advantage of those opportunities,” Getsy stated. “I wish we would have converted on that one fade in the end zone too. … You guys can all see him being more comfortable and being able to play multiple positions and move around now. That’s who we are. We’re a flexible offense. We like to put people in a bunch of different places rather than just lining up and playing.”
Injury report
Beyond the quarterback accidents, the most important points to look at this week are within the Bears secondary.
Cornerback Kyler Gordon and security Jaquan Brisker haven’t practiced the final two weeks whereas within the concussion protocol. With Jackson out, the Bears once more could possibly be skinny at security, at which veteran DeAndre Houston-Carson and rookie Elijah Hicks received time Sunday. Cornerback Kindle Vildor additionally has been restricted this week by an ankle damage.
Right deal with Riley Reiff was restricted in follow Thursday as he recovers from a again damage, and proper deal with Larry Borom missed each practices with ankle and knee accidents.
Wide receiver Dante Pettis has been out this week with an sickness.
For the Packers, security Darnell Savage (foot) hasn’t practiced this week. Along with Rodgers, Jones and Dillon, offensive linemen David Bakhtiari (knee) and Elgton Jenkins (knee), linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (knee) and large receiver Romeo Doubs (ankle) have been restricted.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (6-6)
The Packers have gained the final seven conferences, and it hasn’t been shut — the common margin of victory has been 13.1 factors. The final 5 quarterbacks to play in opposition to the Bears have mixed for a 113.5 passer score, finishing 72.7% of cross makes an attempt. With little cross rush to harass banged-up Aaron Rodgers (ribs, proper thumb), it could possibly be a high-scoring affair. The Packers are struggling defensively and had been gashed for 363 speeding yards by Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. If Justin Fields performs, the Bears have an opportunity to hold in — supplied they’ll keep away from turnovers.
Packers 34, Bears 27
Colleen Kane (7-5)
Aaron Rodgers is 24-5 in opposition to the Bears. Is it actually clever to choose in opposition to him? Even if he’s coping with thumb and ribs accidents? Even if Justin Fields may return from a left shoulder damage? A depleted Bears protection couldn’t decelerate Mike White in Week 12. So even throughout this mess of a Packers season, I’m unsure the Bears can keep away from their eighth straight loss within the rivalry. But at the least it will be extra pleasurable if Fields can play. And extra aggressive too.
Packers 26, Bears 24
Dan Wiederer (7-5)
When Aaron Rodgers stated at first of the week that he received excellent news from his scans, he may as nicely have been speaking about his video research of the Bears’ badly depleted protection, which may’t generate a lot stress or create turnovers constantly. No marvel Rodgers is pushing so onerous to play by way of a damaged proper thumb and injured ribs for his 4-8 crew. In September, he carved the Bears up in a 17-point victory at Lambeau Field. On Sunday, the Bears will probably be down at the least three defensive starters from that sport and probably 5. Yikes.
Packers 32, Bears 23
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Source: www.bostonherald.com