The Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders will meet Sunday at Soldier Field with out their beginning quarterbacks.
Justin Fields is out with a proper thumb damage for the Bears, and the Raiders’ Jimmy Garoppolo will miss the sport with a again damage. So will probably be a battle of backups because the Bears (1-5) look to win their second sport of the season behind rookie Tyson Bagent, and the Raiders (3-3) attempt to construct a successful streak behind Brian Hoyer or Aidan O’Connell.
As kickoff approaches, right here’s our snapshot have a look at the sport.
Player within the highlight
Tyson Bagent
The undrafted rookie from Division II Shepherd will make his first profession begin as Fields recovers from a dislocated thumb suffered Sunday in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings.
Bagent was requested to step up within the second half of that sport and accomplished 10 of 14 passes for 83 yards, no touchdowns, an interception and a misplaced fumble within the 19-13 Vikings win.
Bears broad receiver Darnell Mooney on Friday mentioned he thinks Bagent is “up to speed” after a full week of follow because the starter.
“He’ll be fine,” Mooney mentioned. “He’s in rhythm with every little thing. He has a clock in his head. He is aware of when he desires to get the ball out, and he is aware of who he desires to get the ball to on sure performs.
“He said it’s different him getting all of the reps from him not getting any reps. So he’s definitely more confident, definitely more at ease with the game plan.”
Whether this will likely be Bagent’s solely alternative to start out stays up within the air.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus mentioned Fields proper now is just not on a path to needing surgical procedure or occurring injured reserve, and he provided a constructive replace about his restoration.
“The mobility’s getting better, the swelling went down, the grip strength is better,” Eberflus mentioned. “It’s trending in the right direction. He’ll be week to week, and we’ll know more Monday.”
Pressing query
Will Davante Adams’ frustrations carry over in opposition to the Bears?
The Bears know Adams properly from his eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers — and the 81 catches for 1,024 yards and 10 touchdowns he had in opposition to Chicago in that point. But this will likely be their first time going through him because the Packers traded him to the Raiders in 2022.
Adams has had an up-and-down season with Garoppolo. He caught 13 passes for 172 yards in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 24 however then had a season-low two catches for 29 yards in opposition to the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Adams, who has been coping with a shoulder damage, informed ESPN this week that he’s “frustrated” along with his function with the Raiders.
Cornerbacks coach Jon Hoke mentioned the Bears clearly take notice when a participant expresses such frustrations within the week they’re set to defend him. Hoke opened his compliments of Adams by calling him “extremely competitive” however that was simply the beginning.
“He understands what the defense is trying to do,” Hoke mentioned. “He’s very smart that way. He’s a challenge because of his physical skills, his competitiveness and then his ability to change pace in routes.”
The Bears lucked out in not having to face Vikings broad receiver Justin Jefferson final week when the protection turned in considered one of its greatest performances, although Bears defenders mentioned they might have appreciated to have confronted him.
“We love playing with top-flight receivers,” security Jaquan Brisker mentioned. “We would have loved to have Jefferson out there last week, but he just didn’t play. So this week, we have a great challenge in Davante Adams coming to us. We love the challenge. We’re going to accept the challenge, and we’ll be ready for 17 this week.”
Keep a watch on …
Brian Hoyer (or Aidan O’Connell)
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels wouldn’t inform reporters earlier than follow Friday whether or not he deliberate to start out the veteran Hoyer or the rookie O’Connell on Sunday, although the Tribune’s Brad Biggs expects Hoyer to get the beginning.
Hoyer, 38, has began 40 video games and performed in 78 with eight groups since 2009, together with making 5 begins with the Bears in 2016. But he has began solely three video games since 2018.
That 2016 Bears season was the final time he gained a sport he began. But he helped the Raiders full a victory in opposition to the Patriots final week when Garoppolo was injured.
“Hoyer’s had a lot of ball,” Eberflus mentioned. “He’s seen a lot of coverages. He’s seen everything. And so he’s been in a lot of meetings with Josh, so they have a familiarity there. He has a good feeling for that offense. It was a comfort level there. He’s got solid mobility to escape when needed … but that’s not what he does. He’s a rhythm passer.”
O’Connell, who began one season at Stevenson High, was a walk-on at Purdue earlier than beginning 26 video games and throwing for 9,219 yards for the Boilermakers from 2019-22.
In a 24-17 Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the 2023 fourth-round choose made his first begin. He accomplished 24 of 39 passes for 238 yards, no touchdowns and an interception, was sacked seven occasions and misplaced two of his three fumbles.
Another mixture
Guard Teven Jenkins mentioned this week has required “an abundance of communication” because the Bears take care of much more accidents on the offensive line.
They already are lacking left deal with Braxton Jones, who’s on injured reserve with a neck damage. Right guard Nate Davis will likely be out with an ankle damage, and proper deal with Darnell Wright has been coping with a shoulder damage and is listed as questionable, although Eberflus mentioned he must be good to play Sunday.
The Bears have had 5 beginning offensive line mixtures in six video games this season and are nearing their sixth Sunday. Jenkins mentioned there have been plenty of conversations about what every participant desires and expects.
“It’s just understanding we’ve got to do different combo blocks with different people and understanding what certain guys need from other guys, fits wise, pass pro wise,” he mentioned. “It’s being able to go out there together as a unit to make sure we have the same confidence and same communication.”
Raiders defensive finish Maxx Crosby has 5 1/2 sacks, eight quarterback hits and eight tackles for a loss in six video games. No different Raiders participant has multiple sack.
“He gets attention because of his effort,” Eberflus mentioned of Crosby. “That’s the thing that jumps off. Of course he’s a great athlete and he’s got great flexibility, can stay alive in the play. But just the effort.”
Injury report
Along with Fields and Davis, the Bears declared security Eddie Jackson (foot), cornerback Terell Smith (mononucleosis) and working again Roschon Johnson (concussion) out for the sport.
Wright, security Jaquan Brisker (groin) and offensive lineman Dan Feeney (knee) are questionable to play. Brisker had groin tightness, however Eberflus sounded hopeful he would play.
For the Raiders, Garoppolo and cornerbacks Jakorian Bennett (shoulder/knee) and Nate Hobbs (ankle) are out.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (3-3)
It seemed as if native product Aidan O’Connell may change native product Jimmy Garoppolo (again) for this sport, however the Raiders are anticipated to show to former Bears backup Brian Hoyer. The transfer is just a little shocking — O’Connell performed properly in preseason and had one begin in Week 4. It’s probably unhealthy information for Raiders broad receiver Davante Adams, who has made it recognized he desires the ball extra. Hoyer doesn’t work downfield lots, and O’Connell focused Adams 13 occasions in his lone look. The Bears flip to undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent, who has proven no aversion to difficult all ranges of the secondary. It stays to be seen how the Bears will defend him up entrance with extra accidents rolling by means of the offensive line.
Raiders 20, Bears 17
Colleen Kane (3-3)
How do you choose a sport between two backup quarterbacks — one a rookie who has by no means began a regular-season sport above the NCAA Division II degree and the opposite probably a 38-year-old veteran who has made three begins since 2018? Potential to make game-changing errors? Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent had two turnovers in lower than one half in his solely taking part in time filling in for Justin Fields on Sunday. Supporting solid? Whether the Raiders begin veteran Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell, they’ve All-Pro broad receiver Davante Adams and working again Josh Jacobs, although each are having seasons that aren’t as much as their requirements. Defense? The Raiders have shut down a number of unhealthy offenses already and have defensive finish Maxx Crosby lurking to get after Bagent in opposition to a always jumbled Bears offensive line. Since there’s a lot unknown about what Bagent will produce Sunday, these components push me to present the sting to a not-great Raiders workforce.
Raiders 23, Bears 21
Dan Wiederer (3-3)
Heck, I don’t know. Isn’t there a “bewildered and flustered” GIF we may simply drop in right here and transfer on? The Raiders have one of the best offensive participant within the sport (Davante Adams) and one of the best defensive participant (Maxx Crosby) additionally. But they’re decidedly bizarre general, don’t do something significantly properly and are doubtless turning to 38-year-old backup quarterback Brian Hoyer (and even Aidan O’Connell) to get them by means of Sunday. The Bears, in the meantime, are nonetheless a multitude and about to start out an undrafted rookie quarterback behind a nonetheless unsettled offensive line. Still, I’m going out on a limb. I’m predicting Tyson Bagent performs turnover-free and that his protection will get him a landing.
Bears 23, Raiders 20
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Source: www.bostonherald.com