Chicago Bears normal supervisor Ryan Poles has a busy few months forward to remodel his roster.
As he prepares to make large choices at a number of positions, right here’s a take a look at how the 2022 Bears carried out and every participant’s contract standing transferring ahead, beginning with the offense.
Justin Fields, quarterback
Contract standing: Entering third yr of rookie contract with fifth-year possibility obtainable.
What to know: Poles made it clear at his end-of-season information convention that the Bears plan for Fields to be their starter in 2023, noting he must be “absolutely blown away” by a quarterback prospect to draft him with the No. 1 choose. So Year 2 of the Fields-Luke Getsy pairing might be all about continued enchancment within the passing sport after Fields threw for two,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions whereas working for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns. And the gamers the Bears put in place round Fields might be an enormous think about that enchancment.
Trevor Siemian, quarterback
Contract standing: Entering ultimate yr of two-year contract.
What to know: Siemian was referred to as into motion for just one begin in opposition to the New York Jets when Fields was recovering from a separated left shoulder. And Siemian’s efficiency was hindered even earlier than the sport when he injured his indirect in warmups. He nonetheless performed, finishing 14 of 25 passes for 179 yards with a landing and an interception, however went on injured reserve the next week to have indirect surgical procedure.
Nathan Peterman, quarterback
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: The third-string quarterback appeared in three video games, making one begin within the season finale in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings after the Bears shut down Fields. Peterman rotated with fourth-stringer Tim Boyle in that sport and accomplished 11 of 19 passes for 114 yards and a landing.
Darnell Mooney, vast receiver
Contract standing: Entering ultimate yr of rookie contract.
What to know: The Bears mentioned they hope Mooney can return to the sphere within the spring after he suffered a season-ending ankle harm in Week 12. Mooney — and the Bears offense normally in its first yr underneath Getsy — had a sluggish begin to the season. He had 10 catches for 173 yards over the primary 5 video games earlier than ending with 40 catches for 493 yards and two touchdowns in 12 video games. But if Mooney’s harm rehab continues positively, the Bears ought to have cause to anticipate extra from him in 2023.
Chase Claypool, vast receiver
Contract standing: Entering ultimate yr of rookie contract.
What to know: Poles acknowledged his perception final month that the Bears will profit from Claypool’s expertise subsequent season regardless of a “choppy” begin with the crew. In seven video games after becoming a member of the Bears from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Claypool had simply 14 catches for 140 yards. Poles chalked up the tough begin to getting acclimated to the offense and accidents to Fields and Claypool. Poles expects extra time constructing chemistry with Fields additionally might assist Claypool. As for a attainable contract extension, Poles mentioned the Bears will begin with seeing how the offseason goes.
Equanimeous St. Brown, vast receiver
Contract standing: Signed a one-year contract for 2023 in January.
What to know: The Bears and St. Brown moved to increase their partnership even earlier than the season was up. Coach Matt Eberflus talked about St. Brown’s work ethic on the observe subject and his blocking as elements that don’t present up in St. Brown’s stat line of 21 catches for 323 yards and a landing in 16 video games. Wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert talked about St. Brown’s reliability. St. Brown’s familiarity with Getsy after their time along with the Green Bay Packers additionally was useful in 2022.
Byron Pringle, vast receiver
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: Poles was accustomed to Pringle from their time collectively in Kansas City, and that led to the Bears signing Pringle to a one-year, $4.125 million contract final offseason. But Pringle had simply 10 catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns in 11 video games in 2022, lacking some video games with accidents — not the manufacturing for which the Bears had been hoping.
Velus Jones Jr., vast receiver
Contract standing: Entering second yr of rookie contract.
What to know: Poles drafted Jones within the third spherical out of Tennessee final spring, however Jones’ manufacturing didn’t match as much as his draft standing in his rookie season. He had 5 punt returns for 35 yards earlier than the Bears stripped him of these tasks for muffing two punts. He had flashes of brilliance throughout his 22 kickoff returns for 607 yards (27.6 common). And his offensive manufacturing was restricted, with 9 carries for 103 yards and a landing and 7 catches for 107 yards and a landing in 12 video games.
Dante Pettis, vast receiver
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: Pettis was an inexpensive addition final yr on a one-year, $1 million deal. He caught 19 passes on 41 targets (46%) for 245 yards and three touchdowns. He additionally stepped in to return punts, with 18 for 163 yards (9.1 common).
N’Keal Harry, vast receiver
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: The Bears traded a 2024 seventh-round choose to the New England Patriots for Harry, a 2019 first-round choose, however his Chicago tenure obtained off to a foul begin when he suffered a excessive ankle sprain that required tightrope surgical procedure in coaching camp. He performed in seven video games and completed with seven catches for 116 yards and a landing.
David Montgomery, working again
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: Montgomery mentioned he would like to play in Chicago in 2023 after he totaled 201 carries for 801 yards and 5 touchdowns and 34 catches for 316 yards and a landing. Poles declared himself “a big David Montgomery fan” simply final month, praising the battle and tenacity of the 2019 third-round choose. But Poles additionally famous the Bears and Montgomery must see in the event that they match on the contract aspect in a yr during which a number of good working backs may very well be in the marketplace.
Khalil Herbert, working again
Contract standing: Entering third yr of rookie contract.
What to know: Despite a hip harm, Herbert put collectively a strong season on the bottom with 129 carries for 731 yards and 4 touchdowns in 13 video games. The 2021 sixth-round choose wasn’t as a lot of an element within the passing sport as Montgomery — he had 9 catches for 57 yards and a landing — however his 5.7 yards per carry was the NFL’s greatest common amongst working backs.
Darrynton Evans, working again
Contract standing: Restricted free agent.
What to know: He performed in six video games after the Bears signed him to a one-year contract and totaled 14 carries for 64 yards in a three-game stretch in November and December.
Trestan Ebner, working again
Contract standing: Entering second yr of rookie contract.
What to know: The 2022 sixth-round choose had 24 carries for 54 yards and two catches for 8 yards. He additionally returned 10 kickoffs for 226 yards.
Khari Blasingame, fullback
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: As the fullback for the most effective dashing offense within the NFL, Blasingame performed 174 offensive snaps and 215 particular groups snaps.
Cole Kmet, tight finish
Contract standing: Entering ultimate yr of rookie contract.
What to know: Kmet is among the many gamers who may very well be a contract extension earlier than subsequent season after Poles mentioned the 2020 second-rounder elevated his sport. Eberflus additionally has raved about Kmet’s contributions, which included 50 catches for 544 yards and 7 touchdowns. That’s 5 extra touchdowns than he had in his first two seasons mixed.
Ryan Griffin, tight finish
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: Griffin, a 10-year veteran, performed on a one-year, $2.25 million deal and was on offense for 159 snaps and on particular groups for 175. Primarily a blocking tight finish, he additionally had 4 catches for 26 yards.
Trevon Wesco, tight finish
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: The fourth-year NFL participant logged 181 snaps on offense and had two catches for 26 yards.
Braxton Jones, offensive line
Contract standing: Entering second yr of rookie contract.
What to know: The 2022 fifth-round choose performed each snap at left deal with, a feat Poles praised provided that rookies have packed offseasons main as much as the draft. Jones is targeted on bettering his lower-body power to higher deal with bull rushes and dealing on consistency together with his method this offseason. But Poles mentioned Jones is wired proper mentally and hopes with these enhancements he can contribute to the Bears for a very long time.
Cody Whitehair, offensive line
Contract standing: Has two years remaining on his five-year contract extension.
What to know: Whitehair missed simply two video games over his first six years in Chicago, however he sat out 5 in 2022, together with 4 at midseason with a knee harm. It might be price watching to see if the Bears worth his veteran presence over saving somewhat cash by slicing him.
Lucas Patrick, offensive line
Contract standing: Entering ultimate yr of two-year contract.
What to know: Poles’ main free-agent offensive line addition in 2022 performed in simply seven video games due to accidents. He handled a hand harm in coaching camp that prompted the Bears to maneuver him from heart to protect and restrict his snaps early within the season. Then he suffered a season-ending toe harm that saved him out of the ultimate 10 video games.
Sam Mustipher, offensive line
Contract standing: Restricted free agent.
What to know: Because of the accidents to Patrick and Whitehair, Mutsipher performed all however a handful of snaps at heart after taking part in in all 17 video games in 2021. He has been with the Bears since he was an undrafted rookie on the 2019 observe squad.
Teven Jenkins, offensive line
Contract standing: Entering third yr of rookie contract.
What to know: Jenkins’ transfer from deal with to proper guard was a hit, particularly contemplating there was speak over the summer season of whether or not the brand new Bears regime wished to commerce him. But it’s arduous to name his season a hit just because he missed vital time with accidents. He performed in 13 video games however was restricted in snaps in six of these. Consistency in getting on the sphere might be large for him transferring ahead.
Riley Reiff, offensive line
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: Poles singled out Reiff, an 11-year veteran, in his season-ending information convention, saying he did greater than individuals knew for the mentality and physicality of the offensive line and crediting him for serving to the Bears run the ball so properly. Reiff began the ultimate 10 video games at proper deal with after the Bears benched Larry Borom.
Michael Schofield, offensive line
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: The Chicago-area native and eight-year NFL veteran was wanted as a fill-in starter due to the various accidents on the offensive line. He began 5 video games and performed in 11.
Larry Borom, offensive line
Contract standing: Entering third yr of rookie contract.
What to know: Borom began the primary seven video games at proper deal with earlier than the Bears turned to Reiff to shore up their cross safety. The 2021 fifth-round choose additionally performed guard late within the yr.
Alex Leatherwood, offensive line
Contract standing: Entering third yr of rookie contract.
What to know: The Bears claimed Leatherwood off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders on the finish of August. He was an intriguing addition as a result of he was the No. 17 choose within the 2021 draft but additionally a transparent undertaking contemplating the Raiders moved on from him as rapidly as they did. Leatherwood missed time early within the season with mononucleosis and appeared in solely 4 video games.
Other notable gamers
Among rookies, offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter noticed motion in three video games, heart Doug Kramer missed the season with a foot harm, tight finish Jake Tonges performed in 4 video games and tight finish Chase Allen performed in a single. … Offensive lineman Dieter Eiselen, who has been with the Bears since 2020 and performed in 11 video games, is an exclusive-rights free agent. …. Offensive lineman Dakota Dozier, who didn’t play due to a knee harm, is an unrestricted free agent. … Quarterback Tim Boyle, who performed within the season finale, is an unrestricted free agent.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com