The Chicago Bears have entered game-week preparation mode at Halas Hall, using their regular-season apply and assembly routine to gear up for Saturday’s preseason finale in opposition to the Cleveland Browns. The group practiced Tuesday afternoon in Lake Forest and can return to the sector Wednesday and Thursday. Here are 4 issues we realized Tuesday.
1. Roquan Smith’s presence issues.
Smith returned to apply this weekend, pushing his contract discontent to the aspect to rejoin the Bears protection as he has been requested to play out the ultimate yr of his rookie contract. During Wednesday’s apply, Smith made a right away affect in the course of the first group interval, capturing a spot on a working play and drilling working again David Montgomery.
With Smith’s contract scenario now on the again burner for the foreseeable future, his play and manufacturing will advantage essentially the most focus. For those that have performed with Smith earlier than, simply having him again on the sector has been energizing.
“Everybody has a different sense of confidence when he’s out there,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson stated. “Especially for me, playing with him for two years, there are some things that are kind of unspoken. We don’t always to have communicate certain things. We just see things the same.”
Bears coach Matt Eberflus plans to play his starters and key regulars via the primary half Saturday in Cleveland. And, sure, meaning Smith figures to see motion.
Johnson praised Smith’s soccer intelligence and physicality as qualities that improve the respect Smith has gained from his defensive teammates. Johnson additionally has few worries about Smith with the ability to compartmentalize his aggravation with the entrance workplace from his on-field push to be the highest canine on the protection.
“He wants to be one of the greats,” Johnson stated. “I feel like he has to keep the main thing the main thing and right now that’s playing ball. He’s been doing that since he’s been making his way back. He’s a real professional. At the end of the day, he just wants to play ball and make plays with us.”
2. Receiver Dazz Newsome was amongst 5 gamers lower because the Bears trimmed their roster to 80 gamers earlier than the league’s official deadline.
The largest wave of cuts will come subsequent week with all 32 groups needing to finalize preliminary 53-man rosters by 3 p.m. on Aug. 30. On Tuesday, nonetheless, Newsome was amongst these launched earlier than the deadline.
New common supervisor Ryan Poles additionally waived fullback Jake Bargas, defensive again BoPete Keyes and defensive deal with LaCale London, whereas terminating the contract of vested veteran Julién Davenport. But the transfer to waive Newsome was essentially the most notable, sending one other one in all former common supervisor Ryan Pace’s draft choices out the door. Newsome was a sixth-round choice in 2021.
Pace made 46 draft picks throughout his seven years as Bears GM. As of Tuesday morning, 17 remained on the roster however solely 5 who have been chosen earlier than 2020: Montgomery, Smith, security Eddie Jackson, guard Cody Whitehair and defensive again DeAndre Houston-Carson.
Newsome fractured his collarbone in the course of the spring of his rookie season and by no means broke via to develop into a much bigger a part of the group’s offensive plans in 2021. He spent a lot of the yr on the apply squad and was flexed to the game-day roster twice earlier than being activated to the 53-man roster for the group’s season finale in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings.
Newsome made two receptions for the Bears, a 10-yarder within the group’s Week 16 win over the Seattle Seahawks and a 13-yarder within the finale in opposition to the Vikings. He additionally returned six punts for 75 yards final season. Now, his profession is headed down a brand new path because the Bears’ rebuilding efforts underneath a brand new regime proceed.
3. Thirteen gamers didn’t take part in Tuesday’s apply, a listing that included rookies Jaquan Brisker and Velus Jones Jr..
Brisker will stay out till September after having surgical procedure to restore a damaged proper thumb, an damage he suffered within the Bears’ Aug. 13 preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs. There’s nonetheless hope, nonetheless, the rookie security will have the ability to play in Week 1 in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers.
Jones, one other Day 2 draft alternative who missed the preseason opener in opposition to the Chiefs with an undisclosed damage, was once more unable to apply Tuesday. His 48-yard punt return in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks final week offered a particular groups spark that arrange the Bears’ first landing in a 27-11 victory. It might be value monitoring his availability for this weekend’s preseason finale with Eberflus vowing to play starters and key regulars for the complete first half.
Other gamers who missed Tuesday’s apply have been Khalil Herbert, Angelo Blackson, Caleb Johnson, Tajae Sharp, Jaylon Jones, Trestan Ebner, Tavon Young, Lucas Patrick, Byron Pringle, N’Keal Harry and Thomas Graham Jr.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com