Jaquan Brisker was pushing to return from a concussion, his second in two seasons, at New Orleans Sunday however stated the Chicago Bears and medical doctors concerned needed to err on the aspect of warning.
Now, after lacking two video games, the robust security is ready to start out Thursday night time in opposition to the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field. It will present a glimpse of the protection we haven’t seen a lot this season.
Brisker was injured on the two-point conversion on the finish of the Bears’ 30-12 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7. He initially handed concussion protocol after which was out of the constructing with an sickness. When he felt higher from the sickness, concussion signs took over and the Bears positioned him in protocol, which sidelined him for a second week.
He stated the most recent head damage wasn’t practically as tough because the one he endured late final season from a concussion within the Week 11 loss at Atlanta. It sidelined him the following two video games and the bye week that adopted earlier than returning for the final 4 video games.
“Last year, way worse,” Brisker stated.
Brisker and free security Eddie Jackson have been on the sector collectively for what quantities to about 1 1/2 video games this season — the opener in opposition to the Green Bay Packers and small parts of the Week 2 loss at Tampa Bay and the Week 6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. That’s it.
Safeties coach Andre Curtis famous there may be an vitality degree, a swagger that Brisker interjects. So having him again is a plus in multiple means.
“He has a unique skill set,” Curtis stated. “He can do a lot of different things. He can pressure the quarterback, he fits runs good, he’s good in his quarters and his half and he’s got juice. Our team kind of feeds off of that.”
With the secondary rounding again into form, the Bears need to hope they’ll change a problematic development.
Entering Week 10, they’re thirty second within the NFL in turnover differential (-9) and tied for twenty fourth in takeaways (9). Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young is ranked twenty fifth in interception proportion (2.8%), though two of the passers under him are the Bears’ Justin Fields (twenty ninth, 3.7%) and Tyson Bagent (thirty fourth, 5.5%).
Jackson is the form of heart fielder that provides coach Matt Eberflus extra choices when it comes to disguising coverages and, at instances, being extra aggressive with how Brisker is deployed. Brisker is coming off a season-high 10 tackles (9 solos) in opposition to the Raiders. He has three move breakups after having solely two all final season.
Talking to scouts from across the league, they just like the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder when he’s lively within the field and never on the hashmark the place he may be focused within the passing sport. At instances, he needs to be a bit of extra conscious of gamers in his space. One occasion can be the 10-yard landing move Jordan Addison caught simply earlier than halftime within the loss to the Vikings. Brisker wanted to shut that hole.
The addition of defensive finish Montez Sweat ought to enhance the move rush, which is able to solely assist the again finish too.
“My expectation has always been high,” Brisker stated. “We’ve acquired the 2 of the perfect safeties within the league, if not the perfect safeties. So Montez, hopefully there are a number of ideas and overthrows, a number of picks relying on the protection.
“(Brisker and Jackson) have to be out there. We gotta be out there healthy. We gotta be out there playing. We get that opportunity this Thursday and hopefully we’re consistent throughout the year and we do what we do — and that’s fly around, be ballhawks, use us as Swiss Army knives. Get us involved and you’re gonna see what’s gonna happen.”
Being concerned is one thing Brisker has touched on a number of instances. It appears like he’s referring to Eberflus utilizing him in quite a lot of methods, whether or not that’s sometimes as a blitzer, an additional defender within the field vs. the run and, after all, on the again finish. The extra the Bears depend on late rotation to disguise coverages, the extra alternatives there are for Brisker to doubtlessly catch the offense without warning.
He had a powerful begin to coaching camp earlier than a groin damage sidelined him for greater than three weeks. There was the sickness in Tampa, a minor hamstring tweak final month and now the concussion. With eight video games remaining and now wholesome, there’s loads of time for Brisker to have his arrow pointing up.
“Just be involved in the defense,” he stated when requested what his targets are for the remaining video games. “Involved in some way and some how in the defense, just moving us around, lurking us, getting us in the quarterback’s face, sacks, being aggressive on the quarterback, on the receivers. Not too many deep balls over our heads. Put us in there and we’ll be good.”
Brisker stated he’s not overly involved about one other concussion, noting he had by no means suffered one in highschool or school.
“I know what I signed up for,” he stated. “I’m a physical-type player. I’m always going to be physical. Nothing’s really going to change. I’ve just got to take care of my neck, make sure I strengthen it and try to avoid certain injuries.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com