It says one thing in regards to the dismal state of the Chicago Bears offense that one of many few optimistic focal factors of Wednesday’s media availability at Halas Hall was large receiver N’Keal Harry’s return to apply after practically two months away due to an ankle damage.
The Bears are determined for a spark for quarterback Justin Fields and a passing recreation that has totaled simply 34 completions for 471 yards in 4 video games with two touchdowns, 4 interceptions and 16 sacks.
The Bears designated Harry to return from injured reserve, opening a 21-day window wherein he can apply earlier than formally returning to the roster. They additionally positioned left guard Cody Whitehair on IR with a knee damage.
Harry, whom the Bears acquired in July from the New England Patriots for a 2024 seventh-round draft choose, might present a lift sooner or later this season. But the ratio of time he missed to time logged in practices with Fields and the offense is important.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus mentioned Harry would do particular person drills Wednesday after which work with the energy employees. Eberflus didn’t rule out a return by Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, however he additionally acknowledged Harry is to start with levels of his return.
“We’ll see how he picks it up,” Eberflus mentioned. “I know he’s been engaged in the meetings and engaged in the game plans as we’ve been going. That’s been great. We’ll see where it goes.”
The Bears didn’t make Harry out there to reporters as a result of he stays on IR.
Harry, a 2019 first-round draft choose, had 57 catches for 598 yards and 4 touchdowns over three seasons with the Patriots. He was battling for a spot within the Bears receiving corps earlier than struggling a left ankle damage on successful by linebacker Nicholas Morrow throughout a dwell tackling interval at an Aug. 6 coaching camp apply. He had tightrope surgical procedure on the ankle a number of days later and has been rehabbing since.
At 6-foot-4, 225 kilos, Harry provides a big-bodied choice with a very good catch radius, and the Bears are understandably to see what he can do within the purple zone.
They have been 0-for-3 within the purple zone in Sunday’s 20-12 loss to the New York Giants and are tied for twenty third within the league with 50% purple zone effectivity. And the Bears have gone heavier on working performs — and had extra success with them — contained in the 20.
One of Fields’ two landing passes this season got here within the purple zone, an 18-yarder to Equanimeous St. Brown in Week 1. The Bears have 4 speeding touchdowns within the purple zone.
“(Harry) would of course be a good matchup for smaller DBs,” Fields mentioned. “One on one, especially red zone, just throwing up a jump ball to him, that’s one of the things he does really well. So just being able to throw more 50-50 balls.”
Bears large receiver Darnell Mooney added: “I’ll give it 100 out of 100 every time you throw a ball to N’Keal in the red zone.”
But there’s numerous work to be finished for Harry and Fields to get in sync. They had solely about 1½ weeks of apply collectively in coaching camp.
“Communicating with him, how he runs routes, what I’m thinking on certain leverages of DBs and stuff like that,” Fields mentioned. “So it’s basically just reps and being on the same page as him.”
Bears common supervisor Ryan Poles’ offseason plan to assemble a bunch of receivers with out numerous previous manufacturing however wanting to show themselves hasn’t resulted in a lot manufacturing. And the plan has been hampered by accidents.
The Bears are enjoying with out Byron Pringle, who’s on IR with a calf damage. Rookie Velus Jones Jr. made his NFL debut Sunday after lacking the primary three weeks with a hamstring damage, however he didn’t get a snap on offense and solely returned kickoffs and punts.
Mooney leads Bears large receivers with eight catches for 121 yards. St. Brown has 4 for 86 yards. No different wholesome large receiver has a couple of catch.
When requested in regards to the passing recreation needing a spark, Mooney — whose 4 catches for 94 yards in opposition to the Giants have been as near it because the Bears have gotten this season — known as the event of the Bears offense “a journey” and “a process.”
“I feel like any type of a spark, just passing the ball down the field, can give confidence to the offense itself,” Mooney mentioned. “I understand the process we have to go through with our offense and everything being new. Everybody is still learning and just trying to believe in the offense itself. It’s a process.”
At some level quickly, the Bears hope Harry will likely be part of that course of too.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com