The Chicago Bears have entered game-week preparation mode at Halas Corridor, using their regular-season observe and assembly routine to gear up for Saturday’s preseason finale in opposition to the Cleveland Browns.
The staff practiced Tuesday afternoon in Lake Forest and can return to the sector Wednesday and Thursday. Listed below are 4 issues we discovered Tuesday.
1. Roquan Smith’s presence issues.
Smith returned to observe over the weekend, pushing his contract discontent to the facet to rejoin the Bears protection as he has been requested to play out the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal. He made an instantaneous affect in the course of the first staff interval Tuesday, capturing a niche on a working play and drilling working again David Montgomery.
With Smith’s contract state of affairs on the again burner for the foreseeable future, his play and manufacturing will advantage essentially the most focus. For many who have performed with Smith, simply having him again on the sector has been energizing.
“All people has a distinct sense of confidence when he’s on the market,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson stated. “Particularly for me, enjoying with him for 2 years, there are some issues which might be form of unstated. We don’t all the time to have talk sure issues. We simply see issues the identical.”
Bears coach Matt Eberflus plans to play his starters and key regulars via the primary half Saturday in Cleveland. And, sure, which means Smith figures to play.
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 needs to be one of many greats,” Johnson stated. “He has to maintain the principle factor the principle factor, and proper now that’s enjoying ball. He’s been doing that since he’s been making his approach again. He’s an actual skilled. On the finish of the day, he simply needs to play ball and make performs with us.”
2. Receiver Dazz Newsome was amongst 5 gamers lower because the Bears trimmed their roster to 80.
The most important wave of cuts will come subsequent week with groups needing to finalize preliminary 53-man rosters by 3 p.m. on Aug. 30. Newsome was amongst these launched earlier than Tuesday’s 80-man deadline.
Normal supervisor Ryan Poles additionally waived fullback Jake Bargas, defensive again BoPete Keyes and defensive deal with LaCale London and terminated the contract of vested veteran offensive lineman Julién Davenport. The transfer to waive Newsome was essentially the most notable, sending one other of former GM Ryan Tempo’s draft alternatives out the door. Newsome was a sixth-round choose in 2021.
Tempo made 46 draft picks throughout his seven years as Bears GM. As of Tuesday morning, 17 remained on the roster however solely 5 who had 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 an even bigger a part of the staff’s offensive plans. He spent many of the 12 months on the observe squad and was flexed to the game-day roster twice earlier than being activated to the 53-man roster for the season finale in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings.
Newsome made two receptions for the Bears, a 10-yarder within the 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 below a brand new regime proceed.
3. 13 gamers didn’t take part in observe, together with rookies Jaquan Brisker and Velus Jones Jr..
Brisker will stay out till September after having surgical procedure to restore a damaged proper thumb suffered within the Aug. 13 preseason win over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. There’s hope, nonetheless, that the rookie security will be capable 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 observe Tuesday. His 48-yard punt return in opposition to the Seahawks final week supplied a particular groups spark that arrange the Bears’ first landing in a 27-11 victory. It is going to be price monitoring his availability for Saturday’s preseason finale with Eberflus vowing to play starters and key regulars for your complete first half.
Different gamers who missed observe had been receivers Byron Pringle, N’Keal Harry and Tajae Sharp; defensive backs Tavon Younger, Thomas Graham Jr. and Jaylon Jones; working backs Khalil Herbert and Trestan Ebner; defensive deal with Angelo Blackson; linebacker Caleb Johnson; and heart Lucas Patrick.
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