The Chicago Bears extensive receivers corps crept nearer to full power Monday, six days earlier than the season opener towards the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Area.
The return of Byron Pringle and Velus Jones Jr. from accidents and the arrival of Ihmir Smith-Marsette off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings will bolster a gaggle — now six deep — that was severely depleted by way of most of coaching camp.
Now it’s a matter of the Bears getting Justin Fields’ targets up to the mark as shortly as potential to see if they are often lively on sport day.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus mentioned it is going to be simpler for Pringle to be prepared as a result of he’s a veteran who performed in 46 video games during the last three seasons with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. However Eberflus additionally acknowledged Pringle missed so much whereas out for a month with a quadriceps damage.
“It hurts while you’re not on the grass and also you don’t have that timing with the quarterback and the opposite guys operating a route with you,” Eberflus mentioned. “It’ll be a variety of work forward of him to get that accomplished. And I believe he’ll have the ability to get it accomplished.”
Pringle, who joined the Bears on a one-year, $4.125 million contract within the offseason, mentioned he injured his quad throughout particular person drills within the second week of camp and tried to follow by way of it for just a few days.
“It’s simply that undrafted free agent mentality that I've, can’t get out while you’re injured,” he mentioned.
However an MRI formally sidelined him.
Pringle did his finest to concentrate to offensive coordinator Luke Getsy in conferences and to Fields’ communication on the sector. He studied the playbook and stayed in form with biking, leaping rope and, on his days off, boxing. He mentioned communication might be crucial as he will get his timing down with Fields.
He wouldn’t say whether or not he thinks he might be able to play Sunday, noting he was restricted Monday and an extended follow Wednesday would possibly assist decide his standing. However he does suppose having expertise will assist him prepare faster.
“This isn't my first season within the NFL,” Pringle mentioned. “I determine if it was like my rookie yr, yeah, I in all probability wouldn’t be prepared. I took care of issues within the coaching room and out of doors the coaching room, simply protecting my physique in form. So long as you’ve bought the endurance and the cardio, try to be good.”
The Bears will launch their first damage report of the season Wednesday, so that may give a greater thought of the standing of Pringle and Jones, the third-round decide who missed a variety of time final month however not less than performed in a single preseason sport towards the Seattle Seahawks.
Pringle and Jones have been amongst common supervisor Ryan Poles’ greatest offseason additions on offense, together with N’Keal Harry, who's on injured reserve after ankle surgical procedure and can miss not less than the primary 4 video games. So their absences have felt obtrusive the previous couple of weeks.
“A few of the guys have been just a little dinged up, so it’s exhausting to see all the pieces,” Poles mentioned when requested if he added sufficient expertise round Fields. “However after they get again, I’m enthusiastic about that. I’m enthusiastic about Velus coming in and making performs and being an element that may do various things and produce pace.”
In the meantime, Smith-Marsette has different challenges forward as he settles in with a brand new workforce.
The 2021 fifth-round decide mentioned he couldn’t sleep or eat after the Vikings waived him final week. Then he came upon the Bears had claimed him, and it felt like destiny.
Smith-Marsette’s lone begin as a rookie was in Week 18 towards the Bears in Minneapolis. He had three catches for 103 yards and a landing, an outing he referred to as a “confidence booster” and “a springboard into 12 months 2.”
“I torched them final yr. So go determine,” Smith-Marsette mentioned. “It was simply meant to be. They bought me, and I’m joyful to be right here.”
Smith-Marsette, who additionally had 4 kickoff returns for 83 yards final season, mentioned he deliberate to satisfy with particular groups coordinator Richard Hightower and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, who was with the Vikings the final seven years, as he tries to navigate the brand new setting.
Eberflus referred to as Smith-Marsette “competitors” for a gaggle that additionally contains high receiver Darnell Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown and Dante Pettis. Smith-Marsette, who famous pace is one in all his high attributes, believes he can seize the chance.
“I really feel like I’ve bought a possibility to make an affect anyplace I'm going,” he mentioned. “That’s simply the kind of participant I'm. That’s my mindset. I really feel like I could make a play on any workforce on this league. … I really feel like I belong on this league.”
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