Coming off a 33-14 blowout of the New England Patriots on Monday night time, the Chicago Bears held a walk-through Wednesday afternoon at Halas Corridor, tailoring their quick week of preparation for Sunday’s highway recreation in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys.
The massive information for the Bears was the commerce of standout cross rusher Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth-round draft decide. Past that headline-grabbing growth, listed below are three different issues we discovered from gamers and coaches.
1. Offensive lineman Lucas Patrick was moved to injured reserve.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus gained’t specify the character or extent of Patrick’s foot/toe damage. Patrick left Monday’s recreation within the first half and needed to be carted to the locker room.
However it’s clear Patrick will probably be out for some time and the Bears are once more reshuffling the offensive line. Sam Mustipher will return to the beginning middle function, and Dieter Eiselen was promoted from the follow squad to function the backup middle.
The Bears completed the win over the Patriots with Braxton Jones at left sort out, Michael Schofield at left guard, Mustipher at middle, Teven Jenkins at proper guard and Larry Borom at proper sort out. That will be the popular mixture they'd begin with Sunday.
However Borom was a shock addition to Wednesday’s damage report as he’s within the concussion protocol. That might push Riley Reiff into the combination at proper sort out.
In different damage information, huge receiver Byron Pringle could be getting nearer to a return after 4 weeks on IR with a calf damage. The Bears opened Pringle’s 21-day window to return to the energetic roster Wednesday and can assess his progress all through this week to find out once they can combine him again in with the offense.
Fellow receiver N’Keal Harry performed his first recreation Monday after lacking greater than two months with an ankle damage. Piece by piece, the Bears receiving corps is getting nearer to complete.
2. Kicker Cairo Santos was named NFC Particular Groups Participant of the Week.
Santos was 4-for-4 on discipline objectives within the upset of the Patriots, working via misty situations all night time to attach from 42, 23, 38 and 50 yards. He additionally made all three of his further factors.
The veteran kicker is now 11-for-11 on discipline objectives this season and has a streak of 17 courting to Week 15 of final season. That’s the second-longest present streak, trailing solely Daniel Carlson of the Las Vegas Raiders (39). Santos is 4-for-4 on makes an attempt of no less than 50 yards this season.
Eberflus famous the consolation of getting a dependable kicker and the way it impacts the teaching workers’s situational decision-making.
“It’s actually comforting,” Eberflus stated. “He’s achieved an excellent job. He’s a professional via and thru. And he involves work each single day.”
Santos is a proponent of immersing himself within the course of and a giant believer within the psychological impression of streaks for kickers.
“There are lots of nice kickers who go up and down,” he stated. “They’re nonetheless nice kickers. However there are streaks of kicks that generally you miss that make you modify one thing or assume that you just’re going via a droop.
“However when you get that streak once more of constructing kicks, then possibly the alternatives begin. Simpler kicks get you that streak going. Then you definitely begin to really feel higher with making extra kicks. And hastily you’re kicking unconscious.”
Santos made it clear he gained’t query or overthink his present streak. He plans simply to go along with it.
3. The Bears have been forward-thinking as they navigate a fancy stretch of scheduling.
Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Cowboys would be the Bears’ second in three weeks after a shortened week of preparation. They'd a Thursday night time recreation in opposition to the Washington Commanders in Week 6, falling 12-7 at residence. Now, after an 11-day hole between video games and Monday’s blowout of the Patriots, they've entered one other quick week.
Eberflus emphasised that the Bears started planning for the Cowboys after the Commanders recreation, even devoting a day final week to first- and second-down preparation for the Dallas recreation.
“We thought forward,” Eberflus stated. “As a result of time is time. And also you solely get a lot time. … We’ve already had an opportunity to have a look at that. We’re already forward of that. So we really feel like we’re in a great spot.”
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