Eberflus provides injury updates, talks potentially facing Mariota instead of Daniels |
CHICAGO - For the Chicago Bears’ upcoming game against the Washington Commanders on Sun. Oct. 27 (3:25 p.m./CBS), head coach Matt Eberflus was hoping to have some pieces back on the defense.
However, his injury update on Wednesday provided a mixed bag, with some players returning and some not. “(Safety Jaquan Brisker) and (cornerback Kyler) Gordon, they’re still working through what they had from the previous games and they’re day-to-day and we’ll see where that is,” Eberflus said. “Back at practice today (was cornerback) Tyrique (Stevenson). (Defensive back Terell Smith was) back. (Defensive lineman Zacch) Pickens, (long snapper Scott) Daly and also returning (was running back Travis) Homer and (offensive lineman) Larry Borom. So, those guys (were back). Good to see those guys back.” Borom (ankle), Homer (finger), Pickens (groin), Smith (hip), and Stevenson (calf) were all limited on Wednesday, while Daly (knee) was a full participant in practice. Of particular concern is Brisker. This is the third season in a row he has suffered a concussion and missed time as a result. “I always have concern with anybody that’s in concussion (protocol). It’s a big injury. It’s something that you got to be very careful about and our guys do a great job with those guys working through the protocol,” Eberflus said. “That’s why it’s in place and that’s why the NFL has instituted that. So, it’s where it is right now, and we’re hoping that he’s getting better every single day.” Offensively, the Bears have not completely found their identity. However, they have made great strides from the first few weeks of the season to now. This has come from two primary sources - the improvement in the running game and the improved performance of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams has also contributed to the run game with 169 rushing yards through the first six games. “You always have to be able to lean on the run game … You throw to score points, and you run to win. That’s what it is. You need chunk plays, but eventually at the end of the game when you want to seal the deal, you have to run the ball and to control the line of scrimmage and control distances early in the game, running the football, and that could be with controlled passing too,” Eberflus said. “But, you want to be able to control those distances so you can work them out (in) your favor so you get your second, third, and shorters or don’t even get to third down. So, to me, it’s always about that.” Although running the ball wins games, the quarterback's ability to distribute the ball and push it downfield is essential. The Heisman winner has 1,317 passing yards and nine passing touchdowns so far this season. His quarterback rating in the past three games is over 100, and his past two performances were the best of his young career. “His reps, exposures of NFL defenses, of our offense and then really the continuity with the receivers, getting timing down with all those guys and he’s been able to do a really good job of mixing it up in terms of who he’s going to week-to-week,” Eberflus said. “There’ll be targets with this guy, targets with that guy and especially situationally. You always got to adjust and change that as you go because they’ll focus on a certain guy in certain situations. So, it’s really good that we have a good spread of where we’re spreading the football to.” The Commanders have a talented rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels, who is also a Heisman-winning quarterback. His completion percentage of 75.6 percent is currently the best in the league; he has 1,410 passing yards and ten total touchdowns. However, after suffering a rib injury against the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday, Daniels could not practice on Wednesday and is questionable. If Daniels is unable to play, Marcus Mariota would be the starter. He played most of last week against Carolina, and the offense put up 40 points. They like to use a no-huddle offense, which helps with their efficiency. “I thought (Mariota) really did a nice job. If you look at his rating last week, he was efficient and effective during the course of that whole game, and pretty much he was in the whole game, and obviously, you guys saw the score. So, did an outstanding job,” Eberflus said. “When you do no-huddle or on the ball like that, it’s just about the communication and being ready on defense and that’s what the intent is of the offense. I was in college football for eight years as a coordinator and four years at the other place I was at. So, we’ve seen it and (we just need) to be really good at being able to get lined up, communicate, making sure you’re right, and it’s going to be about what you’re doing first and then be able to execute (a) multitude of things at that speed.”
