Three Takeaways from Bears win over Chiefs |
Now that the preseason is complete, and what a preseason it was with the Bears going 4-0, it's time to refocus and get down to business as the regular season is right around the corner. Sure, the regular season is still two weeks away, which may seem like a long time, but this is one of those situations where two weeks will seem like two days, as the regular season will be here before we know it.
When it comes to the Bears, they have some work to do like every other team, but they also have to be proud of the body of work they have shown everyone thus far. Not only did they go 4-0 in the preseason, which doesn't matter to most fans, but it was the way they won these games that stood out as they dominated three of their four opponents, including the Chiefs, on Thursday. Yes, some of these games saw most of the starters sitting out, but you still have to play with the players you are given and the Bears reserve players played like starters and proved that this team has plenty of depth. Here are some takeaways from the Bears Preseason finale against the Chiefs:
You could make the case that Tyson Bagent and Brett Rypien deserve the backup job, but only one can have it. Rypien outplayed Bagent in the preseason opener and, at times, during the finale last night, while Bagent outplayed him the rest of the way. That puts the Bears in an interesting predicament, which is an excellent problem to have. Regardless of who the Bears pick to be the backup QB, the one who isn't chosen will have plenty of options elsewhere and could very easily sign a contract with a new team to be the backup. However, there is a scenario where the Bears can choose one or the other and keep both. With the new NFL rules, teams can dress up an emergency QB to be technically a third strong option, and it won't count as one of the team's 53 roster spots. If the Bears were smart, they would keep both of these guys and whoever isn't the backup can be used as the emergency option. That way, they can continue to practice with the team and get as many reps as possible.
One of the things we discussed before the game was getting as many reps as possible for the guys playing but also trying to keep them as healthy as possible. For the most part, the Bears did a fantastic job staying healthy this summer, apart from Nate Davis and some of the other players who dealt with nagging injuries. Then came the game on Thursday, where the injury bug hit and hit hard. The biggest player of note is Larry Borum, who may not be considered a starter, but he will see plenty of snaps on the line this season, no matter his role. Borum is one of those players who has been improving each year since coming into the league and was looking for a breakout this season. His season now could be in jeopardy as he was rolled up during the second possession of the game and had to be taken off by a cart with a lower leg injury. The severity of his injury is still unknown, but anytime an offensive lineman goes down like that, you immediately think ankle or knee. #Bears offensive lineman carted off field with injury https://t.co/lHFEd5cdRt Later in the game, the Bears saw their backup DB Douglas Coleman III go down with a neck injury trying to make a tackle and was taken off the field by stretcher. Coleman was one of those roster fringe players trying to make this team, and given the way he played the past two weeks, he had a great shot at doing that. Now, the question is how severe his injury is. Matt Eberflus did report that he was moving all of his extremities in the hospital, which is a great sign. #Bears DB injured, taken from field on stretcher to hospital https://t.co/FShZJNpYbo
One of the many players the Bears and their fans wanted to see last night was Velus Jones Jr, as he continues to be a roster bubble guy. From a talent side, Jones Jr has the talent to make this team, but his lack of consistency at the WR position and his historical struggle with drops limited him to kick return duties and even that was starting to look bleak. To keep Jones on this roster and get him more time on the field, the Bears elected to move him to RB, where he played the last two games. Jones started to show some of his potential against the Bengals during the Bears third preseason game, but it was last night when he put forth an effort that turned a lot of heads. Jones not only rushed for another touchdown, but he led all players with 111 yards rushing on 13 carries. I don't care what level of competition you're playing. Anytime you can put up those numbers during the preseason, with most of them coming in one half, it is worth noting. Jones has the speed and the size to make it as an RB and is starting to prove he has some worth on this team. Who is the Backup QB?
The injury bug showed up
Velus Jones Jr. as a running back
