Eberflus updates injuries on his team, previews Bears-Titans game |
CHICAGO - The Chicago Bears had eight players on the injury report this week. While three of them have been cleared to play, right guard Ryan Bates (shoulder/elbow) and running back Khari Blasingame (hand/knee) have been ruled out. Receivers Rome Odunze (knee) and Keenan Allen (heel) are both game-time decisions; defensive end DeMarcus Walker is also questionable with a foot injury. He was a full participant in practice on Friday.
With Bates ruled out, offensive lineman Nate Davis will start at right guard this coming Sunday against the Houston Texans (7:20 p.m. / NBC). In Chicago’s season-opening win against the Tennessee Titans, Davis and Bates rotated at the right guard position, so this will not be Davis’ first time seeing live action. While right guard is set for this game, wide receiver remains a big question mark. Odunze sustained his knee injury against Tennessee, while Allen injured his heel during training camp. He was able to play through it against the Titans, but aggravated it in that game. The six-time Pro-Bowler was not able to practice all week, but head coach Matt Eberflus said that allowed Allen to rest and heal. “It was just something that happened in training camp with the heel, and that was really it,” Eberflus said. “So, it’s just been progressing and then it took a step back, and then we just want to give it some rest, and that’s really what the idea this week was just to rest and let it heal and let it feel good so we’re able to move and cut and do the things he does.” Going into this week, preparation will be a lot different against dynamic quarterback C.J. Stroud, running back Joe Mixon, a trio of receivers in Tank Dell, Nico Collins, and Stefon Diggs, and stars on the other side of the ball, such as four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter. This game will also be in primetime on Sunday Night Football, and Eberflus says the Bears have prepared well for it and all of the challenges the Texans will bring. “I thought the week was good. The preparation for it was excellent. Again, I talked about finding successful ways to be successful on offense, defense, and special teams, and that adjusts every single week because the matchups are different, the coverage contours are different,” Eberflus said. “Obviously, the skill sets are different (in terms of what) they have on both sides of the ball, who you have to really take away in terms of their pass rushers or their receivers and that changes every week. So, I thought the guys adjusted well to the plan that we have. I thought the coordinators did a really good job of putting a really good plan together for those issues. I’m looking forward to our final 48-hour preparation as we start that … So, that’s going to be good to get our water temperature correct in terms of our position and keep our mental preparation going, getting the mind, the body and the spirit right to play the right way on Sunday Night Football.” For rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, this will be his second NFL start, his first away game, and his first primetime game. He is coming off a rough NFL debut with only 93 passing yards and a 55.7 quarterback rating. However, he avoided making common rookie mistakes, such as trying to force the ball and creating turnovers. Eberflus says Williams was in good spirits when they met Monday morning. “I thought the response was good. I thought it was (a) quick turnover. I met with him (on Monday). He was already in a good space in terms of mind, body, and spirit, moving on the next week and focusing on getting better, reinvesting in himself, growing and improving, and that’s what we need to do every single week,” Eberflus said. “Each performance is going to have its ups and downs and ins and outs and you got to be able to deal with that as a professional athlete and then really ignite. When you’re the apex of the offense, you got to be able to really flip it over and have that right light in terms of your energy and positivity and your determination to move onto the next game plan, and that’s what he did.” Especially with a rookie quarterback and Houston’s elite offense, the defense will have to step up to win this game. Eberflus may call the defensive plays, but the addition of defensive coordinator Eric Washington was critical to the operation and in-game adjustments of the defense in Chicago’s win over Tennessee. “He’s been amazing. He really has … A plus job in terms of leading the defense, in terms of leading the group, leading the staff when I’m not in there, helping organize the practices, all that. And then in-game tactics, it’s been really good,” Eberflus said. “We’re making in-game adjustments as we go, and he’s a big part of that. He’s the guy orchestrating that in the secondary, upfront, and then when I come back, when I switch back over, TV timeout, or we’re getting the ball here next series, they’re kicking it off, or we’re kicking it off, and then I’m getting all the information that fast. So, that’s why it’s been helpful.”
