The closing days of the calendar year is a time when I’m most reflective. I think back about my life experiences. The ups and downs. Comings and goings. And everything else.
But in this specific moment, I’m thinking about how I’m thankful to see the Chicago Bears reach Week 17 of the NFL season. There was a time back in March when I wasn’t sure this would happen. But it’s here. And more importantly, it’s meaningful.
The Bears are set to play a game of consequence on Sunday, and I don’t want to look past that not-so-minor detail. It’s a game that potentially has major implications for GM Ryan Pace, Head Coach Matt Nagy, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, and a host of others. So while I don’t want to go down those rabbit holes in this moment, I want to acknowledge their existence. In the meantime, I’m going to focus on the most important thing in front of us and that’s this game’s importance to the Bears’ playoff hopes.
I don’t want to hear about Robbie Gould (two missed field goals, one missed extra point vs. the Cardinals) for the foreseeable future. That is all.
• On the other hand, George Kittle is a real one:
https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1343008968067538944
• “I will say this,” Kittle said. “I grew up a Bears fan. And the fact that we helped the Bears makes me happy. Da Bears!” This man dropped a “Da Bears!” after leading the 49ers to victory knowing darn well his return helped the favorite team of his childhood out in a major way. Major respect.
• Sure, Jeff Wilson (22 carries, 183 yards) ran wild, and CJ Beathard threw three touchdown passes. But Kittle (4 catches, 92 yards) did work in his first game back from injured reserve. As a Bears fan, I’m thankful for his efforts. Should Chicago take advantage of the path presented by Kittle, finish the job, and make the postseason, I imagine he’ll be racking up “thank you” cards from Bears fans around the
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Eek! Seeing six players not participating in Wednesday’s walk-through is a bit jarring. Worse, four of those players are key contributors … I almost want to sound the alarms. Fortunately, it’s still only Wednesday, which means there’s ample time for players to rest and heal before Sunday’s kickoff.
Still, I don’t like the looks of things so far.
Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (shoulder) and Buster Skrine (concussion) didn’t practice. Johnson missed last week’s game against the Vikings because of the shoulder injury suffered during the team’s win against the Texans two games ago. And because that shoulder is the same one that received surgical repair in the offseason, I expect the Bears to proceed with caution when it comes to getting him back into the lineup. Skrine has sat the last two games as he remains in concussion protocol.
It seems as if the Chicago Bears’ practice squad is on the verge of adding a new running back.
And it’s someone with which Head Coach Matt Nagy is familiar:
Sounds like RB Spencer Ware is set to join the #Bears practice squad.
Ware, 29, hasn’t played this season and has been kept off the field since suffering a shoulder injury in December 2019 that ultimately ended his season. But he has 43 games (19 starts) of experience over five seasons with the Seahawks (2013) and Chiefs (2015-19). And yes, that time in Kansas City means he crossed paths with Nagy while he was an assistant under Andy Reid.