The Chicago Bears already have enough problems to deal with. Their offense is a train wreck. They don’t even know which quarterback they’re going to start. Mitch Trubisky or Nick Foles? As if it matters given how the offense has played. Akiem Hicks is nursing a bad hamstring and didn’t practice on Monday. Now it appears another of their best defenders could be in trouble. That being Eddie Jackson.
The star safety has started every game this season for Chicago. Now that run is in jeopardy as he was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. This means he has either tested positive or been in close contact with somebody who has in recent days. So he was sent home until further notice. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune indicates that it was for close contact, not testing positive at this point.
That at least offers some hope.
If he tests negative multiple times over the course of the week, he still has a chance to play on Sunday. The Bears better hope this is the case. With Aaron Rodgers and that explosive Green Bay Packers offense waiting for them at Lambeau Field, they can absolutely not afford to lose one of their best coverage defenders.
The Packers are coming off a tough overtime loss in Indianapolis. Each of the past two times Green Bay has lost a game, they came back and blew out their next opponent. Considering the added fact that Chicago is 0-2 in the Matt Nagy era coming off the bye week? It’s not hard to understand why people aren’t confident about their chances.
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We have placed Eddie Jackson on our reserve/COVID-19 list.@Hyundai | #DaBears
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 23, 2020
The Bears have placed Eddie Jackson on the reserve/COVID-19 list. It is my understanding that Eddie has not tested positive for the virus but has been identified as a close contact of someone who did test positive outside of Halas Hall.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) November 23, 2020
Eddie Jackson loss would expose their deep coverage
One thing about the Packers’ offense lately is how effective they’ve been striking deep down the field. They have multiple receivers who can do that and Rodgers is obviously never afraid to take shots. If Jackson is out of the lineup, there is no doubt Green Bay is going to test the Bears deep numerous times. Jackson’s one of the best deep coverage safeties in the NFL. His presence has given teams pause from going down the field too often.
In the end, it probably won’t matter. Not unless the offense can find a way to score. The Bears managed just 16 points total in their two games against Green Bay last year. It’s not like the Packers defense is anything special either. For whatever reason, they just seem to have this teams’ number. Then again that’s been the case for years now.
Will something change?
The belief is Nagy and the coaching staff will likely go back to Trubisky under center. His mobility is needed behind a patchwork offensive line. Not to mention Foles is hurt anyway. Can Trubisky give this offense any kind of spark? It would be quite a story if he did and call into question why he was ever benched in the first place. While the odds are against Chicago in this one, there is always hope. Especially if Jackson is able to play.