One of the most frustrating stories of a frustrating Chicago Bears season is Robert Quinn. GM Ryan Pace lured the veteran pass rusher away from Dallas this offseason with a $70 million contract. At the time, the idea made sense. Leonard Floyd hadn’t been able to turn the corner last year and they needed a proven pass rush presence opposite Khalil Mack. In a win-now season, Pace did what he thought was necessary.
Sadly it appears that investment has blown up in his face. With three games left in 2020, Quinn has remained stuck at just one sack for the season. If that holds it would be by far the lowest of his NFL career. Meanwhile, Floyd has eight sacks for the L.A. Rams just to add insult to injury. All people can do at this point is to ask the question.
What happened to Quinn?
It’s hard to believe a guy who had 11.5 sacks just last season could fall off such a cliff like this. Sure a regression was possible but one sack? Something has to be wrong. He’s 30, not 38. The only thing that could explain this outside of him outright quitting is an injury of some kind. Yet there hasn’t been any such report.
That finally changed following the Bears’ victory over the Houston Texans last Sunday. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune dropped a bit of a bombshell when he revealed the pass rusher is suffering from something called “drop foot.” This is a condition where somebody feels weakness or paralysis in the front of their foot to where they can’t lift it.
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“One source said in early September that the two-time Pro Bowl performer had a nerve issue affecting a foot. Another source said Quinn told teammates he was battling drop foot, which is defined as difficulty in raising the front part of the foot and can be caused by a nerve issue. Obviously something has prevented Quinn from performing anywhere close to the level the Bears expected when they outbid others to land him.”
Drop foot explains everything wrong with Robert Quinn
Remember that one of the most critical aspects of a pass rusher is their explosion. Their ability to get up the field fast and turn the corner towards the quarterback. This was the trademark of Quinn’s game. His ability to come off the ball with burst and then bend around tackles. So what happens when this type of rusher suddenly loses full use of one of his feet?
No wonder he has looked so slow all season long. He has a bad wheel. The general prognosis for drop foot is it can take around three months to heal. Yet nerve injuries are always tricky and can sometimes take even longer. One must question if it was the right decision by the Bears to let Robert Quinn play. Isn’t that putting him at risk of injuring it even further?
There is no way to know since nobody is talking about it.
Quinn himself hasn’t offered any excuses for his play. He understands he needs to perform better. He’s getting paid to sack the quarterback and it just hasn’t happened. Until he’s finally able to break through, fans will continue to rag on him. That is the nature of the beast. One person who probably hopes he turns the corner soon is Pace. The longer Quinn goes without a sack, the worst that signing is going to look.
Considering the GM is teetering on the edge of losing his job? This misfire isn’t going to help him look any better.