The Chicago Bears have been battling injuries like every other team in the NFL. How you navigate them is often what separates the bad from the good. Granted, Chicago’s had it tougher than most. They lost Caleb Williams for nearly a month to a hamstring issue. Coby Bryant was lost before the season even began. Kyler Gordon missed the first five games and Dayo Odeyingbo just went on IR with a quad issue. So it didn’t feel great when Jonah Jackson left Sunday’s game in Atlanta with a hip injury.
Initial projections indicated that the right guard would miss time. The turnaround for Thursday night’s game against the New England Patriots was too short anyway. That meant the Bears would have to lean on Jordan McFadden or Luke Newman to fill the spot.
Then something improbable happened. After not practicing on Monday, Jackson was limited on Tuesday. That was the first indication that the guard might be trying to play. Still, the lack of time wasn’t in his favor. People weren’t getting their hopes up. Then the bombshell hit.
Jonah Jackson playing can’t be overstated.
It isn’t just because he’s a really good player. Jackson has been having one of his best seasons up to this point, forming a devastating run-blocking combination with Darnell Wright. It is the timing. The Bears are about to play a strong Patriots defense that carried that team to a Super Bowl last season. Its secret to success is a strong interior defensive line led by Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, and Dre’Mont Jones. They are a big reason New England has 14 sacks and ranks #9 against the run this season.
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While known for his run-blocking, Jackson has only allowed 9 pressures on the quarterback this season, including no sacks. That Pro Bowl version of himself many thought was gone after leaving Detroit has resurfaced. The Bears are a far more dangerous offense when he’s on the field. If they have any hope of tangling with that Patriots front, he is a vital component. It remains to be seen how healthy he truly is, but it’s pretty clear he feels good enough to practice without restrictions.
The next two games are big ones.
At 4-2, the Bears have a real chance to position themselves well in the NFC playoff picture. However, that can change quickly. After facing New England on Thursday night, they have to head up to Seattle to face the Seahawks. That is a brutal 1-2 punch. It feels like Chicago has to take one of them to keep their season from getting off track, especially with how strong the NFC North is again. This next game feels like better odds. The Bears will be at home and facing an opponent that is also dealing with tons of injuries.
Besides, beating the Patriots has often come down to simple math. If you run the ball well, your odds improve. Since last season, three of their five losses saw them give up at least 100 yards on the ground. Another saw it at 97. That makes Jackson’s presence all the more crucial. Without Kyle Monangai in the backfield, the Bears badly need their offensive line to provide enough room.
