The Green Bay Packers had revenge on the mind Sunday, and they got it. Their defense forced five Chicago Bears turnovers while the offense compiled 31 points for a decisive 31-7 victory. Much of the fiasco fell at the feet of the quarterbacks. Tyson Bagent threw two interceptions, while Case Keenum, who came in to replace him, threw an interception and lost a fumble. It was the crashing back down to earth that was always possible. Unfortunately, it had to come in such an important game. This performance reinforced one thing. Chicago’s success is not all Ben Johnson. This team is a different animal with Caleb Williams.

Not enough people truly appreciated how effective the starter has been against Green Bay in his career. He was beating the Packers even before Johnson arrived last season. Williams knows how to make things happen, which has always been a problem for previous Bears quarterbacks. When Green Bay doesn’t have to worry about the quarterback creating on his own, beating Chicago is easier for them. It is why they’ve owned the rivalry for so long. Don’t be fooled by what they say publicly.

The Packers were relieved that Williams wasn’t healthy enough to play this game.

Getting Caleb Williams back remains paramount.

This loss now puts the Bears at 0-2 in the division. It is the second year in a row that that has happened. Just like last season, the second game was a blowout loss on the road. Much of the blame for this must fall at the feet of head coach Ben Johnson. He didn’t have a good game plan, and his decisions exacerbated the problem. Only giving D’Andre Swift 9 carries in the games with Kyle Monangai out was certainly a choice. It put more pressure on the quarterbacks to execute, and the results spoke for themselves.

Green Bay wanted that game. That much was obvious, but the Bears certainly gave it to them with how unprepared they looked. Would Caleb Williams have allowed that? Probably not. Everybody knows how seriously he takes games against the Packers. At the very least, he would’ve kept the turnovers to a minimum. In four career regular season games against them, he has one interception. Still, there is a silver lining to this.

Despite the loss, the Bears have still gone 2-1 with their backups. If Williams does return against Atlanta next week, that is a major win for the team.

There isn’t much time to lament the loss.

The Bears’ schedule doesn’t get any easier from here. Atlanta is surging after back-to-back blowout victories. Then they have to play New England and Seattle, last year’s Super Bowl participants. If they aren’t careful, they could go from 3-1 to 3-5 in the blink of an eye. That is why Williams’ return is so imperative. You’re not beating those teams without scoring points. You’re not scoring points without your starting quarterback. The backup magic is gone.

One thing is certain. Johnson won’t rely on just Williams returning for a solution. He isn’t the type of coach to let such a sloppy game go without consequences. Expect some serious things to happen in practice this week. The Bears will not look this sloppy or lacking in intensity again. Don’t be shocked if the Packers run into a very different team in the rematch on Christmas Day.

Losing Kyle Monangai hurts the Chicago Bears at running back. He is a vital part of the machine head coach Ben Johnson has created alongside D’Andre Swift. Unfortunately, turf toe has sidelined him from the big game at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. That means the Bears had to reconfigure the depth chart. Usually, in these situations, the team has chosen to promote from within. That was no different this time, as they decided to elevate someone from the practice squad. However, it wasn’t the one most expected.

Salvon Ahmed was one of the top performers of the preseason for the Bears in August. He made some big plays for the team. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if he were the one the team promoted. Instead, Johnson and the coaches pulled a surprise. Second-year running back Zavier Scott got the nod instead. Minnesota waived the former undrafted free agent on August 30th. Chicago scooped him up on their practice squad the next day. So what would compel them to go with him over Ahmed?

The Chicago Bears like versatility.

Scott is massive for his position at 6’1″ and 221 lbs. However, his style of play seems to work in complete contrast to that. He’s remarkably capable as a receiver out of the backfield, showing good hands and sneaky solid route-running. He had 43 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. As a runner, there are certain traits that fit what the Bears like to do. They are an outside-zone team. For that, you need backs with good vision who can see and hit lanes. Scott is often at his best in those situations.

He also plays up to his size. Scott runs with power and determination, rarely going down on the first tackle attempt. Though he only averaged 3.6 yards per carry last season for Minnesota, he made defenders work for it. Of the 114 yards he rushed for, 95 came after contact. Last but certainly not least, Scott is an active presence on special teams. He logged 78 snaps on kick and punt coverage last year as a rookie and made three tackles. The Bears can always use players like that.

This comes down to usefulness.

While it’s true Ahmed was a capable runner and receiver in the preseason, that is the extent of his worth. He is not a special teams guy and offers little help as a blocker. Scott can do all of those things. That’s the old saying about the NFL. The more things you can offer to a team, the more likely it is that you play on Sunday. There is also a strong probability that the Bears wanted insurance for Roschon Johnson. The longtime backup has a history of health issues. Were he to get hurt, they’d want somebody ready to step in with a similar build.

It will be interesting to see how much work Scott gets in this game. Swift figures to get a heavy workload with Monangai out. Johnson will be more of a short-yardage guy. Then again, this head coach loves to throw curveballs at you. Don’t be surprised if Scott gets worked into some plays at some point. He’s been with the Chicago Bears long enough to have at least a decent understanding of the system.

Khalil Mack has been the hottest name mentioned around the Chicago Bears as the trade deadline looms closer. That makes sense. He is clearly not going to reverse the Los Angeles Chargers’ fortunes at 0-4. At 35 years old, he isn’t a building block for the future. It would be in the best interests of both parties for him to go elsewhere. Chicago seems like an obvious landing spot. However, he might not be the biggest fish in the pond from the Bears’ perspective. That title belongs to Josh Sweat.

The longtime defensive end is 29 years old and coming off a 12-sack season for the Arizona Cardinals. Unfortunately, the team is clearly entering a rebuilding phase and just fired the coach Sweat signed on to play for (Jonathan Gannon). According to insider Jason La Canfora, people inside the league don’t buy the Cardinals’ stance that the veteran pass rusher won’t be traded. Sweat wants out, and is more likely than not to get his wish before the deadline in a few weeks.

Sweat is unhappy with his contract, and with a run on edge defenders expected as the deadline approaches, interest should be high. Contenders never feel they have enough pass rush, which could trigger a bidding war.

“I’d bet he’s not there by the deadline,” another longtime personnel executive said, adding that one GM noted he’s “heard he wants out.”

The Bears are in a great spot to entice Josh Sweat.

While money might be a factor in his current stance, the reality is that he probably doesn’t want to play for a team he knows is going nowhere. Remember, he spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, helping them win the Super Bowl in 2024. He signed with Arizona because he wanted a good contract and wanted to play for somebody he knew. Gannon had been his defensive coordinator in Philadelphia. That familiarity was a big selling point. Now that is out the window.

If he can’t play for Gannon, Josh Sweat would at least prefer playing for a winner. In years past, the Bears wouldn’t have even been an option in those circumstances. Not anymore. They are 3-1 and emerging as one of the NFC’s best. That will only be cemented further if they take down the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Getting to join a team with a dynamic offense that should provide frequent leads to allow him more pass rush opportunities is a major selling point.

There isn’t much of a fit concern either.

Sweat is 6’5″ and 265 lbs. He has the dimensions Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen usually prefers. Having a rotation of him, Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo would be quite formidable. It would allow the Bears to send waves of rushers at the quarterback. Teams with that kind of setup tend to do pretty well in the playoffs. Sweat would know. He has 5 sacks and 22 pressures in 9 postseason appearances. The guy tends to be a big-game player, which is what the Bears need.

It all comes down to price. Given his age, he’ll likely cost more than Mack. A 3rd round pick is the probable range. With two years left on his contract, the Bears would at least keep him for an extended period. It comes down to whether they can create the necessary cap space to absorb his deal. It shouldn’t be an overly difficult move for GM Ryan Poles. The only remaining challenge is convincing Sweat that it’s a smart move.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson kept people guessing last week as to who would start on Sunday against the New York Jets. Case Keenum or Tyson Bagent? Ultimately, he went with Bagent, who had a solid performance in a 23-12 victory. Going into this week, Johnson made the curious decision not to leave anything open to speculation. He said from the outset that Bagent would be the starter again on Sunday in Green Bay—no possibility of going back to Keenum or a potential return of Caleb Williams.

“Tyson will be the guy. We’ll go from there. We’re in good shape.”

Nothing to see here, right? That’s the thing, though. Johnson has made a career out of making opponents think one thing before throwing something else at them. He isn’t above playing mind games. Would he go so far as to declare Bagent the starter all week, only to pivot to Williams on gameday against the Packers? That possibility became apparent when the Bears’ starter returned to practice on Friday.

Making things even more interesting was Williams’ activities on Twitter (X), liking a post that seemed to suggest a return isn’t completely off the table.

Ben Johnson is crazy, but not that crazy.

Yes, Williams practiced. Yes, he’s officially questionable. He technically could play. The question is whether the Bears would prefer him at around 70% healthy or Bagent at 100%. Under normal circumstances, it is probably the former. However, the nature of Williams’ injury is a big factor. Hamstrings are notoriously tricky issues. They can easily be aggravated again if you return to them too quickly. It is particularly problematic for a quarterback known for his scrambling tendencies.

The only way Ben Johnson might sign off on this is if he gets assurances from Williams that he’d keep the running as minimal as possible. That isn’t a smart way to do things. You can’t ask a player not to do something that comes naturally to him. Fighting his instincts to run will inevitably lead to bouts of holding the ball too long and inviting pressure. We saw in 2024 what happened when Williams tried forcing himself to stay in the pocket. He tends to take lots of sacks.

This feels more like gamesmanship.

The truth is, Bagent will likely start. It makes sense. He won last week, knows the offense well, and can play an efficient style of game. As great as it would be to have Williams in the lineup, the Bears are in a position where they don’t need him back. They’re 3-1, having won back-to-back games with backups under center. One more week won’t derail the season. Better to ensure Williams is fully recovered. They’ll need him 100% once the schedule starts getting tougher in November and December.

Still, if Johnson does pull a hoodwink, it would easily be one of the greatest swerves in the rivalry’s history. Force Green Bay to prepare all week to play Bagent, only to throw Williams at them instead. If nothing else, it is a reminder that the Bears head coach will use any tactic possible to keep the Packers off balance. We’ll see how it plays out on the field Sunday afternoon.

Rome Odunze felt like a great pick when the Chicago Bears grabbed him 9th overall in 2024. He’d been a star for Washington in college. He had that ideal blend of size, speed, and route-running skill. On top of that, he was renowned for his obsession with football, always putting in the extra work. Since then, the results have been mixed. Odunze hasn’t been bad. He had over 1300 yards with 9 touchdowns in his first two seasons. That isn’t terrible production. It is, however, disappointing for a top-10 pick. Injuries have played a part in the lack of progress, but so have persistent drop issues. Some have wondered if Odunze has a future in Chicago.

Those thoughts might need to be revised a tad. While Odunze hasn’t yet lived up to his pre-draft hype, one can safely say that the pick is looking considerably better now compared to even just last week. News broke on Saturday that the Arizona Cardinals are trading former #4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. The acquiring team is not yet known, but it’s all but official regardless. Not only that, but Malik Nabers, the other receiver taken ahead of Odunze, is dealing with yet another injury after missing most of last season with a torn ACL.

Rome Odunze has also shown improvement.

Through his first two seasons, the young receiver managed a catch rate of just 51.3%, meaning he barely managed to haul in half of the passes thrown his way. So far in 2026, those numbers have jumped to 70%. Through four games, he has 233 yards. If that pace holds, he will finish with 990 for the season. That would be a career high and would be even more impressive given that he is only the third-most targeted receiver on the team, behind Kalif Raymond and Luther Burden. His efficiency has improved by a wide margin.

Harrison Jr. and Nabers aren’t the only highly touted names floundering. Brian Thomas Jr. has fallen off a cliff after his stellar rookie season in Jacksonville. He had just 707 yards last year and is on pace for just 446 this season. Xavier Leggette and Ricky Pearsall have failed to produce much in their respective spots as well. All things considered, Rome Odunze looks less and less like a failure by the day. Sure, he isn’t a star yet, but he might be the most reliable wide receiver coming out of that class.

The Bears haven’t lost faith in him.

That is what matters most. Head coach Ben Johnson still has him as a key part of the offensive attack. That is no small thing. It tells you that Odunze has continued working hard despite the setbacks. His blocking is excellent, and his route-running has improved. The last thing that needed cleaning up was the actual receiving. It appears that has been addressed as well. If Odunze can stay healthy for the season, he still has an opportunity to clear 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.

The timing would be pretty fortuitous. His rookie contract is coming to an end after next season. The Bears have the 5th-year option to use if they wish. However, in most cases, teams prefer to avoid it. Either they want to extend the player or let him play out his deal. A breakout season in 2026 would set the stage for Odunze to become the next key offensive piece to get a payday from the team.

The Chicago Bears are off to a great start this season, sitting at 3-1 with a chance to build further momentum on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. If they reach 4-1, it is almost certain to trigger serious efforts by general manager Ryan Poles to find ways to boost the roster even further. As good as the Bears have been to this point, they can always get better. With the trade deadline a few weeks away, it stands to reason there could be at least one player out there who could help them. Enter Khalil Mack.

It sounds made up. A reunion with the former All-Pro has been something many Bears fans have pined for. They never really wanted him to leave. Trading him to Los Angeles was more out of necessity, meant to help jumpstart a rebuild. This past offseason felt like the best chance to make it happen. Instead, Mack opted to re-sign with the Chargers for one year. He is probably regretting that decision now that L.A. is 0-4. One more loss, and most believe the team will hit the eject button, unloading certain players they can’t afford to keep for draft capital. Mack is at the top of the list, and Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports is hearing that Chicago is the team to watch.

A possible Khalil Mack return to Chicago has become very real.

“I mentioned several names in last week’s column as potential trade candidates. Again, it is still early, and I always caution against matching any player to any particular team a month before the deadline. But Khalil Mack to Chicago is something multiple league sources told me makes the most sense if both teams continue on their respective trajectories…

…Mack is on an 0-4 Chargers team and on an expiring contract. He signed a one-year, $18 million deal that includes $8 million in base salary. Trading him this upcoming week would mean a team would need roughly $5 million to $6 million in cap space to take him on…

…One GM and one assistant GM on different teams slotted Mack’s value as worthy of a fifth-round pick. The Bears have one of those, but the Chargers have shown no interest in dealing any player just yet.”

The numbers appear to line up.

Acquiring Mack won’t cripple the Bears’ salary cap, which was always a concern when discussing the idea of signing him in the spring. We also know that Poles often prefers trades where he can land a quality veteran for a late-round pick. You saw it with Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson last year. Those two deals were massive hits. Chicago just regained a 5th round pick from Atlanta thanks to the Gervon Dexter trade before the season began. Flipping that to L.A. for Mack would accomplish the overall objective of bolstering the pass rush.

People will grumble at the idea because he is 35 years old. That may be true, but the numbers don’t lie. Despite the Chargers’ terrible start, Khalil Mack has been a bright spot. Among the 41 edge rushers in the league who’ve logged at least 50% of their team’s snaps this season, he ranks a respectable 15th with 14 total pressures, including 3 sacks. That is more than Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, or Austin Booker. He might not be DPOY Mack anymore, but he’s still a problem.

The Bears don’t need the old Mack.

Sure, it’d be terrific if they got that guy, but that isn’t necessary. This defense has been pretty good to start the season. What the Bears need is somebody who can add another layer to the pass rush. Make it so the defensive front can apply consistent pressure. Pairing him with Sweat and Booker would allow Odeyingbo to move inside on virtually every passing down, which is where he’s the most dangerous. That rotation would be one of the deepest the Bears have had in years.

As Jones said, much depends on how the Chargers respond in the next couple of weeks. They have two games left before the bye week. The first is at home against the Denver Broncos, who reached the AFC Championship Game last season. The other is on the road against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. If they lose both of those games, you can safely assume Mack will be on the move elsewhere. If he wants a reunion with the Bears, and there are signs this is the case, then it’s an easy decision.