That was fucking scary. During the fifth inning of Thursday night’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, rookie Moises Ballesteros was struck on the left side of his head as he took off to second base after Pete Crow-Armstrong lined a ball 105mph that unfortunately hit his teammate.
Ballesteros was momentarily stunned, wincing in pain before he recovered and started to run to second base. TJ Friedel raced in to shallow center fielder to get the ball that hit off Ballesteros’ head and completed the force out at second base. Surprisingly, Ballesteros remained in the game and took one more plate appearance against Reds’ ace Hunter Greene, who threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout.
Scary sight.
Moises Ballesteros just took a line drive off PCA's bat at 105 mph to the helmet.
Fortunately for Ballesteros his helmet did its job, taking the brunt force of the impact of the 100+mph line drive hit by Crow-Armstrong.
The Cubs are facing left-handed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo Friday night, so Balleteros isn’t in the starting lineup for the Cubs, but the rookie hitter said he was feeling all right following Thursday night’s series opener in Cincinnati.
Rookie designated hitter Moises Ballesteros said he felt “really good,” even after being hit in the helmet by a line drive.
He reached base on an error to lead off the fifth. With two outs, Pete Crow-Armstrong pulled a line drive that grazed Reds first baseman Spencer Steer’s glove and struck the left side of Ballesteros’ helmet, sending it flying.
“After that, I felt a little bit nervous,” Ballesteros said.
He still had the wherewithal to run to second — although not in time to beat the throw from center field, where the ball had ended up. And soon after being checked by a trainer, Ballesteros was reenacting the play in the dugout for his teammates, with a smile on his face. He remained in the game.
The left-handed hitter has been excellent this year. In 47 plate appearances in the majors in 2025, Ballesteros has a slash line of .286/.362/.500, with a pair of home runs, nine runs driven in and eight runs scored. He was most recently called up to take Kyle Tucker’s spot on the active roster and since then Ballesteros is 8-for-24 at the plate in seven games.
This late surge by Ballesteros is making the 21-year-old rookie a viable option to make the postseason roster for Craig Counsell’s squad. That decision could become more clear next week if Tucker still doesn’t make progress from his calf strain.
The Chicago Bears held a competition at left tackle throughout training camp and the preseason. Four different guys had opportunities at the job. Braxton Jones was the incumbent starter for the previous three years. Kiran Amegadjie came in as a 3rd round pick last year, as did undrafted free agent Theo Benedet. Lastly, there was Ozzy Trapilo, their 2nd round pick this past April. Despite plenty of twists and turns, Jones managed to hang onto the job when the dust settled. Of course, the coaches didn’t seem overly certain about it. Ben Johnson indicated the decision was not set in stone.
Now we know why.
Jones has looked rough through the first two weeks. We always knew that you had to live with certain deficiencies in his game. Yet something has looked off since the season began. It still seems as if he’s not healthy. Opponents have taken full advantage, disrupting several offensive plays. The numbers are even less flattering. Football Insights released a data chart showing every team’s allowed pressure on dropbacks. It includes the percentage of each position on the line, showing where most of it is coming from.
If you’re a Jones fan, I suggest you look away.
Braxton Jones is a liability. Plain and simple.
Only three left tackles have given up a higher percentage of their team’s pressures, according to that chart. Yet even that is misleading because two of those teams have better overall pressure rates than the Bears. When digging deeper, Braxton Jones has allowed 13 pressures in two games. That is the most by any tackle in the NFL. The next closest is Josh Conerly, a rookie, with 11. The other three in the neighborhood are a second-year tackle who is still somewhat inexperienced. The other two are backups forced into action by injuries.
Not exactly the company you want to keep, especially when you’re trying to fight for a new contract. Unless things turn around drastically in the next few weeks, not only will Jones face the prospect of hitting free agency without a deal, but could also get benched even before that.
Sep 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on the sideline during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Matt Eberflus did a lot in just three years with the Chicago Bears. He fired two assistants in the space of a few weeks due to problematic relationships with women. He holds the franchise record with 14 consecutive losses. His .304 winning percentage is third-worst in Bears history, and that is only because he was fired midseason in his third year. Eberflus is also the only coach with that honor. So it isn’t exactly a surprise Bears fans are happy he’s gone. However, it was only a matter of time before he re-entered the picture.
That will be Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys visit Soldier Field. Eberflus is their defensive coordinator. He’s been quick to say he hasn’t thought about his return. Most of the time after getting fired was spent with family and looking for his next job. However, head coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted the team has designs on what they’ll do after the Cowboys get their win.
“You know,” Schottenheimer said. “I think the best thing in the world would be for us to play well, win this game, and give Matt Eberflus the game ball after we play well and beat Chicago.”
It sure sounds like they already believe the outcome is decided and can’t wait to let Eberflus have his moment of catharsis. One can imagine some players in the Bears locker room have something to say about that.
Matt Eberflus doesn’t deserve revenge.
It would be one thing if the Bears fired him for unfair reasons. That was not the case. Everything about what went wrong over the past three years was on his head. He built the locker room culture. He had a strong voice in the players acquired, and he refused to hold them or himself accountable. This idea that Matt Eberflus was wrong somehow is ridiculous. The Bears have every reason to make his life miserable on Sunday. His defense is off to a rough start. The pass rush is weak, and the run defense isn’t much better. This is a game Chicago can win, and they should have all the motivation in the world to do so. After what Eberflus put them through, it’s about sending a message.
Sep 14, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks to pass the ball against the Detroit Lions during the third quarter of the game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Here we go again, Bears fans. Week 3 brings Dallas to Soldier Field, and instead of national talking heads hyping up Chicago, all the noise is about how Dak and CeeDee are about to run wild on our beat-up defense. Vegas has the Bears as a slim +1.5 favorite, but let’s be real — that’s not respect, that’s Vegas daring you to bet on us.
And yet, as bad as this start has been, there’s still a flicker of hope. The Bears are 0-2, sure, but they’ve also shown flashes — an 11-point fourth-quarter lead against Minnesota, and moments where Caleb Williams looked like the guy we drafted him to be. This game isn’t just about analytics; it’s about whether Chicago has any damn pride left to fight back in front of the home crowd.
Two Teams That Can’t Stop a Nosebleed
Let’s not sugarcoat it: both defenses are disasters. Dallas gave up 450 passing yards to Russell Wilson last week. Russell Wilson! That’s the same Russell Wilson people were writing off as washed, and Dallas made him look like an MVP candidate. Meanwhile, the Bears are giving up nearly 40 points per game and lead the league in passing touchdowns allowed. Opposing QBs have had clean pockets all day because Chicago is generating pressure on barely one out of every five dropbacks.
Dallas: 30th in total defense, 29th in DVOA, bottom of the league in stopping the run. Their defensive front is soft, giving up chunk plays to even mediocre ground attacks.
Chicago: 28th in yards allowed, 31st in EPA/play defensively, with the secondary decimated by injuries and the pass rush non-existent.
This matchup isn’t exactly the ’85 Bears vs the Doomsday Defense — it’s two units that can’t stop anybody. Translation: this isn’t going to be a grind-it-out NFC North slugfest. It’s going to be a shootout, with both offenses trading haymakers, and Soldier Field better be ready for fireworks.
Why the Bears Still Have a Shot
Yeah, Dak Prescott is accurate, and CeeDee Lamb is a monster. But let’s not act like this Cowboys defense is something to fear. They’ve given up 30.5 points per game, and if Williams can tighten up his accuracy — currently an ugly 18.5% off-target rate — the Bears can move the ball.
DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are due for breakout moments, and if Johnson actually leans into the run game behind D’Andrew Swift and company, Dallas’ soft front can be gashed. In fact, Dallas ranks dead last in run defense, which lines up perfectly with Chicago’s biggest offensive issue so far: the ground game. If there’s ever a week for Ben Johnson to establish the run, it’s this one — and as we know, his whole offense builds off a dominant ground attack. Chicago’s offensive line isn’t perfect, but they’ve held up better than expected. Give Caleb a clean pocket, and Dallas’ secondary is just as cooked as ours.
Caleb Williams vs Dak Prescott
Let’s be fair to the rookie — he’s not Dak yet. Prescott is hitting nearly 70% of his passes, Williams is barely at 61%. But stats only tell part of the story. Caleb is being asked to drag a broken roster into relevance, while Dak has a top-five supporting cast around him. Dallas’ receivers rank top-10 in yards after catch, and their offensive line ranks 6th in pass-block win rate per ESPN. By comparison, Chicago’s line sits in the bottom third, and Caleb has been pressured on nearly 38% of his dropbacks. That’s a brutal context for a qb making only his nineteenth NFL start.
And still, Caleb’s ceiling is higher — he’s got the arm talent, mobility, and improvisational skill that can turn busted plays into game-changers. His 8.1 average depth of target ranks in the top half of the league, showing he’s not afraid to push the ball downfield. These are the exact kinds of games where legends start to carve out their story: home underdog, national spotlight, a defense begging to be shredded. No one will remember his rookie completion percentage if he goes toe-to-toe with Dallas, drops a few highlight-reel throws, and pulls out a win. That’s how you change a narrative overnight.
The Eberflus Factor
Here’s the subplot that pisses me off: Matt Eberflus, fired in Chicago after that brutal losing streak, is back in Soldier Field calling Dallas’ defense. He knows our players, our habits, our weaknesses — every crack in the armor from watching this team collapse under his watch. You know he’s itching for revenge and would love nothing more than to walk back into Soldier Field and make our rookie quarterback look lost.
This is also personal for the fanbase. Bears fans spent months calling for Eberflus’ firing, chanting in frustration as the losses piled up. Now he comes back wearing a star on his chest, with a chance to rub our faces in it? That’s a nightmare scenario. If there’s ever a time for Ben Johnson to prove he belongs in the big chair, it’s against his predecessor. Out-scheme him, punch him in the mouth with the run game, and send him back to Dallas with the same taste of failure he left us with. Because letting Eberflus come in here, expose our flaws, and embarrass us on our own field would be more than a loss — it would be a gut punch to the entire franchise.
Betting Breakdown
I’m not going to lie: betting Chicago right now is a heart-over-head move. Analytics tilt Dallas’ way. But if you’re a Bears fan, you ride with the team.
Bears +1.5: The home crowd matters. Caleb’s breakout has to start somewhere.
Over 50.5: Neither defense can stop a lawn chair.
Upset Pick: Bears ML (+100): Soldier Field magic, baby. Call me crazy, but it’s happening.
What Chicago Needs to Win
Caleb Williams’ Accuracy – Can’t be missing easy throws. Has to hit his layups.
Feed DJ Moore – Stop wasting possessions. He’s your WR1 — use him like it.
Defensive Pride – No one’s asking them to be ’85 Bears, but at least force a damn punt.
Ben Johnson’s Playcalling – Enough talk about bad practices. Scheme your way out of this mess.
Special Teams Edge – If Dallas has Brandon Aubrey, we need a return game spark.
Final Verdirct
This game is more than Week 3. It’s about the Bears proving they’re not a punchline. Lose here, and the season spirals. Win, and suddenly you’ve got a signature victory against a playoff-caliber team. For Caleb, it’s a chance to flip the rookie narrative. For Ben Johnson, it’s a chance to prove he’s not in over his head.
Dallas is coming in confident, but Soldier Field is starving for a reason to believe. This is the week to give it to them.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles and his scouting conduct evaluations ahead of the 2025 NFL draft.
Ryan Poles is not having the best summer. People were already skeptical of the decision to extend him despite not earning it. Then the Chicago Bears stumbled out of the gate, losing their first two games of the season. One came from coughing up a 17-6 lead. The other was a 52-21 humiliation. Calls for Poles’ head have intensified a hundredfold in the past week. Word is the GM is feeling the heat in a big way, even knowing he just signed the extension. Worse still, stories that don’t paint him in the best light have begun leaking out of Halas Hall.
Poles is said to be highly conscious of his media perception. He’s had firm control of the team’s public messaging for years. It seems others in the building have finally decided to correct some of the misconceptions. One of the biggest is this idea that he is any good at scouting. Tyler Dunne of Go Long released a new story on Poles this past week. In it, multiple Bears scouts revealed how little respect they have for the GM, particularly regarding his supposed area of expertise.
The offensive line.
One scout brought up the fact that Poles — a former Boston College guard himself — takes immense pride in his ability to scout offensive linemen, yet displays no such magic powers. Where Poles sees diamonds in the rough, others wonder what tape he’s watching. All the way back to 2022, his first draft, he fell for a small lineman out of Illinois named Doug Kramer. Other scouts on staff saw a UDFA — a player who’d look like a walk-on amongst scholarship players in the SEC — and the GM went against the grain to make Kramer a sixth-round pick. “Nothing against Doug Kramer,” one scout said. “He was a good player in his own right, but that’s not an NFL player.”
That draft, Poles also selected San Diego State’s Zachary Thomas in the sixth. The tape was rough. Thomas failed to generate a surge in the run game, stay on blocks and — above all — he lacked an anchor. That didn’t bother Poles. In draft meetings, he said multiple times that Thomas “knows how to lose.” A theory that would’ve made sense if the lineman was in position and dying slowly against a bull like Nick Bosa or Aidan Hutchinson. GMs can live with a lineman who’ll stay in position and give a quarterback an extra split-second to throw. It’s possible to give up ground without losing the block. Thomas, however, lost consistently. “Losing on his edges, losing around the horn, losing through his chest,” this scout said. “And Poles kept falling in love with saying, ‘He knows how to lose.’ Well, yeah, he’s losing every single rep.”
Ryan Poles has his priorities in all the wrong places.
It feels like he falls too much in love with a player’s story rather than their actual capability. Doug Kramer was a tough, gritty overachiever at Illinois, but it was so obvious he’d be cannon fodder against NFL size and seed. The same was true of Zach Taylor. Since 2022, Ryan Poles has drafted eight offensive linemen. Only two of those are starting. One is 1st round pick Darnell Wright, and the other is Braxton Jones, who has allowed 13 pressures in two games. Ozzy Trapilo, a 2nd round pick, and Kiran Amegadjie, a 3rd round pick, were both healthy scratches in Detroit.
Chicago had to trade for two guards and sign a top free agent to cover up Poles’ missteps. That is not how you should be building your trenches, and it’s just as bad on the defensive side. Only one player the Bears have drafted is starting, Gervon Dexter. Everybody else was acquired via trade or free agency. One can imagine that those scouts are relieved that head coach Ben Johnson holds the roster power now.
May 9, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen (L), general manager Ryan Poles (C) and head coach Ben Johnson (R) observe during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Ryan Poles is under the gun right now. He’s spent four offseasons building this Chicago Bears roster almost from scratch. There is nothing to show for it. The team has lost 12 of its last 13 games and is already 0-2 this season, with both losses being against divisional opponents. No Bears team has overcome such a start to make the playoffs. Poles is now 15-38 as GM, the worst in franchise history. People are calling for him to get fired. Unfortunately, the Bears recently handed him a contract extension to line him up with Ben Johnson.
That means barring a shocking reversal, Poles isn’t going anywhere. Fans are already losing hope, knowing he’s going to screw up another draft. However, Sports Mockery insider Jeff Hughes decided to put this idea to bed. He made one thing crystal clear on Twitter recently: Poles no longer calls the shots at Halas Hall.
(I have been telling people for months…this is Ben’s team now. Poles is Les Snead.) https://t.co/Wp6vyr2x09
Les Snead is the Los Angeles Rams’ general manager. He’s held that job since 2012. From 2012 through 2016, he had personnel authority except for 2013 when head coach Jeff Fischer held it. Over that span, Snead had some pretty rough drafts. Some of his 1st or 2nd round choices included Brian Quick, Isaiah Pead, Tavon Austin, Alec Ogletree, and Greg Robinson. If Aaron Donald hadn’t landed in his lap in 2014, there is a strong possibility he might’ve been fired. Once Sean McVay took over as head coach in 2017, personnel authority shifted to him.
Ben Johnson is in a rare position.
Only two head coaches had the final say on personnel throughout Bears history. One was George Halas, who also owned the team. The other was Dave Wannstedt in 1993. That was the year they drafted Curtis Conway 7th overall. He obviously became a good player. However, after that, Wannstedt was stripped of the authority in favor of Rod Graves. Since then, it’s been a strict case of the general manager acquiring players and coaches only offering their preferences.
That won’t be the case for Ben Johnson. If there is a disagreement between him and Poles, it sounds like the head coach can go with whom he wants. There are examples of head coaches with this kind of authority doing pretty well. Jimmy Johnson built the Dallas Cowboys dynasty in the 1990s. Bill Belichick was the de facto GM for the entirety of the New England Patriots’ dominance from 2001 through 2018. Chuck Noll had the final say on draft picks during his long tenure in Pittsburgh.
Giving coaches control of the roster isn’t always a bad thing.
It’s been two games. That hasn’t stopped people from making declarations on a player’s career. Colston Loveland was drafted 10th overall by the Chicago Bears. By all accounts, he had a terrific summer in training camp, looking like the big, athletic weapon he was at Michigan. Yet through two weeks, he’s been mostly silent in the passing game outside of two catches for 12 yards on three targets. Accusations are being thrown everywhere. Ben Johnson isn’t scheming anything up for him. The rookie isn’t getting open. I decided to see if I could find the truth about what was going on.
What I found was somewhat shocking. While sifting through every play he was on the field, I excluded runs, pass blocks, all three of his targets, and any instance where the quarterback was immediately under pressure. All told, there were nine plays where Loveland appeared open and the more preferred target. Caleb Williams often didn’t look his way or chose not to throw it. The rookie isn’t the problem. He’s been getting open more than enough. The ball just isn’t coming his way.
Colston Loveland is at the mercy of a QB who avoids tight ends.
Okay, maybe that is a little unfair. The truth is, Williams never used tight ends much in college. Those offenses at Oklahoma and USC were geared toward the wide receivers. Tight ends were almost exclusively blockers. Throwing him into a system where that position is far more present in the passing game is probably a major shift for Williams. That said, he can’t keep passing up opportunities like this every week. Colston Loveland is doing his job. He’s presenting a big target who understands how to create space. Whether the ball comes his way is totally out of his control. That falls at the feet of the quarterback and the coach calling the offense. Johnson has already stated he plans to change that moving forward. Will Williams follow suit? Let’s hope so.
2025 - Bears GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson discuss players during training camp
Finding ways to improve is always something a front office will do during a season. Right now, most people would agree that the Chicago Bears shouldn’t be considering acquiring players. It is abundantly clear there are deep-rooted issues with this roster. One trade for a veteran player won’t fix it. At the same time, they have to try something. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a blockbuster move. Sometimes, even a small tweak at a reasonable price can change the formula enough to get things on track.
For the Bears, that thing has to be their running game. Ben Johnson builds his entire offensive identity around it. Through two games, it has not delivered. D'Andre Swift has not provided consistent enough yardage on his carries and remains weak in pass protection. While this could mean more opportunities for Roschon Johnson and rookie Kyle Monangai, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell thinks there is a strong possibility the Bears go hunting for a possible solution on the trade market in the coming weeks.
The Bears didn’t make any meaningful additions to their backfield this offseason, so seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai has been the primary backup to Swift. Don’t be shocked if the Bears go get someone who’s a more effective runner between the tackles and a sturdier pass blocker before the trade deadline.
The Chicago Bears may have a few names they can monitor.
Usually, teams that sell around the deadline are ones that are clearly out of the playoff picture. The immediate name that comes to mind is Alvin Kamara. It’s apparent New Orleans is in a rebuilding phase. Perhaps they’d be willing to send the former All-Pro elsewhere for a modest draft pick. Would he be willing to join another struggling team? That is the question. Miami looks to be on the cusp of implosion with head coach Mike McDaniel under the gun. Ben Johnson loves speed and Devon Achane has plenty of it. Jacksonville already traded Tank Bigsby to Philadelphia. If things continue fading, maybe they’ll do the same with Travis Etienne, since both rookies Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen have played well. Also, don’t forget Breece Hall or Braelon Allen in New York.
Much depends on which teams are in the headspace to sell and whether the Chicago Bears think they can get somebody for an affordable price. Odds are we will know around mid-October.
Nov 9, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Chicago Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins answers questions from the media during the MLB GM Meetings at The Conrad Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
Well, it turns out that Carter Hawkins is no longer in the running to become the new general manager for the Washington Nationals. Hawkins, who has been the GM for the Chicago Cubs the past four seasons, was reportedly on the shortlist for the Washington job, had interviewed and was considered one of the strongest candidates, is now out of the mix.
Some news on the Nationals’ GM search:
Sources tell me Carter Hawkins, once considered a strong candidate for the Nationals’ opening, is no longer in the running for the job. Hawkins will remain in Chicago as the GM of the Cubs, via my sources.
According to a report in The Athletic, Hawkins is planning to remain in Chicago and continue to serve as the Cubs’ GM.
If you don’t really like Hawkins in the front office, then I guess there is still a chance that he doesn’t return after the 2025 season. While Jed Hoyer signed a contract extension right before the trade deadline back in July, there was never an indication that Hawkins was also extended.
(Previous Update)
Depending on how you feel about Carter Hawkins, then this could definitely be an exciting development for the Chicago Cubs. According to a couple reports, the current GM for the Chicago Cubs has interviewed with the Washington Nationals for their top baseball gig.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale first reported that Hawkins was on the Nationals’ short list for their open GM position and then followed up by reporting that Hawkins had indeed interviewed. Nightengale called Hawkins one of the finalist, saying the Cubs’ GM interviewed last week.
Carter Hawkins is a finalist after interviewing last week for Nats’ GM job. https://t.co/NIAh5TFVoj
Meanwhile, The Athletic also wrote about the Nationals’ GM search and in addition to Hawkins being one of the finalists for the job, a few others were also named.
As the Washington Nationals look for a new head of baseball operations, the club has contacted Chicago Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins, Arizona Diamondbacks executive Amiel Sawdaye and Los Angeles Dodgers senior vice president Josh Byrnes, according to league sources briefed on the search.
The Cubs hired Hawkins following the 2021 season. He previously worked in the Cleveland Guardians organization from 2009-2021, serving as a scout and eventually served as the team’s assistant general manager for five years.
This is the part that has annoyed some Cubs’ fans both during free agency and at the trade deadline. This is how his hiring was described in The Athletic.
The Cubs wanted that disciplined, small-market perspective when they hired Hawkins away from the Cleveland Guardians after the 2021 season. Hawkins, who played college baseball at Vanderbilt, spent 14 seasons with Cleveland, an organization that has remained consistently competitive despite its limitations.
Jed Hoyer seemingly operates in that similar mindset, so it’s probably best to have someone else who presents an aggressive approach to balance out Hoyer’s safe style of risk taking. Hawkins just isn’t that guy.
We’ll see if the Nationals hire Hawkins and if so, then the Cubs will need to hire a new GM. Hopefully it’s one who can provide a fresh perspective in the front office across the table from Hoyer, who received a contract extension back in July.
May 9, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive line Shemar Turner (95) warms up during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears made some alarming decisions last Sunday. Among them was choosing to deactivate two of their three 2nd round picks from the most recent draft. Ozzy Trapilo was left out of the offensive lineup, which wasn’t entirely surprising given the team’s depth at tackle. The bigger surprise was Shemar Turner. It was hoped the defensive lineman from Texas A&M could give the Bears front some juice. Yet he wasn’t even granted the opportunity, leading many to wonder if the team already knew they blew the pick. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was finally asked about it.
He was one of the primary people who pushed for Turner in the draft. Is he throwing in the towel already? Not at all. Allen’s decision to keep Turner sidelined has nothing to do with ability. It is about preparation.
“Really it’s just continue to work in practice. He missed a lot of time in training camp, but I think he’s turning a corner. … And then it’s about taking advantage of the opportunity when it comes on game day.”
Turner suffered an ankle injury at the end of July, right as camp was starting. He didn’t return until mid-August, meaning he’d missed almost three weeks of work. For a veteran, that is a minor inconvenience. For a rookie? It is a serious problem. They come into the new defensive system completely blind, unsure yet of how to prepare. Rather than thrust Turner out there before he’s ready, the Bears elected to take it slow.
Dennis Allen made it sound like Turner is almost ready.
Not that the Bears have a choice. They were already hurting on the defensive line, with Austin Booker on injured reserve. Now Grady Jarrett is dealing with a knee injury that could leave him out of Sunday’s game against Dallas. That opens the door for Turner to get his first real action. His youth, power, and violence are all things they could use against a tough Cowboys offensive line. Bears fans are anxious to see what he has. Dennis Allen seems confident he is on the right track. The first step was cleared when he began practicing consistently. Now it’s about getting him some game action. Sunday could be his first opportunity, and it’s a big one. The Bears need a win in the worst way.
