DABEARSDABOMB

I think the problem was this was a pretty significant injury, one at which, they had debated surgery and opted for rest. I think that means we are talking about a grade 2 vs. grade 3 tear - but with it, recovery is slow and I presume risk of reinjury is long. The day after it happened - there were real concerns/rumblings that he MIGHT miss the entire season (surgery would have taken him out for the year) and that normal recovery for this type of injury (if he didn't opt for surgery - because it was more of a grade 2 tear) was 4-8 weeks. So realistically - I think he's healing pretty consistent / on track - the question really comes down to - at what point is the grip / strength strong enough to play through and what limitations exist. Personally, I expect the Bears will play Bagent one more week and we'll see Justin back next week against the Lions. Give him another 10 days vs. force him a week early. If the Bears were in contention - I think Fields would probably play today (but given they aren't - why risk anything that would prevent Bears from having a better assessment). Worse case to me is - Fields rushs it, gets hurt/reinjures it or is limited, and Bears really get NO evaluation on Fields other than what we saw early in the season. In one way - Poles decision is easy, as no way Fields showed enough to bank on him next year, so than you are looking at QB or at a minimum making it a QB competition next year.

Do we know if Davis is back this week? If so than at least we have Jenkins and Davis - I guess we see who is playing center (both are bad options) and than Jones and Wright at tackle. Fingers crossed we can at least have consistency with those 4 for the rest of the season.

Whitehair is clearly done with the Bears at the end of the season. He was a good player for a long time, but unfortunately father time has caught up to him. On the other hand - Patrick has been awful every moment he's been with this franchise. Yesterday - on a shotgun snap, he had a snap that literally never left the ground. In the superdome - how is that possible. He also glad flagged for some more penalties too. I don't know how the Bears found it - but they literally have two of the worse centers in the entire league. Makes you wonder how bad Kramer is that he hasn't been able to get any shot.

I'm in the sign a vet center like Jensen. Pay him but do it over 2-3 years and than draft someone in another year or two. Save your draft capital for some other spots and FA center(s) aren't horrible.

I think Murray will be active this next week. We have to see - but supposedly he really likes new coachinf staff and vice versa. I would actually take a flyer on Murray if you didn’t want to draft a qb. Kingsbury is trash and he looked pretty good early in his career.

If Kyler comes back than they might. But maybe they won’t bring Kyler back?

He’s a very good all around tight end. Just like Jaylon is a really good db. He blankets guys and is a physical tackler. I expect if they sign him we will see more turnovers when they get a pass rush (already a bit better today with Sweat but they have work to do still there).

I assume we will have a new coach - so that means a new system. Don’t think it is smart not to give the new coach a qb. But I have long said I am not handing a qb the job. Make whomever it is earn it.

I think it is Bagent lack of arm strength that drives the downfield inaccuracy. Those two picks were just bad balls (way behind the guy). He has to see if he can continue to develop arm strength and really work on that accuracy. He has a lot of moxie so I could see it happening with some time. Good developmemtal qb.

Thought the same thing. He isn’t bad off the ball but he is really good at mlb.

This is a quality move.

Kyle Pitts went for 1000+ yards his rookie year. One of the most dominant seasons a rookie TE has ever had. With that said - last year he had a down year, but he also hasn't had anyone to throw him the ball the past couple of years. Pitts is really good.

I could see the Bears signing Hunter as well. I think it would be a good use of cap space and between Hunter and Sweat that would give you two good difference makers and quality leaders on the line. Hunter can't be franchised so unless Vikings can sign him between now and than, he is likeley to hit the market. This allows you to use draft picks on QB, more weapons for the QB (at cost controlled) and more help on the line. In meantime - in another year or two you can hopefully than shift some allocation and use a pick or two in your first round on Dline. And if Bears go with a rookie QB - that allocation at end from a financial perspective should NOT be a material concern.

I really think this is the off-season where we see the Bears go after Harbaugh hard and I think this is the year Harbaugh leaves for the NFL. My question is - normally you wait until the end of the season - but is there a scenario where Michigan is out of National Title contention and in December Bears proactively make the move and hire him than.

I am glad they are keeping Jaylon. That makes me happy. Pay him and Sweat - let’s see Stevenson and Gordon keep growing, plus smith has been solid. And than let’s hope Brisker can stay healthy going forward and that is a nice secondary. Hicks is solid plus add a safety in draft and I like it. Hopefully young dts develop and at some point add some more de help.

This is a fair point. The floor in Yoing given his injury issues is lower than with Sweat. I’m not arguing Sweat isn’t a good player, he is and very all around. I think he is a slightly better Alex Brown. That is a good player and an upgrade no doubt. He is also a very complete end. But a high 2nd rounder is a done - it affords you a shot at a good player at a cheap cost for a few years.

Wtf - Chase Young for 3rd rounder. I know injury issues - he is younger and more explosive. Wow. Big whiff by Poles.

Wow - chase young going for mid round pick to Niners. What a whiff by Poles.

It would be interesting - but I don't like moving JJ (now if they got a 2nd rounder back - fine). He's a really young player who is ascending and plays a premium position. With all that said - as much as I HATE giving up a 2nd rounder for Sweat, he plays a premium position, haven't heard any lockeroom issues with him, and clealry FITS a major position of need. And they have cap space to do it. It sure beats what they gave up for Khalil Mack at least.

I don’t love this - they better pay the man. He is at least a premium position player though and very good. Doesn’t seem like he has the issues Claypool did either.

I agree coaching matters and I do think they made adjustments, to your point, maybe too late. But Herbert lit us up and he is an awfully good QB. Awfully QB's are going to in general destroy teams that can't get to the QB (or teams that have to blitz all over the place - remember both opening day starting safeties were out).

The tackling was pretty horrendous (after a few weeks of excellent tackling). There was no pressure to be had - but this team is 32nd in the NFL in sacks. It is that way for a reason - severe lack of talent on the Dline. Herbert is a very good QB and they have Austin Eckler who is a machine on the dump off.

I'll just state from my vantage point in the stadium - there were some plays that Bagent didn't see. I felt like I was watching the All-22 cam from my seats up a top. But on the play to Jones - yes, Jones should have caught it, but it was SEVERELY underthrown. Like a dead wobbling duck throw. There were a few others like that, where you just wonder and go hmmm....this arm is not consistent. The Mooney throw was perfect, but there were definitely plays to be had. Doesn't help how many negative plays / penalties the team had, especially in the first half. Can't overcome that with a backup QB in - especially not when you are running a largely check-down offense. I also didn't see Bagent use the middle of the field a ton - maybe by design. Not a horrible performance by Bagent - especially not when you consider 2nd NFL start. I go back to - he's clearly an NFL back-up (as a floor).

If its a 3rd round pick - no problem. But I don't think Washington only gets that and as much as Bears desperately need it - now is not the time to give up that sort of draft capital. I do agree they need a massive infusion in the line. They are by far and away the worse pass rushing team in the NFL. I think they are last with 10 sacks - next closet team has like 15.

In fairness - the Chargers have an elite pass rush and they have had an incredibly difficult schedule, so I think there defense metrics are not necessarily reflect of their actual skill level. I would love to see Bears pull it out driven by Bagent and the offense playing great and defense continuing to play well.