The Chicago Bears returned to practice Wednesday at Halas Hall to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field.
Coach Matt Eberflus, quarterback Caleb Williams and other players spoke before practice. Here are three things we learned.
1. Right tackle Darnell Wright missed practice with a back injury.
Eberflus classified Wright as “day to day” and said the Bears are hopeful he will be ready to go Sunday. If not, they’re looking at all options to replace the 2023 No. 10 draft pick.
The Bears already have moving parts on the offensive line. Guard/center Ryan Bates is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. After right guard Nate Davis tweaked his groin injury last week, Matt Pryor started in his place in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Davis was active for the game but played only one snap.
“It was firm in the pocket and (Pryor) did a nice job blocking at times,” Eberflus said. “He had a couple plays that he wished he had back. But for the most part did a nice job there.”
The 6-foot-7, 332-pound Pyror has played in 78 games with 25 starts over six seasons with four teams. He’s also an option at swing tackle with Larry Borom on injured reserve, though Pryor said Wednesday he’s playing guard for now.
Pryor said it’s easier to slide from guard to tackle on one side rather than switch sides, and he thinks he can do it if needed this week. He once moved from right tackle to right guard at the last minute during the 2021 season with the Colts when a bunch of players came down with COVID-19, and he said it was fine.
The difference between the two positions, he said, is quickness.
“At guard you don’t have as much time to figure out what your defender is going to do,” Pryor said. “You’ve got to get on there quicker. As opposed to tackle, where you know you’re sitting a little bit deeper. You don’t have to worry about where the quarterback is as much, so you’ve got time to read your defender.”
The Bears also have rookie tackle Kiran Amegadjie available. Amegadjie, a third-round pick out of Yale, was active for the first time Sunday after nearly a year of recovery from quadriceps surgery but didn’t play.
“He’s continuing to improve,” Eberflus said. “He’s a guy that’s super smart in terms of the mentals, and the technique is improving every single week and we’re working hard to get him there.”
2. Wide receiver Keenan Allen returned to practice after missing two games.
Allen has been battling a heel injury for more than a month, and he sat out the last two games as he tried to let it heal. He didn’t travel to Indianapolis for personal reasons, but Eberflus said Allen worked on rehab over the weekend.
Allen was back at practice in a limited capacity Wednesday, and Eberflus said the Bears hope they won’t have to monitor his heel issue all year.
“We hope it’s something that is going to get better and stay better,” he said.
Williams and Allen — a six-time Pro Bowl selection with the Los Angeles Chargers before the Bears acquired him in the offseason — had a solid connection in training camp. Allen had four catches on 11 targets for 29 yards in the season opener, but it was clear he was fighting through the injury.
As Williams tries to make progress in the passing game, the Bears hope Allen can return to help.
“It’s just something else that the defense has to worry about throughout this week and then obviously on game day,” Williams said. “His special talent of getting open in a phone booth is going to be great for us.”
Wide receiver DJ Moore agreed Allen’s return should make it more difficult on the opponent.
“Hopefully (it’s) way better than it has been because now you don’t just (have) two people out there. You’ve got three that you’ve got to worry about,” Moore said. “And you can’t just shade it to one side or to one person. With Keenan back in the mix, you’ve got to play the whole field.”
Davis, defensive tackle Andrew Billings (knee), fullback Khari Blasingame (hand/knee), left tackle Braxton Jones (knee) and defensive end Montez Sweat (elbow) also were limited Wednesday. Defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin), cornerback Terell Smith (hip) and defensive end Darrell Taylor (illness) didn’t practice.
3. Running back D’Andre Swift has sought instruction for what he needs to do better.
Swift has had a rough start to his Bears career behind a struggling offensive line. He has 37 carries for 68 yards — just 1.8 per carry.
Eberflus put the struggles of the running game on “everybody” but said offensive coaches met with Swift to talk through how he can improve on technique and fundamentals.
“Really it’s pressing the hole, creating that for the offensive line,” Eberflus said. “Not coming out too fast and really pressing the hole and making your cuts off of there.”
Eberflus said Swift has been very hard on himself.
“I always tell the guys, it’s good to be hard on yourself, but you also have to be encouraging too,” Eberflus said. “You’ve got to go out there and perform. You’re a performer.”