WARE, England — Chicago Bears staff and players appeared rested and ready to get to work, a little more than 24 hours after arriving for what they hope will be as close to a normal week as possible a continent away from home.
The Bears had two walk-throughs Wednesday in place of what’s normally a practice day with the idea of easing into things with the six-hour difference. The team is far removed from the hustle of London — where the Bears will play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — at a countryside resort more than an hour north of the city.
Here are three things we learned.
1. Jaquan Brisker is out and remains in concussion protocol.
When the Bears announced Monday evening that Brisker didn’t travel with the team, a slight possibility existed that the strong safety would be cleared in time to travel and play Sunday. That won’t be the case as general manager Ryan Poles said Brisker will not play.
It’s the third consecutive season the 2022 second-round pick will miss time with a concussion, this one suffered in a violent collision Sunday that also left Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble with a concussion.
“I’ve taught this way of tackling, the way we tackle, since ’95,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “It’s the hamstring tackle, you tackle with your shoulders. It’s a low tackle and that’s what was executed on that play. He had his shoulder in there and just went helmet-to-helmet somehow.
“You’re always concerned for Jaquan. I sent my prayers and I talked to him about that. But he’s done a good job keeping his head out of the game and that was an unfortunate incident on that play.”
Elijah Hicks, a seventh-round pick in 2022, will start in Brisker’s place. Hicks made six starts last season and two as a rookie. He was clearly ahead of free-agent signee Jonathan Owens as the third safety during training camp and preseason.
“He’s fully capable,” Eberflus said of Hicks. “I’m really starting to see him focus in on the technique and fundamentals. Sometimes when you’re a rookie, you can be a little hurried and a little ahead of it in terms of your RPMs, going too fast. He has his body under control and understands leverage. He has done a good job with leverage points on the back.”
2. Ryan Poles wasn’t wrong when he said in late August this team has the best offensive line depth since he has been here.
Plenty has been made about that comment, and I think Poles’ words were taken out of context or misinterpreted by some at the start of the season. The offensive line didn’t play well enough in the first two weeks. No question about that. Both can be true.
The depth has started to show up. Matt Pryor has replaced Nate Davis at right guard, and Bill Murray, in his NFL debut on offense last week, was solid in place of injured left guard Teven Jenkins. Poles didn’t declare this the best line he has seen. He said it’s the best depth the Bears have had in three seasons.
“That’s shown up,” Poles said. “And there’s guys like Pryor who are looking for opportunities, and they’ve stepped in there and done a really good job. With Caleb (Williams), really making sure he’s got depth to the pocket. He’s been able to set the pocket and create some movement in the run game, so we’ve been happy there.
“That’s part of building a roster. That’s my job and my front office’s job to create competition, and I think Matt’s done a really good job and Nate has some things that he can continue to work on. Again, there’s depth and as we go along this season, there’s going to be things that happen and injuries so we’re going to need everybody to stay ready.”
This depth doesn’t mean Poles and his staff aren’t already taking a long look at draft prospects. In the coming weeks, veterans Ryan Bates (shoulder/elbow) and Larry Borom (high ankle sprain) could be back in the mix as they get on the practice field before being considered for returns to the 53-man roster.
What Poles needs to be able to say definitively next August is that the 2025 offensive line is the best one he has assembled for the Bears.
3. The Bears activated the 21-day window for defensive end Jacob Martin to return from injured reserve.
It’s interesting timing because the team didn’t practice Wednesday and isn’t expected to practice next week during the bye. That’s a signal that Martin, who suffered a toe injury in July, could be ready to go soon.
The Bears would have to create a spot on the 53-man roster if they’re going to activate Martin. It’s worth noting defensive end Dominique Robinson has been a healthy inactive for all five games.
- Jenkins (ankle) and nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon (heel) were estimated to be limited on the team’s injury report. It’s an estimation because there wasn’t an actual practice.
- Wide receiver DJ Moore said he took a food tour of London on Tuesday and the best thing he sampled was dumplings with a spicy sauce in Chinatown. But it was all business for Eberflus at the quiet resort.
“I was game-planning from 6 in the morning until 10,” Eberflus said. “So I didn’t get much time for (sightseeing). But it was a good time hanging out with the coaches.”
- Former Bears coach Lovie Smith used to blare crowd noise through speakers at Halas Hall when the team prepared for home games. The feeling was the Soldier Field crowd sometimes wasn’t best at piping down when the offense went to work. Williams hears Bears fans too.
“I would say trying to hear in the headset when it’s third down is one of the tougher things,” Williams said when a European reporter asked about the biggest difference from college. “Because you may have a really long play and you have that crowd roaring at another stadium. Even our stadium sometimes, you walk onto the field and they’re cheering us on and things like that, kind of quiet down a little bit.”
