The Chicago Bears have hit the bye week, returning from London with a three-game winning streak, a 4-2 record and lots of positive vibes.
The push for a playoff berth resumes Oct. 27 at Washington, with the NFL trade deadline following nine days later. And that’s where the Tribune’s Brad Biggs begins this week’s Bears mailbag.
Are the Bears gonna be buyers again at the trade deadline? — @jackbisone
What are they shopping for? What’s the clear need general manager Ryan Poles would attempt to fill at midseason? Or which area should he consider shoring up?
There were oodles of questions about possible activity by the Bears as the trade deadline — 3 p.m. Nov. 5 — rapidly approaches. Can they make a blockbuster move for Maxx Crosby? What about Haason Reddick?
Poles was active at the deadline the last two years, trading second-round picks for wide receiver Chase Claypool and defensive end Montez Sweat. So he’s batting .500 on deadline deals, whiffing on Claypool and hitting on Sweat. Just because Poles has been a wheeler-dealer in season before doesn’t mean he will be this time.
Those moves were predicated on serious needs. The Bears didn’t have enough playmakers for quarterback Justin Fields in 2022 when Poles attempted to improve the situation by adding Claypool. The pass rush was stuck in a construction zone during rush hour last season before Poles cut a deal with the Washington Commanders to get Sweat.
Try as I might, I can’t find a serious need the Bears must address by early November. Before you scream at me that they need better offensive linemen, as I have written previously, top-tier offensive linemen generally aren’t available in a trade. Smart teams don’t trade them unless a really good plan is in place.
I’m not sure the Las Vegas Raiders are inclined to even consider offers for Crosby. They traded Davante Adams because he and coach Antonio Pierce had a deep falling-out. Crosby should be a player the Raiders try to build around. And I don’t think the Bears want to take on another huge contract at defensive end with Sweat already in place.
The Bears, as many readers have pointed out, need to get busy in the upcoming offseason adding offensive linemen. They will need cap space to do that. Once upon a time, the Bears invested over and over in the defense when Lovie Smith was the coach and they sort of pieced it together on the O-line and at wide receiver. Poles will need flexibility with the salary cap and draft picks to make the moves on the offensive line I’m sure he already is contemplating.
As for Reddick, more in a later answer on why that’s likely another non-starter.
Week 6 photos: Chicago Bears 35, Jacksonville Jaguars 16 in London
If there’s one position the Bears might look for a player it’s defensive tackle. I’m not suggesting this is likely by any stretch, but if you evaluate where things are, the run defense hadn’t been great until limiting the Jacksonville Jaguars to 68 yards on 20 rushes Sunday in London. That helped in the rankings, where the Bears now are 10th in rushing yards allowed per game (112) and 18th in yards allowed per carry (4.6).
Maybe if a run stuffer is available for cheap, the Bears might consider it. But how would a newcomer fit in the rotation? What are the Bears expecting from Zacch Pickens when he returns from a groin injury? Pickens could be on the practice field next week before the game at Washington.
Yes, it’s fun to imagine what teams can do at the trade deadline, and the NFL has started to become a little more active with in-season deals than it used to be. But Poles absolutely should resist the urge to act like a teenager with a $20 bill in his pocket, eager to spend it as fast as possible. It’s hard for me to answer what he should be buying when folks ask if the Bears will be buyers.
Who knows? Maybe something happens in the next two games that creates a major void on the roster and compels action. Barring that, I think Poles will be happy to keep his draft capital where it is.
Great win against Jacksonville. Is it me or did the O-line look a lot better? I know Jacksonville isn’t the greatest but it felt like they were in sync and giving Caleb Williams time for the most part. I don’t remember a penalty either. With an off week and some time to get healthy, I wonder if this group (plus a couple guys coming back) started slowly but could stand up against a good D? Maybe I’m being too optimistic. — Josh G.
For as much heat as Ryan Poles, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, offensive line coach Chris Morgan and the linemen themselves took through the first three games, they deserve praise for the way the group has played lately.
Williams has had better protection and more time to throw, and as a result you’ve seen the offense operating within structure. The running game has come to life. The screen game has produced explosive plays. The red-zone offense has been excellent, ranking fourth in the league with a 70.6% touchdown rate.
The hope is with more time on task and familiarity, the line will continue to improve and grow. With Ryan Bates and Larry Borom possibilities to return from injured reserve in the weeks ahead, the Bears could be returning to full strength.
I don’t think you’re being too optimistic. It’s reasonable to expect the Bears to continue to get better while understanding they’re going to face greater challenges than what the Jaguars, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams presented.
“Good game but we’ve got room to improve — always,” center Coleman Shelton said after the game in London. “There are places where we can improve. It’s nice to go out and have confidence and find our groove.
“I was really impressed. We didn’t start the game off well. Couple three-and-outs and we got right back into it. We weren’t fazed. Nobody flinched. We just started rolling. We stayed confident and knew we had it in us. It was a good game.”
Is there a false sense of security after winning three straight games against bottom-tier opponents? It seems like the running game and O-line issues disappeared overnight. I guess it’s possible but could it just be the lack of talent across the line of scrimmage? — @coachsmyth
I understand what you’re asking, and what stands out to me is that the Bears won decisively against three consecutive mediocre opponents. The 35-16 blowout of the Jaguars followed a 36-10 win over the Panthers and a 24-18 victory over the Rams. The Bears didn’t squeak by their last two opponents. They did what good teams do: They buried the Jaguars and Panthers. Had those been narrow wins, I’d be a little more concerned about a false sense of accomplishment.
The Bears are relatively healthy and took care of business against poor opponents. There’s not much more you can ask for. As the schedule gets more challenging, we’ll see how this team measures up. I wouldn’t worry about complacency settling into the locker room. The first thing players mention when you ask about Matt Eberflus’ remarks after wins is almost always about improvement. He’s pointing to areas where they need to be better, and that’s no different coming off a beatdown of the Jaguars or a loss in Indianapolis.
The first couple of series of every game, the offense looks confused and unprepared. Scripted plays don’t seem to make a difference. Why is it so hard for Shane Waldron/Matt Eberflus to have them ready from the start? — Marc B., Nashville, Tenn.
This story has gotten a fair bit of steam since NFL Network’s Stacey Dales first reported that the team wasn’t using a script at the start of the season. Reality is, script or no script, the Bears offense has had a tough time getting started. They’re averaging 1.7 points in the first quarter, which ranks 30th ahead of only the Rams and Philadelphia Eagles — the latter of which haven’t scored in the first quarter all season. In the last three games, the Bears are averaging 2.7 first-quarter points, tied for 22nd leaguewide.
I don’t know that there’s a primary culprit. The Bears have talked about presnap penalties early in games throwing them for a loop. That has happened. The primary issue is they’ve been poor on third down early in games.
The Bears have converted 3 of 16 third downs in the first quarter, and when you’re converting at an 18.8% clip, it’s difficult to sustain scoring drives. Their only first-quarter touchdown — a 34-yard pass from Caleb Williams to DJ Moore against the Panthers — capped a seven-play, 70-yard possession. They didn’t encounter a single third down.
The offense is 1-for-4 in the first quarter on third-and-3 or less and 1-for-5 when it’s between third-and-4 and third-and-6. The root of the problem is the offense hasn’t been able to remain on the field.
Some wondered what in the world Waldron was doing if he wasn’t using a script, but teams also will compile a list of “openers,” plays they want to get to early in a game. That didn’t work for the Bears at the start of the season and they’ve still had issues with a script, but tight end Marcedes Lewis said at least the players are more comfortable.
“I told Shane, ‘Bro, we’re not at that point. We’re not like Andy Reid and (Patrick) Mahomes,’” Lewis said after the game in London. “Everywhere I’ve been we’ve always had scripted (plays). First 15, whatever it is. And we’re not at the place to where we can just go out there, just an offense, and it sounds brand-new to start the game in the huddle.
“Like we’ve got to have some expectancy when we go out there so we can at least start the game right and do all of that. It’s easier when it’s scripted so you have some expectancy, so you’re not in the huddle and it’s not like, ‘Ohhh, OK.’ It’s, ‘Let’s go!’
“Mind you having a first 15 doesn’t necessarily mean that every play is going to be great to start the game. It just means that we’re going to be on the same page, we’re going to have some confidence, so if things don’t go right, we can correct it. Which is what you saw today.”
No doubt the Bears want to be more productive in the first quarter. That will require improved execution on third down. I will point out they’re averaging 9.5 points in the fourth quarter, No. 2 in the league behind the Colts (12.0). The Bears rank eighth in the second quarter with a nine-point average.
I know it’s a hard job but why don’t more centers work as the backup long snapper? — @djw4177
Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly twirls the ball while practicing before a game on Oct. 7, 2012. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Instead of immediately reaching out to resident special teams expert and regular mailbag reader Patrick Mannelly to seek his opinion, I figured this question would be best for six-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz.
“I tried it once or twice and quickly said, ‘If I have to do this, I might as well work construction,’” Kreutz joked. “It’s a completely different snap. You’re snapping it farther, with more speed. Some centers can probably do it. I am sure Doug Kramer probably can. It’s probably that Cole Kmet is better. I tried it but I wasn’t any good at it.”
By coincidence, I had a separate conversation with Mannelly on Tuesday, so I bounced the question off him and he had a chuckle. Yes, the center and long snapper both have their head between their legs when they snap the football, but that’s about the only thing the positions have in common.
“It’s a flick of the wrist versus a spiral throw,” Mannelly said. “I always tell teams that are in high school or middle school that can’t find a long snapper, ‘Go try your backup quarterback.’ It’s like throwing a ball, it’s just between your legs.”
What happened to Khalil Herbert? I know he’s had some trouble with blocking but he went from a solid contributor to basically nonexistent. Was he that bad as a blocker? — Olaf S., Memphis, Tenn.
The easy response is that the Bears have gotten their ground game going with D’Andre Swift and are starting to see his open-field ability as a runner and receiver. That’s why they paid him in free agency. Roschon Johnson has settled into a short-yardage and goal-line role and has been on the field for 23% of the offensive snaps. That leaves little work for Herbert (27 snaps) and Travis Homer, who got 31 snaps before being placed on injured reserve.
Chatting with running backs coach Chad Morton last week in London, I asked if he was looking for spots to get Johnson more work with the base offense. The Bears believe Johnson is an asset in the passing game, so I wanted to know if his opportunities could be expanded a little — something that’s difficult as there are only so many plays and a lot of skill talent that needs to get the ball in the passing game.
Morton said it’s a possibility and then explained some of the factors the coaches weigh during the game as they work up a substitution pattern.
“I feel bad for Khalil as well,” Morton said. “He can do it for sure. It’s finding the right opportunity. Sometimes it’s even tough, too, if we’re going fast, doing some tempo stuff. You can’t even sub. Sometimes I want to put Swift in there and Roschon stayed in there.
“I think (Johnson) is increasing his reps. And plus, guys benefit from that. I don’t think it’s a one-man job anymore. As much as you want to get Swift in there — he’s incredible — he can also use a rest too. He doesn’t want a rest. It’s an ongoing process of trying to get those guys in there.”
As part of that ongoing process, Herbert will have to bide his time. I imagine we’ll see him get more work in the weeks to come, and he has value as he provides the offense with depth. How often do you see a running back go out with an ankle or knee injury? The Bears don’t want to be caught short-handed if something happens to Swift or Johnson. So Herbert has a solid role on the team even if he hasn’t gotten a lot of action through the first six games.
How come Daniel Hardy doesn’t get a shot to rush the passer on defense? He’s been making plays on special teams, causing fumbles and blocking punts. — @bears-dubz
Hardy has been a significant contributor on special teams, filling the need for a bigger player who can run in that phase. He’s second on the team with 127 special teams snaps and tied with safety Elijah Hicks for the team lead with five tackles (four solos). He does have three penalties on special teams, something I know coordinator Richard Hightower wants to have cleaned up.
Hardy has played 10 snaps on defense, and it’s going to be tough to carve out more time. The Bears want starters Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker on the field as much as possible, and Darrell Taylor has been the top option in pass-rushing situations. Taylor has been on the field for 44.9% of defensive snaps.
After Taylor, there is rookie Austin Booker, who has made some nice plays. The Bears have a good thing going with their pass rush and I could see Hardy getting a little more action, but there’s a lot of competition for playing time and the first consideration has to be maximizing reps for the top players.
Any chance that they trade Nate Davis at the deadline? With Ryan Bates and Larry Borom coming back, the Bears need to make some room. — @ghawk54
If Ryan Poles is able to get anything for Davis before the trade deadline, it probably wouldn’t be much better than a late draft pick or perhaps some kind of pick swap. Davis hasn’t played well since arriving last season, and the other 31 teams are watching the same tape the Bears did before they concluded he would be best as an inactive Sunday in London.
If the writing is on the wall that the Bears could cut Davis, why would a team trade for a player it could negotiate with once he’s released? I don’t know that Davis will be let go, but you’re right, there will have to be some moves if they activate Bates and/or Borom.
Do you see the Bears getting involved in trade talks for Haason Reddick? — @seanmorris_13
We’ve circled back to this being a hot topic in the mailbag, as it was in mid-August. As I detailed above, unless the Bears suddenly develop a massive roster need, I don’t see them being a major player at the trade deadline. Ryan Poles traded second-round picks at the deadline two years in a row, and there’s nothing wrong with Poles keeping the two second-round picks he owns in 2025 in his back pocket.
I’d be floored if the Bears got into negotiations to acquire Reddick, 30. Considering the New York Jets traded Tuesday morning to acquire Davante Adams from the Raiders, I think it’s more likely the Jets try to get something worked out with Reddick now that his previous agency fired him and he’s working with new representation.
The Jets added Adams to bolster their roster with a 2-4 record, two games behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. Trading Reddick wouldn’t make them better this season with general manager Joe Douglas under pressure to win.
As I wrote in August, Eagles GM Howie Roseman is a shrewd mover and doesn’t lose a lot of trades. In sending Reddick to the Jets, the Eagles traded a regularly disgruntled player who was seeking a lot of money. The Bears aren’t in a position to sink huge money into two edge rushers, and Reddick isn’t a great fit for what they do in their 4-3 base scheme. The Bears are seventh in the NFL with 18 sacks and sixth in sacks per pass attempt (9.57%).
Trading for Reddick is a non-starter, in my opinion, and I’d urge folks to think this one through. If the Jets just traded for Adams, why in the name of Mark Gastineau would they turn around and ship out Reddick?
What is the Bears’ plan for Kiran Amegadjie? A high third-round pick seems like an expensive price to “redshirt” a player but it doesn’t seem like there’s any urgency to get him on the field. — Jeff G., Houston
It’s probably a good thing there isn’t urgency to rush Amegadjie onto the field. That means the Bears are getting good enough play from starting tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright.
Reality is most offensive tackles drafted after Round 1 and certainly after Round 2 usually do best with extra time to get acclimated to the NFL, and considering Amegadjie is coming from the Ivy League, I think the current plan is solid. It’s not like he entered the league accustomed to pass protecting against the kind of athletes who are rushing quarterbacks on Sundays.
Amegadjie has worked his way from being inactive to dressing for games, so he’s an option if an injury occurs. He has been on the field in garbage time and in some heavy packages, getting nine snaps on offense and 15 on special teams. There’s nothing wrong with allowing him to learn as he goes and hone his craft in practice. Everything I’ve heard about his development to this point has been positive.
Developing offensive tackles takes time. I’d recommend giving this some time and space to breathe. Who knows, maybe something pops up and he’s forced into action at some point this season. But there’s no reason to rush him onto the field, especially as the team tries to develop some chemistry with the starters.
