Fendi Onobun Days Until Chicago Bears Season Opener
Aug 29, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Fendi Onobun (84) makes a catch against Cleveland Browns cornerback Johnson Bademosi (24) during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
We had so much fun doing our Countdown to Kickoff series last season that we decided to do it again. In case you’re new to the series, we’ll do a roster preview as we count down the days until the Chicago Bears September 7th season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
We’re Fendi Onobun days away from kickoff! That’s 84 days who don’t remember the tight end the Bears brought in last season. Who is Fendi Onobun you ask? Great question. The Bears signed Onobun as a free agent just after the 2012 season ended. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round of the 2010 draft and has bounced around Seattle, Jacksonville and Buffalo before punching his ticket to the Bears.
Onobun is an athletic tight end, coming to the NFL via the college basketball route. He’s nearly 6’6″ and 252 lbs, running a 4.48 40 yard dash. Sounds like a perfect compliment to Martellus Bennett to help stretch the middle of the field in Marc Trestman’s offense. There’s just one problem – he can’t catch very well.
As Bears fans might remember from the last preseason, Onobun struggled catching the ball in game action. He was cut on the last round of cuts last season but signed on to be a member of the practice squad. I’m hoping he spent last season and the offseason in front of a JUGS machine catching 1000 balls a day. This will be a make or break training camp and preseason for Onobun. If he can show consistency catching the ball, perhaps he can catch on with the team.
Be on the lookout for our Countdown to Kickoff series as we continue to work our way to the season opener on September 7th. We’re 84 days until kickoff. Are you ready???