Five Bears regression candidates

3. Zach Miller

Zach Miller has defied a lot of odds to get to this point in his career. However, he now enters 2017 rehabbing from another injury at age 33. On top of that, the team signed a free agent tight end and drafted a tight end in the second round. Miller is a free agent next season and given the longer term investments to other players at his position, the writing seems to be on the wall that this is it.

Late into the season if the Bears are not making the playoffs there is no need

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to throw out Miller instead of a learning Adam Shaheen. Even Daniel Brown would fit a similar role to Miller and is going to be under team control longer, as he is an exclusive-rights free agent. This means that one hiccup in his recovery, or even one preseason game in which he does not look like he has the same hop in his step and he could be on the roster bubble.

Miller has eclipsed 400 yards and four touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. Last year he did so in just eight starts. However, next year he may only make eight starts if he stays healthy, and as the season goes on his production and standing on the team could be on the decline.