The Bear Goggles On Countdown to Kickoff series is now underway. With 28 days to go until the Bears season kicks off, we will highlight safety Harold Jones-Quartey.
2016 Review
Jones-Quartey started the majority of the season in 2016. He started 12 games and played 731 defensive snaps. Jones-Quartey was a liability in coverage, but he was precise near the line of scrimmage. He leads the safety group in tackles with 74. He also showed value on special teams, putting in 108 snaps in that regard.
2017 Outlook
Jones-Quartey could be going from starter to a potential cut this preseason. The team signed Quintin Demps this offseason. Demps will likely take away all of Jones-Quartey’s snaps. They also drafted Eddie Jackson, who has been one of the great surprises of the early part of the season. Deiondre’ Hall is moving to safety, and Deon Bush, Adrian Amos, and DeAndre Houston-Carson are all fighting for jobs too.
While fighting for his roster spot life, Jones-Quartey has been on the sidelines of camp and has not played in the preseason. Jones-Quartey is going to have to get on the field soon and prove that he is going to be a special teams asset to have a chance at making the team.
Future with the Bears
Even if Jones-Quartey makes the roster, he is not a lock to be on the roster moving forward at all. He is a restricted free agent. On top of that, the only reason Jones-Quartey would make the roster is that the team feels confident in keeping some of the other low-end players on the practice squad.
Deiondre’ Hall or DeAndre Houston-Carson could spend a season on the practice squad and replace Jones-Quartey in 2018. He is going to have to play with his job on the line every day from here on out.