The Chicago Bears need an impact player at wide receiver. Can that be Tanner Gentry in Week Two?
Tanner Gentry was just called up to the Chicago Bears 53-man roster this week. He has been taking snaps almost exclusively with Mitchell Trubisky in training camp and does not have much experience with Mike Glennon from any preseason games. However, Gentry may be the spark that this team needs, and he likely will line l up at wide receiver at some point.
Gentry is going to be active on game days due to special teams value. With Markus Wheaton potentially out with a pinky injury, the starting job could be open for him. Wheaton was limited in practice on Wednesday.
In terms of skill set, Gentry is closer to Wheaton than Josh Bellamy or Tre McBride, the two receivers Gentry would be fighting for snaps with. With Gentry on the field, they can ask for the same things from Kendall Wright and Deonte Thompson because of what the can get schematically from Gentry.
Gentry and Wheaton are both splash players. The route tree is not there, but teams have to pay respect to the deep ball and contested catch abilities. They can make a big play down the field or draw a pass interference at any moment. The ability to throw the ball deep is something the Bears had no ability to do on Sunday.
If Gentry can provide that greater than Bellamy and McBride there is no reason he does not see significant snaps in his debut. It also would not be surprising to see the team test the Buccaneers weak safeties. This would help spread the defense out and have them respect the pass.
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Gentry is the only current player on the roster with that skill set and has to get on the field to make his rookie debut on Sunday if Wheaton is not ready to go. The Bears should go to Gentry in this game to look for a spark.