5 reasons pessimism surrounding Chicago Bears is warranted
4. Depth
This applies directly to the injuries. Let’s look specifically at Trevathan. As noted, expecting a fully healthy 16 games from him at this point is a tough ask. The plan should have been to ensure the depth that they had had in recent years so that when he went down, it has not been an impact.
Ryan Pace is putting a lot of faith in his fourth-round draft pick in Joel Iyiegbuniwe‘s third season. Iggy is now on pace to start if Trevathan goes down. That certainly provides questions.
How about Bobby Massie? Missing six games from him devastated their offensive line. Is Jason Spriggs an answer if he gets banged up again this year? He has never been the answer in Green Bay. Nick Foles has not started 16 games, and if he were to go down, the Chicago Bears quarterback room would feature the same quarterbacks it has in the past. Trubisky has been banged up due to his running as well.
The Bears have two potential starters at quarterback, and somehow it can be argued they lack depth at quarterback. When looking at running back, they may be relying on Ryan Nall in year three, similarly to Iggy. He is one Montgomery injury away from starting.
At wide receiver, rookie Darnell Mooney along with potential busts Javon Wims and Riley Ridley, are likely to be counted on as the team subbed out Taylor Gabriel for Mooney and Ted Ginn without much else done at the position. There is depth in names, but beyond the number two receiver, they have serious questions, and that is if you count on Miller as a consistent threat.
On the offensive line, they lack depth at every position, and they just signed their starting safety after the NFL draft.
Ryan Pace has spent years trading draft picks to move up or add veterans. Last year, they saw the consequences of having a team that lacks depth. This offseason, they spent their assets, and future draft picks on filling holes at starting spots. They once again enter the year with just as many questions to the depth of their roster.