5 changes Chicago Bears must make with mini-bye

3. Chicago Bears will make WR changes

This one appears to be less about speculation and more about the reality of the situation. In the offseason, the thought was that N’Keal Harry and Velus Jones would be more involved in the offense than Dante Pettis and Ihmir Smith-Marsette.

Obviously, that has not happened yet. Injuries have been the story for both, and it has given Pettis a chance to make two game-changing touchdowns this season.

Still, the offense has a chance to grow with Harry and Jones, and those two should out snap Smith-Marsette and Pettis moving forward.

That is tough to say after Pettis caught a touchdown and Jones fumbled the game away, but Jones Is not returning punts here. In fact, the Chicago Bears’ plan to get him the ball on offense has been good.

Jet sweeps and screens are all he can handle for now, but he has moved and shaken with the ball In his hands. Then, there is N’Keal Harry. Harry is the best blocker in the group, and his outside presence will transform Darnell Mooney into a full-time slot player, which is a big win for Mooney.

Pettis played well Thursday, but is a place holder, and has four non-factor games to two big play games. They have to get Jones involved on offense, and Harry makes things a lot easier. When you add in that Smith-Marsette has been a disaster, it starts to get easier to make this change.

Jones saw his snap counts increase in the last three weeks, and Harry will make his debut Monday. This is a great time to get both moving in the right direction.