Chicago Bears roll with interesting defensive end rotation

The Chicago Bears’ defensive line rotation has been interesting since the team traded Robert Quinn. It has left them thin at the position, and they have rotated names such as Taco Charlton, Gerri Green, and Kinglsey Jonathan as their fourth edge rusher.

Still, for the most part, the team has relied on just three rushers to rotate Trevis Gipson, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Dominique Robinson.

Chicago Bears give Al-Quadin Muhammad a full snap share

When Quinn was initially traded, the team moved Muhammad to the side that Quinn rushed from, and then moved Gipson to a starter. This kept Robinson in his same backup role. However, when Muhammad was injured, the team started Robinson.

In fact, Muhammad has played the last two weeks, but Robinson has started each of them. Still, against the Falcons, Robinson had a full snap share, similar to what Muhammad once had. On Sunday, they gave Muhammad the full work again.

Muhammad went from 47% of the snaps during his first game back to 79% this week. Meanwhile, Robinson went from 89% to 56%.

While the team rolled with Muhammad more, they did it in a different manner. Muhammad played 50 snaps, but he spent 26 on the side of Robinson and 24 on the side of Gipson. Essentially, he was the backup to both.

Because both got so many plays off, he ended up getting the most snaps, even though he was not a starter.

Gipson rushed four snaps on the opposite side but spent the whole day against right tackles. The same be said with Robinson, and the duo spent nearly the exact same amount of snaps across from each other.

Essentially they went from Robinson and Gipson to Muhammad and Gipson, to Robinson and Muhammad, and back to the next.

While it may not be the most productive decision to play Muhammad the most snaps of these rushers, it is fair that this may be the best role for him. It keeps Robinson on the side he has been comfortable in, and it keeps him starting.

Robinson is still learning and developing as he gets full games of work to grow. They need a backup for Robinson, so it is not a huge issue that Muhammad backs up both Robinson and Gipson.

Still, the team may want to get Robinson and Gipson a few more snaps, taking away from the rotating Muhammad.