American football is a brutal sport. Despite the improvements made with helmets, ongoing research on how to minimize head trauma, and the league enforcing tougher rules against targeting penalties, etc., there will always be players who will likely suffer CTE in their later years. We've all seen documentaries about it and also the movie "Concussion" starring Will Smith.
Chicago Bears' safety Jaquan Brisker is facing such a future now after missing his fifth consecutive game with a concussion. The Bears definitely miss his presence especially in the run defense which is further behind the eight ball after nose tackle Andrew Billings suffered a torn pectoral muscle and could be out of the season.
1. The Bears must have a serious discussion about Jaquan Brisker's future.
The fans are definitely concerned about his health while there are others who have posted his toughness and commitment on social media. It's unfortunate that there are those who do not understand nor show compassion and sympathy toward the magnitude of the injury he is dealing with.
You don't think he wants to be out there when the team is languishing and the season is on the brink? Of course, he does. Yes, this is the career path he had chosen. But his health is of the highest priority not only for the Bears but for his family now. The Bears now must balance between making sure he is fully recovered and cleared to return but at the same time, look into the future and draft his replacement next year.
Brisker has already missed five games due to concussion entering this season and this one is the longest time he has missed games.
In recent years, we saw a number of players who have been either forced to or decided to retire very early because of the concussion and desire to protect their long-term health. Names like Luke Kuechly, Chris Borland, and Ali Marpet come to mind. Unfortunately, there is a strong chance Brisker might be added to the list as he finds himself at a crossroads where he must weigh in on his future.
2. Now or Never: Zacch Pickens has an opportunity to prove he belongs in the NFL.
Last month, I wrote about two players from last season's rookie class who had been largely missing: Wide Receiver Tyler Scott and Defensive Tackle Zacch Pickens. Scott seems like he has no future with the Bears at this point and I bet many fans were thinking the same with Pickens.
Pickens did not do much in his rookie season, and he already missed multiple games with a groin injury this year while his teammate, Gervon Dexter Sr., from the same draft class, is having a breakout season. Even though he has been healthy the last two games, he has not done much on the field. But the news broke on Wednesday that nose tackle Andrew Billings suffered a torn pectoral and could miss the rest of this season, Pickens need to step up more than ever.
With Billings gone, Dexter could play nose tackle more while Pickens plays the role of three-technique defensive tackle. There are other players like Byron Cowart, Chris Williams, and DeMarcus Walker who can all rotate inside. And don't be surprised if the Bears sign another defensive tackle from another team's practice squad to add more depth next week. With three consecutive divisional rival games on deck following the New England game, they will need all the help they can get.
No matter who they add, Pickens will likely play a lot as long as he stays healthy. Now he must start producing. It will go a long way towards earning the trust of the coaching staff and bigger role the rest of this season.
3. George McCaskey continues to prove he is out of touch
George McCaskey continues to be oblivious to how the Bears are being discussed nationally.
McCaskey's hiring practices have been in question since the day Lovie Smith was fired and the fact that the current Bears' general manager, head coach, and past two offensive coordinators share the same agent hasn't eased the perception of how the Bears' organization is being operated.
These are important times for McCaskey's Bears. He hired Kevin Warren to secure the new stadium like he did with Minnesota. However, it has been difficult, as the city and the state are against using tax dollars for funding. The team is in danger of crumbling, as Eberflus' lack of accountability has been badly exposed, destroying a once-promising season.
It also seems that the man McCaskey put in charge of the football operation, Ryan Poles, is also drawing more criticism than praise.
4.Prediction for the Bears vs Patriots
Losing to another rookie quarterback in Drake Maye would be devasting for Caleb Williams, who already lost to Jayden Daniels. They must run the ball effectively and not abandon it. They must get Cole Kmet involved early after being an afterthought the last two games. A malpractice that has put Shane Waldron on notice.
Waldron must start off with quick throws and let him take the underneath stuff to get Williams in rhythm and build confidence( Haven't we heard that before?). Asking him to sit in the pocket and throw 40-50 times with an injured offensive line isn't the path to success. We talk a lot about Eberflus' situational awareness. This game will tell a lot about Waldron's.
If the Bears lose this game, get ready for a free fall. There is not a single game that is left on the schedule that the Bears will be favored and will win the rest of this season. It is 2014 Marc Trestman Bears all over again a decade later.
Final Score: Bears 27-17