Week 9 of the NFL wasn't the greatest week of football we've ever seen, as offenses generally failed to score much as multiple backup quarterbacks started games. The Chicago Bears' win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, messy as it was, was truly the most exciting game of the week.
This week's look at former Bears is not all sunshine and roses, but let's take a look anyway.
Justin Fields fumbles in rare opportunity (up to now)
If Patrick Mahomes had been slower to recover from the major knee injury he suffered late last season, Fields may have started some games for the Kansas City Chief early this season. But, alas, he has hardly played up to this point and four of his six snaps for the season came in what was victory formation against the New York Jets in Week 9.
Fields' other snap in the game came on a quarterback sneak in the first quarter, and he fumbled.
Bears' fans surely hope Fields can find a way to extend his career, even if it's as a well-traveled backup. A fumble in his first opportunity of this season was a rough look, but if Mahomes' elbow injury from the game against the Jets sidelines him, the Georgia native may start against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10.
Keenan Allen goes from Colts with 49ers in deadline day trade
Allen led the Bears in receiving touchdowns with seven during his lone season as a Bear in 2024. After spending last season back with the Los Angeles Chargers, landing with the Indianapolis Colts for this season always seemed weird. Now he'll go to the 49ers with a chance at a ring.
The Colts were, for some reason, hesitant to go absolutely all the way into sell-mode after firing general manager Chris Ballard. But the 34-year old Allen was an easy trade candidate, and San Francisco needed help at wide receiver.
If the Bears don't win the Super Bowl this year, rooting for Allen to do so could become an alternative rooting interest for fans.
Declan Doyle gets a quarterback to fill big injury void
A short week after losing Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley to significant injuries left the Baltimore Ravens to start, and the former Bears offensive coordinator to call plays for, undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After the easy idea about reuniting Doyle with Tyson Bagent, they swung a trade to acquire Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals to bring in a more ideal quarterback solution.
The Ravens simply need a quarterback who can keep them afloat, at least until Jackson can return; if he's able to return this season. Brissett can certainly do that. But it's interesting the quarterback pivot for Baltimore was not Bagent, perhaps due to the Bears maintaining a high asking price.
Jacob Martin is having a little breakout in Tennessee
In the wake of the Bears acquiring Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans, we highlighted Martin's three-sack outing in Week 8, which matched his sack total from his one season as a Bear.
Martin's performance this season is worth a closer look. As the Titans come off their bye in Week 9, of course aided by the performance in Week 8, he is top-10 in the league in sacks (6.5) and quarterback hits (14). He also has seven tackles for loss.
Pro Football Focus has not been kind to his work thus far, for whatever it's worth. But opportunity is knocking for Martin, and he appears ready to answer the door for with Simmons gone.
Khalil Mack is stuck with the Chargers (for now)
The 0-8 Chargers were stubborn about trading players, but in a true "deadlines drive action" sentiment they appear to be softening. As the time wound down before the trade deadline, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the Chargers had become more open to trading players. But...
"Khalil Mack is still considered a long shot..."
Mack said all the right things about staying with the Chargers in a lost season, but he would surely like to have gone to a contender and that team has never been close to being that on a serious level. A reunion with the Bears made sense, but Jim Harbaugh and Chargers general manager Joe Hortitz appeared to want to hold the veteran pass rusher hostage.
Mack will probably sign with a different team in the offseason, but the Chargers had a trade deadline asset they won't cash in. Maybe the Bears can sign him to a reasonable contract as a free agent come March.
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