The Chicago Bears are sitting at 2-6, but after an active trade deadline, it is clear that they are not going to quit this season. They do need to make some changes, though. Some will happen naturally, and others may be forced. What do the Bears need to do in the next couple of weeks?
3. The Chicago Bears may get to see Jack Sanborn in a bigger role
This one will probably come naturally. After a great rookie season as a UDFA, fans wanted to see more of Jack Sanborn in year two. After the Chicago Bears added Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards in free agency, it was clear that Sanborn was not going to get that chance. Now he does.
It will come because of an injury to Tremaine Edmunds. Edmunds tried to return last week, but it was clear he could not play, and it may be a multiple-week absence. This is obviously disappointing, and no one wants to see Edmunds injured. However, it does present an opportunity for Bears fans to get a glimpse into something they have wanted.
With Noah Sewell able to play the SAM, it will be interesting to see Jack Sanborn sliding into the Edmunds role. He played it well last year, and a lot of fans thought the money dedicated to Edmunds could have gone elsewhere because of Sanborn. Does he prove them right, or do the Bears get exposed with so many backups in the back end? What happens if the defense looks better and Sanborn is making plays like last year? The Bears could end up looking both smart and foolish at the same time depending on how Sanborn looks.
2. Will the Chicago Bears make big changes to their offensive line
The Chicago Bears offensive line has been a roller coaster. They seem to have two players who are at least not a complete liability, but there is a lot of shuffling beyond that. Teven Jenkins appears to be good at both left and right guard, which is a great development. Darnell Wright also looks like a hit, although he is just a rookie. Still, there are issues with Larry Borom, Cody Whitehair, and Lucas Patrick. Changes can come, though.
Braxton Jones is starting the track to returning and could be back as soon as this week. That would be a huge upgrade. The Bears just got Doug Kramer back as well. He is unproven and has barely been able to escape the preseason without injury, but the Bears might as well give him a shot at center, considering how bad Lucas Patrick has been.
At guard, why not play Ja'Tyre Carter, who may be bad, but at least is young and growing over Cody Whitehair who is completely washed up? That would buy them time until Nate Davis returns. An offensive line of Jenkins, Wright, Jones, Carter, and Kramer would be a huge shake-up and something we have not seen yet. It is at least different, and sitting at 2-6 after getting blown up by the Chargers defensive line it is worth trying something different.
1. The Chicago Bears defensive front got a much needed shake up
This is another move that will have to come this week. The Chicago Bears added Montez Sweat for a second-round pick. They have to play him as much as possible to see how much they should pay him this offseason, so he will start and play nearly a full workload. This will impact DeMarcus Walker, who lined against right tackles most often. That is typically the side that Sweat will rush from.
So, the shift will be that Walker will lose playing time. However, it also will put him in a good spot where he is much more versatile. Walker can play both sides, but the team also signed him because they wanted him to slide inside on run-downs. However, because the Bears are so weak on the edge, they consistently have to line up Walker on the edge, and they can never slide him inside. Now, he may end up with more snaps along the interior than he will on the edge.
On run-downs, the Chicago Bears can run out Montez Sweat, Justin Jones, Andrew Billings, and DeMarcus Walker. On pass downs, it can turn into Sweat, Walker, Gervon Dexter, and Yannick Ngakoue. This is what an actual pass rush is supposed to look like in the NFL. It took the Chicago Bears a while to get here, but it finally looks competent up front.