5 Matchups to watch for the Chicago Bears against the Green Bay Packers
By Evan Bruner
No. 3: Rashan Gary/Preston Smith vs. Darnell Wright
As if being a rookie tackle wasn’t enough pressure for Darnell Wright, the Bears' offensive line has been hit with a barrage of injuries. This may not affect Wright directly, but it does change the amount of help he will likely receive in his first NFL action. The Bears may be more concerned about their backups, and accommodating them could leave Wright on an island.
It doesn’t matter who exactly Wright has to block on the other side. Rashan Gary lined up on both the left and right side before tearing his ACL last season. Gary’s explosive first step and freakish athleticism make him a tough assignment for even the most seasoned vets.
Preston Smith also played on both sides of the defense and is another proven pass-rusher. There is a chance the Packers could work in rookie Lukas Van-Ness, which would be a much more favorable matchup for Wright, but it’s unclear how much he will play.
Wright has the foot quickness and play strength to hold his own with NFL linemen, but the margin for error is razor-thin. He won’t be able to get away with the same things he did at Tennessee.
Even if the Packers didn’t have defenders that could play on the other side, they would have no problem picking on a rookie tackle. With all the injuries Chicago is dealing with upfront, a bad performance from Wright will be hard for the offense to overcome.