3 matchups to watch for Chicago Bears offensive line vs Las Vegas Raiders
1. How does the Chicago Bears interior OL matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders OL
The Las Vegas Raiders interior defensive front largely consists of Bilal Nichols, Adam Butler, and John Jenkins. At times, they will rotate Jerry Tillery and Isaac Rochell into the mix. None of these three have been anything to write home about. Jenkins leads the group with seven pressures.
He is a 34-year-old journeyman who had a stop with the Chicago Bears back in 2020. Another former Bears lineman is Bilal Nichols. Nichols looked like a bargain signing after his 2022 season, but he has not been that same player in 2023.
Adam Butler has bounced around the NFL, too. Of course, he spent most of his career with the New England Patriots, so Josh McDaniels knew him well.
Overall, the Raiders have a bad run defense, and this group has a lot to do with it. They are all rotational pieces at best. The Chicago Bears have to take advantage, but they may not have the horses to.
Teven Jenkins has played well in his return, and it is fair to say the run blocking looks better in the last two weeks. Still, they have been shuffling at center, and neither Lucas Patrick nor Cody Whitehair can step up to beat down this unit.
Next. 10 questions emerging after the Bears loss to Minnesota . 10 questions emerging after the Bears loss to Minnesota . dark
Beyond that, reports are that the Bears will shift Whitehair back to left guard, start Lucas Patrick at center, and then shift Teven Jenkins to right guard. Jenkins played right guard last year, but is that asking a lot of him on the fly? Will he perform as well in a different spot?