Just prior to the season starting, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles opted to make a tough decision by trading defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Atlanta Falcons.
Poles knew the Bears weren't going to pay him. What we didn't know was that Chicago would wind up getting Jeffery Simmons as Dexter's ultimate replacement.
But, that's a different story.
Chicago received a fifth-round pick and cornerback Clark Phillips III in return for Dexter. While we don't know what the pick will be, the odds of a fifth-round pick leading to anything substantial are pretty low.
Clark Phillips III has given the Bears some things to think about with his recent play
As for Phillips, it took a few weeks before we even saw him get on the field with the Bears' defense, this season.
When he finally started seeing some snaps, it was because of other guys getting banged up. Both Tyrique Stevenson and Malik Muhammad have dealt with injuries in recent weeks, thus Phillips has finally seen the field.
What he's done with his limited snaps has also been impressive. We've noted a little about Phillips' performance, recently, but he's proven to be a valuable player.
Against the Buccaneers, Phillips was on defense for a total of 23 snaps, 16 of them being in coverage. He was targeted twice but did not give up a reception.
A few weeks back against the Atlanta Falcons, Phillips played 22 snaps (12 in coverage). He ended that game with a surprising three quarterback pressures, two hurries and a quarterback hit. His versatility was on full display in that one. Phillips was also not targeted in coverage against Atlanta.
Two weeks ago, on eight coverage snaps against Seattle, Phillips was not targeted. That has to speak for something, if his coverage was good enough on the play to not even see a ball his way.
Jaylon Johnson's slow resurgence could keep Clark Phillips III on the bench
The problem for Phillips, now, isn't his play. It's the play of his peer, Jaylon Johnson, who is doing his best to try and convince the Bears he isn't completely washed at this stage of his career.
Johnson started the season looking like the literal worst cornerback in football, next to maybe Tyrique Stevenson, hilariously enough.
He was slower than we've ever seen him. He looked completely out of place on so many occasions. It didn't matter what type of receiver lining up across from him. Johnson was outmatched.
But, over the last two games, Johnson has slowly started to come around.
Is he all the way back? Absolutely not.
But, a pick-6 against the Buccaneers will certanly help both his confidence and the team's confidence in him.
If Johnson is convincing enough, and continues playing well, he'll obviously keep his starting job. On the opposite side, Muhammad is coming back from injury out of the bye week. He'll have the other starting spot locked down.
Then, there's Stevenson, who will be the first reserve off the bench -- at least, that's how it looks right now.
If Dennis Allen wanted to try something different, he'd slide Phillips in ahead of Stevenson as the team's top reserve for the home stretch of the season.
But, outside of potentially being the team's "next man up," Phillips will be relegated to the bench. Thus, the Bears' pre-season trade to get him, along with a pick, won't completely pay off in a way that makes Dexter's return look all that great.
Sure, the Bears now have Simmons who is lightyears better than Dexter.
But, for Phillips' sake and what he could possibly bring to the team, it doesn't appear as though the Bears will be getting a legitimate, on-field return for the Dexter trade.
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