The Chicago Sun-Times’ weekly look at how the Bears split up their playing time looks at running back, wide receiver, tight end and various spots on defense.
In the two games since their bye week, the Bears have shown some changes that surely game out of the self-analysis they did during that break. They’ve mapped out a bigger role for tight end Cole Kmet, changed up their offensive line and tweaked the pecking order among their skill players.
That plan continued to materialize in their 34-30 loss to the Lions, which was a good offensive performance for the Bears until they melted down on their final two drives.
One positive was that they finally figured out how to use Cordarrelle Patterson, at least for a day. He played 25% of the snaps, which was his highest share of playing time this season except for the game David Montgomery missed, and ran for a season-high 59 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Montgomery stayed fresh, playing a modest 75% of the snaps, and going for 72 yards on 17 carries and another 39 on four catches. It was the sixth game of 100-plus yards of offense.
Surprise at wide receiver
Rookie wide receiver Darnell Mooney has been climbing ever since he arrived at Halas Hall and plays more than any receiver but Allen Robinson. He actually played more than Robinson against the Lions, surprisingly.
Mooney led the wide receivers with 81% of the snaps, followed by Robinson (74%), Anthony Miller (57%), Javon Wims (41%) and DeAndre Carter (7%). Carter is another surprise. The Bears signed him to be a kick returner, but are integrating him into the offense as well. He did not get a target or carry, though.
Robinson led the Bears with seven targets and caught six passes for 75 yards. Miller caught all five of his targets for 56 yards. Mooney caught four of his six targets and finished with 43 yards.
Kmet’s turn
Kmet played more snaps (78%) than Jimmy Graham (49%) for the third game in a row. The last three games were Graham’s lowest of the season, and he did not have a catch against the Lions.
Kmet, meanwhile, was targeted seven times and had five catches for 37 yards and a touchdown.
Defensive notes
—Fifth-round pick Trevis Gipson got 10 snaps at outside linebacker. It was just his third game this season, but he’s one of the young players the Bears can turn loose if they’re out of playoff contention.
—Who had a better game than defensive tackle Bilal Nichols? He had a beautiful interception in the fourth quarter that should’ve ended the game and added one of the Bears’ two sacks. Nichols played just 56% of the snaps, which probably helped. He played 73% and 72% of the snaps against the Vikings and Packers, respectively, when Akiem Hicks was injured.
—Outside linebacker Robert Quinn played a season-high 79% of the snaps, which is encouraging. He produced very little, which is discouraging. Quinn, like Khalil Mack, did not record a stat in the Lions game. He now has one sack in 409 defensive snaps.
