The Chicago Bears aren’t likely to do anything special down the stretch. However, if there is one game they need to win, it is the upcoming homestand against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football. The Bears have a chance to keep them on track to secure the #1 overall pick next off-season. Remember, Chicago owns the rights to Carolina’s 1st rounder thanks to the D.J. Moore trade. The Bears have to bring their best in this game. Thankfully, it appears help is on the way.
The injury situation with Justin Fields remains murky. Head coach Matt Eberflus indicated the quarterback remains “day-to-day” with his dislocated thumb. That won’t be the case for two other key players. Safety Jaquan Brisker has cleared the concussion protocol. He is set to rejoin the defense. The same will be true for running back Khalil Herbert. He, along with Equanimeous St. Brown and Josh Blackwell, was activated off of Injured Reserve. The Bears’ backfield will be back to full strength for this game.
It was already reported 24 hours ago that star Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns suffered a concussion in the loss to Indianapolis. That means he is unlikely to play on Thursday due to the short turnaround. Considering how crucial their defense is to stay competitive in every game, that is a grievous loss. Not only that, but their run defense is also leaky. So having to face a combination of Herbert and D’Onta Foreman behind a bruising offensive line probably isn’t what they were hoping for.
Brisker returning to the defense also can’t be understated. His versatility was sorely missed against the Chargers and Saints. Having him back patrolling the secondary should make life harder for rookie quarterback Bryce Young. If the defensive line can create some pressure, there will be opportunities to seize control of the game early. It comes down to whether the Chicago Bears manage to bring the urgency. It’s hard to know whether that will be the case under this coaching staff.
