Say this for Justin Jones. He’s already embracing what it means to be a member of the Chicago Bears. Rule #1 of that life is to hate the Green Bay Packers. His familiarity with the rivalry got off to a rough start in September when Chicago fell 27-10 up at Lambeau Field. Now the Packers are coming to Soldier Field already assuming they’ll win. It’s hard not to agree. The Bears haven’t beaten them since 2018 and have lost their last six games in a row. Their defense is a mess, and their best wide receiver is done for the year. Nobody is giving them a chance.
Jones understands that and was quick to remind people during his interview on Thursday that this is the NFL. Crazy things happen all the time. He’s well aware of how depleted the defense is. Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn are gone. Eddie Jackson is on IR. Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon still haven’t returned from concussions. The Bears are running out of bodies. Even so, he feels the defense will be ready to play. When asked why he feels so confident, his response was a not-so-subtle shot fired back at Green Bay.
He’s absolutely right. For all the bluster the Packers keep blowing, the fact is they’re a shadow of the team they were the past three years. They’re 4-8 with Rodgers in the midst of one of his worst seasons. Their defense has lost star pass rusher Rashan Gary for the year, along with cornerback Eric Stokes. The unit is second-to-last in the NFL against the run. Chicago has the #1 rushing attack in the league. The odds might be long, but they aren’t impossible. If Green Bay comes out flat, they’re vulnerable enough to be in trouble.
While he may not be a star by any stretch, Justin Jones is already establishing himself as a team leader. He’s not afraid to let his voice be heard and carries a swagger that others in the locker room must adopt. As of now, he is the only member of that defensive line who deserves to come back in 2023. His trash-talking is worth the price of admission alone. For all the jabs the Bears keep taking from Packers players, it’s high time somebody stepped up against them.
