Chicago Bears OL woes could affect Caleb Williams' play-time during the team's upcoming preseason game
Teams around the NFL always have different approaches with how they handle playing starters and top players during preseason games.Last week, we saw the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans both rest their starters during the Hall of Fame Game in favor of playing the backups instead.There's certainly some value of getting live reps during […]
Teams around the NFL always have different approaches with how they handle playing starters and top players during preseason games.
Last week, we saw the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans both rest their starters during the Hall of Fame Game in favor of playing the backups instead.
There's certainly some value of getting live reps during a game-like environment but the team's also want to try and minimize injury risk as it relates to their starters.
Going into the second week of the preseason for the Bears, head coach Matt Eberflus has yet to make a decision on whether or not starters will take the field against the Buffalo Bills, and that includes rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Prior to the team's preseason opener, Williams was vocal about wanting to get some action in the first game before being informed by the coaching staff that he wouldn't play. Based on a continued development during training camp this weekend, that could end up being the case once again this week.
During practice at Halas Hall over the weekend, the Bears had three members of the starting offensive line missing time due to various reasons. Right tackle Darnell Wright has now missed three straight days of practice going back to last Wednesday, right guard Nate Davis was out on Saturday and returned on Sunday before heading back to the training room, and left guard Teven Jenkins exited practice early on Sunday.
The health of the starting offensive line has obviously become a major concern during camp and could be something that affects the decision to play Williams during the team's upcoming game on Saturday.
“We have to make sure that we’re right there,” Eberflus said. “(That) we feel comfortable being where we are. That’s always gonna be the case.”
The Bears have a scheduled off day on Monday, meaning Tuesday's attendance on the field is going to be a telling sign. The team will also hold practice on Wednesday and Thursday before travelling to Buffalo. Eberflus, however, seems to be optimistic.
"We're hopeful on a lot of guys," Eberflus said when asked about the injuries. "Hopefully we get some guys on the O-line and D-line back."
In the wake of all these injuries to the starters up-front, the Bears have had some depth players turning heads while working in with the first-team offense. Most notably Matt Pryor, who filled in at RG and RT, Bill Murray, and Jerome Carvin.
While it's nice for these players looking to make the roster to get these opportunities, the team would ideally like to be a full health. Which seems to be part of the obvious prerequisites toward getting Williams on the field during a preseason game.
