Bears’ upcoming visit with key free agent just became even more important after Week 10 before another team snags him first
This defense needs a player like Asante Samuel Jr. if he’s ready to play.
Timing has been a key element for the Chicago Bears this season, and it continues to play a major role in some upcoming decisions.
Looking back on the first 10 weeks of the season, having an early bye week was critical in addressing some of the offensive mistakes. The timing of Kyler Gordon’s latest injury lined up perfectly with the opportunity to add C.J. Gardner-Johnson off the open market. Even the timing of Austin Booker’s return and the trade deadline convinced the Bears not to make a major splash.
Timing could also line up for Chicago this week as well. On Tuesday, the Bears will be meeting with free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., a visit that just became even more important after Week 10.
Asante Samuel Jr. is the next key move the Bears need to make to reinforce the defense
Last week, Samuel was cleared to play by his doctors after coming off a spinal fusion surgery he underwent in April to repair his injured neck. Following the news, multiple visits were scheduled around the league, including four that will be completed before he even has the chance to visit Chicago.
Interest is high in the former Los Angeles Chargers second-round pick to see what kind of shape he’s in and how soon he can make an impact in the secondary.
In Week 9, the outside cornerback spot looked suspect, surrendering a career-high day by veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. In their defense, the unit was forced to defend against Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, arguably the league’s top WR duo.
This is where timing works out. Since Samuel is meeting on Tuesday, the Bears got another chance to assess the position against the New York Giants and a rookie quarterback in Jaxson Dart with a banged-up supporting cast in the passing game. And yet, outside cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright still struggled in coverage and looked even more suspect.
Wide receivers Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson averaged 10+ yards per reception, and Slayton led the team with 89 yards on four receptions. Explosive plays were killing this defense in the passing game because the coverage wasn’t holding up on the backend.
Seeing that kind of outing from the secondary, it’s clear the Bears need to pounce on adding a player like Samuel before it’s too late, because the only other option is to wait for Gordon’s and Jaylon Johnson’s return in multiple weeks.
At 6-3, the Bears can’t afford to let an obvious liability continue to go unchecked, especially when the schedule only gets harder from this point on. If Samuel is ready to play, he’d be an immediate upgrade at the cornerback position on the outside, and it’d be an easy decision for the team to make.
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