The Bears have spent the first month of the season giving themselves a real shot at staying in the NFC North race, even after Caleb Williams went down in Week 2 with a hamstring injury. Chicago sits at 3-1, and while plenty of the attention has gone to the bigger names, there are a few players whose next step could matter plenty in Week 5 at Lambeau Field.
Zavion Thomas is one of them. The Bears have been stuck at the bottom of the league in kick return average through four weeks, managing just 21.3 yards per return.
That’s a far cry from the kind of spark Thomas flashed in the preseason with his speed. In the regular season, though, it hasn’t quite translated yet.
He’s brought back eight kickoffs for 170 yards, and his longest return has gone for 27 yards against the Jets.
That area of the game matters even more against Green Bay, which is sixth in the NFL in kick return average at 27.6 yards per return. If Chicago wants to keep pushing toward the top of the NFC North, it needs to be sharper in all three phases. Thomas has the tools to help swing that part of the field.
Cole Kmet is in a different kind of spot. He was a hot topic before the season even began because of the Bears’ tight end situation and the drafting of Sam Roush.
A lot of people figured Colston Loveland’s 2025 success and the arrival of Roush might eventually push Kmet out the door. Instead, Ben Johnson has made it clear he wanted a three-tight-end setup, and Kmet remains part of the plan.
Still, the production has been quiet. Through four weeks, Kmet has been targeted only seven times.
That doesn’t mean he has to post a monster receiving line against the Packers, but he does need to show up in a way that matters. That could mean helping seal the edge in the run game, slipping out on play action, or simply forcing defenses to account for a bigger body than they’ve had to worry about so far.
Then there’s Kyler Gordon, who may be headed back from the Physically Unable to Perform list, though the Bears haven’t officially said so yet. His path has been a strange one, shaped by injuries and a long stretch in which the team clearly lost trust in him. Ryan Poles recently said he wasn’t sure if Gordon would ever play for him again, and Ben Johnson has made trust a central point in his locker room.
For Gordon, the way back is straightforward in theory: be on the field and be dependable. That’s how he starts rebuilding faith with the people around him.
The Bears and Packers may meet twice this season, but that doesn’t make this one any smaller. This is one of the oldest rivalries in football, and a defining one in the NFL. If Thomas, Kmet and Gordon can give Chicago something more in Week 5, the Bears will be a step closer to putting a real grip on the NFC North again.
In Other News...
Bears Fans Are Mourning One Of The Franchises Defining Icons
Mike Ditka, one of the most defining figures in Bears history, has died at 86, leaving behind a legacy that stretches from the field to the sideline and far beyond. A Hall of Fame player and legendary coach, Ditka helped reshape the tight end position before later guiding the 1985 Bears to a Super Bowl title, becoming forever tied to one of the most celebrated teams in franchise history.
His impact in Chicago was matched by the honors he collected across a long NFL career, but the loss lands hardest because Ditka was more than a football icon to so many around the game. His family remembered him as a player, coach and family man, a fitting summary for someone whose name will always sit near the top of any conversation about Bears greatness. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Backfield Suddenly Has A Packers Problem Roschon Johnson Could Inherit
The Bears backfield is suddenly worth watching again as the rivalry with Green Bay approaches, and Kyle Monangais health is the main reason. Monangai is dealing with turf toe and a thumb injury, and the toe issue is the one clouding his availability for the upcoming game against the Packers. When the rookie couldnt finish last week, Roschon Johnson was the next man up and found himself in a much bigger role than Chicago had planned for.
Johnsons workload could stay elevated if Monangai cant go, which would give the Bears a different look in the backfield at a tricky time on the schedule. DAndre Swifts recent benching already changed the pecking order once, and Chicago may be forced to lean on Johnson again if Monangai is sidelined against Green Bay. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Just Added Real Suspense To Their Plan Against Green Bay
The Bears final Week 5 injury report added a little more intrigue than they probably wanted heading into Green Bay. Caleb Williams was limited in practice and listed as questionable, while Tyson Bagent remains the named starting quarterback for Sundays game against the Packers. Several other Chicago players landed on different points of the report, with some ruled out and others expected to suit up.
Williams presence on the injury report matters because the Bears have spent the week managing uncertainty at the most important spot on the field. Ben Johnson has left Bagent in place as the starter, but the way Williams status has lingered gives Chicago at least some room to keep Green Bay guessing until kickoff. [Read more 🡒]