Dayo Odeyingbo’s quad injury may have changed the Bears’ calculus in a hurry.
Chicago already had enough to sort through after a rough trip to Lambeau Field, where Ben Johnson’s team looked unprepared and neither quarterback could keep the offense moving. Then the injuries piled up.
Tyrique Stevenson and T.J. Edwards both left the game, but Odeyingbo’s exit in the second half may be the one that matters most.
That’s because Odeyingbo has been one of the quiet bright spots on Dennis Allen’s defense. He’s given the Bears real production up front, and his numbers back it up: 14 pressures, 9 total tackles, 5 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and 3.0 sacks. Losing that kind of disruption, even temporarily, exposes just how thin Chicago is in the pass rush.
Soft-tissue injuries have a way of hanging around, and there’s still no word on the full extent of the quad issue. Even if Odeyingbo is able to play in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons, the Bears just showed how much pressure they lose when he’s not on the field. And that puts the spotlight squarely on Montez Sweat, who needs more help.
That’s where Khalil Mack comes in.
The Los Angeles Chargers are 0-5 and look headed toward being sellers before the November 10 trade deadline. Mack, who wants and deserves a chance to play for a Super Bowl contender, could make a lot of sense as a return piece for Chicago. The fit is obvious enough: the Bears know him, the fan base still values him, and the city is already familiar territory.
And from a football standpoint, the move would give Chicago exactly what it lacks. With Mack, Sweat and Odeyingbo rotating through the front, the Bears could have an elite pass-rushing group.
Ryan Poles has already kicked the tires on big-name edge additions before. He was in the mix for Maxx Crosby, then watched that possibility slip away.
Cameron Jordan was another name that surfaced, but Chicago never got it done there either. This time, the Bears may not want to let the chance pass.
The Chargers have lost five straight, and the Bears have an opening if they want it. Mack could give them a real shot at a ring before the end of his career, and Chicago has every reason to make the call.
In Other News...
Jaylon Johnson Just Put The Bears Secondary Under A Harsh Spotlight
Chicagos defensive struggles in Week 5 put the Bears secondary back under a harsh spotlight, and Jaylon Johnson was right in the middle of it. The veteran cornerback has not shown the kind of impact the Bears hoped for this season, with Pro Football Focus grading him poorly and his ball production still absent, leaving the outside of the defense looking far less stable than expected.
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Atlanta now looms as the next checkpoint, but the Bears have every reason to be measured with the most important player in the system. His status for Week 6 is still the key question, and the teams approach suggests it will not rush him back just to meet a calendar date. For an offense that has already shown how thin the margin is without him, the decision on Williams could shape more than one game. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Loss To Packers Created A Defensive Problem They Can't Ignore
The Bears 31-7 loss to the Packers in Week 5 did more than expose problems on the scoreboard. It also left Chicago dealing with a defensive injury pileup at a time when the unit was already under strain, with the team trying to sort through a growing list of unavailable players before the next round of games.
Tyrique Stevenson, T.J. Edwards, and Dayo Odeyingbo all left with hamstring or quad injuries, adding to the uncertainty around a defense that has been trying to hold together through attrition. With more than one starter affected and other defenders already sidelined, the Bears may have to keep adjusting their plan on the fly just to get through the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]