Week 6 did the Bears a favor, and it may have given Ryan Poles a clear opening to chase a familiar name.
Chicago is already averaging 2.8 sacks per game, which ties the team for seventh in the league, even without a true superstar edge rusher leading the charge. That’s a decent number on its own. Add veteran help, and the defense could get a lot more dangerous in a hurry.
Khalil Mack is the obvious name to watch. The Chargers dropped again, the Bears are set to go another game without Montez Sweat, and Dayo Odeyingbo is still out. Put those pieces together, and the case for a reunion starts to build fast.
There’s also the simple football logic of the situation. Los Angeles is sitting at 0-6, and no team has ever started that way and still made the playoffs.
With that kind of start, it’s fair to wonder whether the Chargers are headed toward a selloff instead of a rescue mission. If that’s where this goes, Mack becomes one of the most obvious veterans to move.
He’s on an expiring deal and could even be in the final year of his career, which makes the decision cleaner for the Chargers: get something back now, or risk losing him for nothing later. For Chicago, the appeal is pretty straightforward.
Mack played well in his first run with the Bears before elevating his game in Los Angeles. His final season in Chicago was derailed by injury, but after that he got back on track and reminded everyone why he’s been one of the premier pass rushers of his era.
This season, he’s been the bright spot on the Chargers’ defense. Through six games, he has 19 total tackles, including 11 solo stops, along with five tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, 3.0 sacks, 16 total pressures and 10 run stops.
For a Bears defense that has held up fairly well, “fairly well” may not be enough in a loaded NFC North. Mack would not only bring more juice off the edge, but also give the unit a veteran voice for Austin Booker. His value isn’t limited to rushing the passer, either; his work in coverage and against the run remains unusual for a player at his position.
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Luther Burden Just Reopened A Bears Debate Fans Were Waiting On
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Bears Escaped Atlanta But One Problem Nearly Ruined Everything
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Caleb Williams May Have Unlocked A New Bears Weapon
Caleb Williams return gave the Bears passing game a cleaner rhythm against the Falcons, and one of the clearest beneficiaries was Colston Loveland. With Williams completing 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown, Chicago was able to lean into a more connected, more intentional aerial attack, and Loveland looked like a bigger part of the plan from the start.
The tight ends heavier workload comes after a stretch in which quarterback changes and injuries kept his production in check, so this game felt like a reset as much as a breakout. If the Bears are trying to settle into a more reliable offensive identity, getting Loveland back into the flow gives Williams another option they can build around. [Read more 🡒]