The Bears head into Week 6 trying to shake off their loss to the Green Bay Packers and get back on track against the Atlanta Falcons, but they won’t have a full deck to work with. Chicago is expected to be without four key starters: Kyle Monangai, T.J.
Edwards, Montez Sweat, and Dayo Odeyingbo. There’s also still uncertainty around whether quarterback Caleb Williams will suit up, and that hangs over the matchup in a big way.
With those absences in the picture, Chicago’s path against the Falcons will lean heavily on a handful of players who have to pick up the slack. Austin Booker, who just posted back-to-back sacks before halftime against Green Bay, has been one of the team’s bright spots on defense. He already leads the Bears with four sacks in five games, and with Sweat and Odeyingbo out, the pressure falls even harder on Booker to work the edge and disrupt Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
In the passing game, Kalif Raymond has become one of the most dependable targets on the roster. He leads the Bears with 24 receptions and has hauled in 27 of his targets, and Williams trusted him early in the season. If Chicago is going to find rhythm through the air, Raymond could be the receiver who sees the ball early and often.
Dillon Thieneman also looks set for a heavy workload on defense. He leads the Bears with 37 tackles, and with Edwards unavailable, he’ll need to be active in the box and firm against the run. Chicago’s secondary has been shaky, but Thieneman has been one of the few steady pieces back there, and his versatility gives the Bears one of their better chances to create splash plays in different ways.
Special teams may matter too, and Zavion Thomas is a name worth watching. He has not been a major piece of the offense, but he is coming off a 61-yard kickoff return. The Bears are trying to clean up their special teams problems, and Thomas could swing field position if he breaks loose again.
Then there’s D’Andre Swift, who will have to carry a bigger share of the offense once more. He managed only 43 rushing yards in Week 5, his lowest total of the season, and with Monangai still out, Chicago needs more from the backfield if it wants to win.
If Williams is back, that changes the whole feel of the offense. His return would give the Bears a major lift both as a passer and as a runner, and without Monangai, there’s also hope that he’ll keep using his legs the way he did before the injury.
Even if he stays mostly in the pocket, his accuracy has improved and the arm talent remains a real weapon. Either way, Chicago will be counting on Williams to create some big plays against Atlanta.
In Other News...
Dennis Allen Is Staying Calm After The Bears Worst Defensive Showing
After the Bears roughest defensive outing of the season, Dennis Allen did not sound interested in turning one bad Sunday into a bigger problem. The defensive coordinator said the film has already been reviewed and the concerns are being handled in practice, with Chicago leaning on a young unit that has had to absorb injuries and lineup changes along the way.
Now comes a tricky reset against Atlanta, where the Bears are trying to steady themselves against a Falcons offense built around Drake London and Bijan Robinson. The challenge is steep enough even before factoring in Chicagos latest personnel issues, and it leaves Allen looking for a quick response from a defense that knows it has to look sharper fast. [Read more 🡒]
Kyler Gordon Gives Bears Secondary A Boost It Desperately Needed
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Gordons return is expected to bring some stability to the middle of the defense, where his presence has been missed while he worked his way back from a soft-tissue injury. He should be in line to make his season debut against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6, giving Chicago a chance to see whether one important addition can help settle a back end that has been searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Just Reshaped Their Defense Ahead Of A Crucial Falcons Test
The Bears went into their Week 6 meeting with the Falcons making a series of roster adjustments that could reshape how their defense looks on Sunday. Chicago also confirmed Caleb Williams as its starting quarterback, but the bigger ripple on that side of the ball came with Dayo Odeyingbo heading to injured reserve and Shemar Turner returning from IR.
The secondary got a notable shuffle as well, with Kyler Gordon activated and Cam Lewis moving from the slot to safety. In a corresponding move, Xavier Woods was released, leaving the Bears with a different look in the back end as they try to steady a defense facing a pivotal test against Atlanta. [Read more 🡒]