Week 8 brought plenty of noise around the league, and a handful of former Bears were right in the middle of it.
The biggest offensive spark came from D.J. Moore, who finally got back on the field for the Buffalo Bills after dealing with a lingering shoulder injury.
Against the Baltimore Ravens, he led the team with seven targets from Josh Allen and turned that into four catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. His best moment was the kind that sticks in your head: a ridiculous downfield grab on a 49-yard bomb from Allen.
Jacob Martin also turned in a huge day, and in a way that felt especially ironic for Bears fans. After the Titans traded Jeffery Simmons to Chicago, Tennessee needed someone to pick up the slack, and Martin did exactly that.
The former Bear, who spent one season in Chicago in 2024 and finished with 3.0 sacks, matched that total all by himself against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. He posted three sacks in the game, a strong individual effort even though the Titans still lost.
Kevin Byard delivered another impact performance in the New England Patriots’ win over the Miami Dolphins. In a game that was tighter than it should have been, Byard finished with seven tackles, including four solo stops, along with a pass breakup and a fourth-quarter interception. After picking off Malik Willis, he helped set up the Patriots’ next touchdown drive, and head coach Mike Vrabel rewarded him with a game ball after the game.
Khalil Mack also found himself back in the rumor mill after the Los Angeles Chargers dropped their seventh straight. With Bears fans openly hoping for a reunion before the trade deadline, Mack was asked about the chatter and kept his answer grounded.
“You’ve got to be where your feet are man, ultimately. That can be the most difficult thing when you’re dealing with a lot of outside noise and stuff.
Just trying to be where your feet are at all time. That’s kind of been my thing in years past.”
The final former Bear on the list wasn’t a player at all, but Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who held the same job in Chicago last year. His day went sideways fast when Lamar Jackson exited after one play and won’t be placed on injured reserve because he needs surgery on his thumb. Then Tyler Huntley went down with what’s being called a turf toe injury, leaving the Ravens with just one quarterback: Joe Fagnano.
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