The Chicago Bears are 3-1 and, with Caleb Williams out the last two weeks, they’ve already shown they can survive a stretch without their star quarterback. Wins over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 and the New York Jets in Week 4 kept them rolling, and the expectation is that Williams should be back for the back half of the regular season schedule.
That’s why Kyle Long thinks Chicago should be looking to add now.
The former Bears offensive lineman, now a CBS NFL analyst and co-host of the weekly digital football show "Set, Hut!" with Russell Wilson, said the Bears could take a real swing by going after a very familiar name on defense: Khalil Mack.
"This is a Bears team that is one move away from being a Super Bowl contender," said Long. "Look, I thought it was gonna be Maxx Crosby.
But the Raiders keep winning. They aren't gonna let that guy out on a Southwest flight because we saw what happened last time.
Maybe Khalil Mack, return of the Mack. I'm just saying."
It’s not hard to see why the idea has some appeal. Mack remains one of the league’s most respected edge rushers, with nine Pro Bowl selections on his resume, and the Bears would know exactly what they’d be getting. He played in Chicago from 2018 to 2021 before being dealt to the Chargers in 2022.
The timing could line up, too. Los Angeles is off to a 0-4 start, which puts the Chargers in a spot where dealing veterans becomes more realistic. If that slide continues, Mack could be among the names available as the NFL trade deadline approaches.
For Chicago, the case is straightforward: the team is winning now, Williams is expected back later, and adding a proven pass rusher could make the roster look even more dangerous when it matters most.
In Other News...
Chargers Trade Buzz Says One Bold Move Could Save This Offense
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It is the sort of idea that instantly grabs attention because of what the Chargers need and what a receiver of Harrisons caliber would represent for the offense. For now, though, it remains a speculative proposal rather than a concrete path, leaving the bigger question hanging over how aggressive Los Angeles might be in trying to salvage a slow-starting season. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Face A Harbaugh Question Fans Never Wanted
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The bigger concern is that the questions are no longer limited to one bad stretch. Justin Herberts recent dip has become part of the debate, and some around the league point to injuries and front office decisions as major factors in the mess. Even so, the Chargers margin for error has vanished, and if the results do not turn soon, the discussion around Harbaugh may move from speculation to something much harder to avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Offense Has Reached A Breaking Point Under Mike McDaniel
The Chargers have reached an uneasy early-season crossroads at 0-4, and the problems on offense have gone well beyond a few bad drives. Justin Herbert and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel have been working through a mess of procedural penalties, intricate play designs and snap count issues that have made a unit built to carry the team look far less settled than expected.
Now the challenge may only get harder with the Broncos next on the schedule, since Los Angeles could be forced to lean on multiple rookie offensive linemen. Against a Denver defense that can punish hesitation, the Chargers are staring at a test of whether the offense can simplify enough to function, or whether the strain up front will keep pushing the season further toward the edge. [Read more 🡒]