PLAYER NOTES
–TE Adam Shaheen (foot) did not begin practices this week. He was eligible to start and to be considered for reinstatement from injured reserve, but hasn’t yet healed sufficiently from the preseason injury.
–LB Khalil Mack (ankle) missed Wednesday’s practice and likely will miss more practice time but will be available to play Sunday much like he did last week. “Every player is a little bit different,” head coach Matt Nagy said. “He’s kind of a freak in regards to his health and how he goes and pain tolerance. So we’ll have to just keep a real clean eye on it.”
–WR Allen Robinson II (groin) missed Wednesday’s practice and his status is uncertain for Sunday’s game. Robinson had one catch for four yards against New England.
–CB Marcus Cooper (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis and it’s possible he’ll be available for the first time since Week 2.
–LB Roquan Smith (wrist) was listed as injured but went through a full practice on Wednesday and is not expected to be on the injured list this week.
–DE Akiem Hicks (rib) was listed as injured but went through a full practice on Wednesday and is not expected to be on the injured list this week.
–G Cody Whitehair (shoulder) went through a full practice Wednesday despite an injury suffered in Sunday’s game.
–CB Bryce Callahan (ankle) went through a full practice Wednesday and is expected to be available against the Jets.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Tarik Cohen seemed a perfect fit for head coach Matt Nagy’s creative offensive mind from the outset. He has been. Cohen last week matched his single-game career high for receptions with eight and has had 280 receiving yards over the last three games. Cohen hasn’t been as effective running the last three games, with just 96 total yards and for the season is averaging 4.8 yards a carry. Cohen’s quickness and moves offset his lack of strength. The Bears have to closely watch that they avoid running him between the tackles too often. They don’t have another dual-purpose backfield threat quite like him. Cohen’s 12.5-yard average on punt returns is seventh in the league for players averaging one return per game and his three punt returns over 20 yards is tied for first in the league.
GAME PLAN: This has to be a tough, aggressive defensive game plan, not the soft, wilting scheme the Bears showed last week for fear Tom Brady would burn them. They need to mix up coverages but challenge receivers overall and get as much pressure as possible on Sam Darnold. After getting thrown around like a rag doll by the Minnesota Vikings (three sacks, four hits, three interceptions), it would be good to get after Darnold early and rattle him into more rookie mistakes. The Bears have gone away from the A-gap blitz in recent games. They did it once effectively last week. It would be a good time to trot it back out to help supplement the rush with Khalil Mack still recovering.
On offense, Jets head coach Todd Bowles is known for blitzing two or three at a time whether in the regular three-man front or going with four up front in passing situations. Mitchell Trubisky has struggled with blitzes all year and it can be expected the Jets will continue to test these waters. Trubisky has to be willing to use his legs again, anticipating he’ll get plenty of man-to-man coverage. If so, he will be able to get downfield on his scrambles by avoiding the blitz. Coaches can’t get discouraged by a few feeble runs by Jordan Howard early, and have to come back to it because it’s possible to gouge the Jets against the blitz. Slants, crossing patterns and screens to Tarik Cohen or Taylor Gabriel are strong options against the Jets pressure.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Bears TE Trey Burton, who had career highs of nine catches and 126 yards, vs. Jets SS Jamal Adams, whose only career interception came in the opener against the Lions. In a defense known for blitzing, Adams is a 6-foot-1, 213-pound aggressive, physical player who has had 31 tackles over the last four games and has two forced fumbles. He’ll be in the box trying to shut down the run, possibly blitzing Mitchell Trubisky or matching up on Burton as the Bears try to get rid of the ball quickly to offset the rush. Burton had flashed his receiving ability in earlier games but when Allen Robinson II was hampered by a groin injury he became Trubisky’s security blanket in the comeback. Burton is better when he can get out and run to the seam or run downfield routes normally reserved for a wide receiver. But he can perform junk plays behind the line, as well.
–Bears RG Kyle Long, who has allowed two sacks this season, vs. Jets DE Leonard Williams, who has three sacks and six tackles for loss. With the Bears badly wanting to get the running game going, Long will be a key in the blocking scheme. But Williams is normally stout against the run. In the last two games, though, Williams has only an assisted tackle to show on his stat line, but did have seven quarterback hits over the last three games. So it’s not going to be all run blocking for Long, who has remained relatively healthy this year.
–Bears OLB Leonard Floyd, who is without a sack this season, vs. Jets LT Kelvin Beachum, who allowed two sacks last week in a 37-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Beachum also allowed a pressure that helped result in an interception. Beachum actually hasn’t been that bad this season, with two sacks allowed before the last game. Floyd had a hand injury affecting him earlier, and last week defensive coordinator Vic Fangio moved him to left defensive end and put Khalil Mack on the other side almost all day. Then he had both of them play coverage much of the time. Floyd has speed as his asset, but has seemed unable to unleash it. Beachum, a former Jaguar and Steeler, isn’t a big slug on the edge. He displays agility and is 6-3, 308. It’s possible Floyd will stay on the left side of the Bears defense again this week, if Fangio is doing it to protect Mack’s ankle. In that case, he’d be facing Brandon Shell.
