PLAYER NOTES
–WR Bruce Ellington signed with the Lions on Tuesday and could help immediately at slot receiver and in the return game. After trading Golden Tate last week, the Lions split slot duties between RB Theo Riddick and WR TJ Jones.
–RB Zach Zenner is back with the Lions 10 weeks after he broke the L-2 and L-3 transverse process in his back in the team’s preseason finale. To make room for Zenner, who’ll play primarily on special teams, the Lions released RB Ameer Abdullah.
–G T.J. Lang is dealing with his third injury of the season, a neck injury he suffered late in last week’s loss to the Vikings. Lang was injured when he was pushed in the back trying to chase down Danielle Hunter as Hunter returned a Matthew Stafford fumble for a touchdown. He’s already missed time this year with a back injury and concussion.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: WR Kenny Golladay. Golladay leads the Lions with 523 yards receiving, but he’s been a non-factor since the Lions returned from their bye. In the past three games, Golladay has just six catches on seven targets for 95 yards. The Lions traded Golden Tate away last week believing that Golladay was ready for a bigger role. He’s a physical receiver who uses his body well, and he’s flashed big-play ability and sticky hands at various points this season. A Chicago native who returns to face his hometown Bears this week, Golladay told reporters Wednesday that he’s not frustrated by his lack of targets recently but “of course I want more catches.”
GAME PLAN: Let’s start with the obvious: The Lions have to protect better than they did in allowing 10 sacks last week. Matthew Stafford didn’t have much time to throw, and when he did his receivers didn’t do a great job getting open. One way to help the offensive line is to get the running game going, and it’s been dormant the last two weeks as the Lions have gotten outphysicaled up front. The Lions should have success running at Leonard Floyd, and if that happens, that could open things up downfield for wide receiver Kenny Golladay.
The Bears rank second in the NFL with a plus-10 turnover margin, and there’s a good chance they get a takeaway or two Sunday. The Lions don’t force many turnovers, but with defensive end Ezekiel Ansah back they’re more equipped to rush the passer. Mitchell Trubisky won’t hesitate to run if he feels pressure, so the Lions, who play a lot of man coverage, must be aware of quarterback scrambles. If Darius Slay shadows Allen Robinson II, the other trouble spot is Taylor Gabriel, who has the speed to torch Teez Tabor or DeShawn Shead in three-receiver formations.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Lions RT Rick Wagner vs. Bears OLB Khalil Mack. The Lions made Wagner the highest-paid pure right tackle in the NFL when they signed him to a five-year, $47.5 million contract in March of 2017, but Wagner has struggled for much of his season and a half in Detroit. Wagner gave up 2.5 of Danielle Hunter’s career-high 3.5 sacks last week, and he’s allowed seven of the Lions’ 23 sacks on the year. Mack is one of the best pass rushers in football, and along with Akiem Hicks has terrorized the right side of opposing offensive lines. That’s where the Lions are most vulnerable.
–Bears RB Tarik Cohen vs. Lions LB Jarrad Davis. Be it through formationing, motions or personnel, the Bears do a good job of creating mismatches for Cohen, a gadget back who averages 4.7 yards per carry and has 31 catches on the season. Davis has made strides in coverage in his second year starting at middle linebacker, but he still can be a liability at times and Cohen is the type of shifty player who’s given him fits in the past.
