CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears like their group of tight ends, and the position plays a major role in coach Ben Johnson’s offense.
asserted
position → like → offense
That depth is about to be tested.
asserted
depth → test → ?
Chicago will be without Cole Kmet for the rest of the season after he hurt his right knee on a reception with 5:34 left in Thursday night’s 30-24 win over New England.
asserted
he → hurt → England
It’s the first major injury for Kmet since the Illinois native was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Notre Dame.
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native → ’ → Dame
“He’s going to be sorely missed.
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He → go → ?
Really, he’s Chicago,” Johnson said.
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Johnson → ’ → ?
“He’s been here his whole life and he’s a big part of our heartbeat.
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he → ’ → heartbeat
So, it stinks, it does, I hate it for him, I hate it for his teammates as well.
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I → stink → teammates
And yet the train keeps rolling along.
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train → keep → ?
Someone else has to step up.”
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Someone → have → ?
Kmet was placed on injured reserve on Friday, and defensive end Montez Sweat returned to the roster after completing his two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
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Sweat → place → policy
Kmet had just 10 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in seven games this season, but his value to the Bears (5-2) goes beyond his personal numbers.
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value → have → numbers
He has been a dependable blocker for Chicago’s potent rushing attack, and his versatility has created more flexibility with how the team deploys the rest of its tight ends.
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team → create → ends
Kmet’s injury comes with Colston Loveland beginning to heat up after a slow start to the season.
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Loveland → come → season
The second-year tight end has 13 receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games.
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end → have → games
“He’s come on,” Johnson said.
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Johnson → come → ?
“The target share’s gone up a little bit.
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share → go → ?
He’s done a really nice job.
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He → do → job
He’s getting open.”
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He → get → ?
Kmet’s absence likely means a bigger role for rookie Sam Roush, a third-round pick in the draft out of Stanford.
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absence → mean → Stanford
The Bears also have Stephen Carlson and Qadir Ismail on their practice squad, and Hayden Large could be activated at some point after beginning the season on injured reserve.
uncertain
Large → have → reserve
Roush, 23, has three receptions for 33 yards in seven games.
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Roush → have → games
“We’ve been very pleased with the improvement that he’s made over these first seven weeks,” Johnson said.
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Johnson → please → weeks
“There’s a high likelihood that his rep count is going to go up as a result of what’s going on here. ...
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what → ’ → result
He had some rookie hiccups early in the season, like everybody does, and yet he learns.
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he → have → season
He doesn’t make the same mistake twice.”
What’s working
Caleb Williams posted another impressive performance in his second game back since being sidelined by a right hamstring injury.
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Williams → make → injury
Williams became the third quarterback in franchise history to throw for 300-plus yards in back-to-back wins, joining Sid Luckman in 1947 and Billy Wade in 1962.
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Williams → become → 1962
What needs help
There has been some inconsistency with Chicago’s secondary.
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needs → need → secondary
The Bears allowed Jordan Love to pass for 367 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-7 loss at Green Bay on Oct. 11, and they also struggled with Drake Maye in the win over New England.
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they → allow → England
Maye threw for 321 yards and two TDs.
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Maye → throw → yards
Rome Odunze had three receptions for 63 yards — in the fourth quarter.
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Odunze → have → quarter
He had six catches for 79 yards over the previous two games combined.
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He → have → games
The 24-year-old Odunze played a major role in Chicago’s drive to Cairo Santos’ 58-yard field goal with 1:34 left.
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Odunze → play → 1:34
With the Bears facing third-and-9 from their own 10, Odunze made a terrific catch on a 21-yard gain.
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Odunze → face → gain
After D’Andre Swift lost 2 yards on a first-down carry, Odunze had another 21-yard reception.
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Odunze → lose → reception
Jaylon Johnson had a rough night.
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Johnson → have → night
The cornerback whiffed when he tried to tackle Maye on a 15-yard scramble with 3:32 left in the second quarter.
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he → whiff → quarter
He had a similar issue on Rhamondre Stevenson’s 48-yard touchdown reception on the final play of the first half.
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He → have → half
He also was called for pass interference on New England’s last drive of the game.
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He → call → game
Besides Kmet’s departure against the Patriots, Chicago also lost cornerback Malik Muhammad to a toe injury.
asserted
Chicago → lose → injury
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
