Mark Potash
Chicago Bears reporter
Mark Potash covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Hopes are high for a resurgence in 2023. But without linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, safeties Jaquan Brisker and Eddie Jackson and defensive ends DeMarcus Walker and Yannick Ngakoue, they’ll have to put it all together on the fly to hit the ground running in Week 1.
If the Bears play it safe as expected and keep Fields on the sideline against the Bills on Saturday, the starting offense will go into the regular season opener with seven snaps in the preseason. “I think we’re in a good place” offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said.
Edmunds practiced for the first time since Aug. 3, but with Teven Jenkins out — and Darnell Wright leaving practice late with an apparent ankle injury — the Bears’ offensive line still is in search of continuity with the season opener less than three weeks away.
The diminutive running back, a fan favorite in four seasons with the Bears, hasn’t played since suffering a knee injury on a punt return in Week 3 of the 2020 season. Finally healthy after tearing his Achilles last year, he has drawn interest from “multiple teams.”
The continuity on the offensive line the Bears hoped would be a benefit for Justin Fields and the offense has not been there — a reminder that injuries are a constant threat to the rebuild.
The NFL preseason has devolved so much in recent years that even playing starters isn’t worth that much. Justin Fields and the Bears’ offense will have to grow up quickly once the bell rings against the Packers on Sept. 10 at Soldier Field.
The fourth-round draft pick had seven carries for 32 yards and added an 11-yard gain on a reception on the Bears’ 17-play, 92-yard touchdown drive against the Colts on Saturday night.
With Justin Fields not playing and other starters unlikely to play, Bears reserves will get an opportunity to prove themselves — with back-up quarterback PJ Walker and offensive linemen who could end up in key roles at the top of the list.
Coach Matt Eberflus said Fields and “selected starters” will not play against the Colts on Saturday “because of the work we’ve done” in joint practices Wednesday and Thursday. He also said Fields might not play in the preseason finale against the Bills next week.