Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2016 22:17:04 GMT -6
Bears rookie Nick Kwiatkoski pushing to catch up
Dan WiedererContact ReporterChicago Tribune
The Bears returned to practice Monday at Halas Hall, flipping the page after Saturday's 23-7 home loss to the Chiefs. Next up: Thursday's exhibition finale in Cleveland. It's unlikely any starters will play in that game. Meanwhile, the Bears continue their march toward the season opener. Here's what we learned Monday in Lake Forest.
Inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski was back in the mix at practice.
Drafted in the fourth round in May, Kwiatkoski suffered a serious hamstring injury during a training camp practice July 30 and hadn't practiced since, missing the first three exhibition games. His return to the fold this week comes with significant intrigue for a player who seems to fit the Bears' prerequisites as a quick and instinctive linebacker. Still, the rookie linebacker hasn't had much opportunity to show what he offers.
"I looked out there today and was like, 'Man, who's this new guy out here?'" fellow linebacker Jerrell Freeman joked after Monday's practice.
Freeman can empathize with Kwiatkoski's restlessness but emphasized how steep the rookie's learning curve remains with so much missed time added to his already difficult college-to-pros transition.
"He's a good linebacker," Freeman said. "But when you come from college into a defense like this one, you have to know and understand things before you can turn yourself loose with your instincts and say, 'OK, I can do this. I can get away with that.' It's so much different in the NFL and in a 3-4 like this, it's all reps and experience, man."
The Bears will cut their roster to 53 players by Saturday afternoon and would like to get a better evaluation of Kwiatkoski, preferably under game conditions.
Coach John Fox said Monday that he hadn't been able to get a comprehensive assessment of Kwiatkoski's abilities from organized team activities and minicamp. Still, as a fourth-round pick with a promising future, Kwiatkoski seems to have an inside track on a roster spot.
With Freeman and Danny Trevathan as roster locks, keeping Kwiatkoski could leave only one or maybe two additional roster openings at inside linebacker with a horde of players — Jonathan Anderson, John Timu, Christian Jones and Lamin Barrow — fighting to stick around.
The Bears must finish their first wave of cuts by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The Bears have to pare their roster to 75 players. There were 80 on the roster after Monday's practice. But that included center Hroniss Grasu and quarterback Connor Shaw, both of whom suffered season-ending injuries this month and will likely soon be designated for injured reserve.
Others who missed Monday's practice included Akiem Hicks (personal reasons), Ted Larsen (sick) and Tracy Porter (concussion).
Both Eddie Royal and Zach Miller have now been fully cleared from their concussions.
In trimming the roster to 75, the Bears will first have to examine their depth and needs across the board to field a team for Thursday's game in Cleveland.
Shaw suffered a compound fracture to his left leg in Saturday's game.
That was a tough blow to a player who had impressed the coaching staff and front office. It also leaves the Bears to scramble as they piece together quarterback plans for Thursday's game. David Fales, who didn't play against the Patriots or Chiefs, figures to see extensive time and could play the entire game.
The Bears have to decide whether to play backup Brian Hoyer or at least keep him available in case of emergency.
"All things are possible," Fox said.
dwiederer@chicagotribune.com
Dan WiedererContact ReporterChicago Tribune
The Bears returned to practice Monday at Halas Hall, flipping the page after Saturday's 23-7 home loss to the Chiefs. Next up: Thursday's exhibition finale in Cleveland. It's unlikely any starters will play in that game. Meanwhile, the Bears continue their march toward the season opener. Here's what we learned Monday in Lake Forest.
Inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski was back in the mix at practice.
Drafted in the fourth round in May, Kwiatkoski suffered a serious hamstring injury during a training camp practice July 30 and hadn't practiced since, missing the first three exhibition games. His return to the fold this week comes with significant intrigue for a player who seems to fit the Bears' prerequisites as a quick and instinctive linebacker. Still, the rookie linebacker hasn't had much opportunity to show what he offers.
"I looked out there today and was like, 'Man, who's this new guy out here?'" fellow linebacker Jerrell Freeman joked after Monday's practice.
Freeman can empathize with Kwiatkoski's restlessness but emphasized how steep the rookie's learning curve remains with so much missed time added to his already difficult college-to-pros transition.
"He's a good linebacker," Freeman said. "But when you come from college into a defense like this one, you have to know and understand things before you can turn yourself loose with your instincts and say, 'OK, I can do this. I can get away with that.' It's so much different in the NFL and in a 3-4 like this, it's all reps and experience, man."
The Bears will cut their roster to 53 players by Saturday afternoon and would like to get a better evaluation of Kwiatkoski, preferably under game conditions.
Coach John Fox said Monday that he hadn't been able to get a comprehensive assessment of Kwiatkoski's abilities from organized team activities and minicamp. Still, as a fourth-round pick with a promising future, Kwiatkoski seems to have an inside track on a roster spot.
With Freeman and Danny Trevathan as roster locks, keeping Kwiatkoski could leave only one or maybe two additional roster openings at inside linebacker with a horde of players — Jonathan Anderson, John Timu, Christian Jones and Lamin Barrow — fighting to stick around.
The Bears must finish their first wave of cuts by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The Bears have to pare their roster to 75 players. There were 80 on the roster after Monday's practice. But that included center Hroniss Grasu and quarterback Connor Shaw, both of whom suffered season-ending injuries this month and will likely soon be designated for injured reserve.
Others who missed Monday's practice included Akiem Hicks (personal reasons), Ted Larsen (sick) and Tracy Porter (concussion).
Both Eddie Royal and Zach Miller have now been fully cleared from their concussions.
In trimming the roster to 75, the Bears will first have to examine their depth and needs across the board to field a team for Thursday's game in Cleveland.
Shaw suffered a compound fracture to his left leg in Saturday's game.
That was a tough blow to a player who had impressed the coaching staff and front office. It also leaves the Bears to scramble as they piece together quarterback plans for Thursday's game. David Fales, who didn't play against the Patriots or Chiefs, figures to see extensive time and could play the entire game.
The Bears have to decide whether to play backup Brian Hoyer or at least keep him available in case of emergency.
"All things are possible," Fox said.
dwiederer@chicagotribune.com
