3 things we heard from the Chicago Bears on Wednesday, including the possible returns of Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins for the Arizona Cardinals and Christian Jones’ coin-toss snafu
The Chicago Bears returned to practice Wednesday to get ready for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field.
Along with Justin Fields returning to practice in a limited capacity, here are three things we heard.
1. The Bears are watching the statuses of Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The Bears caught a break when they didn’t have to face Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson two weeks ago — though they still lost — but they might not be so lucky against the Cardinals.
Neither Murray nor Hopkins has played for the Cardinals since the Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers, but they returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday.
Before he was sidelined by a left ankle injury, Murray completed 186 of 256 passes for 2,276 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions and rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns on 49 carries.
“He’s always one of the fastest guys on the field from the day he got into the NFL,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said. “Now what you see is a guy who has been able to really develop into the stuff they do offensively, where he can be a threat with his feet always, but he’s a hell of a quarterback with his arm. That comes with growth. That comes with more repetitions and him and coach (Kliff) Kingsbury being able to work together and grow. That’s paramount. That’s important. So here he is a few years in and people are talking about MVP status of what he’s done — and well-deserved because he’s worked hard to get to that point.”
Hopkins, who has been out with a hamstring injury, has 35 catches for 486 yards and seven touchdowns. Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson said he’s looking forward to seeing Hopkins on the field.
“I would say (he’s good at) tracking the ball and being very deceptive on when the ball’s coming,” Johnson said. “You see subtle movements when the ball’s really in the air to get the DB off balance thinking the ball is coming somewhere where it’s really not. Just little things like that that he’s learned over the years. He has tremendous catch radius (and is) able to track the ball and make tough catches.”
2. Inside linebacker Christian Jones joked his coin-toss snafu was ‘just trying to entertain people on Thanksgiving.’
Jones, who played with the Detroit Lions the previous three seasons, went out for the coin toss on Thanksgiving as a Bears captain, which the team rotates among three players on offense, defense and special teams each week. He said he was talking to a former Lions teammate when the Lions won the toss and deferred to the second half. When an official asked Jones if the Bears wanted the ball, he said, “We want to defer.”
“They defer,” the official said. “You want the ball.”
Jones was good-natured about the mishap Wednesday. He said he knew he would get some backlash after the game and joked he was just doing it for entertainment.
“Sometimes you’ve got to check the refs, man,” Jones said. “They’ve been a little iffy this year. Make sure they’re on their toes a little bit.”
Jones could have to be on his toes for more than just the toss this week. Inside linebacker Roquan Smith missed practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury. Nagy said he doesn’t think Smith will have to go on injured reserve.
“Obviously Ro’s a very dynamic player,” Jones said. “You can’t really replace somebody like that. You just kind of do your part. We practice a lot together. We get a lot of gap reps with the first team, so it’s just stepping in there and doing my job.”
Along with Smith, defensive linemen Akiem Hicks (ankle) and Mario Edwards Jr. (ribs), wide receivers Allen Robinson (hamstring) and Marquise Goodwin (foot/ribs), tight end Cole Kmet (groin), running back Damien Williams (calf) and linebacker Sam Kamara (concussion) didn’t practice.
3. Nagy indicated the Bears are leaning toward working rookie offensive tackle Teven Jenkins on the left side but said he doesn’t have ‘an exact answer’ yet.
The Bears have until Monday to activate Jenkins off injured reserve, where he started the season because of back surgery.
Jenkins returned to practice Nov. 15, and Nagy said this week that he thinks the second-round pick has done a great job getting back up to speed physically and mentally.
The question, of course, is if and how the Bears will work Jenkins into the lineup when he does return, including whether he’ll see time at right or left tackle.
“That’s something internally that we’ve probably just got to decide, and I know (offensive line coach Juan Castillo) has an idea of where he would be at side-wise,” Nagy said. “It’s probably a benefit that he can do both. I don’t know if I have an exact answer right now, but as we get into this thing, you’re thinking more probably left, but again he can play both.”
The original plan was for Jenkins to play left tackle this season, but his injury forced the Bears to sign 17th-year veteran Jason Peters, who has filled in well. Rookie Larry Borom has started the last four games at right tackle after recovering from a left ankle sprain, and Nagy had positive things to say about his development.
“(Borom) is just staying nice and calm,” Nagy said. “He never gets too high and never gets too low. Pass game he’s done a really good job. Run game, I think continuing to work on his pad level. Understanding that, but that’ll continue to come. I just really like his demeanor, he has a bright football mind and he has a want, which is crucial.”
However Jenkins is used, Nagy noted the Bears are happy to have the depth after injuries, COVID-19 and underperformance have left them in some binds this season on the line.