The Chicago Bears practiced Wednesday at Halas Hall to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.
Here are four things we learned from coach Matt Eberflus, quarterback Justin Fields and other players.
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Fields has been getting a lot of acclaim nationally after throwing/ for 123 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 178 yards and a touchdown, breaking Michael Vick’s NFL single-game regular-season rushing record for a quarterback of 173 yards.
On Wednesday, Fields received more praise from Eberflus, who was asked what has surprised him about the quarterback’s game over the first few months coaching him.
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“You see some of those plays from the field level and watch what he does to pull away from people, I think that’s pretty special,” Eberflus said. “He’s certainly a lot faster when you see it in person than I thought, for sure. He’s strong. … I didn’t know how strong he was in terms of hanging in the pocket, being able to move guys off of him and be able to stay alive. Those are really the two things.
“I’ve said everything else about the guy. He’s uber smart and is running the offense well. He’s getting more comfortable, so that’s what we’re most excited about.”
Fields said it was “an honor” to be named the NFC offensive player of the week.
“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches,” Fields said. “I’m not the type to get too high on one award. Just the same old me. I’m going come back to work today, practice hard with my guys and we’re just going to get better.”
Eberflus worked as the defensive coordinator under Reich in Indianapolis for four seasons before taking the Bears job.
Reich had three winning seasons and two playoff appearances in his first four years with the Colts, but owner Jim Irsay fired him Monday in the middle of a 3-5 start and major offensive struggles. Irsay then hired Saturday, the Colts’ former All-Pro center and ESPN analyst, as the interim coach.
Eberflus declined to answer a question about the Colts hiring Saturday, who has no college or pro coaching experience, but added, “I will say that I was a little bit taken (aback) by what happened there.”
“Frank’s a very good friend of mine,” Eberflus said. “I really enjoyed my time with him. He certainly helped me professionally as a man, as a coach. And I can’t say enough good things about Frank Reich. I love him to death.”
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Eberflus said he also felt for other coaches and staff in the building whom he knows well, noting how he experienced a coaching change as an assistant when the Cleveland Browns fired Eric Mangini after the 2010 season.
“I was in that situation a little bit when I was back in Cleveland before I got hired with the Cowboys, so I know that feeling with the families,” Eberflus said. “I know it’s hard, and my heart goes out to those guys and just hopefully they’ll have some wisdom and stay strong.”
Jones, the Bears’ 2022 third-round pick, was a healthy scratch Sunday following the addition of wide receiver Chase Claypool. Eberflus said after the game that the Bears decided to go without Jones because of a bigger need on their special teams coverage units. Jones already had lost his return job because he muffed two punts.
Eberflus was asked Wednesday about whether the Bears needed to play Jones to further his growth.
“Certainly we look at that and we understand that,” Eberflus said. “But we do that more in practice. For the game, we’re going to put the best guys up for the game to win that game.”
Along with the Claypool addition at the trade deadline, the Bears have gotten healthier in the wide receivers room, with N’Keal Harry coming back from injured reserve and Byron Pringle in his window to return from IR.
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That has pushed Jones down the depth chart. Eberflus said it remains a competition to get time.
“Do you know your job? Do you know your motions? Do you know how to block the point, when we’re running the ball on the perimeter and hustle on the back side?” Eberflus said. “But then it comes down to being a playmaker. That position to me is a game-changer, playmaking position. And there’s a lot of competition in there, which is good for us.”
Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad sat out Wednesday with a knee injury, while cornerback Kindle Vildor is recovering from an ankle injury he suffered against the Dolphins.
Safety Dane Cruikshank also sat out with illness, and defensive back/special teamer Josh Blackwell was limited with a knee injury.
The Bears also opened the 21-day window for linebacker Matt Adams to return from IR. Adams has been out since Oct. 11 with a calf injury.
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