4 things we learned from the Chicago Bears, including Darnell Mooney’s frustrations, Velus Jones’ potential return and Dick Butkus’ visit

The Chicago Bears resumed practice Wednesday at Halas Hall to prepare for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

Here are four things we learned from coach Matt Eberflus and Bears players before and after practice.

Mooney was spotted on the field after the 23-20 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday catching passes from a JUGS machine. He said Wednesday that he was working out his frustrations because he didn’t like his performance, including a drop on an easy, short pass from Justin Fields late in the second quarter.

“I’m still a little frustrated now, just overall,” Mooney said. “I’m just not happy about my performance at all. I had the opportunities, had the chances to make some type of play and I just didn’t be me.”

Mooney had two catches on six targets for 23 yards Sunday to bring his total for the season to four catches for 27 yards.

The Bears passing game has multiple problems beyond just Mooney not producing as he did last season, when he topped 1,000 yards receiving. But still, Mooney is not happy about not meeting his expectations.

“I didn’t think I helped out as much as I planned to, and without Eddie (Jackson) and the defense and Roquan (Smith) on the last one, what did we really do?” Mooney said. “Besides running it. Running it was amazing. Just passing game-wise I was just frustrated, not being a playmaker I plan to be.”

Jones’ recovery from a hamstring injury over the last two months has been a slow process after he suffered a setback that has kept him out the first three games. Eberflus said the Bears planned to give Jones practice side reps, evaluate where he was and then work him back in to the offense this week. Jones said he felt good during reps Wednesday.

[ [Don’t miss] Justin Fields has to ‘learn from the mistakes’ as the Chicago Bears try to get their passing game in gear vs. the New York Giants ]

Jones is trying to stick to the recovery process despite wanting to prove himself to the people who drafted him in the third round this spring.

“My heart, my head, my soul is in it, but if my hammy’s not in it, that’s an issue,” Jones said. “And so every week I’m looking forward to getting on the field. Like I said, we’re just going to stack every day, each day at a time.”

The Bears need the help after they put wide receiver Byron Pringle on injured reserve with a calf injury Tuesday.

“Whenever you lose a starter or a player like that that’s a good blocker and certainly stands for everything we believe in, that certainly hurts,” Eberflus said. “And guys are going to have to step into that role and share that role as well.”

Montgomery missed practice with the ankle injury he suffered against the Texans, but Herbert said he will be ready to fill in as the Bears top running back again if needed. Herbert was voted the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week on Wednesday after he rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.

Herbert said the details of practices under this coaching staff have helped him step in and execute as if it’s a “no-brainer.”

“We put detail into everything and just knowing where the O-line is going to be, who they’re going to, stuff like that helps me prepare throughout the week,” Herbert said. “So when I get in the game it’s the same thing we’ve done in practice already. Just going through stuff like that I feel like helps me a lot, helps slow down the game.”

[ [Don’t miss] After 2 years of loss on and off the field, Eddie Jackson is playing with a rejuvenated spirit for the Chicago Bears — and the same bold confidence ]

Along with Montgomery, cornerback Jaylon Johnson (quad), linebacker Matt Adams (hamstring) and safety Dane Cruikshank (hamstring) sat out practice. Tight end Ryan Griffin (Achilles) and linebacker Roquan Smith (quad) were limited.

Butkus did an interview on the video board at the Bears game Sunday and then did a Twitter takeover of the Bears account during a visit to their Lake Forest facility Tuesday.

Bears players don’t meet at the facility on Tuesdays, but Butkus attended the weekly dinner for coaches and their families. Eberflus said it was “a joy” to visit with him.

“It was awesome to have him in here. It was special,” Eberflus said. “I got a chance to take him up to my office and show him the Monsters of the Midway behind my desk. Of course, he’s on top, which is cool. He really liked seeing that.”

[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears Q&A: Can Justin Fields be a difference maker? Can Velus Jones be the passing game’s ‘missing component’? ]

Butkus’ Twitter takeover included a few videos and photos. In one of the videos, he talked about his favorite game — the 1965 game against the San Francisco 49ers at Wrigley Field in which Gale Sayers scored six touchdowns.

“The ironic thing is that Coach (George) Halas took him out of the game, and we were on the (2)-yard line of the 49ers,” Butkus said. “And he took Gale out, and they handed it off to Jon Arnett. So theoretically, Gale should have scored seven touchdowns. And he probably could have had more if he played the whole game.”