What’s the best way to describe Justin Fields’ rookie season? Will there be major staff changes before the end of the season? 4 questions for the Chicago Bears heading into the final leg of the season.

Pace gambled when he decided to go into the 2021 season with inexperienced players Kindle Vildor at cornerback and Marqui Christian and Duke Shelley at nickel. Salary-cap issues prompted Pace to release veterans Kyle Fuller and Buster Skrine in the offseason, and the Bears have paid the price. It’s also obvious that when Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks aren’t on the field, the Bears defense loses a lot of its bite, and both have missed six games. Add in injuries of varying degrees to Eddie Jackson, Danny Trevathan, Jermiah Attaochu and most recently Roquan Smith and DeAndre Houston-Carson, and the Bears’ depth has been seriously tested. The 2018 Bears defense feels like a long way off. At least Robert Quinn has had a fun season, Smith has continued to play well and Johnson provides a shred of hope for the future. Otherwise, the defense’s situation would feel very dark.