Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and defensive end Montez Sweat’s respective returns to Washington to face the Commanders are two of the leading storylines heading into Week 8 with the trade deadline also looming.
On the field, however, Bears center Coleman Shelton is preparing for a “chess match.”
Coleman Shelton Preparing for ‘Chess Match’ When Bears Visit Commanders
Commanders LB Bobby Wagner a Challenge for Coleman Shelton, Bears
Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner is in his 13th NFL season. He has collected nine Pro Bowl trips, six All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl victory in his career, spent mostly with the Seattle Seahawks.
The 34-year-old Wagner ranks 10th in total tackles and 14th in solo stops through seven weeks, and Shelton is expecting that experience to be on display.
“Obviously, they’ve got a lot of good players,” Shelston told Clocker Sports on Thursday. “Bobby Wagner, he’s been around for a long time. So it’s always a chess game with him. So they’re going to do a lot of things. And, hopefully, our gameplans are already, and we’ll go out there and play ball.”
Shelton is one of four Bears offensive linemen to start every game this season.
He is joined by left tackle Braxton Jones, left guard Teven Jenkins, and right tackle Darnell Wright in that group. The lone changes have come at right guard where Week 1 starter Nate Davis has been demoted in favor of Matt Pryor.
Pryor has started each of the last four games, giving the front five a level of continuity they had not experienced in training camp and during the preseason.
They have it now, and that is all that matters.
“I think we’ve played together the longest rate,” Shelton said. “The more we play together, the more comfortable we get, and the more we know what each other’s going to do and how we’re going to fit blocks. So that’s been real nice.
“We’re really clicking, and it’s nice to get all the guys rolling on the same page and keep the communication right so we can go play together.”
Jones agreed, sending a message about the front five’s mindset.
“I think the biggest thing is, we just go out there and work hard,” Jones told Clocker Sports on Thursday. “Whoever it is, that’s what we’re going to do. But this 5, we’re going out there and just really trying to be the hammer and let people up front know that we’re coming to run the ball or coming to take it over. So I think that’s the biggest thing with this starting 5, and we’re going to continue doing that.”
Braxton Jones, Coleman Shelton Talk Run Game
In another encouraging recent trend, the Bears have crossed the 100-yard threshold on the ground in each of their last three games. They are 3-0 in that span with this current offensive line combination leading the way.
“We took it upon ourselves from each man to really just dial in better and allowing the backs to really understand where our runs are going to hit,” Jones said. “Obviously, we have new backs back there, and it just takes a second to be on the same page. So I think we’ve all done a great job of getting a good understanding where we want certain plays to hit.
“That’s the biggest thing, is just being a cohesive unit from the backs to the quarterback, to the O-line, to the tight ends. And it just – it takes all 11, really, to get that going. But I think as we’ve continued rolling, I think we got more of a togetherness in terms of their own game.”
Shelton was more direct about the O-line assuming responsibility for getting the run going.
“I mean, that’s part of our jobs,” Shelton said. “The running game, it’s always on us. So it’s nice that we’re going to go and hopefully we keep moving.”
Bears Assistant Talks ‘Luxury’ of DB Depth
The Bears were without starting safety Jaquan Brisker, starting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, and reserve cornerback Terell Smith and lost nickelback Kyler Gordon during their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in Week 6 before going on bye in Week 7.
Replacing Brisker and Stevenson in the starting lineup were Elijah Hicks and Jaylon Jones, respectively.
Josh Blackwell stepped in for Gordon, and all of the fill-ins made key plays in the victory.
“It’s good. It’s really good,” Bears defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Jon Hoke told Clocker Sports before practice. “They’ve all been in the system for 3 years, so they have very good comfort with it. They have very good knowledge of it.
“Those guys by nature, they’re conscientious. They’re studiers. They’re going to know what to do, how to do it and when to do it. And that’s just kind of how they operate.”
Having such depth is not something that Hoke takes for granted, either.
“Oh, it’s a great luxury because you don’t always get that,” Hoke said. “Obviously, [Bears head coach Matt] Eberflus, [Bears general manager] Ryan Poles, and those guys have done a good job finding those type of players when you’re able to do that.”
Hoke also appreciates the health the Bears have enjoyed this season. Up until Week 7, only Smith had missed time.
That was not the case in 2023.
Gordon, Jaylon Johnson, and former Bears safety Eddie Jackson had all missed at least two games by Week 8. Brisker would miss Weeks 8 and 9. Again, this is not something Hoke takes for granted.
“It’s been great. Whenever you have your guys ready to go and you have your starters ready to go, that’s always – it makes a difference,” Hoke said. “But the other part of this, too, is having the guys that we have that back them up – the reliable backups, there’s great comfort in that as well, knowing that they’re going to go perform.”
Neither Brisker nor Gordon have practiced this week. Stevenson has been limited in the first two sessions. Whoever goes against Washington, Hoke’s message is simple.
“Take the ball away,” Hoke said. “Gotta get more takeaways.”