Bears Teammate Shares Perspective on Jaquan Brisker Amid Concussion Woes

Jaquan Brisker, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson has practiced on back-to-back days. He appears all but set to make his return in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions.

Johnson has missed the last two games in concussion protocol.

His teammate, Jaquan Brisker, has been sidelined since Week 5 and does not appear on the verge of returning after landing on injured reserve in Week 11. But Johnson said that Brisker’s situation did not impact his decision-making while attempting to return.

Bears’ Roschon Johnson Offers Perspective on Jaquan Brisker Amid Concussion Woes

Bears RB Roschon Johnson Returns From 2nd Reported Concussion

This is Johnson’s second reported concussion since entering the league, a notable mark for a second-year player and a high-impact position, even for the NFL.

“It really didn’t,” Johnson told Clocker Sports after practice on Thursday. “That’s his situation. I don’t know what exactly he’s dealing with. But I just make sure I listen to my body, make sure I’m going about it the right way with my return.”

Brisker has stood by his decision to remain out until he is ready to return.

Whether or not that happens this season amid the Bears’ 4-10 season remains unclear. Interim head coach Thomas Brown told reporters they were taking it day by day with Brisker during his press conference on Wednesday.

Johnson, who missed two games with his first concussion too, has rushed for 139 yards and 6 touchdowns on 48 carries as the Bears’ preferred goal line option this season.

His approach is really the only one a football player can take knowing the takes each time they take the field.

Rookie OT Kiran Amegadjie Looking to Bounce Back

Bears rookie offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie, the No. 75 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, entered the league highly touted but injured and spent his first few months as a spectator during training camp and practice.

He made the first start of his career in Week 15 against a toothy Minnesota Vikings defense.

It did not go well. Pro Football Football Focus cited Amegadjie with allowing a team-high 4 pressures.

Amegadjie and right tackle Darnell Wright both allowed 1 sack apiece, with the latter also tying Coleman Shelton for the lead with 3 hurries allowed. Despite that, Amegadjie’s confidence remains almost defiantly high.

“I have no doubt what I can do and my abilities as a player. It’s just about cleaning up my technique and being a little bit more detailed. And as I do that, those issues won’t come up again,” Amegadjie told Clocker Sports on Thursday.

The Bears could certainly Amegadjie down the stretch. Starting left tackle Braxton Jones returned to practice in full on Thursday after logging a DNP in Wednesday’s session. Notably, the Bears have only conducted walkthroughs on both days.

Friday’s session is the final test of whether Jones can return or if Amegadjie gets a second start.

If so, the Yale product is ready to show all of the progress he has made since arriving in the spring.

“My knowledge of football, kind of seeing the defense, and the game is starting to slow down a little bit in terms of processing things,” Amegajie said. “Now, I just have to kind of match the physical to the mental. “

Kerry Joseph on Guiding Caleb Williams Through  Turbulence

Bears quarterback coach, one of the few offensive coaches who has remained in the position he began the season in, was peppered with questions about his current top mentee, Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft who has struggled this season.

Asked about guiding Williams through down moments in-game, Joseph said it is all “growth.”

“Once he gets between the white lines, I mean, you’ve done everything that you can do as a coach in the preparation part, not I’m trying to help him see it as the game goes on. Do you make the same say twice in the game? Yes, you do. It’s [about] not making that same mistake twice over, and over, and over, and over again,” Joseph told Clocker Sports.

“He’s done a great job of learning and growing. [He’s] very, very aware of his mistakes, and now he’s at that point, where if you make some mistakes, he probably pretty much can fix it. Now he’ll say, ‘I know what I did.’ And that’s when you know he’s growing and he’s learning.”

Cameras caught Joseph giving Williams a pep talk during the Bears’ loss to the Vikings in Week 15.

Asked about his messaging to the rookie in moments like that, Joseph offered notable remarks.

“I’m positive. I’m trying to be encouraging, I think when you look at the season, when you look at certain games, it’s always something that you can learn from as a coach, as a player. So it’s my positive leadership of, ‘Hey, just keep your head up. Just keep working, keep competing. And also making sure the guys around you, making sure they’re okay. Go check on them. Keep them guys lifted up. Because this is a tough position to play, don’t get me wrong.

“I’m always trying to make sure that he’s encouraged, and his confidence is not wavering and just communicating with him. And also getting him to talk so I know what he’s thinking, what is he seeing? Because I’ll never know that unless I give him a chance to talk. So just having that open dialogue in conversation.”

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has made waves for his ability to speak positively about quarterbacks. He has said organizations fail young QBs more than the inverse.

But Joseph’s comments are a reminder that keeping QBs spirits up is no secret.

The difference is in the results. The 12-1 Vikings were notably 7-10 in 2023, going 3-6 after losing starting quarterback Kirk Cousins in Week 8. O’Connell helped Sam Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018, turn into a Most Improved Player candidate.

Whether or not the Bears have the staff or can find one capable of doing what O’Connell and his group – which also includes former Bears QB Josh McCown – have done remains to be seen.