Bears need to fix 'leaky' run defense against high-paid Panthers blockers
The Bears’ biggest concern entering Sunday’s game isn’t Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton but, rather, the five players lined up in front of him.
“The star of this offense, in my opinion, is the offensive line and the running back,” Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington said Thursday. “The production, especially with the outside-zone concepts, those things are fantastic. They do a great job of blocking, movement concepts up front, and protecting the quarterback.”
They should be good. The Panthers are spending $61.4 million in salary cap space this year on their offensive line, which is the third-most in the NFL. Right tackle Taylor Moton has a $23.3 million salary cap hit this year, the most among all offensive linemen. Center Austin Corbett, tackle Ikem Ekwonu and guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis all are in the top 75.
“They’re well-paid,” defensive end Montez Sweat said. “They invested a lot into the offensive line this past offseason.”
The Bears finished last season allowing 3.8 yards per carry, tied for the fourth-fewest in the NFL. They’ve been more pedestrian this year, allowing 4.5 — only 13 teams allow more.
Last week, Rams running back Kyren Williams had a season high 94 rushing yards and 4.9 yards per carry.
“We definitely got a little leaky last game, “ Sweat said.
Union matters
The NFLPA is still dealing with issues about grass fields at soccer stadiums when NFL teams play overseas, executive director Lloyd Howell said Thursday at Halas Hall. Stadiums in England and Germany have “made progress” on that front, he said, while Brazil, which hosted its first game this season, is years behind its Western European counterparts.
The Bears will travel to London next week and play the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 13.
Asked whether the union has a preference for team travel on overseas trips — either practicing for three days in London, as the Bears will next week, or one day, as they did in 2019 — Howell said it was an individual team decision tied to how easily players can recover from injury. The Bears have a bye week following the Jaguars game in London this year.
“On the individual player level, it’s tough …” he said. “I can only imagine what the toll is on them.”
Howell met with Bears players Thursday as part of a league-wide tour.
Injury report
The Bears got good news on the injury front Thursday when guard Teven Jenkins and wide receiver/returner DeAndre Carter, who have ribs injuries, both practiced on a limited basis after sitting out Wednesday. Sweat, who was limited because of a knee problem Wednesday, practiced in full.
Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter was added to the injury report with a hip injury, while tight end Cole Kmet remained limited because of an ankle problem. Defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin) and cornerback Terell Smith (hip) remain out, while tight end Marcedes Lewis got a veteran’s day off.
This and that
• Sweat said safety Jaquan Brisker, who had a sack and an interception Sunday, was snubbed for NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
• Howell said that the NFLPA’s report card for team facilities, which is entering its third season, has spurred “the right impact” and pushed NFL teams to improve. The Bears have scored well, ranking 10th last year. Howell said the next step is to focus on improving day care during home games.
•The Panthers have a whopping 19 players on their injury report, with receiver Jalen Coker (foot), linebacker Josey Jewell (hamstring/groin), running back Miles Sanders (illness) and center Andrew Raym (concussion) among those who missed Thursday’s practice.