Bears begin practice week in English countryside ahead of Jaguars game
WARE, England — The Bears flew early to London hoping to make their practice week as much like the normal day-to-day at Halas Hall as possible ahead of their game against the Jaguars, but there’s no mistaking how unusual their surroundings are.
The team began practice Wednesday at Hanbury Manor, about 35 miles outside London, in classic British fall weather: 60 degrees Fahrenheit, gray skies, misty rain.
The Bears will stay at the resort, which has fields for practice, all week leading up to the game Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Jaguars are expected to arrive later and practice Friday, plus they are staying to host the Patriots at Wembley Stadium next weekend.
The team left Chicago on Monday night, arrived Tuesday morning and gave players Tuesday to themselves in England. Their plan has been to hold walk-through Wednesday as players adjust to the time difference — London is six hours ahead of Chicago — and get back to regular practices Thursday and Friday.
Quarterback Caleb Williams, general manager Ryan Poles, president Kevin Warren and coach Matt Eberflus all are scheduled to speak to Chicago and international media Wednesday before practice.
The Bears brought left guard Teven Jenkins on the trip hoping he will recover enough from bruised ribs and an ankle injury to play Sunday. They kept safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion), defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin) and cornerback Terell Smith (hip) at Halas Hall, but have not ruled them out for the game. It’s possible any of them, particularly Brisker, could fly later and play if cleared.
Hanbury Manor is a 200-acre property now part of Marriott International with an 18-hole golf course and every imaginable resort amenity, but it dates back to the 16th century. The estate on the grounds was called “Poles” because it was owned by English cardinal and author Reginald Pole, who lived from 1500 to ’58.
The house was purchased and converted into a convent school in the 1920s and ‘30s and was open until ’86. The transition to a resort property began in the 1990s.