Bears Injury Updates: Briggs, Hester, Cutler, Pace

by Dane Noble on Dec 9, 2009 10:16 AM CST in Injury News Comment 23 comments

There are a few different ways that NFL teams get to evaluate their depth at different positions, and the Chicago Bears have been presented those chances as the 2009 season dwindles down.

During a slide of disappointment like the Bears have seen, many teams like to turn their attention to younger players, as to see what sort of future they might have the following season. Also, injuries always occur, and backups get to see the field to prove that they deserve a roster spot.

Here are some updates that might prove to present interesting scenarios for the Bears this week and beyond:

Lance Briggs is set to return this week at WLB... he missed last week with a knee injury and hip pointer. His backup, Jamar Williams, had a career day last week against the Rams. Does this mean that Williams will sit versus the Packers, or does he slide over to the strong side in place of Nick Roach, who is also having a strong season?

Orlando Pace is also set to return this week. Chris Williams slid over from the right side to the left in Pace's absence, and Lovie Smith sang the praises of Williams following his first game at LT. If Pace is good to go, which it looks like he will be, do the Bears return him to his starting LT role, or do they continue with Williams and Shaffer?

Smith has repeatedly said that they will field the team who is most likely to help win the game, so we'll see what combo at the OT positions they will go with. Pace said that he feels like he can play, and hasn't shown any interest in retiring. He still has 2 years on his contract after 2009.

Jay Cutler (hand), Matt Forte (hand), and Devin Hester (calf) are all expected to have full participation Wednesday.

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Comments

How 'bout

we keep Williams at LT and move Pace to RT, where he should be at this stage in his career. If Pace can lock down the RT spot, alls good!

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"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Dec 9, 2009 10:18 AM CST reply actions

That is an interesting thought,

but I wonder if that would even be a possibility. Pace’s signing with the Bears was on the contingency that he would play LT…

If the Bears tells him either he sits or plays RT, maybe…?

You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.

by Dane Noble on Dec 9, 2009 10:21 AM CST up reply actions

Yup, we agreed to let him play LT,

but that was before he was getting dominated week in and week out. Maybe he’d welcome the move if it keeps him in the NFL. It would seem like the employer would have the leverage here, but I dunno.

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"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Dec 9, 2009 10:26 AM CST up reply actions

I agree

Before Pace came in and SUCKED out loud he deserved some leverage in where he played. Now, not so much.

by Syndor on Dec 9, 2009 10:29 AM CST up reply actions

Pace doesn't exactly have a lot of leverage right now...

Based on his play this season, I don’t see many teams being all that interested in him at LT (assuming the Bears don’t keep him around).

by Poloplaya14 on Dec 9, 2009 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

Pace never really had leverage during the season, judging by how much he gets knocked around... ;-)

by SJS_illini on Dec 9, 2009 4:27 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

lol

by GtM on Dec 9, 2009 4:35 PM CST up reply actions

I feel a Lovie-ism coming on

Pace back at LT because [drumroll] players don’t lose their spot due to injury.

Also, we’re still “in the hunt” for a wild card. And it’s about winning now. And there’s still 4 games to play. And we know what’s wrong, now we just fix it.

Any I missed?

Sidenote: If this actually happens I may seize up. Half my face frozen in tears, the other half in hysterical laughter. Forever…

by SaintCee on Dec 9, 2009 10:29 AM CST reply actions

The old "Pace is our Left Tackle" speech. Got to love that one..

by Syndor on Dec 9, 2009 10:31 AM CST up reply actions

Williams has to play out the year on the left side

Is Pace really better than Willaims at this point in his career?

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Dec 9, 2009 11:23 AM CST reply actions

Alternate question:

Does Shaffer suck worse at RT than Pace does at LT?

You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.

by Dane Noble on Dec 9, 2009 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

No.

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.

by Just Dave on Dec 9, 2009 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

Right answer wrong question

Why would you continue to stunt the development of your 1st round draft pick and (presumably) future LT?

by TrialsBass on Dec 9, 2009 5:32 PM CST up reply actions

That'$ and ea$y one to an$wer. :)

You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.

by Dane Noble on Dec 9, 2009 5:33 PM CST up reply actions

we need to see more of

Khalil Bell and Aroushmadu. I think both these guys are worth keeping around next season and we should give them more reps for the remainder of the season. Khalil isn’t the fastest or the strongest, but he has a knack for shedding tackles and running after contact, thats nice in small yardage situations. Aroushmadu has apparently made some sort of connection with Cutler, and he’s big with nice hands, something we could use at the WR position.

by BBANGUS on Dec 9, 2009 11:44 AM CST reply actions

Currently not on the roster

Smith has repeatedly said that they will field the team who is most likely to help win the game

We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead

by propheteer on Dec 9, 2009 11:55 AM CST reply actions

We can't field the New Orleans Saints.

They have other obligations.

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.

by Just Dave on Dec 9, 2009 1:28 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Ok, Wrecked.

That caused me 2 minutes of LOL

I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves

by Kev H on Dec 9, 2009 3:12 PM CST up reply actions

I kinda didn't want Hester to play

To give others a chance. If any WR on our team went down to create room I vote Devin Hester.

by Daseabeez on Dec 9, 2009 3:12 PM CST reply actions

I get what ur saying

but Hester is still learning and growing at WR, he really needs as much time out running routes as he can at game speed. I would be ok with rotating him more often but not taking him completely out.

by GtM on Dec 9, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

i feel like

Hester is going to be 34 and a lot of people are going to be saying “well he had to switch positions”

and his whole prime will have passed him by

"Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they're bigger than everybody else, and that's what make them the biggest guys on the field." -Madden

by BearNecessities on Dec 10, 2009 5:08 AM CST up reply actions

agreed

and he only needs what 2 more tds to break the record.

by Daseabeez on Dec 10, 2009 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

if pace starts at LT

as some are speculating (its in a Sun Times article today as well), its yet another pretty clear sign that our coaching staff is dumb. i don’t know if williams is the long-term answer at LT, but i do know that he’s no worse than pace at this point, and could be much better. playing him at RT is stupid, in both the short and long term. pace is probably a HOFer, but he just can’t move as well as he used to, and as such, if he plays against shifty, shorter DEs, he gets blown up.

by guy incognito on Dec 10, 2009 10:08 AM CST reply actions