The Bear’s Den, August 24, 2018

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

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Biggs: For all the focus on passing in the Bears' new scheme, the running attack should be strong, led by Jordan Howard - Chicago Tribune - For all the focus on Matt Nagy's playbook, Mitch Trubisky, the new receivers and the passing game, if the Bears are going to mimic Kansas City's offense, it's going to start with a punishing and successful ground attack led by Jordan Howard.

Campbell: Roquan Smith likely out for Saturday's game but could play in preseason finale - Chicago Tribune - With Roquan Smith all but officially ruled out of the Chicago Bears’ preseason game Saturday against the Chiefs, the rookie linebacker looks to next Thursday’s preseason finale against the Bills as the final chance to get game work before the regular season.

Campbell: Aaron Lynch returns to Bears practice with time running out to win roster spot - Chicago Tribune - Bears linebacker Aaron Lynch returned to practice Thursday and was limited, the first time he has practiced since July 20 due to a strained hamstring. Lynch won't play Saturday against the Chiefs, which leaves Thursday's finale against the Bills as the only opportunity to prove himself in a game.

Potash: Daniel Brown, Ben Braunecker filling void with Adam Shaheen, Dion Sims injured - Sun Times - With Dion Sims (concussion) and Adam Shaheen (sprained ankle/foot) out indefinitely, the Bears’ tight end depth will

Potash: Bears preseason: Linebacker Aaron Lynch returns to practice after hamstring injury - Sun Times - Aaron Lynch’s paradox is similar to other star-crossed athletes: blessed with immense talent, but seemingly cursed by

Finley: Comparing Patrick Mahomes and Mitch Trubisky - Sun Times - The second-year quarterback that Matt Nagy mentored into one of the league’s most intriguing prospects will play Saturday at Soldier Field.

Finley: Bears' Roquan Smith unlikely to make debut Saturday - Sun Times - It became clear Thursday, after Roquan Smith did little in practice for the third-straight day, that the rookie will not make his NFL debut Saturday

Joniak's Journal: Tarik Cohen Is Raring To Go - 670 The Score - The Bears continued work Thursday ahead of a matchup against the Chiefs at Soldier Field on Saturday.

Eurich: Bears vs. Packers among most in-demand games - 247Sports - The Week 1 showdown between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers is already a hot ticket.

Eurich: Aaron Lynch returns to practice - 247Sports - Aaron Lynch returned to Chicago Bears practice in a limited fashion.

Eurich: Mitch Trubisky Peyton Manning advice - 247Sports - The Mannings believe in Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

Eurich: Mitch Trubisky third preseason game goals - 247Sports - "I just want to get out clean—no turnovers—and be really efficient with the football and hopefully just make it a ton of fun for our fans and put on a show," Trubisky said before the team's practice at Vernon Hills High School on Wednesday night.

Hughes: Lowering the Helmet on Roger Goodell, a Commissioner Who Gets Everything Wrong - Da Bears Blog - Nobody has yet named this “lowering the helmet” penalty. But soon, most likely on Sunday September 9th, it is going to cost an NFL team a game.

Medina: Roquan Smith Will Probably Not Debut This Saturday - Bleacher Nation - Playing the waiting game with Roquan Smith.

Fans in Mexico, UK can live-stream Bears game - ChicagoBears.com - For the first time this preseason, fans in Mexico and the United Kingdom will be able to live-stream Saturday’s game between the Bears and Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field.

Mayer: Third year has been a charm for Braunecker - ChicagoBears.com - It's no coincidence that third-year tight end Ben Braunecker is making more plays and feeling more comfortable than he did in his first two seasons with the Bears.

Perez: Charles Leno having best preseason of any OT in NFL - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears left tackle Charles Leno is having the best preseason of any offensive tackle in the NFL.

Hoge and Jahns, Episode 168: Bears GM Ryan Pace Discusses Roquan Smith, Preseason And More - WGN Radio - It’s time for our annual preseason sit-down with Bears general manager Ryan Pace, who discussed Roquan Smith’s holdout with us and many more topics.

Mullin: 2 key pieces of the NFL's future - Mitch Trubisky and Pat Mahomes - come together Saturday - NBC Sports Chicago - It's just preseason, but a part of the NFL's future will be on display Saturday when signal callers Mitch Trubisky and Pat Mahomes square off.

Mullin: Roquan Smith in for last Bears preseason game? It could happen - NBC Sports Chicago - He's behind because of both a holdout and a sore hamstring, but there's still a chance Roquan Smith could see action in the team's final preseason game against the Bills next week.

Cox; Charles Leno Jr. locking down Mitchell Trubisky's blindside this preseason - NBC Sports Chicago - Through three preseason games, Leno Jr. has Pro Football Focus’ highest pass-blocking grade among offensive tackles.

Ellis: Matt Nagy gives an update on Taylor Gabriel's progress - NBC Sports Chicago - While speaking to the media after last night's practice, head coach Matt Nagy gave a quick update on wide recieve Taylor Gabriel.

Mullin: Roquan Smith a longshot for Bears-Chiefs game - NBC Sports Chicago - Bears first-round draft pick Roquan Smith is still nursing a sore hamstring and probably won't play in the team's preseason game this weekend.

Fezler: Fantasy Football Outlook: Jordan Howard - Da Bears Brothers - What's Jordan Howard's fantasy value after all of the offensive changes for the Chicago Bears?

[250] Chicago Bears Game Preview: Everything to Watch For Against the Kansas City Chiefs - Da Bears Brothers Podcast - Listen as Da Bears Brothers get you ready for the Chicago Bears preseason contest against the Chiefs with an in-depth discussion on everything to pay attention to on Saturday.

Kane: Tarik Cohen says rookie season was ‘warmup’ for what he can do in new Bears offense - Chicago Tribune - For as big a part of Matt Nagy’s offense as Tarik Cohen projects to be, the second-year Bears hybrid running back-receiver-returner has had a relatively quiet preseason thus far.

Biggs: For all the focus on passing in the Bears' new scheme, the running attack should be strong, led by Jordan Howard - Chicago Tribune - For all the focus on Matt Nagy's playbook, Mitch Trubisky, the new receivers and the passing game, if the Bears are going to mimic Kansas City's offense, it's going to start with a punishing and successful ground attack led by Jordan Howard.

Emma: Bears' Aaron Lynch Working Back From Hamstring Injury - 670 The Score - Signed to a one-year deal, Aaron Lynch has missed the entire preseason.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Denzel Ward injures back, won’t return vs. Eagles - NFL.com - Cleveland Browns rookie cornerback Denzel Ward left for the locker room after suffering an undisclosed injury during the first quarter of Thursday’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Past trades for ‘elite’ pass rushers support the Packers’ pursuit of Khalil Mack - Acme Packing Company - A “what you see is what you get” theme has proven true in relatively recent trades involving pass rushers and high-end draft picks.

Film Room: New Lions LB Eli Harold brings much-needed help to Detroit but has flaws of his own - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions newest linebacker has a fit in Detroit, but is not a long term solution.

Detroit Lions trade for 49ers linebacker Eli Harold - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions made a move to improve their depth along the front seven.

Minnesota Vikings Cause Great Debate Over 28 - Daily Norseman - George Iloka is feeling the burn as Minnesota assigns him Adrian Peterson’s old number

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Zeglinski: Bears top suitor for Khalil Mack, according to former NFL executive - Windy City Gridiron - Ryan Pace is predictably mum on any developments for a move.

Zeglinski: Chicago Bears’ Roquan Smith unlikely to make debut against Chiefs - Windy City Gridiron - A light practice week built on precaution means the Bears’ first round pick like won’t yet play in his first game against the Chiefs. So what is his timeline?

Zeglinski: Why the Chicago Bears are comfortable with Cody Whitehair and James Daniels where they are - Windy City Gridiron - Plenty has been made of the Bears’ shuffling up front of Daniels and Whitehair. Finding the methods to their madness and reasonable solutions.

Berckes' Fantasy Files, Wide receiver rankings: From Antonio Brown to Zay Jones - Windy City Gridiron - Our final positional rankings to help prepare you for your fantasy drafts contains a few surprises at receiver.

Leming: what to watch against the Kansas City Chiefs - Windy City Gridiron - As the Bears gear up for their dress rehearsal against head coach Matt Nagy’s former team, we’ve got you covered on what to watch for.

Zeglinski: Why do the Bears keep moving James Daniels around? - Windy City Gridiron - The latest WCG Radio has us dive into the Bears’ injury issues, poor pass rush planning, and muse about a strange offensive line carousel.

Wiltfong: What can we expect from Taylor Gabriel? - Windy City Gridiron - Part 4 in our Exclusive Q&A with Scott Kacsmar of Football Outsiders centers on Chicago Bears’ wide out Taylor Gabriel.

Duerrwaechter: How Bears can “fix” their outside linebacker problem - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears face a major issue with their edge pass rush. But not all is lost. Sort of.

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s Streaming – Twitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - iTunes - Robert Zeglinski

THE RULES

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WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Andrew Link; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Robert Zeglinski; Like us on Facebook.