Stock up, stock down after Bears-Ravens

There was some actual NFL football last night.

No, it wasn’t all pretty. No, none of the important starters saw any action.

But it was still a football game and for hardcore fans that have missed it, it is back.

After a couple weeks of intrasquad practices, players got to suit up and hit a different opponent for a change.

It’s still early and a lot can change, but it’s still worthwhile to take a peek at which players helped themselves and which ones may have hurt their chances to make an impact or even make the team, come September.

Stock up

Javon Wins, WR - Wims, whose had some buzz in camp, has suddenly become the darling of the preseason after his 7-catch, 89 yard performance Thursday night. I questioned on Twitter why it took until the second half of the Hall of Fame game for him to see action, that seems like a red flag, but it’s promising nonetheless for a seventh round pick.

Isaiah Irving, LB - Irving has been on the radar of some fans and members of our staff here at WCG and last night, he showed some flashes of why that is. He had a strip-sack called back because he was offside, only just (he was in the midst of getting back) but later had another sack and a QB hit. His sack came while he was unblocked, but he still finished the play that was there for him. A good game for a pass rusher on a defense with a need at that position.

DeAndre Houston-Carson, DB - The defensive back group, which still had some lingering questions heading into camp, has suddenly, possibly turned into a bright spot. Houston-Carson showed he could be a really nice depth piece, notching an interception on a deflected ball and four tackles. He was in the right place and provides depth at a crowded position group behind Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara and Bryce Callahan.

Stock down

Chase Daniel, QB - It was already well known that if Mitchell Trubisky goes down the Bears are screwed but Daniel did nothing to even temper that slightly. He completed 50 percent of his passes, threw two picks, one which dinged off his guard’s helmet and had another pass or two batted down. I didn’t have high expectations, but for a QB that’s been around the league for 10 years and is familiar with the offense, I hoped he could’ve picked apart second and third stringers more easily.

Bradley Sowell, OT - I am far from an OL expert but the reviews from all over panned the veteran swing tackle. The Bears need to hope Charles Leno stays healthy because Sowell looked really lost out there. Ryan Pace should be looking for a veteran OL in cuts. It was not good.

Bennie Fowler, WR - Even with spotty QB play, Fowler had some easy drops. ESPN had his with four targets but just two catches. One of his drops was a perfectly placed ball in the chest in the endzone from Daniel and he just dropped it. Next time, let’s see Wims get Fowler’s snaps.

Who stuck out to you? Who would you like to see more of next week?