The Bear’s Den, October 23, 2021

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS

Injury Update: Jimmy Graham placed on COVID-19 list, Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack & Allen Robinson questionable - ChicagoBears.com - When the Bears visit the Buccaneers Sunday in Tampa, neither team will be close to full strength.

Bears rule out safety Tashaun Gipson against Buccaneers - 670 The Score - The Bears on Friday ruled out safety Tashaun Gipson (hip) for their game against the Buccaneers on Sunday, while several key players were listed as questionable to play.

Bears dodge Bucs’ Antonio Brown, Rob Gronkowski and Lavonte David - NBC Sports Chicago - Matt Nagy’s team will still have to play their best game of the 2021 season to beat Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.

PODCAST: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 7) - The Chicago Audible - In this episode of The Chicago Audible podcast, the guys preview the Week 7 matchup between the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bears Bucs Matchup Flashback: Foles and Fourth Downs - On Tap Sports Net - Just over a year ago, Nick Foles and the Chicago Bears defeated Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an empty Soldier Field.

Jakeem Grant Injury Impacts Chicago Bears Returns - Sports Illustrated Chicago Bears - The Chicago Bears found a return man with their trade for Jakeem Grant but an ankle injury suffered against Green Bay has made his status for this week uncertain.

Khalil Herbert gets the biggest test of his young Bears’ career against the Bucs - WGN-TV - Thrust into the rotation after the injury to David Montgomery and then into the starting lineup in Week 6 after Damien Williams ended up on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the running back has been one of the surprises of this season.

Jimmy Graham becomes the latest Bears’ player to be placed on the COVID-19 list - WGN-TV - Over the past week, the Bears have seen both their coaching staff and their roster affected by COVID-19. Ahead of their game against the Buccaneers on Sunday, another player has found his way onto the virus reserve list.

Bears place Jimmy Graham on reserve/COVID-19 list - NBC Sports Chicago - Matt Nagy’s team already has Damien Williams, Robert Quinn and Mike Furrey dealing with virus.

Jaylon Johnson on posting about his fine: ‘I messed up’ - 670 The Score - Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson expressed remorse for and explained an Instagram post of his Wednesday in which he revealed he was fined $2,745 by the team for being late to Halas Hall on Tuesday.

Desai: Eddie Jackson’s season hasn’t been bad, just misunderstood - 670 The Score - Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai explained why people who believe safety Eddie Jackson is having a bad season actually have it all wrong.

Hoge: Bears’ Matt Nagy getting tested by mounting distractions - NBC Sports Chicago - Distractions piling up for the Bears and Matt Nagy ahead of a crucial game against the Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

‘The 9-yard Line’ previews the Bears-Bucs Week 7 showdown - WGN-TV - It’s back-to-back weeks for the Bears against two of the NFL’s “Final Four” teams from a season ago.

Bears vs. Bucs predictions: Can Chicago upset Tampa Bay again? - USA Today Bears - Can Chicago pull off another upset against Tampa Bay in Week 7? Our Bears Wire staff shares their predictions for Sunday’s game.

David Montgomery talks Bears RB room, partnership with ReadyRefresh - USA Today Bears - We chatted with David Montgomery about why the Bears have the best RB room in the NFL and his partnership with ReadyRefresh.

Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers predictions - ChicagoBears.com - Local and national NFL analysts make their pick for Sunday’s Week 7 matchup between the Bears and Buccaneers in Tampa. Keep track of their weekly record here on ChicagoBears.com.

Chalk Talk: Last Time Two Bears Had At Least 10 Sacks? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses the last time two Bears teammates both reached double digits in sacks during the same season, the latest on Tarik Cohen’s status and Bears players who have intercepted Tom Brady.

Allen Robinson Staying Focused Despite Slow Start to Season - 247 Sports Chicago -Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson isn’t dwelling on his slow start. Instead, he’s focused on the little things.

Wiederer: Chicago Bears CB Jaylon Johnson addresses fine for being late - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson pulled himself out of the hot water he fell into earlier this week with an Instagram post complaining about a fine from Matt Nagy for being late. “I’ve got to own up to it. I was late. If I didn’t want that to happen in the first place, I shouldn’t have been late.”

Lieser: Bears CB Jaylon Johnson on tardiness fine: ‘I can’t be mad, because I was late’ - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears coach Matt Nagy had an extended sit-down with Johnson after he posted a photo of his fine notice on Instagram.

Bears CB Johnson says he didn’t mean to post fine on Instagram - Daily Herald - Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson caused a stir on social media when he posted to his Instagram account earlier this week, sharing a photo of a letter from head coach Matt Nagy informing him that he had been fined for being late to a meeting. Johnson said Friday that he never intended to share the letter publicly. “I messed up,” he said.

How has Justin Fields been in 4 starts? And can the defense shut down Tom Brady? - Chicago Tribune - After getting off to a .500 start, the Chicago Bears enter a tough Week 7 contest against Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Our team of Bears writers weighs in on four timely topics heading into Sunday afternoon’s game.

Finley: Khalil Herbert ready for his next chance as the Bears’ lead back - Chicago Sun-Times - If Herbert plays Sunday the way he did the previous two weeks — with a physical style that belies his 5-9, 212-pound frame and a patience beyond his 23 years — the Bears will be forced to find some role for him.

Potash: Cole Kmet could be light at end of Bears tunnel - Chicago Sun-Times - The second-year tight end’s production against the Packers was modest — four catches for 49 yards. But any success in the passing game by tight ends still is a sign of progress for a Bears’ offense struggling to score points.

Trevis Gipson could take on starting role with Quinn’s status in question - Daily Herald - Trevis Gipson bides his time waiting for a start, and it could come Sunday at Tampa.

O’Donnell: Brady vs. Fields, OK - but there’s also a young Buccaneer to watch - Daily Herald - Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs still clearing the way for Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Jimmy Garoppolo returns, but Trey Lance out Sunday for San Francisco 49ers - ESPN - San Francisco QB Jimmy Garoppolo will return to the starting lineup on Sunday, but the 49ers will be without several key players against the Indianapolis Colts, including backup QB Trey Lance.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Can Ronald Jones get back in the mix for the Bucs? - Bucs Nation - Pondering the future of the once promising Buccaneers back

VIDEO: Antonio Brown ruled out of Sunday’s game vs. Chicago Bears - ESPN - Tampa Bay - Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears because of an ankle injury, coach Bruce Arians announced.

Injuries have plagued the Buccaneers, but is their plight unique? - Bucs Nation - Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com drops in with some reflection, and perspective

Buccaneers missing a lot of starters for week seven vs Bears - Bucs Nation - The Buccaneers will be without plenty of starters on Sunday as they take on the Chicago Bears

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Bears Over Beers: Brady’s Revenge - Windy City Gridiron - PFF’s Trevor Sikkema joins JB and EJ to preview the Bears-Bucs game this Sunday

Roundtable: Chicago keys for the game - Windy City Gridiron - We asked the WCG staff to give us their keys for the Chicago Bears to pull off the upset on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and let’s just say there isn’t much optimism from our staff.

Wiltfong: Bears place Jimmy Graham on the Reserve/COVID-19 list - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears have announced that they have placed a third player on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, tight end Jimmy Graham, who will join running back Damien Williams and outside linebacker Robert Quinn.

Wiltfong's Injury Report: Hicks & Nichols among 8 questionable - Windy City Gridiron - Here’s the full injury report for both the Bears and Bucs in advance of their Sunday afternoon game.

Householder's Betting the Bears: Do you trust the Bears as a huge underdog? - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears are huge underdogs, but Brady and Co. haven’t been all that great at covering this year

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder (their BOB YouTube Channel can be found here), Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Rule of 3 with R. Schmitz, Danny Meehan, and Brandon Robinson, Bear & Balanced from Jeff and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., and T Formation Conversation from Lester; EJ also co-hosts The Bootleg Football Podcast with Brett Kollmann; R. Schmitz has a film breakdown show on YouTube titled Run Pass Opinion; Will Robinson II has his WhiskeyRanger YouTube channel, and Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert.

Click on our names to follow us on Twitter: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Jack R Salo; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Will Robinson II; Robert Schmitz; T.J. Starman; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like WCG on Facebook.