The Bear’s Den, November 5, 2021

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS

Bears’ Matt Nagy back coaching in-person after COVID-19 illness - RSN - The Bears head coach made it clear he did not like being away from his team in the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol, but there were some silver linings.

Dannehy: Defensive Failures, Under His Hand-Picked DC, Another Nail in Nagy’s Coaching Coffin - Da Bears Blog - There are excuses for Desai, but they don’t really add up. The Bears had injuries, but they still had good players on the field. One could argue that Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Robert Quinn, Jaylon Johnson and Roquan Smith are all better at their jobs than any of the team’s offensive players.

Bears forming dynamic run game as Montgomery nears return - 670 The Score - Not only have the Bears finally established an efficient and reliable running game, they quietly boast one of the top rushing offenses in the NFL this season.

Bears’ Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson sidelined from practice - 670 The Score - Bears star pass rusher Khalil Mack and safety Eddie Jackson were sidelined from practice Thursday as the team began its preparation to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

Bears coach Matt Nagy on isolation: ‘Really, really weird’ - 670 The Score - As head coach of the Bears, Matt Nagy prides himself on maintaining the collective pulse of his team and controlling what he can in a challenging position.

Bears-Steelers: 3 matchups to watch on Monday Night Football - 670 The Score - The Bears begin the weirdest month of their schedule when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers for a Monday Night Football game that no one really asked for.

David Montgomery returns to Bears practice, could play vs. Steelers - RSN - Rookie running back Khalil Herbert played well to help the Bears run game moving while Montgomery was hurt.

Bears, Steelers NFL Week 9 keys and final score prediction - RSN - Justin Fields will have to build on his great game vs. the 49ers if Matt Nagy's team wants to upset Mike Tomlin's Steelers.

Bears made several roster moves ahead of matchup vs. Steelers - Bears Wire - Ahead of Monday's game against the Steelers, the Bears made several roster moves on the active roster and practice squad.

Bears’ David Montgomery will start 3-week window for return from IR - Bears Wire - Bears RB David Montgomery is returning to practice on Thursday.

Game Preview: Chicago Bears - Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 9) - The Chicago Audible - In this episode of The Chicago Audible podcast, the guys preview the Week 9 matchup between the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chicago Bears: QB Justin Fields' vaccination status - Chicago Tribune - Given the spread of COVID-19 within the Chicago Bears recently, plus the drama swirling in Green Bay right now over Aaron Rodgers’ unvaccinated status, rookie QB Justin Fields was asked directly whether he was fully vaccinated.

David Montgomery returns to Chicago Bears practice - Chicago Tribune - Matt Nagy said the Chicago Bears will evaluate how David Montgomery looks in practice before determining whether he will play Monday against the Pittsburgh Steelers or wait until after the upcoming bye week.

Bears RB David Montgomery returns to practice - Chicago Sun-Times - Montgomery sprained his knee a month ago.

Bears’ stars Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson among 6 players to miss practice - Chicago Sun-Times - Mack and Jackson are both in question for the upcoming game against the Steelers.

Justin Fields is vaccinated — and that’s an advantage for Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - The most important question asked of Justin Fields on Thursday yielded a one-word answer from the rookie quarterback.

POLISH SAUSAGE

NFL has a COVID protocol enforcement problem - ProFootballTalk - The apparent failure of the Packers to discipline quarterback Aaron Rodgers for failing to wear a mask during press conferences held in the team facility has begun to raise broader questions regarding whether other teams are failing to fine unvaccinated players who conduct maskless press conferences in the facility.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Getting acquainted with the Steelers’ Week 9 enemy, the Chicago Bears - Behind the Steel Curtain - Learn about the Steelers upcoming opponent with the return of BTSC’s Know Your Enemy. Michael Beck and Geoffrey Benedict break down all the news you need to know.

NFL's investigation of Aaron Rodgers, Packers focuses on possible fines, not suspensions - ProFootballTalk - The league is investigating whether and to what extent quarterback Aaron Rodgers violated COVID protocols applicable to unvaccinated players — and whether and to what extent the Packers failed to discipline Rodgers for his transgressions.

Matt LaFleur "100 percent confident" team followed COVID rules "in football spaces" - ProFootballTalk - Aaron Rodgers is “doing well” after testing positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: David Montgomery returned to practice - Windy City Gridiron - At his Thursday press conference, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy said that running back David Montgomery would return to practice today, thus opening the three week window that the team now has...

Salo: Khalil Herbert Fantasy RB2? Allen Robinson Buy Low? Start/Sit Week 9 - Windy City Gridiron - The trade deadline didn’t bring any huge fantasy performers to the Windy City.

Zeglinski: Windy City Gridiron picks Chicago Bears-Pittsburgh Steelers - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears certainly feel like they’re in a better long-term spot than the Steelers. A new, welcome development, to be sure.

Zimmerman: Kevin Fishbain - Fields’ Performance could save Pace & Nagy - Windy City Gridiron - Kevin Fishbain joins the Bears Banter Podcast!

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.