The Chicago Bears just showed a tremendous amount of faith in third-year EDGE Trevis Gipson. A former fifth-round pick out of Tulsa, Gipson is set to step into the starting job vacated by the trade of Robert Quinn. Quinn, the Bears’ single-season sack leader, is off to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for draft compensation.
Gipson could be stepping into a breakout if he can continue his strong play as a rotational player.
It would seem he has a supporter in a very high place.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles spoke with local media after sending Quinn to the Eagles. He began by thanking Quinn whom defensive coordinator Alan Williams said was having an impact on the defense despite modest statistical production – but Gipson was not far behind in his thoughts.
Trevis Gipson Earns Ryan Poles’ Praise and (Potentially) Starting Role
Ryan Poles Has Faith in Youngsters
“On the business side,” asserted Poles, “it just made too much sense for what we’re trying to do. It’s going to allow us to continue to build a highly competitive roster. I think the other thing too…I just really trust Gipson, [Al-Quadin] Muhammad, [Dominique] Robinson, Kingsley Jonathan, those guys are going to continue doing a good job.”
It is certainly notable that Gipson, who was close with Quinn was the first name mentioned by Poles.
Trevis Gipson is the Bears best DE right now. These are 2 back 2 back plays.
1st play: Beats the OT takes up the RB as a blocker forces Cousins out the pocket for Roquan to get a hit,
2nd play: speed rush forced fumble. He needs more snaps. #DaBears #Bears #ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/omLkKoxL4c
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) October 10, 2022
Gipson was drafted in the fifth round by the previous regime. Contrarily, Muhammad signed with the Bears this offseason after playing under head coach Matt Eberflus with the Indianapolis Colts while Robinson was taken by Poles this year, also in the fifth round.
But it is Gipson that leads the Bears with a 66.1 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus while being in a three-way tie for second on the team with a couple of sacks.
Gipson does lead the team in pressures with 10.
“I really do trust in Gipson, he’s had a good start to the season. Muhammad, he’s brought intensity and toughness to that group. And even young Dom Robinson has flashed. He tipped that ball that Roquan [Smith] got the other day and has a promising future. And I think he’s going to continue to trend upwards.”
Muhammad is already a starter so it is understandable that he wouldn’t stand to benefit much from Quinn’s departure.
He could have more difficulty without Quinn on the other side to draw attention. Muhammad already ranked behind everyone in that group in pass-rush grade. He does, however, rank as their best run stopper with Jonathan next.
Robinson has the second-highest pass-rush grade but is a raw rookie still learning the position.
Bears, Trevis Gipson Prepared for This
Gipson has played 64 fewer snaps than Muhammad this season but started nine games in all last year. He has essentially been groomed for this role for the last two years – he appeared in just seven games as a rookie. But he showed tremendous strides down the stretch last season notching five of his seven sacks from Week 10 on.
He started seven of the Bears’ eight games replacing the injured Khalil Mack – since traded to the Los Angeles Chargers – in that span, forcing four fumbles with one recovery.
The 6-foot-4, 263-pound Gipson spoke of learning behind both Mack and Quinn
To this point, here is Trevis Gipson to me on playing behind Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn after notching 2 strip-sacks in the #Bears Wk 16 win over the NYG. He had a great approach https://t.co/lV20VNgWAm pic.twitter.com/zOIpjEcv5F
— Josh Buckhalter (@JoshGBuck) March 11, 2022
Now he figures to get his chance to truly show off what he’s learned over the last couple of seasons behind the two “gold jackets”.
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