As the opening stretch of the 2024 NFL season wraps up, the Chicago Bears find themselves in a decent situation at 2-2. Through four weeks, the Bears have battled through adversity and started to look like a competent football team. Whether it’s been the poor performance from the offensive line so far, the struggles and brilliance from Caleb Williams, or the inefficient running game, the Bears have had their fair share of problems to fix. Now, after a decent amount of football played, how concerned should fans be for the Bears players who’ve been under public scrutiny?
Bears Key Offensive Players: Concern Levels After Four Weeks
Caleb Williams – 1
There’s little reason to be concerned about Caleb Williams. He’s shown steady improvement each week, and while he’s made some mistakes, it’s important to remember he’s a rookie. The key point is that Williams’ missteps stem from inexperience, as he’s learning what works and what doesn’t in the NFL. However, his strengths—such as his processing speed, anticipation, and pocket awareness—are things that can’t be taught. It’s better for Williams to make these “rookie mistakes” now rather than later when the stakes are higher.
Caleb Williams passer rating by week this season
Week 1 – 55.7
Week 2 – 51.0
Week 3 – 80.8
Week 4 – 106.6That's the kind of progress you want to see. pic.twitter.com/E6tuYJMbwB
— Brendan Sugrue (@BrendanSugrue) September 29, 2024
D’Andre Swift – 5
Before the Bears’ victory over the Los Angeles Rams, running back D’Andre Swift faced heavy criticism, with many questioning whether he was worth the $24 million investment. In the first three weeks, Swift managed just 68 yards on 37 carries, averaging a mere 1.8 yards per attempt. Fans were calling for him to be replaced by Roschon Johnson, but that criticism seemed to ignite something in Swift. Against the Rams, he responded with 16 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown, along with 72 receiving yards. Swift became the first Bears running back since Jeremy Langford in 2015 to record 70 or more rushing and receiving yards in a game.
“It means a lot, but I know who I am,” Swift said. “I know who I am, I know what I can do and I know what God instilled in me. If I keep that mentality every time I go to work, I know I’ll be alright.”
Despite his strong performance, concerns remain about whether Swift can live up to his hefty contract. Considering this was his first standout game in four weeks, those concerns are understandable. If Swift can continue to stack up good performances for the team, that worry should start to fade.
D.J. Moore – 3
The reason why there’s a concern level for Moore isn’t because of his play on the field. It’s because of his emotional reactions off the field. It began in Week 2 against the Houston Texans when Moore’s frustration was evident through his facial expressions and body language. He later apologized, acknowledging he needed to do a better job of controlling his emotions.
Despite this, Moore showed signs of frustration again after a missed connection on a potential touchdown pass from Caleb Williams during the first half against the Rams. While he did end the game with a touchdown catch, he was seen sitting alone on the bench multiple times and was even approached by Williams over the missed opportunity. Moore did take the blame for the missed opportunity, stating, “I’ll take that blame. I went back out wide. I just wasn’t on the same page with Caleb. Now I know. I’ll take that.” As one of the team’s top players, and with a four-year, $110 million extension, the Bears can’t afford for Moore’s emotions to become a recurring issue.
Just so everyone’s aware, DJ Moore has sat by himself on the end of the bench after every single offensive drive. He was also the last player off the field at halftime, again by himself. pic.twitter.com/ldSpCw3n9c
— jack (@jackscroggs_) September 29, 2024
Teven Jenkins – 7
One player who has surprisingly shot up on the panic meter, Teven Jenkins, has struggled and sustained yet another injury against the Rams. Unfortunately, Jenkins has appeared to regress this season. This could be due to poor center play from Coleman Shelton or issues with Jenkins himself. Unfortunately, he left the Rams game with a rib injury, and the offensive line seemed to perform better in his absence. Jenkins’ underwhelming play this season, coupled with his injury history, puts General Manager Ryan Poles in a challenging position. With Jenkins set to become a free agent at season’s end, Poles might be inclined to let him walk.
It’s unfortunate because Jenkins was supposed to be a bright spot on a struggling offensive line, but if he can’t stay healthy and continues to regress, he might not be in a Bears uniform next season.
Chicago Bears Blocking Grades via PFF pic.twitter.com/zp0GcxYmTB
— BOOG (@BoogCB) September 30, 2024
Main Image: Matt Marton – USA Today Sports
