Chicago Bears’ revamped defense has been hit hard by injuries in camp, preseason

  Chicago Bears have revamped ir defense after finishing near bottom of league on that side of ball last season.

Coach Matt Eberflus believes those efforts were successful, but he needs to see his defensive starters playing toger — or even practicing toger — first. Injuries have prevented Chicago’s full first-team defense from taking field since training camp began.

“Every year is different,” Eberflus said. “Sometimes you get certain s of injuries one year and sometimes you don’t. But you’re still dealt with job to get guys rey to go. Everybody is fighting that through course of league, and we’re different.”

Bears on Tuesday waived two starters from a year ago, including one of ir top pass rushers in Trevis Gipson. defensive end h requested a tre just before final preseason game.

Gipson, who h seven sacks in 2021, ultimately lost out in a roster battle to Dominique Robinson and Terrell Lewis behind starters Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker and backup Rasheem Green.

Walker is among players who have missed significant practice time. Ngakoue signed on Aug. 4 and didn’t arrive in Chicago until several days later.

“Based on where y are right w, we like where y are and it is what it is right w,” Eberflus said. “So we gotta make sure we do a great job of ramping m up conditioning-wise and getting m rey to play for first game.”

Bears’ biggest free-nt acquisition on defense, middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, has been dealing with an injury that team has yet to detail. He finally played one series during Chicago’s final preseason game.

Bears were also without linebacker Jack Sanborn for part of camp. Both safeties, Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker, missed final two preseason games.

“I don’t really have any doubts as far as wher we’re going to jell,” cornerback Kyler Gordon said. “I’ve seen each player do something special individually and d or contribute to this defense. I think a lot of people are curious about it but as a defense and for people who have been here in building like I have, re’s t a lot of doubt about players that we have. I feel good about it.”

Bears have injury problems elsewhere. offensive line was also revamped after allowing 58 sacks, but group finished preseason with only two starters.

Eberflus said only injured player on eir side of ball who remains a question for opener is left guard Teven Jenkins.

Bears don’t reveal nature of injuries sustained in practices during preseason.

“Everybody looks to be healthy right w,” Eberflus said. “Looks good. one guy that’s still week to week is Teven. Again, we’ll work through that process as we go.”

On Monday, Chicago tred a sixth-round draft pick to Miami for guard Dan Feeney. Offensive linemen Lucas Patrick, Nate Davis and Darnell Wright have missed time with injuries, and Cody Whitehair suffered a hand injury but returned. nature of Whitehair’s injury forced Bears to shift him from center to guard.

All injuries have led to criticism of Bears’ training techniques. Eberflus believes in tough training camps and practices.

“I would say that we’re middle of ro in terms of injury,” Eberflus said. “We looked at data in terms of league this year. So we were right re where aver was.”

TES

Cornerback Kindle Vildor was or starter waived besides Gipson. ... Bears waived veteran quarterback Nathan Peterman, making undrafted rookie Tyson Bnt backup to Justin Fields. Bnt, from Division II Shepherd, led two touchdown drives in preseason. Bears h alrey released veteran backup P.J. Walker.