Pregame thread: It's round one of B3@rz week ...

[Heyjoe4]

The injury took place on Xmas Eve and he was Come Back Player of the Year. But he not only had the ACL. He also had the same injury to the MCL. Unheard Of.

It is strange that both ligaments would be injured by the same play. ACL tears happen when the foot gets stuck while the upper leg is moving forward. That places direct, forward stress on the ACL and a tear happens.

The MCL is injured in medial/sideways motion. Interesting stuff, thanks.

 

[El Guapo]

AP was a singularity, both in just his abilities as a RB but also that recovery from the knee injury. I am not sure that we will ever see that repeated, which is why I think that comparisons are ludicrous. It's like comparing your minivan to the neighbor's Hemi Cuda. Yes Parsons is similarly elite at football, but everyone recovers different from injury.

While people are moaning about Parsons not practicing yet, we need to remember that it wasn't just an ACL. He tore the meniscus too. All these things are complicated, as we saw with Bahktiari. A player's return timeline isn't something that we can rely upon like a FedEx shipment.

 

[AGreen2AJones]

Mike Ditka died. Sad as a part of a mainstay of a long rivalry. Gotta love his style regardless of affiliation.

 

[Magooch]

Mike Ditka passed away today (RIP)

Not like the Bears or Ben Johnson will need any extra motivation but there you have it.

 

[AGreen2AJones]

Mike Ditka passed away today (RIP)

Not like the Bears or Ben Johnson will need any extra motivation but there you have it.

Yeah obviously first thoughts are with family and everyone that loved him. But my second thought was damn of course during this week to give the Bears motivation. Obviously insignificant in comparison but here we are

 

[tynimiller]

I kinda wish for Chicago this was at their place not ours. Just seems right for it to have been. I hope GB throws something together to honor him. He deserves it.

 

[SudsMcBucky]

A player's return timeline isn't something that we can rely upon like a FedEx shipment.

Absolutely correct. More aptly, it can be relied upon more the a USPS mail delivery.

 

[weeds]

...and now Williams is questionable?

 

[milani]

I kinda wish for Chicago this was at their place not ours. Just seems right for it to have been. I hope GB throws something together to honor him. He deserves it.

They will.

 

[milani]

Mike Ditka passed away today (RIP)

Not like the Bears or Ben Johnson will need any extra motivation but there you have it.

Back in 1999 or so Walter Payton passed right before the Bears came into Lambeau. Favre led us down for the game winning FG. The Bears blocked a Longwell chipped shot.

 

[OldSchool101]

I kinda wish for Chicago this was at their place not ours. Just seems right for it to have been. I hope GB throws something together to honor him. He deserves it.

That’d a class A move. In the end, I think we’re all football fans and we’re all human beings who respect the Sport. Ditka is back at home with his friend Walter.

 

[OldSchool101]

The Bears backup QBs have proven very capable. Losing Monanghai is big but they still have Swift. The Bears are the best team in the North and I don't expect that will change.

Oh I agree on both points. Just making a point that Chicago isn’t full strength. Monangai was on a roll through 4 weeks. It’s not taking away from other players, but it’s still 1 less weapon that Chicago uses and he’s been a big part of their Offense.

In other news, looks like Cisse dodged a bullet. He’s been practicing again already after exiting last week injured. Packers also look to have Zeitler plugged in now.

 

[tynimiller]

This is shaping up to be the best scenario for Bears it’s truly a win win game…if GB wins they can and we know it was without their full proper strength. But shoot we know how well one can do with backup (Willis) and get Ws.

If Bears win they can brag for a LONG time.

 

[OldSchool101]

This is shaping up to be the best scenario for Bears it’s truly a win win game…if GB wins they can and we know it was without their full proper strength. But shoot we know how well one can do with backup (Willis) and get Ws.

If Bears win they can brag for a LONG time.

and if GB Wins without a Running game or without our best Defender I think we can say we’re improving a lot.

I see Caleb Williams partly as a recipient of his surroundings. Part of that evidence is all 3 of their QB’s have had above average success immediately upon entering.
Thats much due to the entire Roster being balanced. Especially their O with a great OL and nice weapons.

Their Defense started good but the sample is shaky so far.

 

[AGreen2AJones]

Caleb Williams upgraded to questionable and was a participant. Likely to start

 

[milani]

That’d a class A move. In the end, I think we’re all football fans and we’re all human beings who respect the Sport. Ditka is back at home with his friend Walter.

And Butkus, too.

 

[milani]

Caleb Williams upgraded to questionable and was a participant. Likely to start

Not so sure. And is it worth risking at this point?

 

[milani]

This is shaping up to be the best scenario for Bears it’s truly a win win game…if GB wins they can and we know it was without their full proper strength. But shoot we know how well one can do with backup (Willis) and get Ws.

If Bears win they can brag for a LONG time.

If they get farther than last season they can brag. The Packers swept the Bears many a year only to be undercut by the likes of Seattle, SF, Philly, Arizona, and the Giants in the postseason. Bittersweet.

 

[AGreen2AJones]

Not so sure. And is it worth risking at this point?

Ben Johnson has made it his mission to beat the Packers

 

[milani]

Ben Johnson has made it his mission to beat the Packers

So did Lovie Smith when took over the Bears a long time ago. But he also knew that you do not risk the franchise QB when an entire season is at stake and you are playing one of the lesser teams in the league. Even Lombardi knew enough to sit Bart Starr when it could put him and the team in serious jeopardy.

 

[Magooch]

I’d be surprised if it’s not just mind games but I guess that can go one way or another. On Monday Ben Johnson explicitly said Caleb won’t be playing this week and Bagent would be the starter. Of course they want to throttle us but I’d be surprised if even Johnson was so immature/arrogant as to risk his franchise QB for this one. It’s still early in the season and the stakes are relatively “low” at this time and Williams carries a huge risk for re-exacerbation. It would be insanely silly to play him but hey if that’s their priority then be my guest

 

[milani]

I’d be surprised if it’s not just mind games but I guess that can go one way or another. On Monday Ben Johnson explicitly said Caleb won’t be playing this week and Bagent would be the starter. Of course they want to throttle us but I’d be surprised if even Johnson was so immature/arrogant as to risk his franchise QB for this one. It’s still early in the season and the stakes are relatively “low” at this time and Williams carries a huge risk for re-exacerbation. It would be insanely silly to play him but hey if that’s their priority then be my guest

If they tried to play CW and he amplified the injury to something worse the leadership would never hear the end of it. The Packers would love nothing better than to have him play. It boosts ratings and they would blitz every chance they get so he WOULD run on a bad hamstring.

 

[Heyjoe4]

If they tried to play CW and he amplified the injury to something worse the leadership would never hear the end of it. The Packers would love nothing better than to have him play. It boosts ratings and they would blitz every chance they get so he WOULD run on a bad hamstring.

Injury aside, I'd much rather have CW start for the Bears.

But hamstring injuries are notoriously slow to heal. CW runs, a lot, and so this is a risk Johnson shouldn't take.

And why should he? The Packers are not a team to be feared at this point, and the Bearz were 3-1 without CW for two games.

 

[Heyjoe4]

So did Lovie Smith when took over the Bears a long time ago. But he also knew that you do not risk the franchise QB when an entire season is at stake and you are playing one of the lesser teams in the league. Even Lombardi knew enough to sit Bart Starr when it could put him and the team in serious jeopardy.

I don't care for Ben Johnson, to put it mildly. He's smart enough to keep CW off the field. The Bearz are 3-1 and based on their performance to date, won't need CW to win.

 

[Poppa San]

Especially their O with a great OL

This could not have been said two seasons ago.