Chicago Bears starting center Lucas Patrick suffered a hand injury in training camp this week that will require surgery and six-to-eight weeks to heal. There's optimism that he'll be back in the starting lineup by the time Week 1 rolls around. For now, his absence opens the door for some of Chicago's younger offensive linemen to get quality reps.
The most obvious beneficiary of Patrick's injury is rookie center Doug Kramer.
Kramer, the former University of Illinois standout, was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He, along with last year's starter, Sam Mustipher, will receive the lion's share of first-team reps while Patrick recovers.
“Obviously, it’s a great opportunity,” Kramer said this week. “It’s still super early in camp, so right now, I’m just trying to stay locked in, learn as much as I can, and try to go after that spot, for sure.”
Kramer doesn't really have an opportunity to unseat Patrick for the starting job. When healthy, Patrick will be in the lineup. But if Kramer is indeed the next man up at center, he has to be ready to play if his number is called during the regular season.
“I’ve worked to try to get to that point, and I’ve put in a lot of time studying the playbook and trying to understand things in great detail and depth so I can be a tool for the other guys on the offensive line,” Kramer said. “And that’s a very similar mindset to what I had in Illinois, and I’m just trying to get back to that understanding of the level of detail that’s needed to be a center in this league.”
Kramer already has a fan in Bears coach Matt Eberflus.
“Super smart. Able to make all the calls,” Eberflus said of Kramer. “Sometimes you think, ‘Well, mentally it might be too big for somebody to make the mike points and change protections with the quarterback and make the line calls and be the point guy on that.’ It’s not. He’s able to do that. Now, the physical side of it, he has to learn leverage and how to play and jump to the second level under control and be able to stick and stay on linebackers, you know, understanding all those things. That’s to be expected.”
The physical side is part of the reason why Doug Kramer fell to the sixth round. He's an undersized player at 6-2, 300 pounds. Any physical advantage he can find will be critical to him enjoying sustained success in the NFL.
“It’s a dream come true," Kramer said. 'It’s hard to even think that I’m at this point, but it’s great to be here and just taking it step by step.”
Chicago Bears starting center Lucas Patrick suffered a hand injury in \x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/category/training-camp/\">training camp\x3C/a> this week that will require surgery and six-to-eight weeks to heal. There's optimism that he'll be back in the starting lineup by the time Week 1 rolls around. For now, his absence opens the door for some of Chicago's younger offensive linemen to get quality reps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The most obvious beneficiary of Patrick's injury is rookie center Doug Kramer. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer, the former University of Illinois standout, was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the \x3Ca href=\"https://www.chicagobears.com/photos/bears-2022-draft-picks\">2022 NFL Draft\x3C/a>. He, along with last year's starter, Sam Mustipher, will receive the lion's share of first-team reps while Patrick recovers.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“Obviously, it’s a great opportunity,” Kramer said this week. “It’s still super early in camp, so right now, I’m just trying to stay locked in, learn as much as I can, and try to go after that spot, for sure.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer doesn't \x3Cem>really \x3C/em>have an opportunity to unseat Patrick for the starting job. When healthy, Patrick will be in the lineup. But if Kramer is indeed the next man up at center, he has to be ready to play if his number is called during the regular season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“I’ve worked to try to get to that point, and I’ve put in a lot of time studying the playbook and trying to understand things in great detail and depth so I can be a tool for the other guys on the offensive line,” Kramer said. “And that’s a very similar mindset to what I had in Illinois, and I’m just trying to get back to that understanding of the level of detail that’s needed to be a center in this league.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer already has a fan in Bears coach Matt Eberflus.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“Super smart. Able to make all the calls,” Eberflus said of Kramer. “Sometimes you think, ‘Well, mentally it might be too big for somebody to make the mike points and change protections with the quarterback and make the line calls and be the point guy on that.’ It’s not. He’s able to do that. Now, the physical side of it, he has to learn leverage and how to play and jump to the second level under control and be able to stick and stay on linebackers, you know, understanding all those things. That’s to be expected.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The physical side is part of the reason why Doug Kramer fell to the sixth round. He's an undersized player at 6-2, 300 pounds. Any physical advantage he can find will be critical to him enjoying sustained success in the NFL.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“It’s a dream come true,\" Kramer said. 'It’s hard to even think that I’m at this point, but it’s great to be here and just taking it step by step.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca href='https://bearstalk.com/membership-account/membership-levels/\">\x3Cstrong>\x3Cem>Click here to subscribe to Bears Talk and join\x3C/em> \x3Cem>the conversation on our growing social network. Please consider one of our premium levels too. Every subscription helps grow the site.\x3C/em>\x3C/strong>\x3C/a>\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Chicago Bears rookie Doug Kramer will get first-team reps following the injury to starting center Lucas Patrick during Bears training camp ...",featured_image_url:"/api/public/media/2025/07/Untitled-design-3-1-original.jpg",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[14]=["2022 Season"],tags:$R[15]=["2022-nfl-season","2022-season","chicago-bears","doug-kramer","news","training-camp"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1,linkedContent:"\x3Cp>Chicago Bears starting center Lucas Patrick suffered a hand injury in \x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/category/training-camp/\">training camp\x3C/a> this week that will require surgery and six-to-eight weeks to heal. There's optimism that he'll be back in the starting lineup by the time Week 1 rolls around. For now, his absence opens the door for some of Chicago's younger offensive linemen to get quality reps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The most obvious beneficiary of Patrick's injury is rookie center Doug Kramer. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer, the former University of Illinois standout, was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the \x3Ca href=\"https://www.chicagobears.com/photos/bears-2022-draft-picks\">2022 NFL Draft\x3C/a>. He, along with last year's starter, Sam Mustipher, will receive the lion's share of first-team reps while Patrick recovers.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“Obviously, it’s a great opportunity,” Kramer said this week. “It’s still super early in camp, so right now, I’m just trying to stay locked in, learn as much as I can, and try to go after that spot, for sure.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer doesn't \x3Cem>really \x3C/em>have an opportunity to unseat Patrick for the starting job. When healthy, Patrick will be in the lineup. But if Kramer is indeed the next man up at center, he has to be ready to play if his number is called during the regular season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“I’ve worked to try to get to that point, and I’ve put in a lot of time studying the playbook and trying to understand things in great detail and depth so I can be a tool for the other guys on the offensive line,” Kramer said. “And that’s a very similar mindset to what I had in Illinois, and I’m just trying to get back to that understanding of the level of detail that’s needed to be a center in this league.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer already has a fan in Bears coach Matt Eberflus.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“Super smart. Able to make all the calls,” Eberflus said of Kramer. “Sometimes you think, ‘Well, mentally it might be too big for somebody to make the mike points and change protections with the quarterback and make the line calls and be the point guy on that.’ It’s not. He’s able to do that. Now, the physical side of it, he has to learn leverage and how to play and jump to the second level under control and be able to stick and stay on linebackers, you know, understanding all those things. That’s to be expected.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The physical side is part of the reason why Doug Kramer fell to the sixth round. He's an undersized player at 6-2, 300 pounds. Any physical advantage he can find will be critical to him enjoying sustained success in the NFL.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“It’s a dream come true,\" Kramer said. 'It’s hard to even think that I’m at this point, but it’s great to be here and just taking it step by step.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca href='https://bearstalk.com/membership-account/membership-levels/\">\x3Cstrong>\x3Cem>Click here to subscribe to Bears Talk and join\x3C/em> \x3Cem>the conversation on our growing social network. Please consider one of our premium levels too. Every subscription helps grow the site.\x3C/em>\x3C/strong>\x3C/a>\x3C/p>",related:$R[16]=[$R[17]={id:"3a82e100-6362-437a-9257-98394a1b08d2",wp_post_id:100000000162,title:"Bears' stunning Week 2 collapse gets worse with Caleb Williams injury",slug:"bears-vikings-week-2-recap-caleb-williams-injury",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/09/20",published_at:"2026-09-20T20:20:05.875+00:00",updated_at:"2026-09-20T20:20:05.875+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>What a difference a week makes. Seven days after the Chicago Bears scored a franchise-record 59 points in their season opener, Ben Johnson's offense couldn't find the end zone once.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And somehow, that wasn't even the most concerning development Sunday.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears suffered their first loss of the 2026 season, falling 9-3 to the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field in a game that ended with starting quarterback Caleb Williams \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://bearstalk.com/2026/09/20/caleb-williams-injury-bears-vikings-week-2-2026\">sidelined by a right hamstring injury.\x3C/a>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams was injured on a fourth-quarter scramble and had to be helped from the field before eventually leaving on a cart. Tyson Bagent replaced him for the remainder of the game.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Until the Bears provide more information, the severity of the injury remains the biggest question coming out of Week 2.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The game itself wasn't particularly encouraging, either.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago's offense looked nothing like the unit that produced 552 yards and 59 points against Carolina. The Bears finished with 297 yards on 70 plays, averaged just 4.2 yards per play, and turned the ball over twice. Minnesota didn't score a touchdown, either, but three Will Reichard field goals were enough to send Chicago to 1-1.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams completed 15 of 26 passes for 138 yards with no touchdowns and one interception before leaving the game. He added 42 rushing yards on five attempts.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Bagent completed 5 of 9 passes for 54 yards after taking over.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears offense never gets going\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Sunday's game looked nothing like the shootout many expected.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Minnesota opened the scoring with Reichard's 35-yard field goal before Cairo Santos tied the game with a 50-yarder late in the first quarter.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That would be it for Chicago's scoring.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Reichard connected from 49 yards in the second quarter to give Minnesota a 6-3 halftime lead, and neither team scored in the third quarter.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago had opportunities, but turnovers and penalties repeatedly made life more difficult. The Bears were penalized eight times for 58 yards and committed two turnovers. Minnesota finished without a turnover.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago actually outgained Minnesota 297-246 and held the football for 32:41 compared with the Vikings' 27:19.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>None of it translated to points.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears also couldn't reproduce the dominant rushing performance that overwhelmed Carolina. After rushing for 291 yards in Week 1, Chicago finished with 134 Sunday.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kyle Monangai led the Bears running backs with 47 yards on 10 carries. D'Andre Swift managed 45 yards on 16 attempts after rushing for 124 yards and three touchdowns last week.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears defense deserved better\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>If there's a positive for Chicago, it came from a defense that needed a response after surrendering 37 points and 478 yards against Carolina.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears held Minnesota to 246 total yards and didn't allow a touchdown.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Carson Wentz, starting in place of the injured Kyler Murray, completed 11 of 20 passes for 143 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Justin Jefferson was held to three receptions for 55 yards. Aaron Jones did manage 105 rushing yards on 23 carries, but Chicago repeatedly kept Minnesota out of the end zone and gave its offense opportunities to win the game.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears simply couldn't take advantage.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>It's a frustrating outcome, given how much attention Chicago's defense received after Week 1.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Dennis Allen's unit did almost everything it needed to do Sunday. Holding an opponent to nine points should be enough. It wasn't.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/ProFootballDoc/status/2101757591844208785?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/ProFootballDoc/status/2101757591844208785?s=20\">https://x.com/ProFootballDoc/status/2101757591844208785?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Ch2>Williams' injury becomes the bigger concern\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Chicago still had a chance late. After Williams exited, Bagent moved the Bears deep into Minnesota territory during the final minute.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He completed passes to Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze as Chicago advanced into scoring position, but the Bears couldn't finish the drive.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Bagent was sacked on the game's final play.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the Bears' record isn't the primary concern right now. Williams is.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago's offense was already enduring a miserable afternoon before its franchise quarterback went down. What initially looked like a frustrating divisional loss became potentially much more significant when Williams needed assistance leaving the field.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears will now wait for more information on his right hamstring. Everything else about Sunday's loss is secondary until they get it.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Chicago went from scoring 59 points to only three in one week, but a fourth-quarter injury to Caleb Williams overshadowed the Bears' loss to Minnesota.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1789935328039-2ntgbv.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4OTkzNTMyODAzOS0ybnRnYnYud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODk5MzUzMjgsImV4cCI6MjEwNTI5NTMyOH0.pg-OUn4nQ2IG8D34a_Xv_XCMovQCzjnWgMZlfnr4-BY",photo_credit:"(Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)",status:"published",created_at:"2026-09-20T20:09:50.352626+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[18]=["News"],tags:$R[19]=[],meta_title:"Bears' ugly loss gets worse with Caleb Williams injury",meta_description:"The Chicago Bears scored only three points in a 9-3 loss to Minnesota, but Caleb Williams' fourth-quarter hamstring injury is the bigger concern.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:3,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!0},$R[20]={id:"d04fe584-755e-414b-903a-63e867364610",wp_post_id:100000000161,title:"Caleb Williams leaves Bears game after concerning fourth-quarter hamstring injury",slug:"caleb-williams-injury-bears-vikings-week-2-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/09/20",published_at:"2026-09-20T20:06:56.357+00:00",updated_at:"2026-09-20T20:06:56.357+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears are holding their breath after quarterback Caleb Williams left Sunday's Week 2 game against the Minnesota Vikings with an apparent leg injury.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams went down during a fourth-quarter scramble in the red zone at Soldier Field. The injury appeared to occur without direct contact as Williams went down awkwardly on the play.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He remained down on the field while Bears trainers attended to him before he was helped off and taken to the medical tent. Williams appeared unable to put much weight on the injured leg as he left the field.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears have not yet announced the exact nature or severity of the injury.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote>\x3Cp>\x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://x.com/Rate_the_Refs/status/2101757125429244313?s=20\">https://x.com/Rate_the_Refs/status/2101757125429244313?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/p>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>That's the most important thing to keep in mind right now.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Any attempt to diagnose Williams based on the replay would be speculation until the Bears provide additional information.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>(UPDATE: The Ringer's Tom Pelissero reported that the Bears ruled out Williams with a hamstring injury).\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2101762805829382620?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2101762805829382620?s=20\">https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2101762805829382620?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Williams entered Sunday's game coming off one of the best performances of his NFL career. He accounted for 334 total yards and four touchdowns in Chicago's 59-37 Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers, throwing for 269 yards and two scores while adding 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His mobility was again on display earlier Sunday.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams produced a remarkable first-quarter scramble against Minnesota, reversing direction deep behind the line of scrimmage, escaping multiple Vikings defenders and eventually turning what looked like a significant loss into a six-yard gain.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Now, however, the concern is Williams' health.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears entered Week 2 remarkably healthy. They didn't have a single player carrying an injury designation into Sunday's game, making an injury to Williams about the last development Chicago wanted to see in its home opener.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams is obviously the centerpiece of what the Bears are building under Ben Johnson. Chicago's offense exploded in Week 1 and entered Sunday's NFC North matchup with significant expectations after its record-setting opener.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Those concerns take a back seat until the Bears know more about their quarterback.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>BearsTalk will update this story as soon as the team provides an official diagnosis or game-status update on Williams.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Bears quarterback Caleb Williams needed help leaving the field after suffering an apparent leg injury against the Vikings.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1789912714111-t3872p.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4OTkxMjcxNDExMS10Mzg3MnAud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODk5MTI3MTUsImV4cCI6MjEwNTI3MjcxNX0.FpyAI1fVCYd89_4YOvX5a1iwKuqgwlimJmO89nfYuHo",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-09-20T19:39:21.54502+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[21]=["News"],tags:$R[22]=["Bears injuries","Ben Johnson","Caleb Williams","Chicago Bears","Minnesota Vikings","NFL Week 2"],meta_title:"Caleb Williams leaves Bears-Vikings game with apparent leg injury",meta_description:"Bears quarterback Caleb Williams left Sunday's Week 2 game against the Vikings after suffering an apparent non-contact leg injury.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Caleb Williams",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[23]={id:"30c736c9-5cfb-415d-9d9e-31e3dd252358",wp_post_id:100000000160,title:"Bears-Vikings inactives are official: Who's out for Week 2",slug:"bears-vikings-inactives-week-2-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/09/20",published_at:"2026-09-20T15:40:02.465+00:00",updated_at:"2026-09-20T15:40:02.465+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears are nearly ready to kick off their 2026 home schedule against the Minnesota Vikings, and the official inactive lists are providing the final look at who will be available for Sunday's NFC North matchup.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears entered game day in remarkably good health.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago did not have a single player listed as out, doubtful or questionable on Friday's final injury report. It marked the first time since Week 7 of the 2022 season that the Bears entered a game without an injury designation.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That means Chicago's inactive list is largely driven by roster and game-day decisions rather than injuries.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Bears inactives vs. Vikings\x3C/h3>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/ChicagoBears/status/2101695891228737550?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/ChicagoBears/status/2101695891228737550?s=20\">https://x.com/ChicagoBears/status/2101695891228737550?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>No surprises here.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Right tackle Darnell Wright progressed from not practicing Wednesday to limited Thursday and full participation Friday. Running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, who had been dealing with ankle/knee and hamstring injuries, respectively, were also full participants Friday.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Safety Xavier Woods, cornerback Malik Muhammad II, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and tackle Ozzy Trapilo were cleared as well.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Trapilo is still likely a couple of weeks away from making his 2026 debut.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Vikings inactives vs. Bears\x3C/h3>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/Vikings/status/2101695379691712623?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/Vikings/status/2101695379691712623?s=20\">https://x.com/Vikings/status/2101695379691712623?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Minnesota already knew it would be without starting quarterback Kyler Murray, who was ruled out Friday while remaining in the NFL's concussion protocol.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Carson Wentz will start in his place.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Wentz replaced Murray in Minnesota's season opener against Green Bay, completing 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns while helping the Vikings rally to a 39-22 victory.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Murray isn't Minnesota's only significant absence.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Wide receiver Jauan Jennings was ruled out Friday for personal reasons, while running back Jordan Mason was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week after undergoing surgery for a fractured thumb.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Starting right tackle Brian O'Neill entered the weekend questionable because of a knee injury, but he appears good to go.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago and Minnesota enter Sunday's game 1-0, and the winner will leave Soldier Field with an early NFC North victory.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Bears and Vikings have announced their inactive players for Sunday's Week 2 NFC North matchup at Soldier Field.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1789754638903-q7rhix.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4OTc1NDYzODkwMy1xN3JoaXgud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODk3NTQ2NDcsImV4cCI6MjEwNTExNDY0N30.TJ9rHFmg5fOqcmh5VZA1yPHHYgQKOCgW-SC0Dhs1VrA",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-09-20T15:34:33.009596+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[24]=["News"],tags:$R[25]=["Bears inactives","Bears Vikings","Chicago Bears","Minnesota Vikings","NFL Week 2"],meta_title:"Bears-Vikings inactives: Who's out in Week 2?",meta_description:"The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings have announced their inactive players for Sunday's Week 2 NFC North matchup at Soldier Field.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:1,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[26]={id:"42b15c04-d91e-4fec-a7f6-7ff9c68861bc",wp_post_id:100000000159,title:"3 things that matter most for Bears against Vikings in Week 2",slug:"bears-vikings-week-2-three-things-to-watch",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/09/20",published_at:"2026-09-20T14:34:48.189+00:00",updated_at:"2026-09-20T14:34:48.189+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears couldn't have asked for a more entertaining start to the 2026 season. But, let's be honest: they can ask for a cleaner one.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago's 59-37 victory over the Carolina Panthers established just how dangerous Ben Johnson's offense can be. The Bears produced 552 yards of offense, ran for 291 yards, and scored six rushing touchdowns.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>They also allowed Carolina to score 37 points and pile up 478 yards.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's what makes Sunday's Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings so interesting. This isn't just another opportunity to see how many points Caleb Williams and the Bears can score. It's Chicago's first NFC North game of the season, its home opener, and a chance to start 2-0 against another undefeated team.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Here are the three things that matter most.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1782490221366-s9xf6u.jpg?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4MjQ5MDIyMTM2Ni1zOXhmNnUuanBnIiwic2NvcGUiOiJkb3dubG9hZCIsImlhdCI6MTc4MjQ5MDIyMiwiZXhwIjoyMDk3ODUwMjIyfQ.GJYBzgpkKd1Hw1rsFvxButT28fCPzDGVkmMCJjQI0EA\" alt=\"Montez Sweat\">\x3Ch2>1. Does the Bears defense respond?\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>This is No. 1 for a reason. Chicago's offense shouldn't need to score close to 60 points every week for the Bears to win.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Bryce Young threw for 361 yards against Chicago last Sunday, and Carolina accumulated 478 yards of total offense.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Sure, the Bears did force three turnovers, which helped compensate for all those yards. And it wasn't a fluke.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago led the NFL with 33 takeaways last season and immediately added an interception and two fumble recoveries in Week 1. But relying on turnovers while letting opponents consistently move the ball is a dangerous formula.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Minnesota will start Carson Wentz with Kyler Murray sidelined by a concussion, and that definitely feels like an advantage for Chicago.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But it won't be an easy assignment for Dennis Allen's defense.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Wentz replaced Murray against Green Bay and threw three touchdown passes while helping Minnesota erase its deficit and win 39-22. He enters Sunday with a 4-0 career record against the Bears and will be making his 100th NFL start.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And Wentz still gets to throw the football to Justin Jefferson.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1789342483991-gm7f37.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4OTM0MjQ4Mzk5MS1nbTdmMzcud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODkzNDI0ODQsImV4cCI6MjEwNDcwMjQ4NH0.C_cXcuCufZnShcDH5eJVaw5oHIkC1n6uYJ1uAftb_GM\" alt=\"DAndre Swift Bears Panthers\">\x3Ch2>2. Can the Bears run the ball again?\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Bears fans shouldn't expect another 291 rushing yards against the Vikings. But the way Chicago ran the ball in Week 1 might have been the most encouraging development of the game.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>D'Andre Swift rushed for 124 yards. Kyle Monangai added 100. Williams contributed another 65.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The 291-yard total was Chicago's highest in a game since the Bears rushed for 302 yards in Week 2 of the 1984 season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the Vikings know It's coming. And they're more than capable of making the Bears one-dimensional.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Vikings held Green Bay's running backs to 66 yards on 20 carries last week, although the Packers were without Josh Jacobs. If Chicago can consistently run against Minnesota, everything else Ben Johnson wants to do becomes more difficult to defend.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>It also provides Williams with the best possible answer to Flores' pressure packages.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1789478905682-gdots5.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4OTQ3ODkwNTY4Mi1nZG90czUud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODk0Nzg5MDQsImV4cCI6MjEwNDgzODkwNH0.1UHbW61xF2EU63iQ6dvOtB7-SSzBbj7ndLuRpeI5NWE\" alt=\"Caleb Williams NFC North Week 1\">\x3Ch2>3. How does Williams handle Minnesota's pressure?\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>This is the matchup everybody will be watching.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Flores wants to blitz. Williams wants defenses to try.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Minnesota blitzed Williams on 37.2 percent of his dropbacks in the teams' first meeting last season and increased that number to 66.7 percent in their second matchup. Yet Williams' 5.84 career sack percentage in four games against Minnesota is among the lowest for any quarterback with multiple starts against a Flores Vikings defense.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams also threw 17 touchdowns against the blitz last season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's why Sunday's matchup should tell us more about the Bears offense than Carolina could.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Flores will attempt to confuse Williams. Minnesota will try to prevent Swift and Monangai from controlling the game. And Wentz will try to exploit a Bears defense that allowed far too many yards last Sunday.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears don't need another 59-point performance. They need to show they can win a different kind of game. Do that, and 2-0 will mean considerably more than simply surviving another shootout.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Bears enter Week 2 at 1-0, but Sunday's game against Minnesota will test three areas that could tell us much more about Chicago.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786725697683-s8t6rg.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjcyNTY5NzY4My1zOHQ2cmcud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODY3MjU2OTgsImV4cCI6MjEwMjA4NTY5OH0.Toov08MvDXR4jpAhSKZjWVoBFKuD98Q-lRKfAKJDDLI",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-09-20T14:24:03.974631+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[27]=["News"],tags:$R[28]=["Caleb Williams","Carson Wentz","Chicago Bears","D'Andre Swift","Minnesota Vikings","NFL Week 2"],meta_title:"Bears-Vikings: 3 things Chicago must show in its home opener",meta_description:"The Chicago Bears couldn't have asked for a more entertaining start to the 2026 season. But, let's be honest: they can ask for a cleaner one. Chicago's…",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:3,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[29]={id:"cb8b7d53-7745-45b6-ba2d-ae84740f9110",wp_post_id:100000000158,title:"Don't be surprised if Colston Loveland erupts for Bears against Vikings",slug:"colston-loveland-bears-vikings-week-2-breakout",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/09/20",published_at:"2026-09-20T14:17:50.111+00:00",updated_at:"2026-09-20T14:17:50.111+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>There weren't many disappointing numbers in the Chicago Bears' Week 1 box score. But Colston Loveland's stood out.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Zero catches. Two targets.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's hardly what anyone expected from a player coming off an outstanding finish to his rookie season and entering 2026 as one of the most obvious breakout candidates on Chicago's roster.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Don't panic, Bears fans, and don't assume it's becoming a trend.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>In fact, Loveland could be one of the Bears players most likely to make considerably more noise Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Colston Loveland was more involved than Week 1 box score suggests\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>The most important number from Loveland's Week 1 performance wasn't zero. It was 33.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/\">According to Next Gen Stats\x3C/a>, Loveland ran a team-high 33 routes against the Panthers. That tied for the third-most among NFL tight ends in Week 1. He also played 60 of Chicago's 70 offensive snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>In other words, Loveland didn't disappear from the Bears offense. The production simply didn't follow the opportunity.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He also had chances to produce. Caleb Williams missed Loveland on a potential massive after-the-catch opportunity. Williams targeted him again in the end zone but couldn't connect.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And because Chicago spent much of the afternoon steamrolling Carolina on the ground, Ben Johnson had little reason to force the passing game.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears rushed for 291 yards and six touchdowns, but that won't happen every Sunday.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787783797930-3dzt39.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4Nzc4Mzc5NzkzMC0zZHp0Mzkud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc3ODM3OTgsImV4cCI6MjEwMzE0Mzc5OH0.MQsbC7auWEZc-wg7GrLElE9ThFr5pyBAEXo-Fa5sT5Q\" alt=\"Colston Loveland Chicago Bears\">\x3Ch2>end of 2025 season more indicative of Loveland's 2026 outlook\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Loveland's late-2025 production offers a much better indication of what he's capable of doing in this offense. Over the final two games of last season, Loveland caught 16 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He then added 12 receptions for 193 yards during Chicago's two playoff games.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's 28 catches and 378 yards over his final four games. He averaged 12 targets per game during that stretch.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>So, yeah, when he was blanked against the Panthers, it was a shock.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Something doesn't add up. And it's why Loveland is one of the most interesting Bears players to watch against the Vikings.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The matchup might cooperate, too.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Minnesota's defensive philosophy centers on creating pressure and forcing quarterbacks to make quick decisions. That can create opportunities in the intermediate areas where an athletic tight end like Loveland can become deadly.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears also have enough offensive weapons that Minnesota can't simply devote its defense to removing him. Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai all demand attention in different ways.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>None of this guarantees a huge afternoon. That's not how NFL offenses work, particularly one with as much star power as Chicago.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the underlying usage from Week 1 tells a much different story than Loveland's final stat line. He wasn't phased out. He wasn't replaced. And he wasn't an afterthought.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He ran more routes than anyone on the Bears.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Sooner or later, that should translate into production. Sunday against Minnesota would be a pretty good time for it to start.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Colston Loveland didn't catch a pass in Week 1, but one underlying number suggests the Bears tight end remains a major part of Chicago's offense.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786375539822-4yczaq.jpg?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjM3NTUzOTgyMi00eWN6YXEuanBnIiwic2NvcGUiOiJkb3dubG9hZCIsImlhdCI6MTc4NjM3NTU0MCwiZXhwIjoyMTAxNzM1NTQwfQ.cGLCuoOkVXTkZCdCICBz7lHkbjHw2lgMfqONtNTCYsU",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-09-20T14:07:44.765832+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[30]=["News"],tags:$R[31]=["Bears offense","Caleb Williams","Chicago Bears","Colston Loveland","Minnesota Vikings","NFL Week 2"],meta_title:"One Bears player looks primed for a Week 2 breakout",meta_description:"Colston Loveland didn't catch a pass in Week 1, but one underlying number suggests the Bears tight end remains a major part of Chicago's offense.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Colston Loveland",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1}]},ssr:!0}],lastMatchId:" $year $month $day $slug 2022 07 30 doug-kramer-lucas-patrick-chicago-bears-training-camp"})($R["tsr"]);$_TSR.e();document.currentScript.remove()
