Chicago Bears Need Zach Miller to be Healthy More Than Ever Before

The Chicago Bears are remaking their offense thanks to a new cast of free-agent signings and departures this off season. That’s why the team will need tight end Zach Miller to stay on the field this upcoming season, more than ever before.

Losing their lead wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery, in free-agency was tough for the Chicago Bears. Getting rid of their eighth-year starting quarterback, Jay Cutler, was not. These are just two of many notable off season changes the Chicago Bears went through thus far on the offensive side.

The Bears are in a desperate need to win more games this upcoming season. Head coach John Fox and General Manager Ryan Pace are under a ton of pressure to do so. That’s what happens when you go from winning six games in 2015 to just three the following season.

From judging the organization’s off season moves thus far, the Bears appear committed to this win-now approach, particularly on offense. They cut-bait with quarterback Jay Cutler…about time. Releasing Cutler wasn’t shocking. Signing Mike Glennon, a back-up quarterback for the past few seasons in Tampa Bay, was.

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Mike Glennon is now the Bears’ starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. His three-year, $43.5 million deal says so. He has some upside that should make Bears fans happy. He has a strong throwing arm, to go along with his 6-foot-7 frame to see over all incoming defenders. Glennon is also a very likable teammate to have in the Bears’ locker room.

In order for the Bears to improve upon their 3-13 record in 2016, they’ll need to produce more points on offense. Last season, the Bears averaged just 17.4 points-per-game, courtesy of NFL.com. Twenty-seven teams produced a more efficient offense than the Bears.

Much of the Bears’ offensive woes can be attributed to injuries. None more notable than tight end Zach Miller. Miller has been a driving force in the Bears’ offense over the past few seasons. That is, when he is healthy.

Miller, like many of his teammates on offense, suffers from frequent injury woes that hamper the offense. He played in only 10 games last season for the Bears, due to a season-ending broken foot suffered against the New York Giants in Week 11. Throughout his career, he has suffered multiple season-ending injuries with both the Jacksonville Jaguars and in Chicago.

Drafted by Jacksonville in 2009, Miller, now 32, has played in just five seasons over an eight-year span, thanks to shoulder, knee, foot, and concussion injuries. Injuries that have in many cases, ended seasons before they even began.

When healthy, Miller has proven to be a reliable target for Bears’ quarterbacks to throw to. Listed at 6-5, he is a tall target in the middle of the field. In addition, Miller’s hands are as reliable as sticky glue on most nights. He makes just about every catch thrown to him and has a knack for being a clutch performer down in the red-zone.

The availability of Zach Miller this upcoming season with the Bears is crucial because of who Glennon’s now throwing to.

First off, the Bears losing Jeffery, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles this off season, takes away a number one wide receiver. Wide receiver Cameron Meredith is an up-and-coming star but still lacks experience. And wide-out Kevin White, also a promising young player, is still a question mark on offense given his own season-ending injuries the past two seasons.

The team also signed veteran wide-outs Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright to short-term deals. Both players should hopefully be solid contributors this upcoming season. In addition, the Bears also signed tight-end Dion Sims in free agency to a three-year deal.

Wheaton, Wright, and Sims have all shown flashes of great play throughout their careers, but have also dealt with injuries and inconsistent playing time with their respective former teams. Glennon, along with his new supporting cast of players, will be learning a new offensive system to run this upcoming season.

That’s why the Bears need Zach Miller to avoid another injury-plagued season. Glennon needs all the help he can get, leading the Bears’ offense in 2017. Having Miller, one of the team’s most trusted veterans, in the offensive huddle is critical for improving team chemistry from the get-go.

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His availability only makes life as a quarterback easier for Mike Glennon. If he’s out for an extended period of time in 2017, the Bears’ passing game instantly loses a critical component within.

Can Miller remain healthy for a full 2017 season? History says that’s unlikely to happen. Still, stranger things have happened before. All Bears’ fans can do is hope for the best.

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