Could Chicago Bears reunite Allen Hurns with teammate Allen Robinson?

Why it doesn’t make sense

1. Injury concerns

While Allen Hurns’ production in 2015 is enough to make Bears fans drool, that was almost three years ago.  Since that time, Hurns has struggled through injuries.  In fact, over the past two seasons, he has missed a total of 11 games.

Granted Cam Meredith is coming off a serious knee injury, but until that point, he did not have a history of missing time due to injuries.  However, injuries have become a bit of a trend for Hurns.

Additionally, Hurns’ injuries have been the nagging kind that makes you worry about his long-term health.  While Meredith’s was a freak injury, Hurns’ injuries have been more of the type that makes you wonder if he’s just injury-prone (high ankle sprain, strained hamstring, etc.).

So does it really make sense to pursue a twenty-six-year-old receiver with a history of injuries?  Especially considering their No. 1 receiver is also recovering from an ACL injury?

If the Bears knew they’d be getting something close to the 2015 version of Hurns, then the risk is certainly worth it.  However, there are certainly no guarantees he will be anything close to that.

2. Could mean the end of Meredith’s time in Chicago

While it certainly makes sense to inquire into Hurns as an insurance policy, I would not sign him at the expense of losing Cameron Meredith.  In other words, if signing Hurns means the end of Meredith’s time in Chicago, then it’s a bad idea.

And that is likely to be the case if they sign Hurns.  Meredith and Hurns are very similar players.  They are similarly built with similar skillsets.  They both also project to be top tier number two wide receivers.  Therefore, it is unlikely this roster has room for both — especially since Kevin White is also likely to be around all season.

If that’s the case, why would the Bears abandon a guy like Meredith?  Hurns is a fairly known quantity.  Outside of that magical 2015 season, he has been somewhat unremarkable.

Meredith, on the other hand, was trending upward when he suffered his catastrophic knee injury.  He’s also a year younger than Hurns and familiar with the organization.  The Bears would be wise to retain homegrown talent.

Next: Gearing up for one more big FA move?

Bottom Line

Ryan Pace should definitely at least consider the idea of signing Allen Hurns.  Without knowing the fate of Cam Meredith, he should pursue all options.

However, the addition of Hurns would certainly come with risks.  It is now up to Ryan Pace to decide if the risk is worth the potential reward.