Chicago Bears: Key players’ health in question for Week 7

The Chicago Bears are going to need these guys to have any shot at beating the New England Patriots on Sunday.

One of these things is not like the other. The Chicago Bears are coming off a crushing Week 6 loss to the Miami Dolphins, where they gave away every opportunity to put the game away. The New England Patriots, on the other hand, are riding a two-game winning streak and have put up a total of 81 points in those two contests.

Let’s not forget — their most recent win was over the previously-undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.

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In order for the Bears to have a shot at beating the Patriots on Sunday, they are going to need all hands on deck and all hands at full strength. At the moment, that might not appear to be the case, though.

Starting with the good news, it looks like cornerback Prince Amukamara and guard Eric Kush will play. Both players practiced in full on Friday. It’s Amukamara, specifically, who will help big time against a Patriots passing attack featuring endless weapons.

Another cornerback, Marcus Cooper, is doubtful.

But, most importantly, there are three key names to keep on your radar in terms of suiting up on Sunday. Outside linebacker Khalil Mack, cornerback Bryce Callahan and wide receiver Allen Robinson are all questionable and did not have a full week of practice this week.

The most important, obviously, is Mack. If the Bears don’t get a pass rush against Tom Brady, the game is already over. Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time, is nearly unbeatable with a clean pocket.

The guy I want to focus on most, here, though is Callahan. Playing the slot against the Patriots is a tall task, because a lot of times that player will go up against a variety of guys. For the Patriots, Callahan could be helping on Rob Gronkowkski or Julian Edelman. He could also find himself lined up against a lethal pass-catching back like James White.

New England loves to move their offensive weapons around, much like the Bears, so the slot corner’s job becomes incredibly diverse and much more challenging than those playing on the outside like Kyle Fuller and Amukamara.

If Callahan can’t go, it’s Sherrick McManis who gets the start. Head coach Matt Nagy expressed his confidence in McManis during his time with the media on Friday, but let’s be honest, fans aren’t exactly thrilled with the thought of McManis getting heavy playing time against the Patriots.

With Anthony Miller just getting back from injury, having someone like Robinson on the field will help tremendously. Taylor Gabriel has been garnering a lot of attention as of late, and has made defenses pay with some long catches down the field. But, Robinson is still the most talented receiver of this group and the Bears need him in this one.

The Bears are still atop the NFC North, but this weekend could see some shifting, depending on what their rivals do in their respective games. Hopefully, the Bears are healthy on Sunday. This is quite possibly the biggest game of the season.