Chicago Bears: Finding bright spots amidst a disastrous season

4. Unlikely heroes stepping up

We cannot talk about bright spots without bringing up the names Sam Mustipher, Darnell Mooney and Mario Edwards.

In a year where the offensive line has been stripped to its core, a former undrafted free agent, Mustipher, has shown some things. Now appearing on the line in three games this year, and playing 100 percent of snaps in two of them, Mustipher looks as though he could become an integral part of this team’s depth going forward.

Whether or not Mustipher becomes a permanent center, moving Cody Whitehair back to guard, he has proven he can play at the pro level.

The other pleasant surprise has been the rookie fifth-round wide receiver. The offense has been atrocious, but Mooney has played really well and earned himself a full-time role within this group.

He’s proven he can be a legitimate deep threat, as well as a fairy strong possession guy. For a rookie not many had heard of after he was drafted, Mooney has made himself known as a good player in this league. So far, he has caught 36 passes for 385 yards and two scores.

The Bears’ passing game is the bottom of the barrel, but Mooney’s target share has been promising. Having seven or more targets in four games this year, Mooney looks like he’s going to be a big part of this offense as they look to turn things around in the future.

Lastly, Chicago has to extend the Edwards. He’s been big in terms of stepping up on the defensive line. He’s been a capable, dependable guy up front in a season where Chicago has been without Eddie Goldman and now Roy Robertson-Harris for the rest of the year.

Edwards has a pair of sacks and four quarterback hits as a rotational defensive end in 2020, and the 26-year-old should become a part of this team’s future when his 1-year deal runs out.