The Chicago Bears are going to be without Montez Sweat for the next two weeks due to a performance-enhancing drug suspension. The suspension is a position of weakness and depresses it even more.
What can the Bears do to survive this?
Chicago Bears must recover from Montez Sweat suspension
In-House Options
The timing of the team activating Shemar Turner is valuable. Turner is a player who is too big to stay on the edge, but a bit too small to stay along the interior. The Bears have already been using James Lynch in a similar role. By mixing and matching Turner and Lynch in this role, they can minimize a lot of the run defense issues that will come without Sweat.
In terms of pass rush, they will likely call on Austin Booker. Before Week 5, Booker said that he wanted to play more. Then, he got more time and recorded two sacks. The Bears are likely going to put even more on his plate now that Sweat is out and Dayo Odeyingbo is banged up.
Bears Could Sign a Veteran
Another option is signing a veteran. The team flirted with Joey Bosa all summer. Now that Bosa does not have to go through training camp and just prepare for a playoff push, he could be much more valuable to a team like the Bears. Haason Reddick and former Bears draft pick Leonard Floyd are also options in the mix.
The downside to that is the Bears would need to give them a few weeks to get up to speed. By the time they return, the team could get Sweat and Odeyingbo back. Still, they could ease the workload of the two and make the room more complete before a playoff push.
If they went into the home stretch with Booker, Sweat, Odeyingbo and Bosa, it would be a stronger group.
Bears Could Make a Trade
The last avenue is a trade. Now, the Bears can add a player who is already seeing the field, so they can jump on the field right away. The issue here is that it would take some time to finalize a deal, unless they were already eyeing options.
Some potential trade options include Los Angeles edge rusher Chargers Khalil Mack, Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals, Josh Uche of the Miami Dolphins, and Yaya Diaby of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
These would also help after Sweat returns.
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