LAKE FOREST, Sick. — Within the wake of Sunday’s gorgeous 18-15 loss to the Washington Commanders, a number of Chicago Bears captains spoke about participant accountability whereas additionally questioning sure teaching strikes after a 52-yard walk-off Hail Mary.
And whereas one participant stated Wednesday his criticism ought to have been stored “in-house,” he did not again down from the message.
“I imply, I am not going to ask for forgiveness for what I stated, however on the identical time … it ought to have simply stayed in-house,” extensive receiver DJ Moore stated. “However I stated what I stated. I answered the query honestly.”
Moore had puzzled why the Bears elected at hand off to backup middle Doug Kramer on a third-and-goal on the Commanders’ 1-yard-line with 6:21 left within the fourth quarter and Washington main 12-7. Kramer had lined up within the backfield earlier than however solely to dam. This was his first carry; he fumbled and Washington recovered.
“I do not know the rationale behind the playcall,” Moore stated Monday morning on 670 The Rating. “It has been up for a number of weeks, however I did not assume we had been really getting it referred to as in a recreation like this.”
Moore wasn’t the one one expressing frustration. One vivid reminiscence of the Hail Mary was Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson taunting Washington followers for over 4 seconds earlier than realizing the play was unfolding. All-Professional cornerback Jaylon Johnson questioned why the Bears did not use certainly one of their three timeouts to get located and provides themselves a greater probability to defend the play.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus declined to say whether or not Stevenson will face penalties, like a benching. The Bears won’t be capable to afford one other loss within the defensive backfield, as security Jaquan Brisker has been within the concussion protocol since Oct. 7 and nickel nook Kyler Gordon hasn’t performed since injuring a hamstring in Week 6. Each gamers had been listed as nonparticipants on Wednesday’s damage report after the Bears held a walk-through.
“I am not going to speak about Tyrique by way of beginning, not beginning, all these issues,” Eberflus stated Wednesday. “However I’ll say this: Tyrique has made quite a lot of performs for this group and for our protection and for our soccer workforce over the past couple of years, and he will proceed to try this.
“We’re behind Tyrique, and we’re with him all the way in which, and once more, we’ll work by way of this as we go.”
Security Kevin Byard had additionally puzzled why the play earlier than the Hail Mary wasn’t higher defended. The Commanders accomplished a 13-yard move to Terry McLaurin that allowed him to get out of bounds in time to present Jayden Daniels a greater shot on the remaining throw. Byard stated he spoke with Eberflus on Monday in regards to the play and questioned why the Bears did not press up their corners or ship stress.
“I belief these guys. I consider in these guys,” Eberflus stated, including the tradition the Bears have established throughout his three seasons in Chicago empowers gamers to talk up. “We have now that coverage that, hey, it is open communication.
“And if it is performed in the precise approach, with respect, and if it is performed in the precise approach within the theme of profitable, about profitable soccer, profitable habits, then we’re all in for that.”
It wasn’t the primary time this season that gamers expressed a need to carry the teaching workers to the identical accountability required of them. After stumbling to a 1-2 begin, the management group on offense met with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron following a 21-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The message centered on Waldron’s method with gamers.
“Do not feel like you possibly can’t coach us,” veteran tight finish Marcedes Lewis stated in September. “I need to be coached. I need to be nice.”
From Lewis, the eldest captain at 40 years outdated, to quarterback Caleb Williams, the youngest at 22, the idea of the Bears being a player-led workforce is felt all through the locker room.
“The higher groups I have been on, the gamers lead,” Williams stated Wednesday. “That is what we’ve got right here.
“One thing I am going on my own is that [on] OK groups, no one leads; good groups, the coaches lead; and nice groups, the gamers lead.”
Johnson added: “It actually simply begins with being open to hear at first. … Finally, it is as much as them to make the modifications or to take what we’re saying.”
Eberflus stated he understood the duty of his place.
“It is all about accountability and execution, and that begins with me,” Eberflus stated. “And the sport did not end the way in which we wished it to, and once more that begins with me.”
After their workforce assembly following their 1-2 begin, the Bears responded with a three-game win streak. They’re going to attempt to reply their newest problem Sunday in opposition to a surprisingly good Arizona (4-4) workforce (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).
“Now you actually get to see if we are able to bounce again and actually keep collectively,” Moore stated. “That is the largest factor.”
