CHICAGO — From the sound of things, Tyrique Stevenson could get another opportunity to help a leaky Chicago Bears secondary Saturday night.
The third-year cornerback did not play Sunday when Jared Goff passed for 331 yards in the Detroit Lions’ 19-16 victory. Secondary coach Al Harris said it was strictly a football decision and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen pledged “there’ll be a plan in place for Tyrique” as the Bears ready to host the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round of the playoffs at Soldier Field.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStevenson’s playing time has dipped in recent weeks as Jaylon Johnson got physically stronger in his return from early-season surgery to repair a core muscle injury. Johnson and Nahshon Wright were on the field the entire game when Goff had a field day — against the secondary as a whole — and now the Bears have to consider at least a couple of options preparing for a win-or-go-home situation:
— Will Kyler Gordon practice well enough in a short week to make a return from injured reserve and play at a high enough level to make a difference? If not, who would step up with C.J. Gardner-Johnson in concussion protocol?
— Does Stevenson warrant playing time? If so, in place of Johnson or Wright?
It’s a fair question as to which cornerback the team might pull off to give Stevenson some run — which illustrates the problem. Johnson isn’t going to be all the way back until he has had a full offseason to recover, and opposing quarterbacks are finding ways to create space and windows against Wright. No objective analysis of the secondary can overlook the reality that the pass rush hasn’t done enough to help on the front end this season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf the Bears cannot find legitimate solutions, they’re at least in need of some patches. Gordon was limited Wednesday in practice, his first since before the Week 14 trip to Lambeau Field when his groin injury flared up in pregame warmups. The coaching staff was positive in discussing the possibility Stevenson will be a factor.
If you exclude the Week 15 blowout win against the Cleveland Browns, the last four opponents have converted 27 of 47 (57.4%) third downs. That includes two games against the Packers and losses to the San Francisco 49ers and Lions.
A category in which the Bears were near the top of the league through the first half of the season has become a problem area. The Bears have been so porous they finished the season ranked 22nd at 40.8%. The Packers offense finished No. 2 on third down at 48.8%, and quarterback Jordan Love has a passer rating of 110.4 on third-and-7 or more this season, completing 39 of 64 passes for 663 yards.
It looked as if Goff was in a shooting gallery at times. He completed passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown on third down to move the chains four times in the first half alone Sunday. The Bears had to know what was coming yet couldn’t stop it.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Getting off the field on third down, that’s probably been the biggest issue that we’ve had,” Allen said. “Part of it is we’ve played some really good teams the last couple weeks — some really good offenses.”
Some of the recent struggles can be linked to early-down issues. Twenty-two of the 47 third downs in the four games have been third-and-3 or less. Of the 17 instances in which it was third-and-7 or more, opponents have converted eight. The Packers had three long touchdown passes on third down against the Bears — two to Christian Watson in the Week 14 meeting and one to Romeo Doubs in Week 16.
Allen said the team was more or less going with the “hot hand” in the secondary, and those clamoring for explanations for why Stevenson didn’t get any playing time ignored that Johnson’s snap count has been increasing each week.
Wright’s five interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries have given a big boost to the league’s No. 1 defense in terms of takeaways. Opponents also have hit him for a slew of big plays, especially of late. On the other side, Johnson has gotten behind in the route too often as his hands and feet haven’t been in sync. He struggled on crossing routes against the Lions.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We’ll see how the game plays out,” Allen said. “But I think all those guys have to be ready to play.”
Harris said Stevenson, who did not meet with reporters after practice Wednesday, has been upbeat and “hadn’t done anything wrong or anything like that. It was just something as a staff that’s the way we went.”
“Rique is doing a good job of being a pro,” Harris said. “So, this week is a new week. Last week was last week. I think he’s attacked every day as a professional ... He’s doing a good job.
“When Rique is locked in and tuned in to what he has to do, really good football player. That’s with anybody, not just Tyrique. So it’s just little details here and there with all the guys. Him being locked in, focused in on what he has to do, sky’s the limit.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf a healthy Gordon can be stickier than Gardner-Johnson, that will help, especially in the middle of the field where Goff and the 49ers’ Brock Purdy feasted on the Bears. It’s where there have been big run-after-catch opportunities.
“At the end of day, we’ve got to cover that,” Harris said.
No matter who is lined up at cornerback.
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