REPORT: Chicago Bears Covid Situation Just Reached DEFCON 1
The Chicago Bears are one of seven teams in the NFL’s intensive protocols. This is due to them having a high number of COVID-19 cases scattered around their roster. Several key names are expected out for Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings including defensive linemen Eddie Goldman and Mario Edwards Jr. There is no way it can get much worse, right? Well, that is where you would be wrong.
Somehow it didn’t just get worse for the Bears on Thursday, it got way worse. Head coach Matt Nagy revealed that not one but all three of the team’s coordinators are in the COVID protocol and may not be able to work the game at Soldier Field. It is one thing to be missing one coordinator. Yet to know Bill Lazor, Sean Desai, and Chris Tabor all may not be available? It is incredible to think the Bears’ season has reached this point.
It feels like whatever can go wrong has gone wrong.
All three #Bears coordinators are out with COVID-19 right now.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) December 16, 2021
#Bears HC Matt Nagy not saying who might fill the DC role, but mentioned Mike Pettine. Assistant Tom Herman has worked on offense and special teams, helping prep for upcoming opponents, running the look team. Options on the staff to fill coordinator roles. @WBBMNewsradio
— Jeff Joniak (@JeffJoniak) December 16, 2021
Just a walk through for the #Bears today. No live reps during practice.
Likely the same tomorrow too.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) December 16, 2021
So how in the world do the Chicago Bears even handle this situation? Pretty much the same way they do with players. It has to be the next man up. In regards to the offense, that solution seems easy enough. Nagy himself will likely take over play calling with Lazor absent. The bigger challenges lay on defense and special teams. Nagy did hint that assistant Mike Pettine could be an option for defensive coordinator duties. It is a job he has done several times in the past. That experience could be of great use.
As for special teams? Responsibilities likely fall to assistant special teams coach Brian Ginn. This is an unenviable situation, to say the least. Asking this team to beat a division rival in primetime without multiple starters and three of their four most important coaches available? One can only feel bad for the Bears at this point. So much of this season is about misfortune as much as bad decisions.