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Courtney Cronin, ESPN staff essayist
LAKE FOREST, discomfort. – In the wake of Sunday’s admirable 18-15 loss to the Washington Commanders, several Chicago Bears captains spoke about player responsibility and wondered about positive coaching moves after a 52-yard Downcast Mary.
And it wasn’t until one participant said Wednesday that his complaint should have been stored “internally” that he retracted the message.
“I mean, I’m not going to apologize for what I said, but at the same time…he should have stayed home,” wide receiver DJ Moore said. “But I said what I said. I answered the question truthfully.”
Moore had questioned why the Bears chose to handoff alternate center Doug Kramer on a third-and-goal at the Commanders’ 1-yard line with 6:21 left in the fourth quarter and Washington leading 12-7. Kramer had covered in the backfield before, but it was better to block. This used to be his first lift; fumbled and Washington recovered.
“I don’t know the reason behind the play,” Moore said Monday morning on 670 The Rating. “It’s been active for a few weeks, but I didn’t think they were really going to penalize us in a game like this.”
Moore was not the one to express his frustration. A bright memory of the Mary downpour was Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson taunting Washington fans for more than four seconds before realizing the games were in progress. Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson wondered why the Bears didn’t take advantage of one of their three timeouts to position themselves for a better chance of blocking plays.
Bears schoolteacher Matt Eberflus declined to mention whether Stevenson will face consequences, such as a benching. The Bears likely won’t have funds for any further losses in the defensive backfield, as defensive back Jaquan Fresher has been in concussion protocol since Oct. 7 and cornerback Kyler Gordon hasn’t played since injuring a tendon. hamstring in time 6. had been indexed as non-participants in Wednesday’s surprise file after the Bears conducted a review.
“I’m not going to talk about Tyrique in terms of starter, non-starter, all those things,” Eberflus said Wednesday. “But I will say this: Tyrique has made a lot of plays for this group and for our defense and for our football team over the last few years, and he will continue to do so.
“We’re behind Tyrique, and we’re with him all the way, and again, we’ll work on this as we go.”
Safety Kevin Byard had also wondered why the play before the Hail Mary wasn’t better defended. The Commanders completed a 13-yard pass to Terry McLaurin that allowed him to get off the field in time to give Jayden Daniels a better chance on the final shot. Byard said he spoke to Eberflus on Monday about the play and questioned why the Bears didn’t pressure their corners or send pressure.
“I accept it as true with the ones. I imagine myself in the ones,” Eberflus said, adding that the culture the Bears have established during his three seasons in Chicago allows players to speak. “We have that coverage that, good morning, is a perceptible conversation.
“And if it’s done the right way, with respect, and if it’s done the right way about winning, about winning football, about winning habits, then we’ll all be in it.”
It was not the first time this season that the players expressed their desire to hold the training team with the same responsibility that is required of them. Then, after a 1-2 start, the offensive management team met with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron following a 21-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The message focused on the way Waldron relates to players.
“Don’t feel like you can’t coach us,” veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis said in September. “I want to be coached. I want to be great.”
From Lewis, the oldest captain at 40, to quarterback Caleb Williams, the youngest at 22, the idea that the Bears are a player-driven team is felt throughout the reserves room.
“On the best teams I’ve been on, the players lead,” Williams said Wednesday. “That’s what we have here.
“One thing I’m only progressing is that [on] OK groups, no one leads; excellent groups, top coaches; and the top teams, the players lead.”
Johnson added, “It really just starts with being noticeable to pay attention in the first place… In the long run, it’s up to them to make the changes or do what we’re advertising.”
Eberflus said he understood the responsibility of his position.
“It’s about accountability and execution, and that starts with me,” Eberflus said. “And the sport didn’t end the way we needed it to, and again that starts with me.”
Following their team meeting following their 1-2 start, the Bears responded with a three-game winning streak. They will try to answer their final challenge on Sunday against a surprisingly good Arizona team (4-4) (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).
“Now we can see if we will rise again and stay combined,” Moore said. “That’s the most important factor.”
