Chicago Bears: Eberflus Dishes On Players After Bye Week

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus spoke about several players, including Chase Claypool and Braxton Jones after the bye week.

After a much-needed bye, the Chicago Bears are ready to go at it again. They have four tough games remaining this season. First up is the team with the best record in the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Before that, however, head coach Matt Eberflus spoke to reporters about several Chicago Bears players, including offensive lineman Braxton Jones and wide receiver Chase Claypool.

Eberflus is excited and impressed with the season Jones is having so far. Jones is the Bears’ fifth-round pick who came out of an FCS school. Despite having Teven Jenkins man the crucial left tackle spot, Jones showed he was the man for the job. He ended up moving Jenkins over and started every game at that position.

Jones doesn’t look like a fifth-round rookie on the field. Sure, he still has some learning to do, but he is still doing a very good job. He makes plays that veteran players don’t. His football IQ is extremely high and he is very athletic.

Eberflus is impressed with Jones but acknowledges that he still has to keep getting better.

Braxton’s been solid. He’s done a good job for a rookie being able to play in there, his maturity. I think you could say too he just has to firm up the bull rushes. That’s the biggest thing he has to do, he’s gotta set. He’s gotta do a really good job these next four weeks.

As Eberflus said, this week will be a difficult one for Jones and the rest of the offensive line. The Philadelphia Eagles have the deepest defensive line in the NFL. They’ll throw player after player at the offensive line and wear the unit down. Jones has played well the last month, giving up just four pressures. If he continues this week he solidifies his importance to the offense.

Claypool’s struggles

Eberflus also spoke about Chase Claypool’s struggles since the Bears acquired him before the November 1 trade deadline. Chicago traded away a valuable second-round pick for Claypool but he hasn’t been a big part of the offense so far, recording 12 catches for 111 yards.

Eberflus explained that Claypool is still learning the system.

I wouldn’t say he’s there yet. I would say he’s getting there. He’s getting there and working there just like everybody else. But again, it’s all new to him and there’s a lot of volume of offense that he has to learn and he’s getting there.

Also, with the Bears utilizing a run-heavy offense, he doesn’t see as many looks. He’s had five games and a bye now for him to get better. Whatever expectations are for him, however, should be set for next season. Remember, too, that quarterback Justin Fields struggled with the offense early in the season. Adjustments were made and the offense is much better now.

Eberflus also went on to say that he expects running back Khalil Herbert to return. Herbert is on injured reserve and this will be the last game before he becomes eligible to return. Some people theorized that perhaps the Bears could shut him down for the rest of the season. It doesn’t look like they’ll do that. He is an integral part of the Bears’ league-leading rushing attack so the coaches want him back when he’s ready.

Reporters asked Eberflus about offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood. While he still won’t commit to having him start, Eberflus did say that Leatherwood would at least be in the rotation. Leatherwood played in his first game in Week 13 against the Green Bay Packers. He only played ten snaps, though. Perhaps he could play more this week.

Safety Jaquan Brisker and cornerback Kyler Gordon are two of the most important players on the defense. They missed two games. Eberflus announced that the two are out of concussion protocol and are ready to go. Having those two players on the field really helps, especially in the secondary.

Hopefully, this bye week helps the team the same way the mini-bye week worked for them earlier in the season. As I mentioned, however, the last four weeks of the season are tough. After Philadelphia, the Bears play the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings.