Cubs News: Eberflus on injury updates, trade deadline, matchup with Jayden Daniels |
CHICAGO—The Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders have a lot in common. Prior to the start of this season, they both decided they needed a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback. Both teams drafted a Heisman winner, and both started their first six games with a 4-2 record.
The success of both teams and surrounding their quarterbacks is why the NFL opted to flex this game. It was originally scheduled to be a noon game on CBS on Sun. Oct. 27 until the league changed it to the 3:25 p.m. slot, making it the primetime game on CBS in the afternoon. Washington’s offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, worked with Chicago’s rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, in Williams’ final season in college. It was speculated that is part of why the Bears interviewed Kingsbury for their open offensive coordinator position. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said he learned a lot from that interview, even though Chicago opted to go with Shane Waldron as their new offensive coordinator. “I’ve always respected him, going against him over the years, respecting his offense, the way he finds space on the field, and the way he’s committed to the run game,” Eberflus said. “But, it was a pleasure to meet him personally. Had a great visit for a good amount of time during our interview and it was very informative to both parties. But, it was good, good takeaway.” Chicago selected Williams with the No. 1 overall pick while the Commanders chose Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall selection. Daniels played a total of 55 games in college, leading the NCAA in yards per game and quarterback rating, as well as yards per rushing attempt. In his final two seasons in college, he had 2,019 rushing yards. In the NFL, Daniels has continued to find success on the ground and in the air despite working in a different offensive scheme. However, after suffering a rib injury against the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday, his availability for the game has been put into question. Furthermore, even if he does play, it does not currently appear that he will be at full strength. Nonetheless, Eberflus and the Bears have noticed his play so far this season and know he will be a challenge for the defense. “I think more reading for (Daniels) in the run game than he had in college, it looked like to me. But again, they just really do a good job of enhancing and looking at his skill set, which is throwing the ball down the field. He does that really well and he’s been able to get some really good chunk plays. Their whole offense has during the course of these first games,” Eberflus said. “He is a (big) talent … He’s got a real good future ahead of him. You (can) certainly see how he reads the field, how he sees, his vision, his anticipation, his accuracy, his ability to escape when he needs to, his ability to do the QB runs if they ask him to do that, athleticism. He’s a big talent.” Chicago is hoping to have a few of their defenders back against the Commanders. Safety Jaquan Brisker missed the last game with a concussion while cornerback Tyrique Stevenson also missed the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and fellow cornerback Kyler Gordon had to leave during the game with an injury. The Bears also lost their long snapper, Scott Daly, to injury in that game. “Brisker’s still going through protocol. He’s got a couple more steps to go, but looks good. Kyler’s working through his hamstring. He’ll see where that is on Wednesday,” Eberflus said. “Scott was out there today, our long snapper, so that was good and so was Tyrique. Tyrique was also out there working through some stuff, but we’ll see where that is on Wednesday. But, all is hopeful for those guys and we’ll see where it goes from there.” With the trade deadline approaching in under two weeks, there have been some questions about if Chicago will elect to trade some of their players such as offensive lineman Nate Davis and running back Khalil Herbert. Eberflus declined to comment specifically on them, but did leave the door open to potentially making some moves around the deadline. “During this time when you’re leading up to the trade deadline, you’re always going to have guys that are in conversation for those trade talks,” Eberflus said. “I’m not going to talk about particular players or players that we’re looking at potentially, but that’s always going to be the case. It’s part of the business. As an NFL player, you know that and it’s just part of that time that we’re in right now.”
