NEWSLETTER
As it turns out, the Chicago Bears would need some serious luck if they think they can slide rookie wide receiver Javon Wims through waivers and onto the practice squad.
Wims’ four-catch, 114-yard, one touchdown performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday helped him land a spot on Pro Football Focus’ Team of the Week. The University of Georgia product was the NFL’s highest graded receiver (91.1) and earned a perfect 158.3 passer rating when he was the targeted wideout.
With Matt Nagy’s decision to sit the team’s starters, the Bears really needed someone to step up and provide something tangible from the contest. Wims and the second unit provided just that by moving the ball up-and-down the field against Kansas City’s starters and putting up 24 first-half points. To put that number in perspective, the Bears scored 24 points or fewer in more than 81 percent of the games in the John Fox era. These Bears did it in one half, albeit it was in a preseason game. But still … points! Get pumped!
After quiet games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos, it was good to see Wims have a second breakout performance. If you’ll recall, Wims had a strong showing against the Baltimore Ravens in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. We didn’t want to get too invested in a seventh-round receiver, but Wims forced the issue with a 53-yard catch-and-run, as well as a red zone touchdown catch where he showed off some fancy footwork in order to get two feet down in the back of the end zone.
Games like the one on Saturday might have coaches in Chicago willing to go out of their way to teach Wims special teams in order to keep a player with his talent and athleticism in the mix and on this 53-man roster (rather than someone else’s).
