The Bears Blew a 27-3 Lead in the Most Meaningless Preseason Game Ever, and Other Bullets

Luis C. Medina

Aug 31, 2018

Chicago Bears

And let us never speak of this ever again:

Legit. pic.twitter.com/b79LsX11le

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) August 31, 2018

We are finally moving out of the preseason like …

Cavon Walker two step.gif pic.twitter.com/UiL16hlYWu

— ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD2_) August 31, 2018

I’m not convinced anyone won or lost a roster spot on Thursday, but several players made compelling final cases to close out the preseason.

Ryan Nall came on like gang-busters down the stretch. The undrafted free agent rookie from Oregon State picked up 79 yards on four carries, which included a 32-yard touchdown run. Nall even played some snaps at fullback, which could bode well for him when it comes down to the final cutdown. If Nall can play the role of fullback while also serving as the team’s No. 4 running back, then he has a good shot of making it.

It’s going to be tough to keep this guy off the 53-man roster when he’s making splash plays like this:

Ryan Nall with the BURST. pic.twitter.com/qZ4OymL5wK

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) August 31, 2018

And if he’s making special team’s contributions, too? Well, then it will be really difficult. Nall definitely caught the eye of former Bears special teams standout Patrick Mannelly:

I just went back and watched a hand full of Ryan Nall’s special teams snaps from the preseason. Has a big upside on that phase. #Bears
— Patrick Mannelly (@PatrickMannelly) August 31, 2018

Fellow running back Taquan Mizzell had his moments, too. Mizzell has more special teams experience than Nall, but doesn’t have the same positional flexibility. Should the Bears decide to keep true fullback Michael Burton on the roster, Mizzell might have a leg up on being the team’s RB4.

I had a feeling of déjà vu when outside linebacker Kasim Edebali left the game with a leg injury, because it reminded me of last year’s preseason finale when Lamarr Houston suffered an injury that ultimately cost him a roster spot. Edebali entered the game as among the contenders for a spot among the team’s outside linebackers/edge rushers that could use as much help as it can get. Chris Emma of 670 The Score caught up with Edebali after the game, and the late-summer signing seems confident that he put enough good things on tape to earn a job somewhere.

The NFL life is a tough one. We’re looking at rosters that will go from 90 to 53 by Saturday at 3 p.m., which means 37 players who have been working all spring and summer for something more than what they have will continue their search elsewhere. Colleen Kane of the Tribune dives into the nitty gritty of the short shelf-life many professional footballs live with.

James Daniels played the whole game on Thursday, which suggests he is destined to start the season as a reserve interior lineman. Daniels was the Bears’ first second-round draft pick and seemed destined to replace Josh Sitton at left guard. But a training camp injury slowed his development and Eric Kush’s experience and knowledge of Matt Nagy’s system helped him get a leg up on the competition. The Bears will probably want to review the game tape before making a final decision.

If there is one thing worth re-visiting from that game, it’s pictures of frisbee dogs at halftime, via the Chicago Tribune.

Good for you, Cam:

Cam Meredith hauls in his first catch as a Saint. Despite some injury concerns (and that he is playing in the fourth preseason game), I still see value for him as a late round flier. pic.twitter.com/yXnNmqlHi5
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 31, 2018

“Clemson student leads Furman to win against Clemson” is a headline I want to read this weekend:

Clemson student Harris Roberts will start at QB for Furman in Death Valley against the Tigers. https://t.co/Ntm6DSKINQ

— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 31, 2018

College football is underway and scouting season can begin in earnest:

#Bears scout Jeff Shiver in the house tonight at Ross-Ade Stadium for Northwestern-Purdue.

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) August 30, 2018

A way-too-early 2019 NFL mock draft from the Sporting News has the Bears taking Boston College defensive end Zach Allen with the sixth overall pick. While we’re unsure what Chicago’s needs will be next spring, it’s probably safe to assume there will be plenty of incentive to add to the defensive side of the ball. As we’ve learned this preseason, there is no such thing as too much pass-rushing depth.

Elsewhere in the football world, this is about to be a thing:

BREAKING: Colin Kaepernick's collusion grievance to go to trial after arbitrator denies NFL's request for summary judgment.

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 30, 2018

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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