It was jarring to see news of the Bears placing Eddie Goldman, Christian Jones, Elijah Wilkinson, and Patrick Scales on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. We’re looking at a starting nose tackle, two key reserves, and the only long-snapper on the roster. So, in other words, these are notable players who are out of action due to their placement on the list.
But perhaps this group’s time on the sidelines will be short-lived:
Word is the #Bears COVID-19 situation is the result of a false positive test. Rules will sideline these guys a bit longer but we could see all or most of them back by Sunday's practice.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 5, 2021
It sounds like good news could be on the horizon for the Bears when it comes to their COVID issues, as the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs tweets that this situation is due to a false positive test. For what it’s worth, it is the second time in as many days in which Biggs has shared what he has heard regarding a belief that the situation is due to a false positive. If that turns out to be the case, these Bears players could be back on the practice field sooner, rather than later.
But just in case Patrick Scales isn’t quick to be back, Chicago’s football team is trying out long-snappers:
With LS Patrick Scales on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, #Bears had 3 long snappers listed for a tryout:
Beau Brinkley
Kyle Nelson
Garrison Sanborn— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 5, 2021
Beau Brinkley is a 31-year-old with 135 games of experience with the Titans from 2012-20. Kyle Nelson, 34, has 106 games under his belt as a long-snapper. Nelson’s longest time with the same team came with the 49ers from 2014-20. Prior to this stint in San Francisco, Nelson bounced around New Orleans (2011), Kansas City (2011), Philadelphia (2012), Seattle (2013), and Washington (2013). Garrison Sanborn is the oldest of the bunch and has the most playing experience, totaling 159 games. His most recent experience came as a member of the Buccaneers’ practice squad in 2020, which means he earned a Super Bowl ring for his efforts last year. Good for him!
Save for the 2017 season he missed due to an injury, Scales has been Chicago’s long-snapper since late in the 2015 season. And because I can’t remember a poor snap or missed blocking assignment, I feel confident in saying Scales has been darn good at stabilizing a position Patrick Mannelly held down for so long. Scales, 33, probably isn’t in danger of losing his gig to a newcomer. After all, kicker Cairo Santos and punter Pat O’Donnell returning for 2021 means Chicago’s place-kicking mechanism has valuable continuity. But without another long-snapper in camp, the Bears are using tight end Cole Kmet at the position during practice. And I doubt they would like to continue that with the preseason opener coming next week.
All in all, let’s keep tabs on this situation. If everyone is in the clear, I don’t imagine any signings will be in the offing. But I’ll play the waiting game for now.