NEWSLETTER
When the Bears signed Khalil Mack’s younger brother Ledarius as an undrafted free agent in 2020, I held out hope that the two would share the field at some point. Whether it’s a preseason or regular season snap, brothers as teammates will always be cool. Unfortunately, it has yet to come to fruition.
And while it still won’t – since Khalil is out for the rest of this year with a foot injury that requires surgery – Ledarius is getting the call to The Show.
The Bears announced a bevy of roster moves on Saturday. At top of mind is the elevation of Ledarius Mack from the practice squad to the game day roster.. Should Mack see time on the active roster on Sunday, he’ll likely see time as a special teams contributor and situational pass-rusher. As things currently stand, the Bears’ only healthy pass-rushers are Robert Quinn, Trevis Gipson, and Cassius Marsh. There is no replacing the elder Mack (not even with his younger brother). So perhaps a rotation opposite of Quinn could flash.
Elsewhere, safety Deon Bush is coming off IR, and is eligible to play on Sunday against the Ravens. This is most encouraging news to read, as the Bears’ secondary has been reeling lately. And with Eddie Jackson’s availability still uncertain as he tries to return from a hamstring injury, having a healthy Bush is all the more important. Bush has 10 starts under his belt over the course of his six-year career, including two this season while Tashaun Gipson Sr. was out with an injury. Should Jackson be unable to play, Bush could slide into a starting slot next to Gipson. Or the Bears could use him in a bigger nickel or dime package, putting Bush, Gipson, and DeAndre Houston-Carson on the field together.
And to round out Saturday’s promotions, the Bears are also flexing receiver Isaiah Coulter onto the game day roster. Flexing Coulter and Mack brings the Bears to 55 players. Much like the promotion of Lil’ Mack, moving Coulter from the practice squad is injury related. With Allen Robinson II doubtful to play, Coulter slides into a spot where he could be a depth player. Coulter joined the team in August, but has been a practice squad stash since the season began. A fifth-round pick by the Texans in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Rhode Island product is a developmental project. But he is someone who could see some action depending on how the room shakes out ahead of him.
On the other side of the field, the Ravens were doing some roster shuffling of their own:
We are downgrading WR Marquise Brown (thigh) to OUT tomorrow vs. the Bears.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 20, 2021
We have activated G Ben Cleveland to the 53-man roster from injured reserve and placed OLB Pernell McPhee on injured reserve. https://t.co/3s6Vt1ViUv
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 20, 2021
Assuming Lamar Jackson’s illness doesn’t keep him out, he’ll be without one of his top targets as Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is out with a thigh injury. The Ravens downgraded the burner receiver earlier in the afternoon. They also put former Bears pass-rusher Pernell McPhee on IR. And thus, taking a potential Pernell McPhee Revenge Game™ off the board. Sorry if that was something you were looking forward to seeing.
