New OL Shuffle, Fields Update, Rodgers Speaks, Taylor Swift and NFL Schedules, and Other Bears Bullets

May 22, 2024

Allergies are really kicking my butt this week. Anyone else having that issue? It can’t be just me…

Sure, Russell Wilson has the inside track on being the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting at quarterback. But former Chicago Bears signal caller Justin Fields isn’t going down without a fight:

Justin Fields said he’s “definitely competing.. Russ knows that. We’re competing against each other every day.

“I definitely don’t have the mindset of me just sitting all year.” pic.twitter.com/pzI9rj5ldi— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) May 21, 2024

Back in March, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that Fields would get a chance to compete for the starting QB job. And while I still think Russ will be allowed to cook at the outset, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Fields get the call if things don’t go swimmingly for Wilson early in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have a Week 9 bye, but a daunting schedule follows with all six of their divisional games coming in Week 11 or later. That is part of a stretch that includes games against the Philadelphia Eagles (Week 15) and Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas (Week 17).

There is a vocal minority of folks who think the Bears’ schedule stinks. But you won’t hear that from me. Not as I look at a Pittsburgh schedule that has the Steelers playing the Chiefs just four days after a divisional grudge-match against the Ravens. Did I mention that is part of a three-game stretch that goes Eagles-Ravens-Chiefs? Because that really gives some perspective as to how daunting the Steelers’ schedule is down the stretch.

Kevin Fishbain (The Athletic) has a good read on Bears UDFA rookie offensive lineman Theo Benedet, who didn’t start playing football until 10th grade and enters this spring and summer minicamp season with a shot to turn some heads. Benedet reportedly had 10 offers to sign after the draft, but he chose Chicago over the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and others. I’m looking forward to seeing how Bears OL Coach Chris Morgan molds the 6-foot-7, 305-pound University of British Columbia product.

A Chicago Bears roster fun fact: This team has *seven* new offensive linemen. We’ll rattle them off in alphabetical order: Kiran Amegadjie, Ryan Bates, Theo Benedet, Jerome Carvin, Jake Curhan, Matt Pryor, Coleman Shelton. Considering that GM Ryan Poles and top assistant Ian Cunningham were offensive linemen before entering the front office world, I find myself admiring how they’ve tried to address offensive line needs with quantity and quality. Plus, they’ve gone about it in a handful of different ways. There have been trades (Ryan Bates), free agent additions (Shelton, Curhan, Nate Davis), early draft picks (Darnell Wright), middle-round selections (Amegadjie), and late ones (Braxton Jones). I’m looking forward to seeing how this group comes together.

Speaking of offensive linemen, an update on free agent David Bakhtiari:

Former #Packers All-Pro LT David Bakhtiari, who is recovering from knee surgeries, had a positive follow-up exam with expert Dr. Brian Cole, and Cole proclaimed him on schedule for a 2024 season return.

Cole is the chairman of Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center in… pic.twitter.com/7GtC0pOzSy— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 21, 2024

Bakhtiari, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro hasn’t played a full schedule of games since 2019. In fact, Bakhtiari has played just 13 games since the start of the 2021 season. So while a 2024 return isn’t out of the books, I wouldn’t count on it as he heads into his age 33 season. And, no, I don’t think he is a Bears free-agent fit.

The NFL is limiting the length of head-coach interviews for assistants whose teams are in the playoffs. Perhaps this is something that could impact the Bears in the future. Maybe even this season. (Pro Football Talk)

This made me chuckle:

NFL VP of Broadcast Planning Mike North said Taylor Swift did not influence the league’s 2024 regular-season schedule.

🎧 https://t.co/mIBxyagJwm pic.twitter.com/7e8gT4sr6y— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2024

Knowing that Taylor Swift has weekend tour stops at NFL stadiums during the league’s regular season in Miami (Oct. 18-20), New Orleans (Oct. 25-27), and Indianapolis (Nov. 1-3) means that the league had to take the pop star’s schedule into some consideration when ironing out the 2024 schedule. Sorry that the Bears new stadium won’t be ready to host another round of shows.

Add San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to the list (h/t ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) of NFL players making a statement regarding their contract situation by not participating at OTAs. For what it’s worth, this seems to be a similar path to what Deebo Samuel took before getting an extension from the Niners. But if Aiyuk wants to hold out through Week 14 when the Bears and 49ers square off, I wouldn’t complain.

National MLB insider Jon Heyman dunking on Aaron Rodgers isn’t something I had on my 2024 BINGO card:

Interesting choice here: In one case he’s a sure fire loser, in the other he’s RFK’s running mate https://t.co/7bAkYc1xg6— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 21, 2024

Rodgers swears he is “all about football” once the season gets underway. I didn’t know the NFL season ever ends. Rodgers’ silliness certainly knows no limits or end points. (Awful Announcing)

CHECK IT OUT: The Bleacher Nation Newsletter

Last night, I was lucky enough to have dinner with a friend I hadn’t seen in-person for 14 years. So you understand why I didn’t catch last night’s Cubs game. But it was nice to have this to let me catch up on what I missed:

Wake Up and Watch the Cubs Come Back Twice, and Walk It Off on the Braveshttps://t.co/k5F5i0DkqZ pic.twitter.com/u2Ogpxp6W9— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) May 22, 2024

Can the Chicago Bulls find their future center in the 2024 NBA Draft? (BN Bulls)

From our friends at BN Blackhawks: A 2024 NHL mock draft update.

META: I’m off to Georgia for my godbrother’s wedding after end of business today. The site’s in good hands with Patrick, Matt, and the rest of the BN gang. Please be on your best behavior while you’re gone. And I’ll see you when I get back. ✌️

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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