The Chicago Bears defense was already ailing this past week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Akiem Hicks was out with a groin injury for the second time in three weeks and Robert Quinn was slapped with a case of COVID. This forced the team to lean on Khalil Mack for any sort of pass rush and he wasn't able to do much of anything. It turns out that might not have just been because of the Bucs pass protection.
Ian Rapoport revealed that the star Bears pass rusher has been battling a pretty serious foot issue for some time. It has now gotten to a point where it is affecting his overall play. So it seems the team has decided to make the executive decision to shut him down at least for this upcoming game against the San Francisco 49ers, Short-term injured reserve is also being considered since the Bears have a bye week. That would mean he gets a full month of rest but would only miss three games.
Either way, it's a brutal blow to an already banged-up unit.
There is no getting around it. This is the worst possible timing for the Chicago Bears to lose Mack. They have two must-win games ahead of them. Neither are gimmes in the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Potentially without their three best pass rushers, even Jimmy Garoppolo and Ben Roethlisberger can end up having big days against them. That in turn puts even more pressure on Matt Nagy's offense. A unit that has managed to score 20 points or more exactly two times this season. For years the head coach has managed to lean on the defense to keep the team in games. That may not be possible anymore. The offense has to score more points. If they can't when they're needed most? Then it will only further the cries for his firing.
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