The Chicago Bears faced a huge challenge on Sunday. Not only were they playing a Las Vegas Raiders team fresh off two big victories, but they also had to deal with the 8th-best pass defense in the NFL. Much of that was thanks to the outstanding ability of star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Not only would the Bears have to block him somehow, but they'd do so for a completely untested rookie at quarterback, Tyson Bagent. That was asking a lot of right tackle Darnell Wright, who drew most of the responsibility for blocking Crosby.
It was far from perfect. The Pro Bowler got his share of wins in their battle, including a handful of pressures. However, Wright held his own, giving Bagent enough time on several key downs to keep drives going. It was a credible effort. Where it gets wild is when you look back at the tape and notice something. Most of the instances Wright was blocking saw him only use one arm. It was evident all day that he barely used his left arm for anything. That indicates an injury, most likely the shoulder problem that kept him out of practice last week.
The fact he played anyway and still managed to give Crosby a battle is something to be awed by. Robert Schmitz of Da Bears Blog caught some great instances of it.
Darnell Wright looks more and more like a keeper.
Setbacks have overrun the Bears' offensive line since the season began. Left guard Teven Jenkins missed the first four games with a calf problem. Braxton Jones has missed five games because of a neck issue. Right guard Nate Davis is out with a high ankle sprain. This has forced Cody Whitehair to bounce between center and guard all season constantly. Wright has been the only constant for the team throughout that nightmare, and his play is a big reason for their offensive success over the past month.
They've scored an average of 26 points per game, rushed for 171 yards per game, and thrown nine touchdowns with only three interceptions. Darnell Wright has been a critical part of that. He's allowed only one sack in 116 one-on-one pass reps. He also ranks as the 11th-best run-blocking offensive tackle in the league through seven games. Again, he's a rookie. If he is this reliable already, there is no telling how much better he could get with more experience in the coming months.
They already know he's tough. Guys like that are invaluable.
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