Sounds Like One Chicago Bears Receiver Flipped The Switch Lately

It was the worst-case scenario. Dazz Newsome hadn't played a single snap in the 2021 preseason due to an injury suffered early in training camp. Saturday's opener against the Kansas City Chiefs marked the first time he'd get to play actual extended snaps. With the wide receiver competition still up for grabs, a good impression could be his ticket to a roster spot and maybe playing time. The Chicago Bears even showed confidence by listing him as their starting punt returner. Then on his first attempt, he muffed the kick, losing 11 yards in the process. One can only imagine what was going through Newsome's head then. Here is a kid entering his second year. The original regime that drafted him is gone. The new one overhauled the wide receiver position, jeopardizing his already tenuous roster spot. His only way to keep his career alive is by making a positive impression on the field. Then he fails to do something he's done a hundred times in practice.

It would've been so easy to fall into a depression.

To his credit, Newsome picked himself up and kept playing. Things began to click in the second half. After the Bears narrowed the score to 14-6, the receiver got his opportunity when Trevor Siemian found him for a 13-yard touchdown strike to make it 14-13. Then on the next series, he picked up another 13 yards on an end-around to set up an easy field goal to give them a 16-14 lead. It was a great reminder of his versatility as a player. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy loved how he responded.

“There’s ebbs and flows and you’ve got to be able to handle that. It’s a roller coaster ride, for sure. Each game is, and you’ve got to be able to deal with that. Proud moment for Dazz to be able to respond the right way. No one plays harder than Dazz. That dude plays his butt off every single snap that he’s out there, so we appreciate that of him and it was good to see him get rewarded for it.”

The story doesn't end there. It seems Newsome's confidence carried over into the subsequent practice, where he made the play of the day. Justin Fields found him over the middle for a big gain. Maybe it's reading too much into the situation, but it sure seems like that muffed punt brought a sense of urgency for the young receiver. Perhaps it can unlock some of that latent potential he has.

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Chicago Bears are giving Newsome one more chance.

The best way to describe his current situation is in limbo. He's treading water. That punt snafu wasn't good, but he made enough positive plays afterward to mitigate some of the damage. The best way to describe him is on the fringe. Other receivers are ahead of him on the depth chart. One can safely say Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, and Velus Jones are roster locks. Veteran Tajae Sharpe has looked good over the past week and was excellent in the Chiefs game. He seems like a keeper too. That leaves two (likely) roster spots left to claim. Newsome can still do so. His versatility is something the Chicago Bears covet. The trick is showing it positively, primarily on special teams. A strong showing on punt return duties against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday would do wonders for his chances.

There is no telling how this will play out.

Newsome was only a 6th round pick. So expectations were never high for him. That said, his abilities have flashed more than once, even dating back to last year. Maybe the threat of losing his job was what he needed.