The Chicago Bears were likely bracing themselves for the possibility of their players choosing to opt out of the 2020 season. A byproduct of having to play in the middle of a pandemic. Sure enough, the other shoe finally dropped. Ian Rapoport broke the news that star nose tackle Eddie Goldman would not be playing this season. A gigantic loss in the middle of that Bears defensive line.
Goldman has quietly been one of the best nose tackles in the league. A key fixture for the team's run defense. Replacing him is going to be nearly impossible for the Bears. Odds are they'll go hunting for help on the free agent market. Some options do exist including veteran Damon "Snacks" Harrison among others.
A tough blow for a team that will be leaning on the defense to carry them this year.
Eddie Goldman exit necessitates a move by the Bears
As of right now, the Bears now have just one nose tackle on the roster. That is journeyman veteran John Jenkins. Not even close to what Goldman has been to this team since he arrived in 2015. As mentioned above, Harrison would probably be the best solution. Though 32-years old, he's still one of the most respected run defenders in the league.
Veteran Sylvester Williams also might be an option. He was a big part of the 2015 Denver Broncos defense that won the Super Bowl. Since then he's struggled to stick on a roster for various reasons. Though 31-years old he could also do a pinch. The Bears could also consider moving Akiem Hicks into the middle. While not an ideal use of his talents, he is more than capable of playing it and they have far more depth at defensive end to handle the switch.
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