Starting 0-2 is never great. It immediately leads to thoughts that the team isn't going to have a good year and might already have to start looking towards the next season. Obviously, that isn't what the Chicago Bears are thinking right now. Head coach Ben Johnson is doing everything he can to prepare this team for Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. A win there might be enough to at least steady the ship. However, a loss might send things spiraling out of control. It already feels like things aren't in a good place. The Bears were crushed 52-21 in Detroit, and Johnson felt compelled to call out players for their bad practice habits.
The thing about NFL teams is they're not stupid. When they smell an opportunity, they will pounce on it. Anybody with common sense can tell things aren't great in Chicago's locker room. In such cases, it could usually mean players are for sale on the trade market. That is why, according to sources, the Bears have already been getting calls about the availability of some of their top veterans. Among them are D.J. Moore, Montez Sweat, and even Jaylon Johnson. Anybody with credibility is being inquired about.
The Chicago Bears aren't in that headspace yet.
They still believe they can get things turned around. While some fans may not buy into that idea, it's how things are at the moment. Johnson and others feel a win over Dallas and Las Vegas the next week gets them to the bye week at 2-2. Then they can reassess things, make adjustments, and prepare for a critical stretch against Washington, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Cincinnati. The Saints are already viewed as one of the league's worst teams. The Bengals won't have Joe Burrow. Washington doesn't seem to have the same mojo they did last year.
Anything is possible. That said, if things crumble as many expect, the trade deadline at the end of October could get really interesting. Johnson supposedly has considerable personnel power. He may wish to unload various players he sees as weak links to his objective of building a winner. It sounds like the Bears will have a market.
