Moments of elation don't happen like that, not for Chicago Bears fans. Watching the Cincinnati Bengals score 15 points in 43 seconds to take a 42-41 lead felt chillingly familiar. This team had endured so many painful 4th quarter collapses in recent years. This could go down as the worst of them all. Still, there were 54 seconds left. Maybe a miracle could happen. A few moments later, Caleb Williams hit Colston Loveland on a seam route, and the rookie tight end broke free for a 58-yard touchdown. From a funeral procession to complete jubilation in seconds. Arms were up. Everybody was screaming. That made it easy to miss what Darnell Wright did at the end of the play.
The Bears' right tackle had been dominant all game. His performance was so crucial to their offensive explosion. One can only imagine how it felt to finally be the one to help deliver a moment like that. Don't forget this man is listed at 325 lbs. People that big aren't prone to acrobatics. That didn't stop Wright from uncorking one of the crispest cartwheels you'll ever see. Cameras barely caught it, but it's a thing of beauty.
Darnell Wright continues to show how elite an athlete he is.
A popular terms among scouts and coaches for giant tackles who move well are "dancing bears." No description is more fitting for Darnell Wright. For somebody that big, he moves like he's a ballerina. It shows in his play this year. Through seven games this season, he has allowed six total pressures on the quarterback. He's also the second-highest-rated run-blocking offensive tackle in the NFL. The guy is dominating every single week, turning into the star the Bears have needed for years.
His ascent is one of the biggest reasons this offensive line has morphed into one of the better units in the league. Joe Thuney remains a stud at left guard, while Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson have played really well of late. Even Theo Benedet has made big contributions as a run blocker at left tackle. Yet Wright is the anchor of everything. When he's on his game, the Bears offense tends to thrive.
