It has been evident for months that something is seriously wrong with the Chicago Bears conditioning program. Teams suffer injuries all the time. It's a violent sport. Sometimes you get hit harder than others. However, there are different types of injuries—those that are avoidable and those that aren't. The avoidable kind is what you call soft tissue injuries. These are various muscle strains like hamstrings, calves, quads, and groins. While these are often seen in professional athletes, they aren't common among teams with good conditioning programs.
Such has not been the case for the Bears.
They've been hammered by soft tissue problems all season. In fact, Bears players have missed a combined 36 games due to such issues. The poster boy for this epidemic is Kyler Gordon, who's gone on Injured Reserve twice this year because of them. It seems T.J. Edwards is right up there with him. The latest injury report on Wednesday revealed the Bears' linebacker is now dealing with a glute problem. Keep in mind he already missed three games earlier in the year with a hamstring setback.
The Chicago Bears have decisions to make with their training staff.
Andre Tucker has been the head trainer for this team since 2018. Pierre Ngo was promoted to head strength coach in the offseason. This season does not reflect well on their work at all. It is their job to have a conditioning plan for the players that would prevent rampant injuries like this. The fact that it keeps happening, even months into the season, suggests they haven't found any solutions and may be incapable of doing so. Ben Johnson obviously can't make a change midseason.
However, once the offseason arrives, that decision is becoming easier and easier. The evidence is becoming insurmountable. This training staff is incapable of preparing the players to handle Johnson's tough practices and required conditioning. If the Chicago Bears want to win a championship, one of the first wars they must win is the one against health. Knees and other issues are impossible to prevent. Soft tissues should be. If this staff can't do it, there is one out there who can.
