(670 The Score) On the morning after his worst loss as Bears coach, Matt Nagy had to drive away from Halas Hall and into isolation.
Nagy learned early this past Monday morning that he had tested positive for COVID-19. In a critical week for the Bears' season and Nagy’s future with the organization, he hasn't been physically present with his team.
“One of my strengths is the relationships with the players and being able to connect with them, be there for them and support them, that sort of thing,” Nagy said Wednesday. “So, it kills me that I’m not able to do that.”
For Nagy, being away from the Bears is a greater challenge than navigating Zoom meetings. It prevents him from using what he believes is his great strength as a leader. For the many flaws Nagy has as a head coach, he has always maintained the respect and buy-in of his players and staff in his tenure in Chicago.
Whenever Nagy does return – whether that’s when the Bears (3-4) and 49ers (2-4) kick off Sunday at Soldier Field or later – his big challenge will be keeping that commitment from his team.
The Bears were embarrassed once again last Sunday, losing 38-3 to the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. It was another low moment in a trying stretch that began with Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers yelling "I still own you!" at Bears fans in Green Bay's win at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, which was soon followed by two key Chicago starters creating unnecessary drama with questionable social media posts. The Bears had their accountability and character called into question -- and deservedly so.
Nagy was fortunate the Buccaneers pulled star quarterback Tom Brady early in the fourth quarter or the Bears may have lost by 50 or so. As always, this question looms: What did Bears chairman George McCaskey think in watching his team unravel the way it did?
Heading into Sunday, it remains unclear whether Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace will be retained for 2022. Though patience has run thin with fans in Chicago, the Bears’ board of directors has still held its faith in Nagy and Pace. Any vote of confidence that might still exist would quickly be lost if these Bears let their season spiral.
At this point, Nagy’s job is to keep his team together and fighting to the finish. A wild-card berth is still in play, as the Bears are currently a half-game back of the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC. Though the Bears sure seem closer to a housecleaning than a championship, Nagy can make a case to keep his job if his team and rookie quarterback Justin Fields show progress this season.
When Nagy returns to the Bears, he’ll sit right back down on the hot seat. The task to save his job is getting more difficult by the day.
4-down territory
1.) Chemistry class
In the offseason program and training camp, the Bears committed to veteran Andy Dalton as their starting quarterback by allocating all of their first-team reps to him while the rookie Fields worked with the reserve unit.
It was part of the Bears’ original plan for Dalton to be their starting quarterback for the duration of the 2021 season. Of course, that changed after Dalton suffered a knee injury in the second game of the regular season and Fields emerged. Now as Fields prepares to make his sixth start, his lack of opportunity leading up to the regular season have hurt him. Fields has admitted he’s still building chemistry with targets like Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet, who worked almost exclusively with Dalton.
"That's something that we're continuing to build on, continuing to get reps in practice,” Robinson said. "There weren't any snaps that we kind of took in training camp. A lot of these things, we're trying to build on."
This is hardly a surprise. Fields spent his time in training camp working with a group of receivers who had little chance of making the roster. The Bears failed in that part of his development, as they were seemingly convinced he would only play a small role at best this season. Fields has been playing catch-up with his receivers on timing elements in their routes.
To his credit, Fields hasn’t made excuses. He has put in extra work with his receivers after practice each day and held Zoom meetings with them so they can better understand each other’s tendencies.
“The more reps you get with your receivers, the better chemistry you have,” Fields said. “It’s that simple, really.”
2.) Tabor time
If the Bears are without Nagy on Sunday, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as the acting head coach. It has been Tabor's job to oversee practice and lead team meetings this past week as Nagy has been dialed in virtually.
Nagy has continued his typical role in game-planning and collaborating with the coaching staff during practice, but if he can't return to the sideline Sunday, he will have no access to the Bears during the game. Tabor would then be the man in charge of key in-game decisions.
“Meeting and leading guys, that’s not a big deal,” Tabor said. “With regards to (game decisions), if that ever came up, you’ve always been preparing yourself your whole life to do that. So I’ve watched a lot of football games and have thought about those types of things, so if it ever did come up, put yourself in a good position to help the team.”
3.) Getting Mack back
Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack has given everything he can since suffering a foot injury on Sept. 26 in Cleveland. He has spent each week of practice getting himself right for Sunday and then managed to perform at a high level while in pain. He has six sacks in seven games this season.
But the Bears realize there’s a choice to make as they've arrived as a crossroads – either Mack continues to play through pain and likely doesn’t feel healthy for the rest of the season or the team can shut him down for a stretch and allow him time to get back to full strength.
The Bears have been weighing their options with Mack, and placing him on injured reserve is a possibility, as NFL Media reported Wednesday. If they took that route, the Bears would give Mack four-plus weeks – the minimum three games plus their Week 10 bye week – to recover.
Mack has missed just two games in his eight-year NFL career.
4.) Returning rookies
The Bears’ game of tackle roulette could finally be coming to an end.
Rookies Larry Borom and Teven Jenkins are nearing their returns, which would give the Bears much-needed reinforcements on the offensive line. The team designated Borom (high ankle sprain) for a return this week, starting a 21-day window in which he can be activated. Borom could step in as early as Sunday to fill a major void at right tackle as Germain Ifedi (injured reserve -- knee) and Elijah Wilkinson (reserve/COVID-19) are missing.
As for Jenkins, his recovery from back surgery in August seems to be going as scheduled. A second-round pick, Jenkins hasn’t been on the field with the Bears since the offseason program ended in June. It’s unrealistic for him to emerge as a starter immediately given his complete lack of experience, but it will be important to get him back in practice.
Quote to note
"We got to get back on track. When we get back on track and get that one win and then go ahead and take it to the next one, that momentum is great. What I'd love to see is a nice win streak."
-- Nagy
Injury report
OLB Khalil Mack (foot) -- It seems the Bears will take the bigger-picture approach with Mack by shutting him down for a stretch.
DL Akiem Hicks (groin) -- The Bears would love to have Hicks return against the 49ers, who boast an aggressive running scheme.
WR Allen Robinson (ankle) -- Robinson took an important step forward Thursday when he returned to practice as a full participant.
S Tashaun Gipson (hip) -- Gipson returned last Sunday after missing the previous game, but he’s still working through his injury.
Prediction (6-1): Bears 21, 49ers 20
This one could go either way, but I’m willing to buy in with Fields, who feels a breakthrough is coming. It may not be a pretty performance, but he’ll pull through and lead the Bears to victory.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.