(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Jeff Joniak on Wednesday filed these observations as the Chicago Bears (7-7) prepare to play the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4):
-Cordarrelle Patterson loves the game. His big plays on offense and kick returns and kick coverage are electric. His selection to the Pro Bowl marks his third trip. “We take great pride in what we do,” Patterson said. “In some ways, it’s our only job. You just have to go out there and make a play when your number is called.”
-Patterson is more than just the NFL leader in kick return yards; he is second all-time in NFL history in return average behind another Chicago Bear, Gale Sayers.
-None of Patterson’s success is a lightning bolt. Confidence in himself to be a playmaker was born a long time ago. “It’s not a surprise to me,” said Patterson. “I know what I can do. It is just the confidence I had since I’ve been growing up. I grew up just wanting it.”
-As impactful as Patterson is on returns, his performance as a gunner has been a revelation. He is elite. His speed, explosion and power all show up, every week.
-Matt Nagy speaks with great respect when the topic is Kansas City Head Coach Andy Reid. He always has and always will. Nagy calls Reid frequently: “We’re real with one another. You want honesty and you want people to tell how they feel. I just have so much respect for him not only as a coach, but as a person and what he has done in his life.”
-This is a unique week for Mitchell Trubisky. We knew it would be. The inevitable comparisons with Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, his 2017 draft classmate, are at a fever pitch. “I’m trying to be the best I could possibly be,” Trubisky said. “Everybody’s journey is different. Everybody goes through different stuff, and you just go through your journey and try to keep getting better and effect the people around you in a positive way.”
-That 2017 draft class includes Houston’s Deshaun Watson. “Me, Pat and Deshaun are all grouped together because we‘re all in the same draft class. Drafted in the 1st round," Trubisky said. "There’s no do overs. We are where we are. Our careers are going in different paths and they will for the rest of the time."
-Reid looked at Trubisky in 2017 and revealed that his arm strength, mobility and smarts stuck out in his review. Right now, Reid called Trubisky’s resilience “something special," given the struggles of the season.
-Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks practiced in full Wednesday. There are no plans to place him on injured reserve.
-Linebacker Danny Trevathan will not return. The Bears placed him on injured reserve. He suffered an elbow injury in the week 10 win over Detroit at Soldier Field. Trevathan turns 30 in March, when he enters free agency after fulfilling his four-year, $28 million contract with the Bears.
-In nine games, Trevathan finished with 70 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one pass break-up and four hits on the quarterback. He played 46 games with the Bears with six sacks, three forced fumbles, 15 tackles-for-loss, and 16 pass break ups.
-Allen Robinson missed on the Pro Bowl. “I thought I made plays when my number was called,” Robinson said. “That’s not something I am going to lose sleep over or anything like that.” Targeted a team-high 130 times, Robinson has 83 receptions and 1,023 yards with seven touchdowns. His catch rate is the hightest of his career at 63.8% and his 54 first downs are second best in his career. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015 with Jacksonville when he caught a career high 14 touchdown passes and piled up 1400 receiving yards.
-It is a short injury report so far this week for the Bears with right tackle Bobby Massie still hobbled by an ankle sprain and receiver Taylor Gabriel in concussion protocol.
-Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack and return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson named to USA Today’s NFL all-decade team. It is high praise, given the excellence across the league with future hall of fame players dotting the list.