Bears come out of the bye with rough Week 5 results but big news this week could make the break feel a lot better real soon
The Chicago Bears bye week in Week 5 couldn't have come at a better time. Head coach Ben Johnson and the rest of his staff used the extended break to self-scout and essentially use the first four weeks as a second preseason to see what worked, and what needed to be adjusted moving forward.
In the meantime, two other division rivals played Week 5 games on Sunday and the Bears didn't get any help from the rest of the league. The Minnesota Vikings pulled off a last-minute win in London over the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions dominated the Cincinnati Bengals. With the Bears and the Green Bay Packers sitting out on the bye, here's how things stand in the NFC North.
NFC North Standings Entering Week 6
- Detroit Lions (4-1)
- Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)
- Minnesota Vikings (3-2)
- Chicago Bears (2-2)
Getting to .500 going into the bye was a major win for the Chicago Bears, but it's clear how detrimental starting out 0-2 in the NFC North looks already. But, there's a lot of football left to be played in the coming weeks and the Bears have a favorable upcoming stretch to claw back into this.
And, thanks to the bye, the Bears should be getting some major news later this week.
Bears hoping to get major reinforcements back in Week 6 against the Commanders
On Monday night, one week from today, the Bears will be back in action taking on the Washington Commanders, a rematch from last season's Hail Mary loss that derailed the team's season.
Since the Bears still have basically another full week of preparation and recovery, the team is hoping to get some major reinforcements back on both sides of the ball.
The two big names are linebacker T.J. Edwards and Kyler Gordon, who have each been shut down due to hamstring injuries. Gordon has missed all four games this season while Edwards played just one game in Week 2, a game in which he left the field after reaggravating his injury.
In Week 4's win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Bears were also without right tackle Darnell Wright, rookie tight end Colston Loveland and veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. All three players should hopefully be able to return depending on how the injury report looks this week.
This week will also be a big week for second-year defensive end Austin Booker. Booker suffered a knee injury during the preseason and was placed on the injured reserve, forcing him to miss the first four games of the season. The Bears can open Booker's 21-day practice window and give him a chance to make his 2025 regular season debut next Monday. And his return will be huge to boost a struggling pass rush.
So, while it wasn't the best bye week results in terms of divisional standing, the Bears used the extended break to its advantage and hopefully will look much stronger going into Week 6.
Xavier Legette Under Fire—Will He Turn Around His Panthers Career?
Panthers’ Xavier Legette Set to Prove His Worth After Rough Start
The pressure is mounting for Xavier Legette after a disastrous Week 2 showing that has fans and critics alike questioning his place on the field. But the
Despite his early struggles, including a performance that left much to be desired, Tetairoa McMillan, another rookie on the team, has come to Legette’s defense. McMillan, who has made a strong start to his NFL career, was quick to praise Legette's confidence in the face of adversity. "I know he's going to show up on Sunday," McMillan said, echoing the locker room's faith in the young receiver.
But it’s not just about practice or confidence anymore. For Legette, it’s time to prove his worth in the heat of the regular season. The Panthers can’t afford to see another high draft pick fall short. Legette knows this and seems ready to take the next step.
Coach Dave Canales has kept Legette on the field, providing him with chances to make plays. However, the stakes are higher now. If Legette continues to underperform, his opportunities may dwindle, and the Panthers will need to reassess their strategy. The ball is in Legette’s hands, and Sunday could determine how the rest of the season plays out for him.
