Sunday’s much-ballyhooed matchup between the first and second picks of this year’s draft appeared to be on shaky ground Thursday after Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels missed his second straight practice with injured ribs.
Daniels was hurt in the first quarter of a win over the Panthers last Sunday, left the game and hasn’t practiced since. Veteran Marcus Mariota — like Daniels, a No. 2 overall pick who won the Heisman Trophy — inherited a 10-0 lead against the Panthers and led the Commanders to a 40-7 victory.
Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington said Thursday the Commanders’ offense remains similar, even if Mariota starts for Daniels.
“The skill sets are a little bit different,” Washington said. “Mariota has experience. He’s able to run the football. He can make throws. This person has been in a starter’s role at various points in his career, so he’s seen a lot of defensive football, a lot of arrangements. He can make quick decisions. He’ll come in with a slightly different skill set and experience level than Jayden Daniels.”
The Commanders must submit an injury report Friday estimating Daniels’ chances of playing against the Bears and quarterback Caleb Williams, the top draft pick.
If Daniels plays, Washington is prepared for him to be a running threat even with sore ribs. His 372 rushing yards are second-most among NFL quarterbacks, behind only Ravens star Lamar Jackson.
“We’re going to anticipate him being at his best and doing the things that we’ve been seeing,” Washington said.
Still out
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker remained in concussion protocol 2œ weeks after he suffered a head injury tackling Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble. Slot cornerback Kyler Gordon, who hurt his hamstring against the Jaguars last Sunday in London, didn’t practice for a second consecutive day.
Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who hurt his calf in practice outside London, was limited Thursday. Tight end Marcedes Lewis got a veteran’s day off. Every other Bears player, including long snapper Scott Daly, participated in full.
When Brisker, Gordon and Stevenson were out in the second half against the Jaguars, the Bears leaned on backup cornerbacks Jaylon Jones and Josh Blackwell and safety Elijah Hicks. All three are core special-teamers.
“It gives me chills,” special-teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “Because that’s why we catch, that’s what we work for, and that’s what we want them to have is the opportunity to go on and be successful.”
Later is greater
The Bears want to play more games in prime time, although they’ll settle for the late-afternoon national window that CBS flexed them into this week.
“I’m sick of playing at noon all the time,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “I like playing in those prime-time slots. That’s when everyone’s watching. . . . Those late-afternoon slots are a big slot as well.”
Wide receiver DJ Moore agreed.
“Everybody’s watching,” he said, “so you’ve got to go out there and be the star that you are on the field and go out and put on a show.”
This and that
Hightower, who has coached in the NFL since 2006, said the Jaguars game was the first time any of his teams needed to use their emergency long snapper (in this case Kmet). Hightower has used an emergency holder, kicker and punter in the past.
— Commanders tackle Brandon Coleman (concussion) and defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee) missed practice.
— Bears tackle Larry Borom (ankle) and running back Travis Homer (finger), who joined practice from injured reserve Wednesday, were upgraded from limited participation to full.
— The Bears put practice-squad tight end Tommy Sweeney on IR and signed tight end Joel Wilson to the practice squad. The Giants waived Wilson earlier this month.