The Chicago Bears have offered no indication that they intend to take their collective foot off the gas in Week 18 by resting any key members of the roster, though a couple of veteran Pro Bowlers are the most likely candidates to see limited time against the Detroit Lions this weekend.
Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic suggested as part of a mailbag response on Friday, January 2 that older players and those who have dealt with injuries are the most likely to see reduced snap counts and/or late-game rest on Sunday, depending on the circumstances of the contest.
“It doesnât seem to be in line with [head coach Ben] Johnsonâs process to rest anybody, but then again, if the game is in hand â or if the scoreboard watchers see the Washington Commanders putting the [Philadelphia] Eagles away â it might be prudent to take a few guys off the field,” Fishbain wrote. Veterans such as Joe Thuney, Grady Jarrett and Kevin Byard come to mind first, and then anyone who has dealt with injuries this season.”
Joe Thuney, Kevin Byard Key to Bears Capturing No. 2 Seed in NFC
GettyOffensive guard Joe Thuney of the Chicago Bears.
Thuney and Byard â an offensive guard and a safety, respectively â were two of three Bears who earned Pro Bowl honors this season. Center Drew Dalman, an acquisition of Chicago in free agency last spring, was the third player to claim a spot in the game.
The Bears still have real stakes in Week 18, even despite a narrow loss late to the San Francisco 49ers on the most recent installment of “Sunday Night Football,” which knocked Chicago out of contention for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
The Bears (11-5) currently own the No. 2 seed because they defeated the Eagles (11-5) in Philadelphia earlier this season. Chicago can guarantee itself home-field advantage until the NFC championship game by defeating the Lions at Soldier Field on Sunday, or if the Commanders best the Eagles in Philly.
As such, it is unlikely that Johnson will shelve two of his best players in Thuney and Byard and play solely for health and rest in Round 1 of the playoffs. Should the Bears capture the second seed, they will host the rival Green Bay Packers over Super Wildcard Weekend.
Packers Resting Jordan Love, Malik Willis Ahead of Potential Round 1 Playoff Matchup With Bears
GettyQuarterback Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers, who are locked into the No. 7 seed regardless of their outcome against the Minnesota Vikings this weekend, are going the opposite route.
Starting quarterback Jordan Love suffered a concussion late in the first half of the second matchup between the Packers and Bears this season, which came in Week 16. He then failed to clear the NFL’s mandatory protocol in time to face the Baltimore Ravens last weekend.
And while Love is now healthy enough to play, Green Bay has decided to sit both Love and backup QB Malik Willis in Week 18 in favor of third-string signal-caller Clayton Tune.
The Packers have been more snakebitten by injuries than the Bears this season and were soundly better than Chicago across the six quarters in which Love played during this regular season.
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