Chicago Bears Making MAJOR Bye Week Changes Ft. Theo Benedet, Kyle Monangai & DJ Moore?

Chicago Bears Making MAJOR Bye Week Changes Ft. Theo Benedet, Kyle Monangai & DJ Moore?

[Music] The Bears bye-week is here as they drew the earliest by week possible. And uh let’s explore some changes. Ben Johnson said it in training camp. Hey, the early buy is a benefit because we’ll have a month of tape and we’ll get to look at corrections that need to be made. So, I got five changes that I would explore if I was Ben Johnson and company for the Chicago Bears. The first one has already been reported and depending on when you’re watching this, maybe there’s been confirmation. Uh, now the team isn’t going to confirm it because they’re out for the rest of the week. They don’t have to talk to the media now. You know, coaches are probably in the building, but you guys get the gist. Uh, the left tackle swap. Brad Biggs reports that it’s likely going to be Theo Benedict as Braxen Jones is expected to go to the bench. Now, is this 100% uh confirmed and finalized uh as we’re filming this? No. Uh maybe we hear confirmation later, but it certainly sounds like that’s going to be the case and we’re filming this as if that is going to be the case. My initial take to that news, by the way, was just Braxton’s on their future plans. Uh he has not gotten back to what he was before. And what he was before again was a fine player, especially for a fifth round pick. A great find in the fifth round, honestly, one of Ryan Paul’s better draft picks. But, you know, not even a top half of the league left tackle. I would say a starting left tackle when you look at all 32 uh but uh you can do better. And I think the Bears are saying, look, even if Ao Benedict isn’t some major upgrade, as long as it’s similar, well, he is going to be on our roster beyond this year. They seem to like him better in the run game at least. And obviously the run game’s been a problem. So, uh, yeah, I think this more than anything else is like, well, he’s underperforming and we have other options who can probably do a similar level job and Braxton’s a free agent after this year, so let’s go ahead and try someone else. At least that is how I am taking it. Now, maybe you disagree, and look, I don’t have a strong agree or disagree cuz I don’t think the Bears have great left tackle options. I think we saw that play out in training camp. Hopefully Theo lights it up. Uh, but do you agree with the benching of Braxton Jones? Type Y for yes, type in for no. I’m cool with it because again, I would doubt there’s some major, you know, drop off because Braxton hasn’t been that good. Uh, but at the same time, I’m not going to like blow smoke and act like Theo Benedict’s going to go be an allp pro. So, uh, kind of neutral on it, but I certainly understand it. Okay, number two, please. More Kyle Manungy. Um, I want to get to a quote from Ben Johnson here that he said on Monday about the running game. He said, “I don’t think our running struggles were a reflection of DeAndre.” That was talking about the Raiders game specifically. He said, “He’s a guy that continues to run the ball very hard. Even though the yards per carry aren’t where any of us want it to be right now, he’s as frustrated as anybody. He’s very prideful in what he can do and what he brings to the table.” And I agree that it’s not all on him. But, and I’m not saying Ben Johnson is doing this, but to act like he hasn’t played a role, I it’s just not true. you know, rushing yards over expected is in the negative. So, that tells you he’s leaving some yards out there. 3.3 average. That’s not purely on the offensive line. Now, have there been more than a couple runs where Caleb turns to hand the ball off and within a quarter of a second, DeAndre is getting contacted? Yes, there’s not much he can do there. He’s not Walter Peyton where he’s going to bounce off two dudes, spin around and turn negative three into four yards. Like, I understand that. But at the same time, there have been some runs where there’s a nice crease and you’re like, “Oh, if he makes one guy miss or if he just bounces off kind of a, you know, a diving tackle or something like that or sheds a little contact, he can turn a six-y run into 15.” And he’s not doing that, right? And we understand like he’s not a great contact bounce back. He’s not a great vision back. Um, and we understand that the offensive line, I think, has been better in pass than run blocking, but to act like Swift is completely innocent in the lack of the run game taking off would just be naive. I mean, the numbers, the advanced analytics suggest that. Um, regardless of how much the pie chart the running game is on Swift, even if it’s low, why not just try something else, right? Like, I’m not a big try something else in the sake of trying, but running back is a bit of a rotation position anyway. Unless you have one of these true bellcows. Kyle Manungai has shown some promise. Now he’s only averaging 3.6 yards per carry, 17 carries, 62 yards. But against Detroit, he had a negative 8 yard run where he got stood up but bounced off it, spun back, and kind of tried to be a hero and lost eight yards. If you take that out of it, he has 16 carries uh for 70 yards. That’s well over four yards per carry. So, while it’s not like he’s ripping off 25 yarders, like you’ve seen some promise in some of that contact balance falling forward. Just give him an opportunity, like how about out of the by-week we give him eight carries against Washington. That would be doubling his output in the last game. I don’t think that’s unreasonable at all. I would be trying to give Kyle Manungi some more opportunities because regardless of the reason, this run game has not taken off with DeAndre Swift. In fact, it’s been one of the worst in the league. All right, today’s show is sponsored by Prize Pix. The best daily fantasy sports app out there can be found at prizepix.com/clns. You and I make decisions every day, but on Prize Pickics, being right can get you paid. Don’t miss any of the excitement this season on Prize Picks where it’s good to be right. I’ve had the fortunate of being right uh several times recently with a lot of my lineups. Uh hit a three-player lineup on Monday night and uh I am back for more this week. Uh a two-player lineup I really like during the Bears by week is uh these two quarterbacks who are playing really well. Dak Prescott more than 240 and a half passing yards. Same with Daniel Jones at 221 and a half. They both have favorable opponents. Jets defense is struggling. So is the Raiders. $20 entry to win 60 bucks. A cool feature on Price Picks, by the way, is you can follow other Price Picks players directly on the app and copy their lineups in one click. Whether it’s a friend, a celebrity partner, or just someone whose pics you like, hit the follow button and check out every lineup they create in the new feed tab on Prize Pix. Download the Prize Pix app today. Use our code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That’s code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Price Pix, it’s good to be right. All right, number three. Get DJ more and more involved. Um, I saw an ESPN advanced analytics stat recently that DJ and Rome are one and two in terms of how often they’re getting open. So, um, you know, DJ’s had some opportunities. Now, I’m not going to like fault Caleb or whoever for not throwing to him more because clearly throwing to Rome is working out very well, but I think it’s a it’s an indicator that, hey, like there’s been some plays dialed up where, you know, if you throw to DJ, good things uh, can happen. And you know, I I I think at times I don’t know if critical is the right word, but I have discussed, you know, the option of long-term like is DJ a guy you move off off of this after the season. And that has nothing to do with me thinking DJ is a bad player. That’s more of well, he makes a lot of money. Rome has emerged as the clear wide receiver one and his current production is as just kind of like a decent number two. We know he’s better than that. We can debate if he’s a true one or a high-end two, whatever. He’s better than the volume stats he has this year. I think we all agree with that. But when you draft Luther Burton, it can make a guy like DJ more expendable if Luther uh uh, you know, develops and takes off and gets more comfortable in the offense. But regardless, as long as he’s here, DJ can have a bigger role and probably should have a bigger role. So, that’s something I’d be looking at during the bye-week to get him some more targets maybe on that opening script against Washington, dial up a couple plays for him. So, uh, you know, him having a few big games to kind of get his mojo going, too, I think would be a great thing for this offense. Uh, all right. Once healthy, talking about the defense, Blitz Moore. Now, Kyler Gordon and TJ Edwards on Tuesday both were seen at practice. They both, uh, Kyler said if he could play week five, or if they had a game week five, he’d be playing. So, it sounds like he’s for sure back. TJ Edwards says his body feels good, so you would think with the extra week still, uh, he’ll be ready to go as well. These are two pivotal starters, you know, top five, six players on your defense, especially Kyler. I mean, Nick Mloud is just not willing to tackle. So, Kyler Gordon, who we know is willing to tackle, should help in run support, fill the alley, make some of those tackles. Dennis Allen uh can use him on some blitzes. And TJ Edwards to me is a better instinctive player than Tummaine Edmonds, so he should help out in run support as well. So, we know that’s been a big problem for this defense, the run defense. secondary despite some injuries has actually held up especially the last two weeks. Uh but Kyler can help in that regard as well. I think Dennis Allen’s been a little hesitant to blitz a lot because of the injuries. It’s been kind of a bend don’t break approach and you know be confusing on the back end. They definitely confused Gino a couple times and some robber plays uh where Kevin Bard kind of faked uh dropping deep back then he’d kind of flip his hips and jump on a crossing route. So that’s been nice to see. Uh but uh now that you have some of your key guys coming back, uh I’d be dialing up that blitz rate a little bit, at least over 20%. Okay, give Austin Booker a role. Now, as of filming this, I don’t know what his status is. I don’t know if he’ll be back week six, but if he is, and he is eligible to return off short-term IR, I I mean, I I think you put him into the mix right away. I you’re just not getting pass rush production. Like I saw a PFF stat that someone tweeted out the other day that Dioenbo and Montes Sweat are being doubleteamed the 45th most and 52nd most among uh defensive ends in the NFL. Like they’re not teams aren’t even doubling them that often and they’re still not getting pressure that often. Like those guys just have to be better. But regardless, I’d be throwing Booker into the mix right away and just seeing if he can produce because you have five sacks this year and it’s from five different dudes. They all have one sack. Sweat, Dexter, a Dangbo, Robinson, and Passeno. Like, I don’t know if Austin Booker is gonna light it up and have eight sacks after the by-week, but I’d be trying him out. I’d give him 25 snaps in that first game and see if he can create some pressure. He had a hell of a preseason. I know it’s a different ball game, but you’re just not getting what you need. So, there’s just no downside to trying a guy like this, especially in obvious pass down situations. So, a hopefully he’s healthy and b if he is, I’d be giving him a role. ASAP. I, you know, you have to earn roles in the NFL, but like if the guys ahead of him aren’t doing anything, then yeah, let’s just let’s try the guy uh who has a relentless motor and uh seem to be, you know, poised for a potential year two takeoff before he had that injury. Uh all right, there you have it. Five bi-week changes I would try to implement if I were the Bears. What is the number one thing you would change? Is it something on the offensive line? Is it uh something else? Is it the running back situation? Give me your thoughts down in the comment section below. Appreciate everybody who made it to the end of the video. If you did, that makes you a real one. Hit that subscribe button, turn on notifications. We will continue to pump out content during the by-week. [Music]

The Chicago Bears head into their bye week at 2-2 for the 2025 NFL season and very much alive in the NFC North division and NFL playoff picture. Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS and use code CLNS and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Ben Johnson is reportedly set to make a change at left tackle as Brad Biggs reports that Braxton Jones is set to get benched in favor of Theo Benedet. What other Bears changes could be coming after the NFL Week 5 bye? Could Kyle Monangai earn a larger role with D’Andre Swift and the Bears rushing attack struggling? Will DJ Moore start becoming a larger piece in the Bears passing game led by Caleb Williams? If Austin Booker is activated off short-term IR, is he deserving of a notable role with the Bears pass rush struggling? Chicago Bears rumors are heating up with potential bye week changes coming.

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5 Chicago Bears Bye Week Changes To Consider per Harrison Graham:
– Left Tackle swap from Braxton Jones to Theo Benedet
– Please give Kyle Monangai more opportunities
– Get DJ Moore involved
– Once Kyler Gordon and TJ Edwards are healthy, Dennis Allen needs to blitz more
– Give Austin Booker a role if he’s activated from short-term IR

Bears head coach Ben Johnson on run game struggles:
“I don’t think our running struggles were a reflection of D’Andre. He’s a guy that continues to run the ball very hard, even though the yards per carry aren’t where any of us wanted to be right now. He’s as frustrated as anybody. He’s very prideful in what he can do and what he brings to the table.”

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DJ Moore’s 2025 stats:
– Receptions: 16
– Receiving yards: 173
– Receiving touchdowns: 1
– Yards per reception: 10.8
– Rushing yards: 15

Enjoyed today’s episode of Bears Now? Find more Chicago Bears YouTube videos below:
– Chicago Bears Getting HEALTHY After The Bye Week? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts4wAHyaiok
– GOOD Chicago Bears Injury News Heading Into The Bye Week + Caleb Williams Sounds Off On Confidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taalzr7l7v8
– 🚨MAJOR REPORT🚨Chicago Bears Making A BIG CHANGE On The Offensive Line – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MsxB3RrprU

2025 Chicago Bears Stat Leaders (Receiving):
– Rome Odunze: 13 REC, 165 YDS, 12.7 AVG, 3 TD
– DJ Moore: 8 REC, 114 YDS
– Cole Kmet: 3 REC, 60 YDS
– Olamide Zaccheaus: 6 REC, 54 YDS

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Bear Down in the comments section!
– Do you agree with benching Braxton Jones? Type ‘Y’ for Yes or ‘N’ for No
– What’s the #1 thing you would change for the Bears?

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