(2) Allen is excited about reuniting with defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
The Bears signed the seventh-year pro Wednesday to bolster a depleted secondary and intend to play him at nickel back in place of the injured Kyler Gordon.
Gardner-Johnson first began playing nickel back as a rookie with the Saints in 2019 when Allen was his defensive coordinator. The Florida product made his first NFL start at nickel back against the Bears Oct. 20, 2019, registering seven solo tackles and two pass breakups.
“That was part of the whole evaluation process that we went through,” Allen said. “We saw a really good athlete. We saw a highly competitive player. And we felt like that was an easy fit for us back then. He had played a little bit there, he played some safety, and we felt like at that point in time, it’s kind of best to find one spot for him and let him get comfortable in one spot, and he did a nice job for us.”
Gardner-Johnson brings passion and energy to the Bears.
“He’s a highly competitive player, and he goes out there and competes on every single play,” Allen said. “And so that’s fully what I would expect for him to do with us. He brings a little attitude to the football team, which I think is good.”
(3) Doyle is hopeful that tight end Cole Kmet will be able to play Sunday.
The sixth-year pro from Notre Dame, who missed the first game of his NFL career last weekend with a back injury, was a limited participant in practice Thursday for the second straight day. Kmet’s return would provide a boost not only to the pass game, but the rushing attack as well.
“Cole does a great job in the run game,” Doyle said. “Cole’s a really good player, and so any time he can be back as a part of the offense, we’re excited about that. The other two tight ends (Colston Loveland and Durham Smythe) have been doing a great job as well. Durham is a guy that probably is overlooked in some ways who has done a great job in the run game for us. But any time you get Cole back, you’re fired up.”