Chicago Bears: Kyle Fuller needs to show he belongs
After missing the entire 2016 season because of a simple knee scope, Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller needs to gain the coaching staff’s confidence again.
Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller has had his ups and downs. After recording three interceptions in his first three games, he’s had three in his last 29. To further complicate his time in Chicago, he went in for a simple knee scope before the season last year. Instead of the usual 3-4 weeks of recovery time announced, he ended up missing the entire season.
Fuller lost the confidence of the coaching staff. Despite a slew of injuries to the Bears secondary (they needed to use undrafted rookies as starters at some points of the season), defensive coordinator Vic Fangio questioned Fuller’s desire to help his teammates (per the Chicago Tribune):
"“Any time a guy’s hurt, there’s three stages to getting back to the field. One is you’ve got to get medical clearance. Two, the player’s got to say he’s ready to go and feels confident and he’s champing at the bit to go play. And then the coaches get involved and see if he’s better than what the other choices are and if he really is back to being able to play. A has happened. B hasn’t. So C is a non-issue.”"
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This offseason, the Bears brought in Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper to help in the secondary. They supplanted Fuller as starters. Now, Fuller fights for the nickel-back slot. He needs to impress the coaches again in order for him to keep any job on this team. Many expected the Bears to trade him. Trading a player lacking desire is very difficult, however. Coaches don’t want to deal with those types of players. So, Fuller got another chance.
Even though Fuller is still on the team, the Bears declined to pick up his fifth-year option. That makes him a free agent at the end of the season. Also, the team could decide to cut their losses and just cut him before the regular season begins. That is damning for a former first-round pick (14th overall).
Fuller did get a shot to start in the game against the Arizona Cardinals as Amukamara missed the game due to an injury. Fuller played in almost double the snaps as he did in the first game (31 compared to 16). Head coach John Fox said some good things about him (via the Chicago Sun-Times), but the writing may be on the wall. Recent reports from the Chicago Tribune have the Bears looking to trade him.
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At any rate, Fuller needs to keep trying to impress coaches. It may be for other teams, though. At this time, he’s playing for his career.