Chicago Bears: Five players in Pro Bowl shows rapid ascension
After being shut out for the Pro Bowl last season, the NFL announced that five Chicago Bears players will represent their team this season.
The dream season continues for the Chicago Bears. The NFL announced on Tuesday that five players will represent the team in the 2019 Pro Bowl. Last season, the NFL shut the Bears out from representation.
The players representing the Bears in the all-star game are outside linebacker Khalil Mack, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, safety Eddie Jackson, cornerback Kyle Fuller and return specialist Tarik Cohen. In addition to the five players chosen, there are also seven alternates who have a chance to make the team should other players drop out.
Those players are quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, center Cody Whitehair, offensive lineman Charles Leno Jr., linebackers Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan and Leonard Floyd, and tight end Trey Burton.
It is Mack’s fourth straight appearance in the game. It’s the first appearance for the rest.
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It’s amazing how winning games makes players look better. Hicks definitely deserved to make it the last two seasons before finally making it. He had 54 tackles in each of the last two seasons and has 51 this season with two games remaining. Also, he has six sacks this season, compared to seven in 2016 and 8.5 in 2017. Pretty similar numbers, but with the Bears winning the NFC North, this season’s numbers are highlighted more.
It’s nice to see Fuller’s turnaround. In 2016 he had what many thought was just a minor injury. He ended up missing the entire season and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio questioned his commitment. He had 68 tackles, 22 passes defended, and two interceptions in 2017 which led to a big contract extension. This season, he leads the league in interceptions with seven and passes defended with 21. He also has 50 tackles.
Eddie Jackson has been fantastic since the Bears drafted him in 2017. He has eight career interceptions, six of them this season. He also has three interceptions returned for touchdowns, two of them this season.
Tarik Cohen has been a Swiss army knife for the Chicago Bears. In addition to running the ball, he’s catching a lot of passes out of the backfield and is a dangerous punt returner. On offense, he has 1,115 total yards (405 rushing and 710 receiving) with seven touchdowns. As a returner this season, he leads the league in returns (31) and yards (413).
Mack has been special for the Bears this season. He was the one player who was able to make everyone come together. He took the Bears defense from good to elite. General manager Ryan Pace traded for him just days before the season started and it changed the entire landscape not only in the NFC North but the NFC altogether. His play elevated everyone else’s play and now we see the result.
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This season, Mack has 42 tackles, 12.5 sacks, an interception (returned for a touchdown), two fumble recoveries, and four passes defended. Additionally, he leads the league with six forced fumbles. He’s done all that despite missing two games.
While it’s great to have a chance to see the Bears in the Pro Bowl, I hope that doesn’t happen. It’ll be nice to not watch them because they’re preparing for a Super Bowl. We can dream big, can’t we?