The Chicago Bears were smacked around by the Bills in Week 2 of the 2021 NFL Preseason but we still had some winners and losers with roster spots on the line.
As if the chorus of boos did not epitomize the situation regarding the Chicago Bears offense, the scoreboard against the Buffalo Bills did that and more. Chicago’s downright disappointing performance in Week 2 drops the 1-1 on the preseason after a 41-15 loss and leaves them with plenty to divulge upon as they get closer to Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams.
If that was not bad enough, consider how former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky marched right into Soldier Field and helped Buffalo take a commanding 28-0 lead at one point in the second quarter, before Chicago finally got in the end zone. Preseason or not, there is no excuse for going down by that many points at all.
Nevertheless, though many players and their chances to make the roster ultimately evaporated, there were a few players, however, who, despite the loss, stood out and all but assured themselves a spot on the final 53-man roster. With the final game against the Titans looming next week and rosters being trimmed down, this is the last chance to make an impression.
With all that in mind, here are the winners and losers for the Chicago Bears in Preseason Week 2.
Chicago Bears winners from Preseason Week 2 vs. Bills
Rodney Adams, WR – Two catches in the first half, including a 73-yard touchdown catch, were essentially the entire first-half reel for the Chicago Bears offense. On the flip side, the Bears may have uncovered a hidden gem who has not only distanced himself from the competition but essentially secured himself a roster spot.
This preseason has been nothing but positive for Rodney Adams and, given how he continues to make plays, he’s going to make this team.
That said, just because he makes the team doesn’t mean he takes the field in Week 1 as he’s got more work to do given who is ahead of him. Also, he cannot afford to slack off in the final week of the preseason, knowing that those behind him will be gunning for a potential sixth wide receiver spot which may be a spot on special teams.
Justin Fields, QB– Anytime you come in and get a standing ovation means you have already won over the fans. Also, any time you take a shot to the head by a linebacker and get up and then lead the team to a touchdown means you have special characteristics, especially when battling through what looked to be a limp late in the fourth quarter.
Although the game was well out of hand by the time Fields took the field, he showed promise and is making a case for head coach Matt Nagy to give up the idea of starting Andy Dalton and start him instead.
With only one game left to play, Fields will likely play a fixed number of reps vs. the Titans and leave the rest up to Nick Foles, provided, of course, he sticks around. Nonetheless, if this loss showed anything, it’s that Fields is the future, and the team needs to do what they can to help him, especially shoring up the protection to ensure a hit like the one he endured never happens again.
Khalil Herbert, RB – Normally, when a rookie is stashed low on the depth chart, especially in the running back room, it takes a special play or a group of special plays strung together to make the coaching staff take notice. Needless to say, that’s exactly what Herbert did against the Bills, albeit late in the game. The sixth-round pick out of Virginia Tech had a nice rushing touchdown on the day to help his case.
Herbert does have special teams value and will ultimately make most of his appearances on that side of the ball should he make the team. However, to get into the game on offense, Herbert will likely need to show more against Tennessee, specifically running through the tackles as he did against Buffalo. Nevertheless, he showed several positive traits, which is encouraging to both his confidence and roster chances.
Chicago Bears losers from Preseason Week 2 vs. Bills
Andy Dalton, QB – It’s done at this point, even though the play right after getting booed was a touchdown pass by Dalton to Rodney Adams. Also, an interception most certainly did not help his case. Right now, because of Nagy’s support, Dalton will likely continue to be the starter and will be on the field against the Rams in Week 1, barring a change in heart.
However, should the folks in Chicago get their way, they will want Fields out front and center against Los Angeles, which would be a far cry from what Dalton was brought in to do. Given the press conference he gave this week regarding Fields and how Fields has looked in the preseason, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Dalton’s time as a starter could be short.
Damien Williams, RB – Williams is in no danger of losing his roster spot; make no mistake about it. However, losing a fumble on a drive when it looked like Chicago had a bit of momentum in the first half earns him a spot on this list, at least for now. He most certainly can recover from this, provided he does well against the Titans.
With Herbert proving that he can run the football and David Montgomery firmly cemented as the starter, Williams will need to find other ways to keep his role in the offense. He does have the Super Bowl memories on his resume, but the NFL is all about what you have done for me lately — except for Tim Tebow, of course. You can be assured that Damien Williams will be just fine, but this week was rather poor.
Javon Wims, WR– Make no mistake about it, after what Rodney Adams has done this preseason, it becomes more evident that Wims will likely be given his walking papers at the end of the preseason. As is often the case in this league, taking advantage of every opportunity is critical. Against Buffalo, however, Wims didn’t have a single target nor catch. What does that tell you?
When Chicago drafted Wims out of Georgia, he was seen as a red-zone target to make plays. Instead, he has had more drops than anticipated, and with new players emerging from unknown areas, his time in the Windy City is ending quickly. It’s going to take a miracle and other circumstances against the Titans to convince the Bears’ offensive staff that Wims is worth bringing along for the future.