Almost everything has been going the right way for the Chicago Bears defense. They’ve played seven of eight dominant quarters so far this season with the fourth quarter in Green Bay (where they gave up 21 points) being their only blemish. They’re fresh off pasting the Seattle Seahawks, sacking Russell Wilson six times. One man who hasn’t quite gotten in on the fun yet though is Leonard Floyd.
The outside linebacker has undergone a frustrating month. He was poised to enter the season ready to go after recovering from a season-ending knee injury last year. Then by freak accident, he broke his right hand during the preseason game against Cincinnati. This has forced him to play the first two games of 2018 with a clubbed cast on his hand.
It’s clearly frustrated him and the video has shown it. He’s limited by what he can do with it on. Floyd has not had a sack through his first two games and few pressures. That might explain why he seemed so upbeat in the Bears locker room when he said he was meeting with the training staff Wednesday to possibly downsize the cast.
If so, the timing couldn’t be better.
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The scenario is shaping up for Leonard Floyd to get in on the fun
There are two key reasons to think that this third week of the season may be prime time for Floyd to jump into the fray on that Bears defense. First, as mentioned above is the fact he may be wearing a much more workable cast on his hand, gaining more flexibility. The other is the matchup. This will mark the first time he’s going against a less-than-ideal option at left tackle for an opponent.
First was Pro Bowler David Bakhtiari whom many consider the best pass protector in football. Then it was former Pro Bowler Duane Brown in Seattle. This times it’s going to be D.J. Humphries of the Arizona Cardinals. Rest assured he’s not playing at near the level of those other two so far this season. So far in two games, he’s allowed 10 pressures including a sack and three hits on Sam Bradford.
Throw in the fact that Bradford can’t run? Humphries looks like a deer in headlights and Floyd is the van hurtling towards him. Arizona is indoors on a fast track where that trademark speed and explosion will be at their most dangerous. All eyes may be on Khalil Mack, but it’s Floyd who could end up getting that game ball.
