Things aren’t going great for the Chicago Bears lately. Their passing game is the worst in the NFL. Justin Fields is struggling, the offensive line can’t protect, and the wide receivers constantly either don’t get open, drop the ball, or run the wrong routes. It’s hard to imagine things being worse. Well, fans can be grateful for one thing. At least they aren’t stuck with Russell Wilson. As crazy as that sounds, it’s becoming an inescapable truth.
Everybody remembers the story by now. The Pro Bowl quarterback wanted out of Seattle in 2021. He listed four teams as preferred trade destinations. Chicago was one. GM Ryan Pace made a hard push to make the deal happen. It came close. Seahawks GM John Schneider reportedly wanted to accept. However, head coach Pete Carroll nixed it at the eleventh hour. So the Bears went after Fields instead. Wilson played another season in Seattle and was finally traded earlier this year to Denver.
Everybody thought the Broncos had won the lottery. They were Super Bowl bound. It came at a heavy cost: two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, and tight end Noah Fant. Oh, and a $245 million contract extension. No big deal.
Well, it’s becoming a big deal. Wilson has completed less than 60% of his passes with four TDs and three interceptions in five games. Denver is 2-3, and their offense is ranked second-worst in the NFL. Try to imagine that situation if it were the Bears.
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THE COLTS WIN!
THE COLTS WIN!
THE COLTS WIN!#ForTheShoe | #TNF(🎥: @NFL) pic.twitter.com/aI6ZXYeWfm
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 7, 2022
Thoughts on Russell Wilson…. pic.twitter.com/IkIC4SP7rk
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) October 7, 2022
Richard Sherman let it all out in the postgame show:pic.twitter.com/s367JfpNOk
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 7, 2022
At least the Chicago Bears still have a future.
They have all their top draft choices moving forward and tons of salary cap space. If Fields ends up being a bust, they have the ability to correct their mistake. Denver has no such luxury. They jumped in with both feet and slammed the door behind them. The earliest they can get out of Wilson’s contract without a salary cap penalty is 2025. If they want to avoid a huge dead money hit, it would be 2027. They also have no 1st or 2nd round picks next year.
It is starting to look like Wilson owed much more of his success to Carroll’s coaching than people were led to believe. Try to imagine him working under Matt Nagy in this mostly talentless offense. That would not have been an enjoyable experience. At least Chicago Bears fans can be grateful for that. Not having a present is bad. Not having a present or a future is much, much worse.
This is a scarily similar situation to ours. Whoever doesn’t think that Wilson will get the Broncos going once they all know the new coaches and system are crazy. He is still a great QB and struggling with the pieces around him and the lack of scheme comprehension by all. Wake up call to all you who are ready to cut Fields yesterday if you could. A star quarterback struggling that has a decade of NFL play, 2 super bowl appearances with a ring, that looks a lot like Fields does. Give them both some slack, they will be fine… Read more »
Yes Wilson benefited from a good run game and great defense, but still gotta give the man his dues. He has always been a very solid QB when healthy. Bears are better off money wise and such, but they do not have a better or equal QB to Wilson.
While Wilson has been bad.. I’ve actually never been a believer to begin with. During his best years he had a prolific defense giving him great field position a superior line and Marshawn Lynch. The table was set for Wilson to have easy coverages and short field position.
The Bears DO have a future… it’s without Fields though. In terms of who screwed the pooch the most… it’s Denver. But Chicago did as well. It essentially traded up for Mitch Trubisky TWICE by the same GM. That says something.
Things are clearly off here for sure. But Wilson did not go from an elite QB to a horrible one overnight. I don’t know if it’s injuries, or what is going on. But I don’t think it’s fair to say they dodged a bullet and Wilson is suddenly a bum. He is not.
Sorry Mahomes never looked bad his first few years. In fact he had 50 TDs and 12 INTs with over 5k yards and a 113.8 passer rating his very first year as starter. 😄 if that's bad I would hate to see what good is.