Adams’ family on his mind on TD
Rodney Adams caught Andy Dalton’s pass, wrestled himself away from the defender and sprinted up the right sideline for a 73-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter Saturday. When he got into the end zone, he rocked the football like a baby.
The night before, he was rocking a real baby. His wife gave birth to a girl, Brexleigh Michelle ,on Friday. Adams slept on the couch in the hospital room for about five hours before driving directly to Soldier Field on Saturday morning.
It wasn’t a good night’s sleep, he admitted.
“But having a little girl next to you? Nothing else matters,” he said.
Adams quickly is making a name for himself with the Bears. On Saturday, he led the team in receiving yards for the second time in as many preseason games. He had three catches for 89 yards one week after posting four for 57.
Adams turns 27 next month and has never caught a pass in an NFL regular-season game. But he has a chance to stick as the Bears’ sixth receiver, behind Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin, Damiere Byrd and rookie Dazz Newsome.
He’s trying not to think about it with cuts coming in 10 days.
“I mean, I don’t want to,” he said. “But I’m trying to get 100% better every single day. I’m not thinking about 10 days ahead. I’m thinking, ‘What’s going to happen tomorrow?’ ”
What happened Saturday, though, was memorable in itself.
“He just had a baby and made that play,” Dalton said. “I think he rocked the baby afterward. That was pretty good.”
Injury concerns
Three Bears players left the game with vastly different health issues.
The most serious was wide receiver Javon Wims’ apparent case of appendicitis after taking the field early. Coach Matt Nagy was unsure of his condition immediately after the game.
Starting defensive lineman Bilal Nichols was the most significant player to exit. He headed to the locker room with a toe injury and did not return.
Fourth-string linebacker Austin Calitro left with a hamstring injury.
The Bears had a scare with long snapper Patrick Scales .He hobbled off the field after a punt in the first quarter but played the rest of the game.
Not so special teams
The Bears have looked shaky on special teams in each of their preseason games.
The Bills averaged 29.4 yards per punt return, including a 79-yard touchdown by rookie Marquez Stevenson. Kicker Cairo Santos had an extra point blocked in the second quarter.
“We had a lot of stuff on special teams that we can improve,” Nagy said.