DANNY’S BACK AT ’ BACKER
FOUR QUESTIONS Defense badly missed his experience, production last three games
After six weeks, the Bears need a win.
“It’d make your wife look prettier,” outside linebacker Pernell McPhee said. “It would make the grass look greener. The food would taste better.”
Defensive end Akiem Hicks has another reason.
“It’d get my mom off my back,” he said. “She’s the first one that texts me after games. It’d be good.”
While we wonder if there’s any pressure like the kind from your parents, here are four more Bears questions as they prepare for the 1- 10 49ers:
First quarter: Should the Bears talk to playoff- bound coordinators?
Kyle Shanahan interviewed with the Broncos and 49ers during the Falcons’ playoff bye last year. According to NFL rules, the then- offensive coordinator wasn’t allowed to interview again until the open week before the Falcons traveled for the Super Bowl.
The restrictions are worth remembering if the Bears fire coach John Fox and chase a coordinator from one of the league’s four best teams, the way they did with Adam Gase and Dan Quinn three years ago.
Shanahan, now the 49ers coach, wasn’t sure about the restrictions until he was put in that position last year.
“It is a big commitment getting ready for those playoff games,” he said. “That’s everything you work for. It also takes awhile to prepare for an interview and get ready to talk to people.
“I think if we didn’t and I had to find a way to talk to people during a week when I was trying to prepare, I know that would have been very tough and I probably would have said no.”
Second quarter: Howmuch did the BearsmissDanny Trevathan?
Just getting the plays in will be easier with Trevathan on the field. Christian Jones handled the calls the last three games.
“He’s going to help us on a lot of things,” McPhee said. “Like getting our calls out faster, helping us get lined up faster. It’s great. He knows the defense like the back of his hand.”
Before Trevathan strained his calf, the Bears were allowing 5.01 yards per play. In the three games he was out, they gave up 5.62.
“Snaps,” Hicks said. “Just the experience, when you have a veteran linebacker, somebody that has done it at the highest levels, played for a Super Bowl, it just helps. Keeps everyone else on cue.”
Halftime hot tip
The 49ers have won 1 of 13 road games the last two seasons but have covered in six.
Third quarter: Howfrustrated is Markus Wheaton?
“I’m not gonna lie to you — I’m so frustrated,” he said.
The receiver has one catch this season — on the final play of the Vikings game — and had only one target against the Eagles.
When he returned from a groin injury last month, the Bears said they wanted him to prove he deserved to play in practice. Asked if he has, Wheaton smiled. “That ain’t a question for me,” he said.
Fourth quarter: Whoin the world starts at safety Sunday?
Whomever it is, he hasn’t played since the preseason.
The Bears signed Chris Prosinski off the street this week after cutting him before the season opener. They could activate Deiondre’ Hall, who has been practicing for the last week, from injured reserve Saturday.
Starter Adrian Amos ( hamstring) is doubtful, while DeonBush ( knee) and DeAndre Houston- Carson ( ankle) are questionable.
Prosinski was released in September with a hamstring injury, but he said he felt fine after amonth. He stayed in the Chicago area, training in Highland Park. One bonus of bringing him back: He had to remember, not learn, the playbook.
“It’s actually come back really quick, and even better than I thought it would,” he said.
Hall, who started the season on IR with a hamstring injury, said he had the stamina to play.
To take Hall off IR, the Bears would have to remove someone from their 53- man roster.
The rest of the injury report: Outside linebacker Isaiah Irving ( knee) is out, while guard Josh Sitton ( concussion) and cornerbacks Cre’Von LeBlanc ( illness) and Bryce Callahan ( knee) are questionable. Sitton hasn’t been cleared, but the Bears hope he can be before kickoff.