EARLY TAKEAWAYS
Here are five things we learned about the Bears after talking to assistant coaches
THEY’RE WAITING ON ROBERT QUINN
The Bears signed edge rusher Robert Quinn to a five-year, $70 million deal in March but have yet to see him go full-bore.
Coach Matt Nagy said this week that Quinn was being eased into action after handling a personal issue. He has worked with his position group but not in team drills during training camp.
“Rob’s on his own program a little bit,” outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino said. “He’s got his own set of requirements that we’ve got to get done with Rob first, and he is exactly where he needs to be. He’s had a few things come up and based on those things, we’ve got to continue to bring him along slowly. He’s in the ramping-up phase.”
That’s not particularly assuring, given that the season opener is 3½ weeks away. Getting him ready has become a priority.
“What we need to see from Rob before [Sept.] 13 is a fully healthy Robert Quinn that is ready to pop out of his skin on game day,” Monachino said. “We’re all building in that direction right now, from the head coach all the way through me.”
The Bears have limited star outside linebacker Khalil Mack in practice, too, but frame that as more of a veteran courtesy.
“As soon as we can plug them back in,” Monachino said, “I think we’ll have exactly what we’re looking for out there.”