TRU OR FOLES?
Of course Nagy picks Nick as Bears’ No. 1 QB, officially marking end of Mitch era
There’s no one like running back Tarik Cohen. Whoever takes his snaps won’t be able to replicate the versatility or electricity he has given the Bears in the first threeplus seasons of his career.
The Bears talked Monday as though they’ll stay in-house — at least at first — to replace Cohen’s snaps after they confirmed he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on a punt return Sunday against the Falcons. He’s out for the season.
‘‘We feel very confident with the guys that we have in our room,’’ running backs coach Charles London said. ‘‘Obviously, David [Montgomery] has had a good start to his season, and I expect him just to continue to get better and better each week. Cordarrelle [Patterson] has given us a lot at the running back position. He gets better and better each week as he gets more and more comfortable with his spot, with what we’ve been asking him to do. So I have no concerns there.’’
London said he expects to ‘‘see a little more’’ out of Ryan Nall, who has two career rushes and one career catch, on offense.
Rather than splitting a running back out wide to replace Cohen, the Bears could use an extra receiver — perhaps rookie Darnell Mooney and speedster Ted Ginn Jr. on the field together — to give themselves a similar speed threat.
‘‘You love the kid,’’ coach Matt Nagy said of Cohen. ‘‘He worked hard to get to this point. He’ll be in our corner; we’ll be in his corner.’’
Trevathan playing more
Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan played 79% of the Bears’ defensive snaps Sunday, a week after playing 48% against the Giants.
Inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone said Trevathan had his ‘‘best game so far’’ and called the playing-time percentage a ‘‘really good number.’’
The Bears are spending their weekdays trying to make sure Trevathan, who turned 30 in March, is fresh for games. He didn’t practice Wednesday, a courtesy also given to fellow veterans Ginn and tight end Jimmy Graham.
DeLeone said the physicality of Trevathan’s play warrants such treatment.
‘‘At our position, the way you play the game — and the way Danny’s played the game for a long time — is different,’’ DeLeone said. ‘‘Working through the first few weeks, I think we’ve got him in a good rhythm.’’
Trevathan, who signed a threeyear, $21.75 million contract in March, looked slow while playing 90% of the snaps in the season opener against the Lions. He didn’t play less than 84% of the snaps in a game last season.
More new blood
The Bears are expected to sign defensive lineman Terry Beckner to the practice squad, a source confirmed.
Becker was a seventh-round pick by the Buccaneers in 2019 and was cut last season after serving a four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.
Patrick Mahomes put on a scintillating show while outperforming Lamar Jackson, and the Chiefs deftly played the role of defending Super Bowl champions in a 34-20 thumping of the host Ravens on Monday night.
With Mahomes leading the way, the Chiefs (3-0) emphatically ended the Ravens’ 14game regular-season winning streak while extending their own run to 12 games (including playoffs).
Mahomes, who became the fastest passer in NFL history to 10,000 career yards in the first quarter, went 31-for-42 for 385 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown. The Chiefs led 27-10 at halftime and held on to defeat the Ravens (2-1) for the third year in a row.
Jackson completed 15 of 28 passes for 97 yards and ran for 83 yards, 30 of them on one carry during the Ravens’ opening possession.
The Chiefs scored touchdowns on their first two possessions — one on a run by Mahomes, the other on a pass — for a 13-3 lead. Following that second score, Ravens rookie Devin Duvernay fielded the kickoff and sprinted down the right sideline for a 93-yard touchdown.
The Chiefs followed with a three-and-out, but the Ravens simply could not contain Mahomes for long. After he got the ball back, Mahomes completed passes of 29 and 18 yards before hitting Tyreek Hill for a 20-yard score to cap a 73-yard drive.
A 49-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Mecole Hardman put the Chiefs up by 17 at halftime.
Source: Thomas likely to sign with Texans
Seven-time Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas is visiting the Texans for a free-agent workout and will likely sign this week, a source told ESPN.
Thomas, 31, has remained a free agent since he was released Aug. 23 by the Ravens for what the team called “personal conduct that has adversely affected” the organization. He was sent home from training camp after an altercation with fellow safety Chuck Clark.
Banged-up Broncos lose another star
Five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey is out for the rest of the season after tearing a biceps tendon against the Bucs in just his third game since the Broncos acquired him from the Titans in the offseason.
Casey is the sixth starter the Broncos have lost to injury.
Injuries leave Colts thin at receiver
Colts rookie receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is out indefinitely after having unexpected surgery on his calf, coach Frank Reich said.
The Colts also said second-year receiver Parris Campbell will have surgery on his left knee. There isn’t a timetable for his return.