EXTRAPOINTS

Jackson’smindset

When the Bears scouted rookie safety Eddie Jackson ( above), his ball skills, instincts and ability as a returner stood out. But they also liked his resolve and attitude.

They liked how he overcame injuries, how he prepared and how he handled his failures on the field at Alabama.

So his starring performance in the Bears’ victory against the Bengals didn’t surprise anyone at Halas Hall.

Jackson struggled mightily in the Bears’ ugly loss to the Eagles. He missed tackles in the open field and had problems in coverage. Two weeks later, Jackson forced and recovered a fumble and made an interception against the Bengals.

‘‘ His ability to bounce back from a bad play, a bad series or a subpar game is good,’’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. ‘‘ He’s a mature player, and you expect that from him.’’

Picking things off

It seems as though cornerback

Kyle Fuller, who leads the Bears with 16 pass breakups, drops an interception every week.

‘‘ He’s had, I don’t know, four or five of them that he hasn’t quite been able to finish,’’ Fangio said.

But Fuller isn’t the only Bears defender dealing with a case of the drops. Bengals receiver A. J.

Green made a nine- yard reception last week on a pass that hit cornerback Prince Amukamara in the chest. Amukamara didn’t have an interception in 14 games last season with the Jaguars.

Overall, the Bears have struggled to intercept passes in three seasons under Fangio. The Bears had eight interceptions— among the fewest in the league— in each of the last two seasons and have six— 29th in the league— with three games left this season.

— Adam L. Jahns