Win-win for Bears over Panthers
D’Onta Foreman ran for a touchdown and the Bears boosted their shot at the top pick in the draft, beating the Panthers, 16-13, Thursday night at Chicago.
The prime-time matchup between teams among the bottom five in the NFL delivered about as much drama as expected. But Chicago (3-7) made enough plays to come away with the victory.
The Bears also boosted their chances at the No. 1 pick because they have Carolina’s first-rounder in 2024. They acquired the pick along with D.J. Moore last March for the top selection this year. The Panthers (1-8) are tied with Arizona — which plays Atlanta on Sunday — for the worst record in the NFL.
Moore caught five passes for 58 yards against his former team. Rookie Tyson Bagent threw for 162 yards in his fourth straight start with Justin Fields sidelined because of a dislocated right thumb. The undrafted rookie from Division 2 Shepherd University in West Virginia didn’t see open receivers at times and completed 20 of 33 passes, after throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble last week in aloss at New Orleans.
Carolina’s Ihmir Smith Marsette returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. But Bryce Young, coming off his worst game as a pro, had another rough outing. The No. 1 draft pick this year, he was 21 of 38 for 185 yards with a 68.4 rating, after throwing three interceptions and having two returned for scores in a loss to Indianapolis.
QB Murray to start
Coach Jonathan Gannon cautioned Kyler Murray that he might not be the same old quarterback right away on Sunday, following a 335-day layoff caused by a torn ACL in his right knee.
The Cardinals star isn't buying it.
“He told me that to my face and I kind of laughed at him,” Murray said. “I understand the thought process, but every time I touch the field, I'm trying to do my thing. Obviously, win, but do it at a high level.”
Murray — a two-time Pro Bowl selection and 2019 No. 1 overall pick — is on the cusp of returning to game action. He’s expected to start when the Cardinals host the Falcons.
The low-key Murray was his usual self.
“Kind of emotionless in a sense,” Murray said. “Not trying to be too high or low. At the end of the day, we're playing football. It's a blessing to be out there with my teammates, move around, run, walk. It was a long 10 months.”
Actually, it was closer to 11 months. The Cardinals had a 1-13 record in his absence.
Juniors eligible
Juniors who declare for the NFL Draft will be eligible for three of the college All-Star games after this season, including the Senior Bowl.
The league sent a memo to all 32 NFL teams on Wednesday informing them that the East-West Shrine Bowl, Senior Bowl and HBCU Legacy Bowl can now accept juniors. Underclassmen who had graduated were already eligible. The memo was obtained Thursday by the Associated Press.
Top junior prospects include USC quarterback Caleb Williams, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The showcase games often serve as a chance for lower-profile players.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 1, the Senior Bowl is Feb. 3, and the HBCU Legacy Bowl is Feb. 24.
The rule change doesn’t apply to other all-star games.
49ers move DC to field
The 49ers are making a move with their defensive coordinator.
Steve Wilks will go from the booth to the field this week when the Niners return from their bye week in hopes of providing a spark to a defense that struggled during a three-game losing streak.
After a fast start to the season defensively in their first season with Wilks as coordinator, the
49ers (5-3) struggled in recent weeks, leading to the decision for Wilks to move down to the field for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.
San Francisco ranked first in points allowed (13.6 per game), second in passer rating allowed (70.9), and third in yards per play allowed (4.43) during a five-game winning streak to open the season.
Those numbers took a big drop during the three-game losing streak with the Niners ranking
24th in points allowed (24 per game), 25th in passer rating allowed (98.7) and 30th in yards per play allowed (5.99).
Those struggles led to the decision to mix things up and put Wilks on the field where his successful predecessors DeMeco Ryans and Robert Saleh operated the past six seasons.
Honor for Coughlin
Tom Coughlin, the first coach in the history of the Jaguars, will be inducted into the franchise’s ring of honor next season.
The team said Coughlin will become the seventh member of the “Pride of the Jaguars” during a yetto-be-determined home game in 2024. Next season will be Jacksonville’s 30th as an NFL franchise.
Coughlin, 77, is the winningest coach in franchise history.