‘Ello, friends!

After a 24-17 offenseless win for the Bears against the Titans in Week 1, we told ourselves, a win is a win is a win. Then Week 2 and Week 3 brought us back to the reality that a loss is a loss is a loss.

It wasn’t so much that the Bears lost, but the team looked lost, too. It’s amazing what winning can do for hope, and what an offense capable of moving the ball downfield can do for expectations.

After Week 3, I said this team was closer to 0-3 than 2-1. While true, now the Bears are a win against a vulnerable Jaguars team away from heading into the bye week at 4-2.

Onto Week 6.

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— Patrick Norton

Jaquan Brisker OUT Sunday

When the Bears flew to London on Monday night, there was one notable absence from the team plane — starting safety Jaquan Brisker.

Brisker reported concussion-like symptoms to the team on Monday, likely stemming from a collision between the defensive back and Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble last Sunday.

The hit was not flagged, and Tremble, who fumbled the ball on the play, also sustained a concussion. Gervon Dexter Sr. recovered the fumble that set up the Bears’ third touchdown of the first half, and Brisker, who removed his helmet as he ran off the field, played the rest of the game.

• General manager Ryan Poles credited Brisker for reporting his symptoms to head trainer Andre Tucker: “We all know how competitive he is and that as a player, from a player’s perspective that’s difficult because you want to have an opportunity to go play.”

• Poles complimented Brisker’s efforts to avoid a dangerous crash and said all protocols were followed correctly, allowing Brisker to remain in the game after the hit. “I thought he did a really good job actually of getting his head out of it and using his shoulder but unfortunately the offensive player hit the side of his helmet. All of the mechanisms that are put in place by the league and team were there — spot checks, all of that — but he was cleared all the way through and the symptoms popped up Monday.”

• Head coach Matt Eberflus echoed Poles’ sentiment, saying Brisker executed the “way of tackling” he’s taught his players since 1995. He continued his praise of Brisker’s form, specifically mentioning the safety’s ability to lead with the shoulder and attempt to keep his head out of the play. However, Tremble initiated the helmet-to-helmet contact, resulting in a concussion for both players.

🔎 GO DEEPER | Patrick Norton (hey, that’s me!) on DJ Moore’s and Caleb Williams’ brotherly bond, and how it’s already helping the Bears.

🐻⛳The Desert Duel🌵🏈

Coming with us to watch Caleb Williams and the Bears take on Kyler Murray’s Cardinals? Join us on the links for an unforgettable ALLCITY battle between CHGO and PHNX at Raven Golf Club in Phoenix. Still debating making the trip? What are you waiting for!?

Kevin Warren says Chicago lakefront still the focus

Despite a lack of shovels in the ground, Kevin Warren said on Wednesday that the team’s focus remains on building a new state-of-the-art stadium on the lakefront in Chicago.

If you’ve seen one Kevin Warren press conference on the stadium project, you’ve seen ’em all. Wednesday’s from Hanbury Manor in the United Kingdom provided some newer talking points but left us without concrete answers.

• The hope is to break ground in 2025. If Warren and the Bears want to stay on track, they’ll need help from the Illinois General Assembly. “You have a fall veto session. You have a session in January. You have a session next year. So there are steps but we want to make sure that we’re prepared in that point in time.”

• But Illinois politics is hardly half the battle. Warren is focused on building costs, too. “The thing I get attracted about this stadium was the price of steel, what’s going on with the FED, what’s going on with interest rates and decisions by Chairman [Jerome] Powell and with what’s going on with Wall Street. All these things have an impact in a very creative way.”

• While his commitment to building in Chicago was clear, Warren wouldn’t rule out a shift in focus back to Arlington Heights. “We’ve stayed close with the individuals in the City of Chicago. We’ve stayed close with the individuals in Arlington Heights. We’re the largest landowner there. We’ve stayed close to individuals in the governor’s office, from a Springfield standpoint.”

🔎 GO DEEPER | Nicholas Moreano on Ryan Poles’ outlook on Caleb Williams’ improving pocket presence and the team’s offensive line depth.

The Eighty Five with Cole Kmet

Join us for an upcoming CHGO event!

🌵 11/1 – 11/4 | CHGO Bears Road Trip to Arizona, including Desert Duel
🍻 11/10 | CHGO Bears Tailgate at Wabash & Cermak! — Week 10 vs. Patriots