Ryan Heckman – Rant Sports
The Chicago Bears have plenty of competition this year at the wide receiver position. Beyond starters Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, there truly is no solidified third option at this point. For a while it had been Earl Bennett, one of Jay Cutler’s favorite targets. This season, the Bears could be looking at somebody different.
Bennett is a solid possession receiver and has typically acted as one of Cutler’s security blankets especially on 3rd down. They have played together previous to their careers with the Bears when they played together at Vanderbilt. The chemistry is definitely there.
But, will Bennett be healthy this season? That could turn out to be the biggest question regarding the receiving core in 2013.
Saturday night during the Bears’ annual Family Fest practice at Soldier Field, Bennett was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion, according to The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs.
#Bears WR Earl Bennett left with a team doctor to be evaluated for a concussion. Injury might have happened Friday in big hit near goalline
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 4, 2013
Friday, Bennett was hit pretty hard by new linebacker James Anderson during a goal line drill. He has a history of concussions with the most recent coming in December of 2012.
If Bennett’s concussion-like symptoms prove to be a legitimate concern, the Bears will have to look more toward some raw talent in order to fill in the depth chart this year. Guys like Joe Anderson, Devin Aromashodu and rookie Marquess Wilson may be called upon sooner than anticipated.
There is no doubt that Chicago would love for Bennett to be healthy. Especially with a new playbook this year, they can use all the chemistry they can get. His status should be updated early this week and we should have something new on the situation as soon as that is revealed.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
