Emma: Bears' Depleted Receiving Corps A Real Concern
By Chris Emma--
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- As French Montana's "Ain't Worried About Nothin'" blared through the Bears' practice Wednesday at Halas Hall, more problems emerged.
Quarterback Jay Cutler took the huddle with his first-team offense and looked into the eyes of Josh Bellamy, Marc Mariani and Rashad Lawrence. His top four receivers are all injured, with Eddie Royal (hip) joining Alshon Jeffery (calf), Kevin White (shin stress fracture) and Marquess Wilson (hamstring) on the sidelines.
"I've never been a part of anything like that," Cutler said. "All four going down like that."
When Cutler takes the field in Cincinnati on Saturday for Chicago's third preseason game -- the one that kind of matters, at least for a half or so -- he may be without his four best receivers. Bellamy, his newly minted top target, has zero receptions during his one-year NFL career. The comfort blanket of Royal is now absent due to a hip injury.
With that came a candid moment from coach John Fox, he of the noted injury deception this preseason.
"I hate giving timelines," Fox said. "I don't know what 'long term' means, really. In my mind, (Royal is) day-to-day."
Minutes earlier, Fox proclaimed that none of the receivers' injuries -- besides White's, we presume -- would be "real long term."
Of course, White was initially day-to-day before his shin "flares" were ruled a stress fracture, requiring surgery and potentially forcing him to miss the entire 2015 season. And Jeffery has been day-to-day, too -- for two weeks.
The Bears offense expressed great hope entering training camp, lauding the innovative, bright football mind of new offensive coordinator Adam Gase. Cutler has gotten along well with Gase, and the results have been solid. Additionally, Jeffery had looked like a dominant top receiver in practice before being seen on crutches and in a walking boot before the first preseason game.
For now, and perhaps longer, Cutler's receivers are Bellamy, Mariani and Lawrence.
"They're excited," Cutler said. "I got in the huddle today with these guys, and they're all excited to be out there. They want the ball, and they want to do things the right way. We'll see how it goes."
As much as the new faces desire and embrace the opportunity, no one can brings the skill of Jeffery. White had upside that likely won't be seen this season, and Royal's projected to be a key role player. While unproven, Wilson has flashed potential. The Bears' offense isn't the same without them.
In better news, left tackle Jermon Bushrod returned from a back injury to protect Cutler's blind side and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee returned to anchor the edge of Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense.
But as it sits, the Bears have too many problems at their hands and plenty of reasons to worry.
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.
