Fansided

5 burning questions the Bears must answer in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

LAKE FOREST, IL - JUNE 05: Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) warms up during the Chicago Bears organized team activities or OTA on June 5, 2019 at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAKE FOREST, IL - JUNE 05: Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) warms up during the Chicago Bears organized team activities or OTA on June 5, 2019 at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 11: Anthony Miller #17 of the Chicago Bears runs in for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on November 11, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 11: Anthony Miller #17 of the Chicago Bears runs in for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on November 11, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

3. Who is the team’s best wide receiver?

Last offseason, general manager Ryan Pace made a concerted effort to upgrade the team’s passing attack. In 2017, no team in the league gained fewer yards through the air than the Chicago Bears. Hence the 2018 free-agent additions of wide receivers Allen Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Taylor Gabriel (Atlanta Falcons) and tight end Trey Burton (Philadelphia Eagles). The club’s front-office wizard also used the second of two second-round picks on University of Memphis wideout Anthony Miller.

While versatile running back Tarik Cohen led the team with 71 receptions, Gabriel (67) and Robinson (55) weren’t far behind in terms of catches. The latter paced the Bears in receiving yards (754) and he Gabriel combined for 1,442 yards and eight scores. Burton was fourth on the team with 54 grabs, good for 569 yards while finishing second on the squad with six TD catches. Keep in mind that one year earlier, Kendall Wright led the Bears with only 59 receptions.

All of the aforementioned performers had solid years in 2018 and it will be interesting to see if the numbers are even better this season. But it’s Miller that may prove to be the star of this much-improved group. He played in 15 games and made four starts this past season, finishing with 33 catches for 423 yards and a team-best seven touchdown grabs. He’s on the mend from offseason shoulder surgery but head coach Matt Nagy expects him to be ready for training camp (via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). The 5’11”, 190-pound pro could be in line for a bigger second campaign.

Next: No. 2

Home/Chicago Bears