With Jeffery out, Bears' Meredith has chance to step up

Wide receiver Cam Meredith has come a long way since going undrafted out of Illinois State in 2015, and he's done it by taking advantage of opportunities.

In the first two games after Kevin White suffered a fractured fibula, Meredith caught 20 passes for 243 yards as his replacement. He's had just 1 catch in each of the three games since, but they've accounted for 86 yards, including last week's 50-yard TD grab on a Hail Mary from Jay Cutler on the final play of the first half.

Now, with Alshon Jeffery serving a four-game suspension, it's another opportunity for the 6-foot-3, 207-pound Meredith to step up. He brings an impressive skill set to the position, despite playing quarterback at St. Joseph High School in Westchester and in his first two seasons at ISU.

“He's got good length,” coach John Fox said. “He's got a good feel for press coverage, as far as getting on a DBs feet and the kind of things it takes to get open. He's a young guy that just continues to work very hard to improve, and he's getting rewarded with playing time.”

After catching 11 passes for 120 yards as a rookie, Meredith has 29 receptions for 381 yards (13.1-yard average) and has gotten his first four NFL starts.

“Cam didn't come in with high accolades as far as a high pick in the draft,” Fox said. “But as coaches, we don't really care where they start at.”

Meredith passed the eyeball test immediately, but he's still learning the nuances of the position.

“What you saw (initially) was the height, weight and speed,” Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “He's a smooth athlete. He's a coordinated athlete. As soon as he walks through the door, you think to yourself, ‘That's what an NFL receiver looks like.' ”

Part of the reason for Meredith's spectacular numbers in his first two starts was the chemistry he had with backup quarterback Brian Hoyer, who was filling in for the injured Cutler. There was a carry-over from Hoyer and Meredith having worked together with the second team during the preseason and in practices.

Meredith has yet to develop that rapport with Cutler, but that connection is more important than ever with Jeffery gone.

“I think it's there,” Meredith said, “it's just a matter of connecting in the game. Hopefully this game we'll be on the same page better than we were in the last game.”

In Cutler's two games back in the starting lineup after his thumb injury, he targeted Jeffery a total of 17 times and Meredith four times. Tight end Zach Miller was also targeted 17 times, and a hopefully healthier Eddie Royal will give Cutler another option, but Meredith will have to become a bigger part of the program if the Bears hope to have a balanced attack.

Cutler believes Meredith can help replace some of the down-the-field threat they're missing without Jeffery.

“In one-on-ones his favorite route is a ‘go' route, so he can definitely do it,” Cutler said. “We're going to be in a position in these next four games where we're going to have to take some shots, and he's definitely a candidate for that.”

As a neophyte receiver, Meredith had much to learn and a long way to go to earn Cutler's trust the way Jeffery, Miller and Royal have. He seems to be getting there.

“He's become more consistent,” Cutler said. “He puts more pressure on himself. He's trying to be more or a pro. He's taking more ownership in his game. Instead of us having to push him and make him do extra work and make him think about things, he's doing that on his own, which is good to see.”

Meredith admits that, without Jeffery, there's some added pressure on the younger guys like himself and Marquess Wilson, who is expected back for the first time since a fractured foot sidelined him over the summer.

“That's good for us moving forward,” Meredith said. “We know what we have to do, and we have to put in that extra work. Every week is another week to get better. Every day is a day I'm getting better. Every rep in a game helps me to get better.”

Meredith will have a lot more opportunities to take advantage of over the next four games.

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