Bears impressed by backup DE Robertson-Harris
Those who stayed up late Saturday night to watch Chicago Bears backup defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris get sacks on back-to-back snaps at the end of the third quarter weren't the only ones who noticed the bulked-up former linebacker.
“I've been very impressed, not just in that game but in practice,” coach John Fox said. “His teammates see it. The offensive line has made comments. Of course we evaluate the tape.
“He's had some good practices. He's a guy that we feel really good about the move (to defensive end). He's gained weight; gained strength. The young man is not afraid of work, so he has gotten better.”
Robertson-Harris was undrafted last year and missed the entire season on the non-football-injury list after becoming severely dehydrated during a workout in Houston just before training camp started. That began a difficult stretch for the 6-foot-7, 294-pounder.
“My wife had just had our son, so I was a new dad,” he said. “Being in the league but not being able to play your first year is kind of difficult. I kind of went through a deep depression.
“(But) once I got cleared to lift and run again, that just made me feel good. Just to be able to play again, be able to come home and watch film and just enjoy myself playing the game. So far, 2017's been a great year.”
Mum's the word:
Coach John Fox provided no information on the question everyone wants answered: Will rookie Mitch Trubisky play with the ones against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in the dress rehearsal for the regular season? “We haven't talked about that,” Fox said. “We're not even into preparation for the Titans yet. We'll meet on that. We'll talk, and we'll keep you guys posted.
What about Trubisky practicing with the ones, which hasn't happened yet?
#8220;Well, we don't practice until Wednesday,#8221; Fox said, #8220;so we'll figure that out tomorrow.#8221;
Fox was happy to discuss Trubisky's second preseason game, though, in which he completed 6 of 8 passes for 60 yards an a 135.4 passer rating.
#8220;He showed good toughness,#8221; the Bears' coach said. #8220;He took a couple shots. They did a couple things different we hadn't seen, as far as (our) protection. But he showed good accuracy. Probably a couple decisions that he'd change, but I thought all in all he did well.#8221;
Packs a punch:
Rookie Tarik Cohen's burst and quickness are apparent, but at 5-foot-6 and 181 pounds, his ability to break tackles is often questioned.
The fourth-round pick from North Carolina AT has repeatedly run through arm tackles in the preseason, allaying fears that he might lack durability and power.
#8220;You always can't judge a book by its cover,#8221; coach John Fox said. #8220;Whether it was in underwear (shorts and tee-shirts) or now in pads, he's very explosive; he's elusive. He did that in college, albeit maybe at a smaller level, but he was still very successful at it. He's proven he can do it. Now he's continued to get better and get more comfortable in what we're doing.#8221;