Which Bears receivers are most likely to fill void created by Meredith injury?
Replacing Cam Meredith's 2016 totals of 66 catches, 888 yards and 4 touchdowns is not a one-man job, but it does create what could be a career-changing opportunity for someone.
Meredith, who will miss the 2017 season with a torn ACL in his left knee, is Exhibit A of what can happen when an unheralded player gets an opportunity, grabs it and refuses to let go.
Meredith didn't even dress for the Bears' first two games last season, and he had just 6 catches for 52 yards after four games.
But, when starter Kevin White was lost for the season in Week 4, Meredith burst onto the scene. The 6-foot-3, 207-pounder, undrafted out of Illinois State in 2015, posted back-to-back games of 9 catches for 130 yards and 11 catches for 113 yards. Late in the season, when Eddie Royal was injured, Meredith had 9 catches for 104 yards and 9 catches for 135 yards in Weeks 15 and 16, respectively.
“I always say, ‘Next man up,' and it's no disrespect to the player that got hurt,” coach John Fox said. “(But) you don't want to give them excuses to whine about it, and we're going to have to figure out somebody to replace him.
“You feel bad for Cam. He's well-liked, a good teammate, (and) obviously we'll miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with him in his recovery, but somebody's got to take that spot.”
Markus Wheaton is the most obvious somebody, but he's working his way back from a fractured finger that required surgery. That injury occurred the day he returned to practice after missing two weeks following an appendectomy early in camp.
How important is the former Steeler speedster with Meredith sidelined?
“He's huge,” Fox said. “All those guys, Deonte (Thompson), Josh Bellamy, Victor Cruz, … Tanner Gentry has flashed. Even Titus (Smith) has flashed. So all of those guys are in the mix.
“As far as Markus goes, the quicker we can get him back, the better. When he's cleared, he'll be out there.”
The 5-foot-11, 189-pound Wheaton, Pittsburgh's third-round draft choice in 2013, caught just 4 passes in 2016, missing most of the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. But in the two previous seasons, Wheaton caught 97 passes for 1,393 yards and 7 touchdowns. At 26, his arrow should still be pointing up.
The Bears made more of a commitment to Wheaton than any of their other free-agent wide receivers, guaranteeing $6 million of his two-year $11 million deal.
Wheaton had been working outside behind White and Meredith, while two other veteran additions, Kendall Wright and Victor Cruz, have been operating in the slot. Wright (6 catches, 58 yards) has gotten more meaningful snaps in practices and games than Cruz (4 catches, 19 yards), and each has 1 TD reception.
Davis, the Wheaton-Warrenville South product, had 3 catches for 38 yards last week. Gentry, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming, caught a 45-yard TD pass last week from Mitch Trubisky, but he is a likely candidate for the practice squad.
Do not count out fifth-year veteran Deonte Thompson, who has been the Bears' top kickoff-returner the past two seasons. He is a deep threat and emerged as a pass-catcher late last season, finishing with career highs in receptions (22) and yards (249). He's had a noticeable preseason, scoring on a 109-yard return of a missed field goal and leading the team with 78 receiving yards on 6 catches.
Like Thompson, Bellamy brings special teams value, but in kick coverage rather than kick returning. And, like Thompson, he has exhibited inconsistent hands.
Wright and Cruz are more accomplished pass catchers and both have had exceptional production in the past — unfortunately, not the recent past.
Wright caught 94 balls for 1,079 yards in 2013, his second season with the Tennessee Titans.
Cruz had monster back-to-back seasons with the New York Giants that included 168 catches for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2011 and ‘12.
“I still feel like the quickness is there,” the 6-foot, 204-pound Cruz said. “I still feel like the playmaking ability is there. Now, it's just continue to show that each and every time I'm on the field, whether it will be practice or on game day.”
Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns is the last chance to impress before Saturday's cutdown from 90 to 53, when coaches decide who will have the opportunity to fill the void left by Meredith's injury.
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