Jack Sanborn was an unexpected contributor for the Bears last season, with the undrafted rookie getting into 14 games. An ankle injury ended his rookie season prematurely, but it sounds like the linebacker will be good to go for the start of training camp. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Sanborn is expected to be “full speed” when the team gathers for training camp next month.
Sanborn ended up making the Bears roster out of the preseason, and he was eventually elevated to the starting lineup when Chicago moved star Roquan Smith. When all was said and done, the rookie ended up starting six of his 14 appearances last year, finishing with 64 tackles and a pair of sacks. Pro Football Focus ranked him 41st among 81 qualifying linebackers, and they handed him one of the top grades at his position for pass rushing.
Sanborn’s recovery from his season-ending knee injury extended into minicamp, forcing the second-year player to the sideline. As a result, rookie fifth-round pick Noah Sewell got a chance to work with the starters. While the Oregon product seemed to impress during his initial practices, coach Matt Eberflus was quick to point out that the starting gig still belongs to Sanborn.
“We’ll see where he goes,” Eberflus said of Sewell (via Biggs). “With rookies, it’s always ‘Know what to do first.’ So he knows his assignment so he can do it fast. He’s getting better at it. We love his instincts. He’s a very instinctual player.
“And so is Jack. Jack is a very instinctual player, plays multiple positions for us. But Jack will be the starter there going into (training camp) and then we’ll see what Noah can do to press him.”
I wouldn’t snooze on Micah Baskerville either. He could be this years Sanborn and B/U for Edmunds. I was surprised when the Bears got him as an UDFA. The Bears LB’s are so much better than last year it’s like Night and Day. They had 1 good one in Roquan and now they go like 6 deep with talent. Poles did a nice job.
You seem to be pretty optimistic about the Bears this season but I worry when management’s plan to replace Smith involves UDFAs. I think they’re more accurately 6 deep in “potential”. It would be nice if some of these guys could develop into long term contributors but the odds are stacked against it happening.
They brought in 10 draft picks, About 9 FA’s and that’s about 1/3 of the final roster. Throw in the UDFA’s and the not yet brought in cut down guys and even the UDFA’s that don’t make it will probably make the Practice Squad. So that’s about half the roster in one year. There are about 10 guys they had last year still looking for jobs. I’m not talking Super Bowl, But you can’t help but be optimistic.
The Browns had a massive turnover of players between 2015-17. 36 draft picks along with a collection of FA’s and UDFAs. When the dust had settled, they had parlayed all that into 4 wins over a 3 year span. I’m certain the Bears will do better than that but the road back to respectability is likely to be a long one.