HEADLINES

Jaquan Brisker

Bears S Jaquan Brisker Undergoes Thumb Surgery

August 20th, 2022 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bears received some encouraging news earlier today about one of their top defenders. One of their other projected starters, however, has begun his NFL career with an injury which could threaten his regular season availability to start the season. 

[RELATED: LB Smith To Play For Bears In 2022]

Rookie safety Jaquan Brisker recently underwent surgery on his thumb, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). He suffered the injury during the team’s first preseason contest against the Chiefs, and has been sidelined ever since. The recovery process will be closely monitored, given the degree to which the second-rounder has stood out in training camp and his projected role on the team.

“Sometimes you wake up with these hand injuries, and it just shows up,” head coach Matt Eberflus said, via The Athletic’s Adam Jahns (subscription required). “It feels like you just kind of tweaked it a little bit and all the sudden the next day there it is. So it was one of those deals.”

Brisker took a step forward in each of his three seasons at Penn State. In his junior year, he produced 63 tackles, including six for a loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups. Those numbers made him one of the top safeties in the draft, and gave him a path to significant playing time right away with the Bears.

ESPN’s Courtney Cronin tweets that head coach Matt Eberflus is “hopeful” Brisker will be recovered in time for the team’s regular season opener against the 49ers. Likewise, Rapoport adds that there is a “real chance” he is able to suit up for Week 1. Brisker is slated to operate as the team’s starting strong safety, so a return in time for September would be a boost to the rebuilding Bears. If he misses time, though, they would likely turn to free agent addition Dane Cruikshank to partner with Eddie Jackson on the backend.

Bears Sign S Jaquan Brisker, Wrap Up Draft Class

July 26th, 2022 at 8:56pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears have officially signed their entire draft class. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reports (on Twitter) that the Bears have signed second-round safety Jaquan Brisker.

Following a freshman season at Lackawanna, Brisker transferred to Penn State. He ended up spending three seasons with the Nittany Lions, seeing time in 34 games. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and a second-team All-American nod in 2021 after finishing with 38 tackles, six tackles for loss, five passes defended, and two interceptions.

The Bears selected Brisker with the No. 46 pick in the 2022 draft, making him the fifth cornerback off the board. Chicago used the second-round selection that they acquired in the Khalil Mack deal with Los Angeles. The rookie is expected to slide into the starting lineup, with Dane Cruikshank and Michael Joseph providing depth at strong safety.

“I gave him a big hug when I saw him,” GM Ryan Poles said today. “He’s headed in the right direction and I’m excited to see what he does this training camp.”

With the signing, the Bears have signed their entire draft class:

Round 2: No. 39 Kyler Gordon, CB (Washington) (signed)
Round 2: No. 48 (from Chargers) Jaquan Brisker, S (Penn State) (signed)
Round 3: No. 71 Velus Jones, WR (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 5: No. 168 (from Bills) Braxton Jones, OT (Southern Utah State) (signed)
Round 5: No. 174 (from Bengals): Dominique Robinson, OLB (Miami University) (signed)
Round 6: No. 186 Zach Thomas, OG (San Diego State) (signed)
Round 6: No. 203 (from Bills) Trestan Ebner, RB (Baylor) (signed)
Round 6: No. 207 (from 49ers through Jets and Texans): Doug Kramer, OG (Illinois) (signed)
Round 7: No. 226 (from Giants through Bengals): Ja’Tyre Carter, C (Southern) (signed)
Round 7: No. 254 (from Chargers) Elijah Hicks, S (California) (signed)
Round 7: No. 255 (from Chargers) Trenton Gill, P (NC State) (signed)

49ers Notes: Lance, Tart, Mitchell, McGlinchey

April 26th, 2022 at 12:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

In a wild offseason which has seen a number of sizable quarterback trades, one of the most significant storylines has to do with a move which hasn’t taken place. With almost (if not every) 2022 starting QB spot already spoken for, Jimmy Garoppolo remains on San Francisco, something which may not change for the foreseeable future. General manager John Lynch pushed back against reports that, even if he is retained, Garoppolo will cede the starting job to 2020 first-rounder Trey Lance.

“All these reports, I don’t know where they all come from” Lynch said, via Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports. “We always believe in competition, but at the same time we are great believers in what [Lance] brings to the table. We believe he is ready. He is going to have to show that. I think he’s ready to show that to us, show that to his teammates, and show that to the world.”

Garoppolo has been thought to be on the trading block since the 49ers traded up to select Lance third overall last year. It came as no surprise that the veteran openly discussed a future destination other than San Francisco after the season ended, but shoulder surgery has complicated his trade market, which was already weighed down by his $26.9MM cap number for 2022. Even if Garoppolo does stay with the team into the fall, Lynch’s remarks still point to Lance at least having the inside track for the No. 1 role.

Here are some other notes out of the Bay Area:

  • The team’s secondary has undergone plenty of change this offseason, and it appears at least one safety spot will look different come next year. Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Jaquiski Tartt “isn’t expected to return”. The 30-year-old has spent all seven of his NFL seasons with the 49ers, but the team has done homework on a number of secondary prospects, including Penn State’s Jaquan Brisker, Branch notes.
  • Running back Elijah Mitchell said yesterday that he underwent a minor procedure on his knee this offseason (Twitter link via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury). A sixth-round pick last year, Mitchell enjoyed a productive rookie campaign, totalling 1,100 yards and six touchdowns. He added that he will “definitely” be ready for training camp.
  • The same will likely be true of right tackle Mike McGlinchey. The 27-year-old suffered a season-ending quadriceps tear in November. As Branch notes (on Twitter), however, the former top-10 pick expects to have recovered in time for the summer.

Penn State WR Jahan Dotson Declares For Draft

December 29th, 2021 at 9:14pm CST by Ely Allen

Jahan Dotson is going pro. On Monday, the fourth-year junior (the 2020 season didn’t count against eligibility) out of Penn State tweeted his intent to skip the Outback Bowl versus Arkansas and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Spending his first two years on a talented depth chart, Dotson made splash plays here and there while current pros KJ Hamler and Pat Freiermuth pulled attention in the passing game.

In a 2020 season shortened by COVID-19, Dotson had a breakout year catching 52 passes for 884 yards and 8 touchdowns in only nine games. This year, Dotson picked up right where he left off, catching 91 balls for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns as the Nittany Lions’ bona fide number one receiver.

Dotson is joined in opting out of the bowl game by red-shirt senior safety Jaquan Brisker. Brisker is commonly seen as the second-ranked safety in the NFL Draft behind Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton.

While neither Dotson nor Brisker are guaranteed to hear their name called on day one, they’ve both shown an ability to make big plays. If there is a run on receivers or a safety-needy playoff team, Penn State could see two players’ names called in the first round.