Reeling Bears suffer another loss, another wave of injuries vs. Packers
Channel: A. OuiDe
Date: 2016-10-21

GREEN BAY — The losses continue to pile up for the Bears at an alarming rate. A 26-10 setback against the Packers on Thursday night at Lambeau Field left John Fox's team at 1-6.
Just as unsettling is the ongoing rash of injuries that has prevented the Bears from establishing any continuity this season.

Pernell McPhee's long-awaited return — his first game since last season — was overshadowed by a new set of health setbacks. Quarterback Brian Hoyer broke his left arm in the second quarter. Right guard Kyle Long's night ended in the first half because of an arm injury. Five other opening-day offensive starters were already out before the game began.
It's hard to know when or how the Bears will regain their footing.


The bad news: The offense is in complete disarray. Even before Hoyer and Long departed, left guard Josh Sitton was declared inactive with an ankle injury that snapped his streak of 73 consecutive starts. Quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Jeremy Langford remained out. And slot receiver Eddie Royal didn't make the trip as he deals with a toe injury suffered during Sunday's loss to the Jaguars.

It was no shock, then, that the Bears couldn't establish any sort of offensive rhythm. Hoyer was 4-for-9 for 49 yards before his injury, overseeing three drives that ended with punts.

Matt Barkley's relief effort — 6-for-15, 81 yards, two interceptions — was not any better as the offense squeezed only 13 first downs and three points out of its eight possessions.

The running game sputtered with Jordan Howard and Ka'Deem Carey combining for 70 yards on 17 carries. The Bears have failed to reach 20 points in six of their seven games.

The good news: After a two-game absence due to a calf injury, rookie outside linebacker Leonard Floyd played his best game as a Bear, showcasing his athleticism and playmaking ability. Floyd had his first full sack when he took down Aaron Rodgers for a 9-yard loss late in the second quarter.

But his biggest contribution came on the Packers' first series after halftime. That's when Floyd froze guard Don Barclay initially with his rush, then looped around Willie Young and Bryan Bulaga and pounced on Rodgers from behind, dislodging the football.

Sack. Strip. Fumble recovery. Touchdown.

"Willie set a good pick for me on the guard, and I just looped around and he was done," Floyd said. "Just effort. I saw him trying to step up in the pocket and I took my chance and dove on him."

Floyd's score gave the Bears a 10-6 lead. It was their first defensive touchdown since Week 3 of 2014, snapping a 35-game drought.