JUST IN: Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has name the perfect replacement for injured defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

DeMarcus Walker, younger players, and even Montez Sweat could replace injured defensive end Yannick Ngakoue on the field.

When DeMarcus Walker joined the Bears, he appeared to be a key starter.

He was useful in a rotation but lost his starting spot when the Bears acquired Montez Sweat. As a result of Yannick Ngakoue’s broken ankle, he will have to restart his career.

 

The Bears veteran is expected to be the player on the field with starters in place of Ngakoue, but it could also be a team effort to pick up some reps for their sacks leader.

“It’s not just about the guys making plays on the field,” said Bears defensive tackle Justin Jones. “These guys are over there talking even in practice and in our meeting room.” The ends are conversing and giving each other advice. Yannick and Tez (Montez Sweat) are all talking to the younger ends to make sure they understand what’s going on and what they’re seeing.

“I’m just ready to see them play.”

The return of second-year defensive end Dominique Robinson to the active roster will result in some rotational time for him.

“Dom’s been working really hard these last couple weeks,” she said. “He hasn’t been playing, but he’s been balling in practice.”

“So for him to go out there and show what he can do again, I’m excited for that opportunity for him.”

Ngakoue’s work with Robinson may have improved his appearance. He actually helped everyone by teaching them his favorite pass rush move.

 

“Yannick has a good edge presence and obviously he’s known for his cross chop, so that’s something that I think a lot of people studied him and I think added to our own repertoires,” Walker went on to say.

In terms of the starting spot, Walker should have no trouble filling it because he only lost it because Sweat was brought on board.

He didn’t mind losing his starting spot because he got plenty of reps anyway. According to Sportradar, Walker has played 65% of defensive plays despite being moved out of the starting lineup with Sweat’s arrival. By 76 plays, he has played the most in any season of his career.

“It’s just football,” Walker explained. “Something will happen. Many things may not go your way. That’s just the way it is. It’s all about how you react.

“It was something for me to sit back and learn, get more healthy, and now just gotta bring it and put it on the field.”

However, the qualities Ngakoue brought to the rush are not easily replaced.

One quality he possessed is clearly lacking among subs who would receive more reps.

“He brings a different type of speed and agility to the game,” Jones told ESPN. “Tez is the more powerful individual. He’s still quick off the line but extremely powerful. Yannick is the faster and more agile guy on the edge. That is something we are lacking.

“But the whole time, he’s been training the guys behind him as if they’re getting ready to start every week.” “I’m not concerned about the drop off.”

Aside from Robinson, more outside reps could come from rookie Gervon Dexter. Despite being a tackle, the Bears have already had him play end 54 times out of 317 reps. As a result, they could easily increase this.

Some of the loss can be made up by players better understanding and working within the scheme, which is the responsibility of coach Matt Eberflus. The rest will simply be a change in player reps. Sweat’s lack of plays against Detroit at the end of a 31-26 loss riled everyone up, so it’s possible that their main pass rusher will get more reps as well.

“We’re going to shake some things up and we’re going to get guys in certain spots, but I’m excited to see my guy (Robinson) work with his opportunity,” Jones was quoted as saying.