Bears look to return players to compensate for loss of Andrew Billings at run defense

This seems unlikely, almost impossible.

The Bears defense must get back to basics to stop the run to erase the memory of last week’s embarrassing 213-yard rushing performance in a loss to Arizona. They need to do it now, especially since they won’t have quarterback Andrew Billings moving forward.

Even when Billings played, they had trouble stopping the streak just one season after becoming the dominant No. 1 team in the league stopping the streak. Now they need to stop the rushing attack of New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson on a one-two with backups at one spot on defense, and the loss of Billings will be felt.

“I mean, I think just going over it again, just seeing where we got hit, sure, it’s really on the run,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson said. “Really just a lot of uncharacteristic things, just trying to get some order in some tasks. Really just looking for ways to stop it.

“I think that’s where it all starts for us. “I think the first thing we need to do is get back to basics, get back to our assignments and just do them.”

Replacing Billings, who has a torn pectoral muscle and will go on IR at the end of the season, won’t be easy.

“Very big. I mean, sure, I say big, it takes up a lot of space in there,” Johnson said. “But I mean just an impact guy who really eliminates those A-gaps by getting the center back out with the ball. I mean, people take these things for granted.

“When he was there, he really influenced us. We fought with him, and now we’re kind of without him, so now it’s like we have to find a new identity.”

Looks like it’s Zach Pickens standing next to Gervon Dexter. They could alternate between the nose and three-technique roles, and could also alternate between Byron Cowart and Chris Williams more often.

Pickens was also injured, but has been healthy for two weeks. The 2023 third-round draft pick will have to prove himself.

“I just want to see that energy and determination and physicality from Zach,” Washington said. “Don’t get in your own way. Don’t think too much, don’t analyze things too much. Just attacking and he prepared for it and when we saw that it had a huge impact on our bottom line.

“And, you know, coming out of a long absence the way he did – I’m not making any excuses for him – but just trying to find that rhythm and NFL football on Sunday is a whole different thing than practicing it. This is different from walk-throughs. We’ll be much better this week. I’m looking forward to it and it will help us win.”

The return of Montez Sweat could also factor into this. Sweat continues to train and tries to overcome his own injury – a painful ankle lock. When they added Sweat last year, they improved slightly from the rest, from third to first in the league.

“He’s excellent offensively,” Washington said. “We are all well aware of the value he brings to our defence.

“We will be glad to have him back. His influence, his leadership and his talent will make a difference for us.”

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Bringing back quarterback Kyler Gordon could also help. Gordon and cornerback Haquan Brisker were big contributors in run support. Brisker remains sidelined, but Gordon emerges with a hamstring injury.

“He’s a different guy as far as the way he plays the game,” Johnson said of Gordon. “I mean he’s crafty, just seeing him out there you can tell he plays that position differently.

“Just like his blitz and everything he does. I’d say some of his runs are fine. I think he just plays the game differently than just guys at his position. And especially the fact that I can play with him for three years, having such experience. I mean, there are times when we can communicate and we don’t even have to talk or even look at each other. We just see things in much the same way. I mean, for me to just bring it back, I think that would be great. But overall he plays for the team – passing, running, all zones.”

Washington is ready to give its guys the benefit of the doubt right now. He felt like he saw them just having a hard day. At least that’s what you can say. It’s been a tough week since the Hail Mary loss.

“Sunday was a day that happens to the best of us,” Washington said. “The determination, the resilience, the mental toughness and the drive to get back on the football field and right our ship is what I have the most confidence in the world about in our group.”

Twitter: BearsOnSI