Team news: Chicago Bears | Page 12

Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus needed assistance to leave the field on Tuesday after suffering an injury to his leg, but it should not be long before he’s able to rejoin the team at practice.

Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Wednesday that Cephus avoided a major injury and is expected to miss a “short period of time” this summer.

Related players: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, D.J. Chark, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond

It's a potential tough break for Cephus who now faces what looks to be a crowded group of WRs in Detroit.

Lions 1st round pick Jameson Williams is not expected to be ready for training camp following ACL surgery following the National Championship game January 10.

"If Williams doesn’t practice at all in training camp, he could be a candidate to go on the physically unable to perform list, or open the season on injured reserve with a designation for return," writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. "Either designation would force him to miss at least four games, pushing his Lions debut to at least the Week 5 game in New England. The club is off the following week, so if he doesn’t play in New England, his debut might not occur until Oct. 23 in Dallas."

Related Players: Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds

While not a surprise, it is a sobering report. Look for Josh Reynolds, a midseason acquisition last season, to get the most looks in Williams' stead in three-wide sets.

Bears beat reporter Courtney Cronin gave a detailed look at the new Bears offense being installed, and a lot of it revolves around QB Justin Fields and moving. “I don't want to get too much in detail with it, but Justin’s on the move a lot, and I think he does well with that,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “That’s been exciting to see, and you see the types of throws he can make with his legs and on the run and off-schedule.”

Cronin also touched on Fields and Eberflus' relationship getting stronger and his ability to pick up the offense. “We have to be on the same page, always,” Getsy said. “That’s where I feel like he’s grown, is communicating with me so well now, things that he’s feelings, things that he sees and so that part of it has just been tremendous for a young guy to be able to do that.”

Second-year tackle Teven Jenkins also commented on how the offense looks from his point of view. “It is a big difference,” Jenkins said of the scheme. “It’s a lot faster pace, a lot more up-tempo, getting around, setting edges, all that stuff. How that affects you is you got to slim down a little bit more, get faster, speeding up in certain areas.”

The article also focuses on RB David Montgomery and his role in the new offense.

The Bears offense is one of the biggest question marks for fantasy players ahead of 2022 drafts. Even if the coaching staff is just blowing smoke towards reporters, what the offense is doing in OTAs is at least foundational for expectations this season.

The Chicago Bears are signing TE Ryan Griffin to a one-year deal.

Related Player: Cole Kmet

After once being the butt of the league with a gaggle of tight ends vying for playing time, Griffin is now in line to be Chicago's TE2 behind Cole Kmet. Griffin has been mildly successful when given a chance and could steal targets from Kmet. Both are to be drafted later or not at all depending on league size.

The Buffalo Bills have acquired QB Case Keenum from Cleveland for a late-round draft pick.

Keenum was moved to make room from Jacoby Brissett. Keenum has landed in one of the better back-up situations in the NFL.

The Detroit Lions are keeping WR Kalif Raymond after signing him to a two-year deal.

The little WR corps that could is back together in Detroit and now also boasts D.J. Chark. The Lions should add another wideout in free agency or the draft, making Raymond a waiver wire watch.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski told reporters Tuesday that QB Baker Mayfield will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. Case Keenum is likely to start.

The Browns season is over and there is no reason to delay Mayfield's surgery any longer. His offseason will be rehab and potentially picking a new place to play football.

Lions HC Dan Campbell told reporters Wednesday that RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder) will play Weeks 17 and 18. "We'll shut him down after Green Bay,” Campbell said.

Related Players: Jamaal Williams, Craig Reynolds

The Lions backfield situation is officially too murky to feel good about any of their options.

Josh Reynolds has tested positive for COVID.

Related players: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, Khadarel Hodge

Reynolds was running as the team's WR, and of course had a previous connection with QB Jared Goff dating back to the Rams. Raymond could move up to the WR2 with Reynolds out. St. Brown looks to have established itself as the team's WR1.

The Lions signed RB Craig Reynolds from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, per source. He's now signed with Detroit through 2022.

Related players: D'Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, Godwin Igwebuike, Jermar Jefferson

The tweet went on to say Reynolds has 37 carries for 195 yards with an 88.3 PFF grade over the last two weeks. He's no threat to Swift in town but it's worth it for the Lions to see what Reynolds can do with for the rest of the season heading into 2022. It looks like at the very least he's passed Igwebuike and Jefferson on the depth chart. He'll be tough to trust in the Lions offense but is worth adding for the depth at the very least.