The Chicago Bears will remain in the AFC South for Week 3 as they have their second-consecutive road game on the season, this time against the Indianapolis.
After a competitive game against the Houston Texans to open the 2024 season, the Colts took a step backward against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. The Colts' offense struggled to repeat the explosive performance that they had against the Texans, despite the defense being able to hold the Packers under 20 points.
DeForest Buckner is one of the anchors of the Colts' defense. Buckner suffered an ankle injury during the Colts' loss to the Packers on Sunday, and on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network cast doubt on Buckner's availability against the Bears.
Latest Colts' injury news is great for the Chicago Bears.
The prevailing takeaway from the Chicago Bears' first two games of the 2024 season is that the unit struggles against elite defensive linemen. While the Bears' offensive line struggled against the Tennessee Titans, there was a reason to believe there could be improvement against the Texans. Instead, the Bears' offensive line regressed to an extent that many are beginning to wonder if it will be the reason Caleb Williams' development will be stunted during his rookie season.
If Buckner is unable to play for the Colts on Sunday, that is a major break for the Bears. The goal is that Buckner's absence will open things up in the running game. Despite jumping out in free agency last March and signing D'Andre Swift, Swift has been a non-factor on offense for the Bears through the first two games. If the Bears can get Swift going in the running game, that would be an encouraging first step in unlocking things for Williams and the passing game.
