With the Chicago Bears’ training camp in Bourbonnais just around the corner, Grizzly Detail is taking a look at some of the new players donning jerseys this season, and in this edition we look at special teams and the backfield as we discuss Jordan Lynch’s future with the team.
The Details:
Lynch was arguably the greatest player in the history of the Northern Illinois program, and his senior season at the school was a Heisman-worthy one. He threw for 2892 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Huskies in 2013, and he rushed for 1920 more in 14 games. He ended up finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting for the campaign, and even though he wasn’t drafted in May’s NFL Draft, the Bears signed him as a free agent the day after the draft ended.
What the Bears Hope He Will Bring:
Listed as a running back on the Bears’ roster, Lynch isn’t expected to compete for carries with Matt Forte and Ka’Deem Carey, but he is more than likely going to be in the mix as a special teams player. Joe DeCamillis’ unit wasn’t all that good last year, and they could use more players who are of the caliber of athlete that Lynch is.
“I’ve never played special teams before. It’s different,” Lynch told the Chicago Sun-Times at rookie mini-camp in June. “But I’m open-minded. I’m willing to do anything, and I’m having fun in there. It’s one of the three phases of the game, and it’s very important.”
Blocking, tackling, and even potentially returning kicks could all be in Lynch’s future, but the Northern Illinois star seems to be taking everything in stride.
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Our Take:
We wouldn’t consider Lynch to be a shoe-in for the roster, but he has as good a chance as anyone to occupy one of the 53 spots. His abilities both as a runner and as a passer are intriguing, and the Bears could definitely use him in a variety of roles in Marc Trestman’s offense.
That being said, he’s going to have to earn his spot on the special teams unit to even have a chance to make the roster, but he does have the work ethic to do so. He will certainly be a player to watch in training camp as guys jockey for position, and if his skills match up with his willingness to do the dirty work, then he may leave Bourbonnais as a full-fledged member of the Bears.
