INDIANAPOLIS — Here are the five most interesting things Bears general manager Ryan Pace said Tuesday — Non-Mitch Trubisky Edition:
A new RB?
Pace and Bears coach Matt Nagy have spent time this offseason trying to find ways to get special teams ace Cordarrelle Patterson more involved on offense. That includes putting him at running back more often — Patterson’s 7.62 yards per carry are the most since the NFL/AFL merger for players with at least 100 rushes.
“Obviously he’s an explosive, talented player,” Pace said of the receiver. “That can be at running back, receiver, returner. We’re going to make sure we’re getting the most out to that player — because he’s too talented not to.”
Surgery updates
The Bears plan on the four players who’ve had recent surgery back for the start of training camp at the latest — quarterback Mitch Trubisky (left shoulder), tight end Trey Burton (hip labrum), inside linebacker Roquan Smith (pectoral muscle) and receiver Anthony Miller (shoulder).
Burton was never healthy last year after having sports hernia surgery last spring.
“Our hope is that we finally kinda solved the issue and that there’s an upward trajectory now with him,” Pace said. “That’s our hope. We’ll see when the players get back in April.”
Pace sounded pleased with Smith’s season despite him missing three games due to injury and another for personal reasons.
“When he was healthy last year and playing right, you saw the player that we drafted and why we took him so high,” Pace said. “Our outlook on him is very optimistic.”
Joint practices and training camp
The Bears are working to schedule joint practices in Denver with the Broncos this August, culminating in a preseason game. Since being hired in 2015, Pace has taken his team on the road for joint practices against the Colts, Patriots and, two years ago, the Broncos.
“It’s a controlled environment against another team, it breaks up the monotony of camp and it allows us to evaluate another roster, too,” Pace said. “But I think the biggest thing is just you’re able to have physical practices but a little more controlled than a preseason game would be.”
Pace said that moving their training camp from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais to Halas Hall will benefit his players.
“Our facility, what we invested in that, it’s such a taxing time on our players’ bodies,” he said. “To be there with all those valuable resources is huge. We respect ONU and Bourbonnais and everything we had there and the history there, but I think coming back for us is really going to benefit our players just for a recovery standpoint and preparation standpoint.”
A compensatory pick!
The Bears anticipate getting a compensatory draft pick for the first time since 2009, Pace said. The pick — which is a fourth-rounder — is awarded via an NFL formula to teams that lose more than they gain in free agency the year before.
The Bears are also getting a conditional seventh-round pick from the Raiders and a sixth from the Jordan Howard trade. That gives the Bears eight picks: two second-rounders, a fourth, fifth, two sixths and two sevenths.
Who fills in?
After cutting receiver Taylor Gabriel and cornerback Prince Amukamara on Friday, the Bears plan to use both current players and free agents to fill in.
“There’s some guys there that we like,” Pace said.
Cornerback Kevin Toliver has started two games in two years, while Canadian Football League transplant Tre Roberson, whom the Bears signed last month, could compete for playing time.
“He’s an intriguing player,” Pace said. “Really good ball skills, really good anticipation and instincts. He has — I’m not comparing him to [cornerback Kyle] Fuller — but he has that style of play in how he can anticipate and jump routes.”
