By PATRICK FINLEY
Two Bears were picked to the Pro Bowl team on Monday: outside linebacker Khalil Mack and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson.
They won’t play in an exhibition game this year — because of the coronavirus, the Pro Bowl was canceled for the first time since 1949 — but the all-star nods count toward contract bonuses.
Mack has been named to the Pro Bowl in six straight seasons, dating to his second year in the NFL. He has eight sacks, which is one-sack fewer than he totaled in 2019. He’s the eighth Bears linebacker to be named to at least three Pro Bowls as a member of the team, joining Mike Singletary (10); Dick Butkus, Bill George and Brian Urlacher (8); Lance Briggs (7); Joe Fortunato (5) and George Connor (4).
Patterson, who led NFC returners in fan votes, made the all-star team last season, his first with the Bears. He was a two-time Pro Bowl player with the Vikings. Patterson’s 104-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last month against the Vikings gave him eight on his career, putting him in a three-way tie for most all-time.
On Monday, Bears coach Matt Nagy called Patterson “day to day” with a knee injury suffered in the first half Sunday. The Bears limited him to kick return duties in the second half. The running back/returner played only six offensive snaps.
“I hope he’s OK,” Nagy said. “I just appreciate his toughness to battle that out.”
Inside linebacker Roquan Smith, who’s been the Bears’ most consistent defensive player all season, was the Bears’ most high-profile snub. His 128 tackles are fifth-most in the league.
Receiver Allen Robinson, who ranks third among NFC wide receivers with 90 catches and sixth with 1,110 receiving yards, did not make the all-star team. Neither did cornerback Kyle Fuller and safety Eddie Jackson, both of whom played in last year’s game.
The Pro Bowl is voted upon by fans, players and coaches, with each faction carrying the same amount of weight. The NFL will hold virtual events during Pro Bowl week centered around the Madden 21 video game.
Delay
The Bears took a delay of game on first-and-goal at the 1 in the second quarter Sunday. It appeared an official was standing between quarterback Mitch Trubisky and center Sam Mustipher when they tried to get the snap off.
Nagy, though, said a different issue caused the delay: when Rashaad Coward entered the game as an eligible tackle.
“What the umpire told me was that we reported — but I guess there was a miscommunication as to who we reported to,” Nagy said.
Clark cut
The Bears cut practice squad defensive lineman Tyler Clark.
