An Early Bye Week Is Usually a Headache

When the NFL puts on a spectacle for the schedule release every May, an early bye week is never what you want to see.

The Chicago Bears, who are 2-2 heading into Week 5, got the earliest bye possible on this year’s schedule. Atlanta, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh share in the same inconvenient fate.

It’s a double whammy on what’s already proving to be a tough schedule for the Bears. Despite finishing in last place a season ago, Chicago faces six games against formidable NFC North opponents, along with matchups against the Commanders, Ravens, 49ers, Eagles, and Bengals in the coming weeks — albeit Cincinnati looks far less intimidating with Jake Browning starting at quarterback in place of the injured Joe Burrow.

Early byes are usually more of a headache than a help. They often come when the team isn’t even ready for a break. The ideal bye lands midseason, giving coaches a chance to regroup and players a chance to refuel. 

But for Chicago, what was once a nuisance has actually turned into a lifeline.

Bye Week Provides Bears With Healing and Momentum

Injuries have plagued the team early in the season, and an extra week off provides a much-needed opportunity for recovery before a brutal stretch of challenging games. Key players such as linebacker T.J. Edwards, cornerback Kyler Gordon, tight end Colston Loveland, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, and right tackle Darnell Wright are all expected to return following the bye.

The Bears will next take the field against the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football, October 13.

Riding a mini winning streak, Chicago is back to 2-2 after a tumultuous start. Head coach Ben Johnson has the locker room buying into his vision after what safety Kevin Byard called a “culture win” against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Admittedly, though, it felt like the Bears were limping to victory in Vegas. The defense is banged up. Edwards and Gordon have yet to play this season, both sidelined by hamstring issues. Add top corner Jaylon Johnson, edge rusher Austin Booker, and veteran linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga on Injured Reserve… and Dennis Allen’s crew is depleted. Grady Jarrett didn’t play in Vegas either.

In this context, an early bye week becomes a blessing in disguise. It allows the Bears to continue gelling on offense, build momentum, and—most importantly—get healthy.

“We’re going to have a good feel after four games of who we are, what we do well, and whether we want to pivot a little bit in certain spots, whether that’s personnel-driven or schematic,” Johnson told the Chicago Sun-Times previewing the bye week.

Chicago could also benefit from the return of right tackle Darnell Wright. Wright has been out with an elbow injury, and as things currently stand, Ozzy Trapilo has been filling in at right tackle while Theo Benedet takes over starting left tackle duties.