Chicago Bears’ Injury Woes Continues As WR Cameron Meredith Gets Hurt


Unless you are a diehard Chicago Bears fan or are an avid fantasy football player, you would not know who Cameron Meredith is. Just because he is not a household name, his value to the Bears is more than most would realize.

Secretly, Cameron Meredith may be one of the most important players the Chicago Bears have on the offensive end. Meredith, the Bears’ top wide receiver is one of the few players that the Bears could least afford to lose. Unfortunately for Meredith and the Chicago Bears, the injury bug has struck him.

It looks as if the Chicago Bears will be without Cameron Meredith until training camp. According to CSN Chicago, the wideout is expected to miss the remainder of the Bears’ offseason workouts, including minicamp with a torn ligament in his thumb. It is an injury that might require surgery according to the Chicago Tribune’s Dan Wiederer. Missing Cameron Meredith for that time frame may not seem like a big deal, but there are a couple of reasons why it could potentially be huge.

The Chicago Bears have brought in three new quarterbacks. One of those passers just happens to be rookie Mitchell Trubisky. The other is Mike Glennon, whom the Bears have dubbed as their starter. An opportunity will be wasted with Meredith being out for the offseason workouts. The primary opportunity is building some overall continuity.

Creating chemistry is important between a quarterback and his wide receivers. Just from having general conversations a rapport can be built, off the football field at least. On the field is a different story.

Cameron Meredith getting hurt means that talks between he and the quarterbacks can be had. As for any on the field work, that will have to wait until training camp.

The biggest downside to Meredith’s injury is the chemistry that the receiver and Glennon will miss out on.

With chemistry, comes timing. A quarterback needs to know when and where to get the football to his pass-catchers. Meredith is penciled in as Glennon’s top target.

Does Meredith like for his passes to go directly to his hands, or between the numbers of his jersey?

Is Meredith better at catching the football near his shoulders, by his knees or near his face mask.

Is Cameron Meredith a go up and get type of wide receiver?

Those questions will not be answered immediately. These are the kinds of things that are revealed when players put in the work together. And for now, that developing chemistry will be stunted.

The other drawback to Cameron Meredith’s thumb injury is the timing. With Alshon Jeffery bolting the Bears (courtesy of CBS Sports) to sign a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bears are left with Meredith as the only proven wide receiver who knows the offense.

Getting the other receivers in line and comfortable is more important than most would realize. Even a veteran such as the recently signed (courtesy of the Inquisitr) Victor Cruz could use some tips on how to best be used in his route-running.

Another question mark is how would Cameron Meredith fare as the Chicago Bears’ top target. Every moment the Bears’ wideout can spend with the quarterbacks, the better he will become. The good news is that Meredith’s thumb injury does not keep him out of the classroom. Also, it would allow other receivers to step and make themselves accounted for.

Of the Chicago Bears’ receivers, none of them have more to prove than third-year man, Kevin White. But roster spot on the team is safe. Staying atop the Bears’ depth chart will be his challenge. It is former first round pick Kendall Wright who will have the spotlight on him. He has the most to gain by grasping the Chicago Bears’ offense and proving to be a valuable member of the team. It is still early so Wright and anyone else will still have some time.

[Featured Image by Joe Robbins/Getty Images]

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