Bears coach Ben Johnson has had some criticisms of how hard his players are practicing and playing this season, but one player he has no concerns about is linebacker Noah Sewell.
“He’s the epitome of a linebacker,” Johnson said of Sewell. “He’s a little bit of a throwback in this era, too, really physical, not afraid to see ball get ball. He strikes with aggression, gets off blocks. He’ll shoot a gap if he sees it open. I think he’s been a guy that really from the spring time, to camp, I’ve been pleased with how he’s progressed.”
Johnson said that just in the eight months he’s been the Bears’ head coach, he has seen growth from Sewell.
“Noah’s really taken the right approach,” Johnson said. “The confidence has just grown steadily as well. He’s a guy that takes a lot of pride in what he does. He’s a guy that goes out there, plays hard, and plays the game the right way.”
Sewell comes from a football family, with three brothers who are professional football players: Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell, Saints linebacker Nephi Sewell and UFL linebacker Gabriel Sewell. They’re a family that raised boys who play the game the right way.
After defensive end Jadeveon Clowney signed with the Cowboys this week, he said he planned on making his debut for the team in this Sunday’s game against the Bears.
Clowney has been at practice all three days this week, but it looks like the Cowboys have a different plan for when Clowney will be making his first appearance of the season.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan, via Patrik Walker of the team’s website, that it will be a game-time call about playing Clowney this week. Jones added that “the lean is toward him not playing this week,” so something would have to change the team’s minds over the next 48 hours.
Clowney had 46 tackles and 5.5 sacks with the Panthers last season.
The Cowboys will have Trevon Diggs (illness), but they will play without their other starting corner, DaRon Bland (right foot).
Dallas ruled out Bland, who will miss his second consecutive game and his 12th since the start of the 2024 season.
Bland injured his right foot in the team’s Sept. 8 practice, which is the last time he has practiced.
Reddy Steward made his first career start on Sunday in his third career game and held his own. Kaiir Elam, who was acquired in a trade with the Bills this offseason, also started.
Starting left tackle Tyler Guyton (shoulder) and returner KaVontae Turpin (neck), like Diggs, do not have an injury designation.
Every Cowboys player except Bland had full participation in Friday’s practice.
The Bears may not have D’Andre Swift when they take on the Cowboys this weekend.
Chicago has listed the running back as questionable for the contest with his quad injury. He was limited in practice for all three days this week.
Through two weeks of the 2025 season, Swift has rushed for 116 yards with a touchdown and caught six passes for 18 yards.
Chicago has ruled out defensive back Jaylon Johnson (groin), defensive back Jaylon Jones (hamstring), defensive back Kyler Gordon (hamstring), offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie (elbow), and linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring). All five players were out of practice on Friday.
Linebacker D’Marco Jackson (hamstring) is questionable after he was limited in Friday’s practice.
Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett (knee) and receiver Jahdae Walker (ankle) are both off the injury report and set to play.
Two years ago, the Bears made a big investment in tight end Cole Kmet, signing him to a four-year, $50 million contract extension. This year, the Bears made another big investment in another tight end, drafting Colston Loveland 10th overall.
Through two games this season, that investment is not paying off.
Kmet has three catches for 60 yards through two weeks, while Loveland has two catches for 12 yards. With a combined five catches for 72 yards and no touchdowns from the tight end position, the Bears are near the bottom of the NFL in tight end production. It hasn’t helped that Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren, the player many thought the Bears should have drafted when they passed on him to take Loveland, has been one of the NFL’s best tight ends through two weeks.
It’s not that the Bears aren’t playing their tight ends; with Kmet getting 90 percent of the Bears’ offensive snaps and Loveland 55 percent, the Bears have actually played their tight ends more than most NFL teams. But they’re not getting the ball.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson says it’s on him to get the tight ends more involved in the offense.
“The fact that the tight ends aren’t involved more, that’s a reflection of me more than anyone else. So I’m on that,” Johnson said.
It’s one of many areas where Johnson’s offense has been a disappointment early in his first season in Chicago.
