Chicago Bears Are Reportedly Bringing Back A Familiar Face
The Chicago Bears feel their roster is ready for a playoff push. It has talent everywhere on offense and defense. However, it is also a young team. Several first or second-year players will be starting this season. In such cases, it might be a good idea to sprinkle some veteran leadership into the mix. Last year, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus accomplished this by signing ageless tight end Marcedes Lewis, who was 39 years old. He proved to be an excellent addition to the locker room, both for his outstanding leadership and his dependable blocking.
Some wondered after the team finished 7-10 whether he’d have any interest in returning or if he might have one more year in him. Fans finally got the answer. According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, the Bears and Lewis are closing in on a one-year deal to bring the tight end back for a 19th season. He will join Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett to form a diverse group at the position. It will also give rookie quarterback Caleb Williams a perfect sounding board for what to expect in his first year.
The Chicago Bears know what Lewis will bring.
His impact was felt last year. The offense got off to an atrocious start through the first month of the season. However, they managed to collect themselves and started playing much better in the second half of the year. Lewis was a big part of that. His steady blocking and calming presence on the sideline helped everybody to get on the same page. There is no reason to think he can’t do the same in 2024. Lewis allowed only one pressure in 64 pass-blocking snaps last year. That alone will help Williams’ development.
It is also fair to say he wouldn’t return to the Chicago Bears if he felt they weren’t going anywhere. Don’t forget he is still hunting for his first Super Bowl. This return signals that he believes the franchise is headed in the right direction. He may not be one of the primary reasons they win games, but his presence alone will help everybody in the building. It will be interesting to see if the HBO Hard Knocks cameras pick him up at some point during the series.