Chicago Bears: Keeping the Indiana Leverage Act Alive

Summary

Podcast Summary: Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Chicago Bears: Keeping the Indiana Leverage Act Alive
Date: August 11, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Network: 312 Sports

---

Overview

This episode dives into the latest Chicago Bears headlines with a sharp focus on stadium drama, roster news, and risks facing the 2026 squad. Dan and Matt open with NFL breaking news, quickly shift into the ongoing “Indiana Leverage Act” storyline (the Bears’ stadium saga), dismantle the front office’s approach with cutting humor, analyze the impact of preseason injuries, and review each NFC North team’s most valuable non-QB player. The conversation balances data-driven insights with authentic Chicago sports passion, capturing the frustration and absurdity of following the Bears through organizational inertia and football unpredictability.

---

Key Discussions and Insights

Breaking NFL News: Kyler Murray Named Vikings Starter

Timestamps: 01:52–04:44

• The episode starts with Dan breaking Adam Schefter’s report that Kyler Murray is officially named the Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback.
  • Dan Bernstein (02:09): “No one’s going to see this coming. No one’s going to have thought that Kyler Murray have won the quarterback.”
• Both hosts treat it as a foregone conclusion masked as a phony competition.
  • Matt Abbatacola (02:23): “A knockdown drag out 15 round heavyweight competition finally has a victor.”
  • The hosts joke about Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell being left “a gibbering loon” after the QB search.
• Historical note: Murray marks Minnesota’s fourth starting QB in four years (Cousins, Darnold, McCarthy, now Murray).
• Josh Dobbs signs in Detroit as a backup, while the Bears’ main rivals juggle their own backup plans.

---

Bears Stadium Drama — Indiana “Leverage Act” and the Arlington Heights Stall

Timestamps: 05:28–17:25

• The main segment critiques the endless cycle of Bears stadium rumors, focusing on the team’s flirtation with Indiana (Hammond/Wolf Lake area) as leverage against Illinois politics.
• NBC 5’s Patrick Fazio interviews Bears chairman George McCaskey, revealing:
  • The Bears are doing “due diligence” on a second site in Hammond, Indiana.
  • Matt Abbatacola (05:43): “They’re going to have another press conference to announce what everybody knows.”
  • Nothing is moving in Arlington Heights while the Bears wait for Illinois legislature action.
• Dan and Matt skewer the repetitive, vague language (“due diligence,” “intent to intend”) and lack of actionable progress.
  • Dan Bernstein (12:54): “Go to Indiana or Arlington Heights or sell Arlington Heights and stay in Soldier Field. This shouldn’t be a five-year process.”
• The hosts highlight the local opposition in Indiana to subsidizing billionaire owners:
  • Matt Abbatacola (09:42): “They don’t want Bears money coming out of their pockets… They don’t want to subsidize billionaires either. But we’re doing it again.”
• The consensus: fans and media are caught in a never-ending, pointless cycle of stadium rumors designed to give the team leverage in negotiations – with zero concrete steps toward a new home.
• Dan, exasperated: “Like, how do you build a Stadium in 2026 with obstructed views?”
• The “Hammond hamster wheel” metaphor underscores the futility.

---

Preseason Injury Data and Its Impact

Timestamps: 17:25–27:02

• Matt provides deep research on NFL preseason injuries:
  • Teams average 1–3 season-ending injuries per preseason; the Bears’ loss of Dallas Flowers is noted.
  • Average of 15–25 players per team miss reps due to injury during preseason.
  • Post-2020, Achilles, ACL, and groin injuries make up a growing share.
• Most injury-prone positions (preseason):
  1. Wide receiver
  2. Running back
  3. Defensive back
  4. Linebacker
• Positions where a preseason injury hurts regular season the most:
  1. Quarterback
  2. Offensive tackle
  3. Edge rusher
  4. Wide receiver
     (Tight end is least impactful, though Matt thinks that’s changing)
• Bears’ recent history: Since 2021, their injury rates are league average or better; recent struggles attributed more to QB/roster/coaching than health.
  • Current concern: one DB group is nearing crisis, but the O-line and offensive skill positions are relatively intact.
• Even with possible injuries to key defenders like Kobe Bryant, Matt and Dan think the Bears’ revamped defense and strong additions give reason for hope.

---

NFC North: Non-QB MVPs Analysis

Timestamps: 28:55–34:14

• CBSSports.com article prompts a discussion about each NFC North team’s most valuable non-QB player:
  • Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson (WR)
    • “Notice that was written before the official announcement… He sets everything up for everyone else.” (31:05)
  • Green Bay Packers: Micah Parsons (Edge)
    • Matt’s guess that “Parsons is going to miss a non-insignificant portion of the season” is noted, but his impact is unquestioned.
  • Detroit Lions: Penei Sewell (OT)
    • “He's one of the best tackles in football for years now. He’ll be playing a more valuable role on Goff’s blind side.” (32:22)
  • Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland (TE)
    • “Loveland showed during his rookie season he was worth the number 10 pick… he is the North Star of that offense, the matchup problem.” (33:41)

---

Around the League: Stadium Construction Fiasco in Buffalo

Timestamps: 34:53–40:45

• Dan and Matt report on the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium disaster: thousands of seats have obstructed views, with fans unable to see as much as a third of the field from expensive PSL seats:
  • Dan Bernstein (36:59): “The one there’s like a corner seat where there’s a wall and like maybe 30% of the end zone is blocked off.”
  • The hosts lampoon the irony that this isn’t happening to the Bears, who are famous for stadium frustrations.
  • Matt Abbatacola (37:55): “You got to get back to this architect… Why isn’t that area being better used architecturally?”
• The universal conclusion:
  • Best seat for a football game is “my couch.”
  • This reinforces fan cynicism about the modern stadium experience.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

On Stadium Talk:

• Dan Bernstein (12:54):
  “Go to Indiana or Arlington Heights or sell Arlington Heights and stay in Soldier Field. This shouldn’t be like this process. This shouldn’t be over five years now of owning that land… Just make a decision, George.”
• Matt Abbatacola (12:25):
  “Another press conference to announce more intent or intent to intend—it’s all weasel words.”

On Injuries:

• Matt Abbatacola (18:23):
  “On average, NFL teams experience 15 to 25 injured players per team in a typical preseason.”
• Dan Bernstein (20:44):
  “Quarterback’s number one. Yes. So preseason injuries that have the most impact on regular season. Quarterback is number one…”

On Non-QB MVPs:

• Matt Abbatacola (33:41):
  "He is the North Star of that offense [Colston Loveland]… He is the matchup problem. The way he decides a mismatch is going to trickle down to everybody else."

On Stadium Fiascos:

• Dan Bernstein (39:33):
  “Congratulations to the Buffalo Bills for bearsing this one.”
• Matt Abbatacola (40:37):
  “What’s the best seat to watch a football game? My couch.”

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start–End | |--------------------------------------|:--------------:| | Kyler Murray to Vikings | 01:52–04:44 | | Bears’ stadium saga | 05:28–17:25 | | Preseason injury analytics | 17:25–27:02 | | NFC North non-QB MVPs | 28:55–34:14 | | Buffalo Bills stadium disaster | 34:53–40:45 |

---

Summary

Dan and Matt blend sharp critique, humor, and detailed analysis to dissect the Bears’ front office indecision, debunk stadium PR spin, highlight preseason roster risks, and preview what really matters in the NFC North. Their key message: until the Bears’ leadership makes an actual decision—about stadiums, rosters, or priorities—it’s more of the same. The episode is a must-listen for fans tired of “weasel words” and hungry for both candor and concrete action.

Transcript

[Sleep Number Announcer]

Sleep Number's new collections are designed to adapt to the changing nature of your life and your sleep needs. Whether it's the personalized comfort of the new Comfort Mode mattress, the targeted pressure relief of the comfort Next mattress or the climate collection that actively cools or warms to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

[Sleep Number Sales Promoter]

And now get early access to our biggest sale of the year. Save 25% on the new Comfort Next luxe for a limited time only at a Sleep Number Store or sleepnumber.com

[Sleep Number Announcer]

Sleep Number's new collections are designed to adapt to the changing nature of your life and your sleep needs. Whether it's the personalized comfort of the new Comfort Mode mattress, the targeted pressure relief of the Comfort Next mattress or the Climate collection that actively cools or warms to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

[Sleep Number Sales Promoter]

And now get early access to our biggest sale of the year. Save 25% on the new Comfort Next Luxe for a limited time only at a Sleep number store or sleepnumber.com

[Sleep Number Announcer]

I

[Dan Bernstein]

mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking Forward progress. Come on. Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.

[Matt Abeticola]

Forward progress is brought to you by Giordano's Back to school means back too busy between practices, home and everything in between. Give yourself a break with Giordano's. Treat the kids and yourself to Chicago Style Pizza. Everyone can agree on and make tonight a giordano's night@giordano's.com or visit your local Giordano's restaurant. Today Giordano's the one for Chicago Style Pizza. I'm told we have breaking news on Forward Progress. Dan.

[Dan Bernstein]

We do have breaking news and this has just been sent out from Adam Schefter. ESPN sources can confirm the Minnesota Vikings have named Kyler Murray their starting quarterback.

[Matt Abeticola]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

A shocker.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Dude, that's why I was like we need to get started. We need to get this out there. No one's going to see this coming. No one's going to have thought that Kyler Murray have won the quarterback.

[Commercial Voice]

Wow.

[Dan Bernstein]

That. That must have been a competition that was set up in Minnesota.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's over already. A knockdown drag out 15 round heavyweight competition finally has a victor decl.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wow.

[Matt Abeticola]

Boy, that.

[Dan Bernstein]

What are we, eight days in the training camp.

[Matt Abeticola]

Bruising, bruising battle.

[Dan Bernstein]

They said. You know what? We've seen enough. Kyler Murray is the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.

[Matt Abeticola]

You know what my hope is that Kevin o' Connell can finally have that weight lifted that maybe now he can start talking in complete sentences again.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm really disappointed.

[Matt Abeticola]

You thought J.J. was it.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I'm disappointed they named him already. I needed. I needed more Koc.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, that. That's a word that. Now it's official. Even though the moment they agreed to sign Kyler Murray, it was clear that Kyler Murray was the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. And they have gone through a needless and obvious charade that served no apparent purpose. And now they have named Kyler Murray their presumptive starting quarterback. Their starting quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. And the only thing they've accomplished through this quarterback competition was scrambling the brain of a once intelligent offensive mind and Kevin o'. Connell. That's all they did.

[Matt Abeticola]

They've turned a brilliant coach into a gibbering loon.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. I mean, next time he walks out in front of the media, he's going to have, like, a metal colander on his head. You know, you need to block out all the. All the other bad cosmic rays. My goodness gracious. So I'm so disappointed that that's going to be done then.

[Matt Abeticola]

Ah, well, you never know. All it takes is. Is one little rolled ankle. That's all it takes. One bad step in a gopher hole, and the next thing you know, the competition is back on.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, I hope so. So, yeah, that's been one of the already known. Even. Even my kids were like, why are they talking like Kyler Murray is not the starting quarterback there? Dad? I'm like, I don't know, pal. I don't know what to tell you, but, I mean, everyone knew it. Everyone knew it except the Minnesota Vikings that Kyler Murray was going to be the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, which now, if I'm not mistaken, would be the fourth starting quarterback in the last four years.

[Matt Abeticola]

Wow.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Cousins, Darnold McCarthy, now Murray.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep, that's right. Well, look, if the guy is Mr. Quarterback Whisperer, he just likes whispering to different people. I guess they're just going to make him prove it. Just keep. Keep whispering. And what'd you say Josh Dobbs was going to sign?

[Commercial Voice]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Who was.

[Matt Abeticola]

Who's going to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Josh. Joshua Dobbs signed in Detroit to replace Teddy Bridgewater, who finally said, hey, it's time. I'm officially. I'm officially done this time. Okay, so he's out. So Josh Dobbs is in Detroit to back up Jared Goff. So we're one play away from Josh Dobbs being the quarterback, his 10th team in 12 years or 12th team in 10 years, and then behind Dobbs in that quarterback room is Luke Altmire from Illinois.

[Sleep Number Sales Promoter]

Cool.

[Matt Abeticola]

Awesome. I want to get to the news of the day that is indeed, I think the most significant and potentially hilarious. We know that the Bears had a practice at Stevenson High School yesterday.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt Abeticola]

And it was a pep rally also. I did think it was hilarious. Did you see that? The rookies had to take their shirts off and goose the crowd. They had to run around and hype the crowd and get everybody. Go. I didn't see that. Yeah, all shirtless. Okay, now that's, that's good. That's funny. Make the rookies do that. Harmless fun. And they got into it. You know, Logan Jones was really selling it so they didn't let him get out of there with some sort of, of half assed performance in that assignment. But as that was going on, credit to Patrick Fazio of NBC 5, who spoke with the chairman of the board, George McCaskey and basically said, what's going on with the stadium? Here's what he said. Ready. In the coming days, George McCaskey says the team will say more about their plans to build in Indiana. He tells Patrick Fazio, quote, we're doing some due diligence on a second site in Hammond. When I asked him if there's anything new at the Arlington Heights site, he said no. Couple things. One, of course there's nothing new at that site. There's nothing, nothing's going to happen until something happens in the Illinois Legislature. Now this is the week of the Illinois State Fair. I don't know anything about it, but apparently Springfield and Illinois, they get consumed in the state fair and all of the, there's like a cow made of butter. But okay, it's apparently a big deal. Yeah, sounds fun. So this is the week where you, this was supposed to be special session week, which they never got because they haven't handled the politics properly and they haven't handled the actual lawmaking properly either. So we knew there was a second site. We were told already about a second site. If they're, are they going to have another press conference to announce what everybody knows? This goes back two months. This goes back to the first week of June when they've never specified where they wanted to build. And then they said, oh, there's, there are these drilling apparatuses that have been placed. Oh, there's soil testing at the site next to the interstate. It's two sites divided by the interstate. And one, there's all sorts of, of federal laws that prevent you from building there because of super Fund issues and restorations. And one site's too small, but it's okay that the interstate runs through it, but everything will be fine. And we were told around the same time that there was a second site.

[Dan Bernstein]

We were told there were multiple sites.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, they said there's a second site near Wolf Lake, but they didn't offer specific details. So bottom line is, don't fall for the Okie doke again. Don't be stupid again. They're going to have another press conference or another availability. And Kevin Warrens, they were very serious. Now we were focused. Now we're extra focused. It's all going to be weasel words. It's all going to be these weasel words. They're not just going to say, we got shovels, we got an agreement, they've made the offer. Here we go, we're building, that's it. And the same thing is going to happen. They're going to talk about the second site and then people are going to ask the basic easy questions about the viability of the second site. And we're going to find out why they can't build there. And we're going to find out what it's going to cost to actually build there and who's going to have to pay all the taxes in these counties. All these new taxes in Indiana that they're like, oh, yeah, we weren't going to talk about that because that's been happening even at the first site.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. And people in Indiana are speaking out. They don't want to pay taxes to support a bear stadium.

[Matt Abeticola]

They don't want the Bears money coming out of their pockets either. They don't. They don't want to subsidize billionaires either. But we're doing it again. They just don't fall for it. This. They can keep doing it as many times as they want and say, no, we're our play, our full focus as this, our full. We're definitely moving. Oh, now. Now we have a second site. I don't care how many damn sites you have, because the same thing's going to happen. Have you. Do you have a building permit? Do you own the land? Who owns the land? How are you going to get the land? What is that going to cost? What taxpayers and where are going to pay for you to get the land to take this to then eventually get the permits to the soil and put the shovels in the ground? Like, stop doing this. Build or don't build.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right? Here's the thing. When asked about Arlington Heights, he said no. Anything new with Arlington Heights?

[Matt Abeticola]

No, no, of course not.

[Dan Bernstein]

Follow up question, George, have you presented to the Illinois legislator any plan of what it is that you need and or want?

[Matt Abeticola]

Are you doing the work?

[Dan Bernstein]

Anything?

[Matt Abeticola]

Are you doing the work? Are you doing the work?

[Dan Bernstein]

The ball has been in your court for Illinois. Have you done the work? Yes or no? I would love to hear. Yes, we have. We submitted X, Y and Z. Oh, interesting.

[Matt Abeticola]

Why?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, we haven't. No, we haven't done anything. Well, then why, George? Why?

[Matt Abeticola]

And then what are you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why do you own the land? You're paying taxes on the last five years.

[Matt Abeticola]

If that's the case, what do you plan to do with the land?

[Dan Bernstein]

Listen, if he says the next few days they'll come out with more. Great. Honestly, Dan, I hope they come out and say, this is our spot. We've made a deal.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, building.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're building here in Hammond or wherever the fuck it is.

[Matt Abeticola]

They said they made a deal. They said they made a deal. And of course they didn't. It was all bullshit. We're like, oh, Indiana, India. And then the celebrations. We're welcoming the bears to India. There's still people who think that they've made a deal with Indiana, right? There's still people who think that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, I want the next announcement to be is that we are moving here. This is the site. We are buying this land. We're in the process of purchasing this land right now and we plan to start building before the end of the summer. Before, you know, next summer. Like I, I want to hear definitives or, or I don't want to hear. We're continuing to look into it and

[Matt Abeticola]

research due diligence and all that. We're long past that, like off already with it, man. And I don't, I don't want to hear the. Either you're buying it or Indiana saying

[Dan Bernstein]

they're buying it and giving it to you.

[Matt Abeticola]

The state of Indiana is saying we're taking this land. We're going to, we're going to take this from the current owners. We're going to take it and give it to you. And this, this different toxic parcel of land is where you can build your stadium. Like, what are we even doing anymore?

[Dan Bernstein]

Right? Just do whatever.

[Matt Abeticola]

Another press conference to announce more intent or intent to intend. It's all weasel words.

[Dan Bernstein]

Our focus.

[Matt Abeticola]

The board has voted. Now what? Now the executive committee of the board has voted. The double top secret focus group of the, the committee in charge of the intense focus has declared extra focus, intensity and due diligence. It's all Weasel words.

[Dan Bernstein]

Listen, just go to Indiana or go to Arlington Heights or sell Arlington Heights and stay in Soldier Field. This shouldn't be like this process. This shouldn't be over five years now of owning that land in Arlington.

[Matt Abeticola]

Pooch. They screwed the pooch. And all 14 people that went to see Kevin Warren speak the other day can understand exactly why this thing got screwed over, why it's been completely botched, bungled. And that's why they're stuck here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, I don't care. Move to Indiana, Move to Arlington Heights. Stay in Soldier Field. Build a new spot, downtown Chicago on the lakefront. Move to Wisconsin. Move to fucking California. I don't care. Make a decision and do something, George. Do something. Enough of this already. Oh, we have a second site. We're doing due diligence right now. Come on, man.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, we. What happened to the due diligence you did before on the second site that was reported two months ago? Well, this is. This is more. This is doer diligence.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, have you done the work in Illinois?

[Matt Abeticola]

Do you have building permits?

[Dan Bernstein]

And then what happens if this spot in Indiana is the spot you want? Will you do the work there? Like, you need to do work? Bears, right? Like, at some point you're gonna have to actually be active in doing things to get your own stadium built. Like, do you think the Buffalo Bill sat there and said, we'd love a new stadium, and all of a sudden fucking one fell from the sky? Or the Chargers years ago said, we want to. Or the Rams, I mean, want a new stadium. And one fell from the sky.

[Matt Abeticola]

Rams built it themselves that the Titans

[Dan Bernstein]

wanted a new stadium. And then all of a sudden, one fell, the heavens opened up and a fucking stadium fell down from the sky and landed where you wanted it. They had to do the work. You're not doing the work. You're umpiring games, refereeing games. Kevin Warren's doing speeches on his leadership abilities. I mean, like, what the fuck, man? Do the work. You don't have the money, period. That's the problem.

[Matt Abeticola]

And this is. This is part of how they think they'll get the money.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're a millionaire playing a billionaire's game, and it's getting tiresome.

[Matt Abeticola]

So whenever that press conference comes, just take good notes, be aware of the weasel words, and know that this concept of a second site was announced more than two months ago, was reported, I should say more than two months ago, saying, oh, well, it's. That's that toxic one where you're not allowed to build. They would say, well, we have a different one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Well, good job NBC and you know, getting that, that question and answer from

[Matt Abeticola]

George and it's not news.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not news. But listen, unless all, all I can hope for when he says Kevin and I will have more in the, in the next few days, in the coming days. Great. I, I hope, I hope. Friday, there's an announcement from the Bears. We're buying this land in Indiana or Indiana is giving us this land. We have land we're going to start the process to build in Indiana. I hope that's the message on Friday or whenever it is when he says the next coming days, whatever, just make, make a decision and go somewhere or blow it all up and stay in Soldier Field. Seriously, dude, Seriously. Or sell the team, which is never going to happen. But I mean this, this dog and pony show stuff is just. It's so old and tiresome.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's exactly what it is. It just. It's another round of dog and pony show. Another round of. They'll say where the stadium is. Then reporters ask questions. Reporters, all the outlets will send people to the area, talk to the people who actually own the businesses. We will then go back and look at governmental records and see exactly what's allowed to be done and what was said during all of the clean operations of all this toxic area. And then we're going to find out, oh yeah, it's going to be a much heavier lift and I'm an incredibly expensive for Indiana to buy the land or expensive for the Bears to get the land. Have they done the work? No. Are they going to do the work? They won't say. And this keeps. It's the same thing over and over again. That leads nowhere. We are on a hamster wheel. We are on a Hammond hamster wheel and that's all it is. So you can stay on it and go nowhere and get your exercise or you can get off of it and. And we can get on with the business of football if the Bears have enough players.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, so let's talk injuries with the Bears. I did a little bit of research last night on some injuries within the NFL looking at preseason, the impact on regular season. So season ending injuries, Dan, Generally Speaking, teams have one to three per preseason.

[Matt Abeticola]

One to three season ending. Of the 90 people in camp.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Of the full total of the full

[Dan Bernstein]

number of people in camp, these are preseason numbers. Generally speaking, teams have one to three season ending injuries that occur in preseason. For the Bears so far this year, they're one. They've had so Far is Dallas Flowers. Right. He's out. He's out for the year. Correct.

[Matt Abeticola]

With his injury, I believe that's what it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's what it is. So let's say he's the one. But one to three per team. Now, some years it can be much worse. Obviously. On average, NFL teams experience 15 to 25 injured players per team in a typical preseason.

[Matt Abeticola]

15 to 25.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, so 15 to 25. And this is where it's of note. Guys miss, miss reps. Guys come off the field where teams mention so and so. X, Y and Z had this injury. X, Y and Z had this injury. The average is 15 to 25 injured players per preseason.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Since 2020, Dan, the most common injuries and these have increased are Achilles injuries, groin injuries and ACL injuries. For some reason, since 2020, those have been the most common injuries and increasing number of injuries and the types. Do you know by position? And there's four here, the top four who are the most injured positions in preseason.

[Matt Abeticola]

Now, my guess would be we could look at relative athletic score. But the twitchiest athletes are the most likely to suffer the groin, the strains. See, the ACL stuff gives me pause because ACL has nothing to do. I think being a worse athlete, you could actually have an acl.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, you're actually. No, your. Your initial instinct is I would, I

[Matt Abeticola]

would say defensive backs spot on.

[Dan Bernstein]

So here's the most injured.

[Matt Abeticola]

I would say, I would say defensive backs first, wide receivers and linebackers second. And then maybe what? Defensive ends and running backs.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Number one is wide receiver.

[Matt Abeticola]

Ah, okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Number two is running back. Number three is defensive back. And number four is linebacker. So smart instincts there. Okay, the most common injuries there, hamstring, groin, calf and ankle. But often your most injured positions, wide receiver, running back, defensive back, linebacker. Okay, of all the positions, which preseason injury impacts the regular season the most?

[Matt Abeticola]

Of all positions of all position, which position is affected the most?

[Dan Bernstein]

Which position impacts the regular season the most with a preseason injury?

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, now that would think of most

[Dan Bernstein]

most valuable positions on down.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, obviously if you lose your quarterback, that can be your season.

[Dan Bernstein]

Quarterback's number one. Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

So that's obviously the one with the most outsized impact.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. So preseason injuries that have the most impact on regular season. Okay, Quarterback is number one.

[Matt Abeticola]

How about edge rusher.

[Dan Bernstein]

Edge rusher. Number three.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. Then is it

[Dan Bernstein]

number two is offensive tackle.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. Tackle right. Four.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wide receiver. Five. Cornerback six defensive tackle. Seven running back. Eight is linebacker. Nine safety last is tight end.

[Matt Abeticola]

See, that's going to change.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why do you Think that because of

[Matt Abeticola]

what the tight end is starting to mean now and how significantly the tight end is a game planning crux is the middle of a game plan rather than just the throw in.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like if Brock Bowers were to go down. That's just saying, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, no, it makes sense. The 2025 Chicago Bears, they missed 202 man games were missed 202. Okay. Which was just about league average. They right in the middle. Arizona suffered 303 games lost. Detroit suffered 274 games lost. Which were the the two most the Bears Greater issues just over the last last five seasons really didn't have anything to do with injury, but really had to do with quarterback, the roster construction, coaching and offensive line development. That's just my opinion. I think they've answered all those things. Quarterback, roster construction, coaching, of course, and offensive line development. Not necessarily development with the Bears, but what they constructed in their offensive line and signing free agents having one of the best offensive lines. Last year I looked at Bears injuries. As far as league average. 2021, they were above the league average in the number of man games missed. In 2022, they were slightly above average 23, 24 and 25, they were pretty much average. So over the last five seasons, injuries really have not been detrimental to the Bears as far as impacting their outcomes and performances. Now here's why it's a concern and final thing for this year, they have the most concern in the NFC north as far as preseason injuries are concerned. By far, Lions are second, Green Bay is third and Minnesota virtually has zero significant injuries to this date. And the reason why it's even more detrimental for the Bears is because one, basically one position group has been completely wiped out.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, and we have, we've. We've bombarded you with data in that regard.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

So that is, it's clear what that is. If you want to listen back to what we've done with the, the Dennis Allen history on DBU and all of that information that is now out there. And I hope that there are questions being asked about what the Bears knew and when they knew it. In that regard, it's all there for you in, in very, very fine detail.

[Dan Bernstein]

So it was interesting to see like as far as preseason injuries that impact the regular season, to see safety was so low on the list. It was just, just above tight end.

[Matt Abeticola]

I, you know, I, I would think also that. But to see that doesn't surprise me because safety is more of a replaceable position than others. It's more fungible.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Than, than other positions are box safety and, and, and, you know, interior line.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now, you certainly didn't want to lose him, but does it make you feel any better about the loss of Kobe Bryant if he misses, you know, three, four, five regular season games?

[Matt Abeticola]

I mean, at no point did I lose sight of the fact that he's a safety.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, okay, but no, that's good. That's good. And then also too, it also shows that you look at what happened last year in the defensive backfield and the players that were there. You had Kyler Gordon played three games, Jalen Johnson wasn't himself and you had what, the most interceptions in the league. Right. With a lack of pressure on the quarterback. One of the worst teams in pressure in the quarterback. All that luck of getting those balls that bounced their way.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, the back end stuff bailed you out.

[Dan Bernstein]

The back, back end stuff bails you out. And the back end stuff, the way it was constructed as well, you knew as an organization, you said we can part with not one of these guys. All of them,

[Matt Abeticola]

with Nishan Wright, with

[Dan Bernstein]

Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, they understood and said, yeah, it wasn't because these guys are elite level above the rest of the league. There was a lot of luck that went our way.

[Matt Abeticola]

Luck and you hope some, some percentage of sustainable concentration and awareness.

[Dan Bernstein]

So here's where I'm excited about. I'm excited about Tyreek Stevenson. Still there. He's been there. He has been there. I mean, not, not a great piece, not a terrible piece, but just solid. Right. But he had some, a few good games as far as, you know, last year's concern too. Jalen Johnson seems to be improved on the mend, headed in the right direction, trending properly for this year. You added Dylan Fineman. If you did what you did last year with a lack of defensive pressure from the front on the quarterback. And if you're, if you look at your group overall, even with losing Kobe Bryant for a couple regular season games, who knows how long that is. I still feel pretty positive in my outlook on how they're. The defensive backfield can perform with the additions of Malik Muhammad with a healthy Jalen Johnson, you know, we don't know how long Cam Lewis. Cam Lewis was part of. He. He was participating in the walkthrough yesterday. So it's not like he can't move and be mobile.

[Matt Abeticola]

And we have no idea how good he is.

[Dan Bernstein]

We have no idea how good he. Right. So overall, just in the last 24 hours, it's gone from like, this is going to be, you know, significant to this team to. Yeah, it's something they can overcome. Only because your offense, with the exception of what's going on with the left tackle right now, is completely intact and you're going to score a ton of points.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, well, you're, you're tempting fate there, so.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, why do you say that?

[Matt Abeticola]

Because it's only a matter of time. I mean, Luther Burden, we know, is already hurt and there will be more.

[Dan Bernstein]

There will be more.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's how football rolls, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

I know. And Xavian Thomas had something that's right.

[Matt Abeticola]

He's hurt too. They won't tell us how hurt he is.

[Dan Bernstein]

But, you know, you have your tight ends, you have Roma Dunes A, you have other guys that, that can have opportunities to step up. Jade Walker apparently, you know, doing his thing and who knows how he can step up and how last year's little successes can lead to more confidence for him this year and how he's improved, we just don't know. So, yeah, while, while it's not ideal, it's something obviously every team goes through that we've talked about. There's always going to be a number of injuries and I just think if we can walk out of, out of preseason, out of training camp and limit the number of season ending injuries and right now it sits at Dallas Flowers. Now, it's not ideal to have injuries in preseason because obviously preseason injuries still impact your regular season by losing reps, losing opportunities to build continuity with teammates, not having that opportunity to build relationships even stronger and better with the quarterback if you're an offensive player. So yeah, it might take regular season games to ramp up for some guys who lose out during preseason, but it's not the end of the world as long as it's not a season ending injury in preseason.

[Commercial Voice]

Book a loved by guest property with VRBO and you get a top rated vacation rental that's loved for all the right reasons like being in a great location or having great amenities.

[Sleep Number Announcer]

Oh, I love my VRBO for the view.

[Commercial Voice]

Good reason.

[Sleep Number Announcer]

Ooh, and the sauna.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Sweet.

[Commercial Voice]

Another good reason.

[Sleep Number Announcer]

And that it's one of those good saunas with the hot rock thing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ugh.

[Sleep Number Announcer]

Love a good hot rock thing. Fancy.

[Commercial Voice]

That's also a reason. Don't worry about surprises. Book a VRBO you'll love with the Love by Guest filter.

[Matt Abeticola]

If you know you've backpacks are packed, schedules are filling up, and somehow everyone's hungry at the exact same time. Yes, it's back to school season. So when you need an easy Win. Just make it a Giordano's night. See. Then you can treat the kids and yourself to the Chicago style pizza everyone loves. You want some crispy thin crust. You want tavern style. You want big thick supreme stuffed. Whether you're celebrating the first day back or just surviving that first week, dine in, pick up or order delivery. Visit Giordano's.com or visit your local Giordano's restaurant today. With this in mind, I found this story from CBSSports.com and they said even in a modern NFL that is changing quarterback play is the single biggest determining factor in team success. For the most part, teams will go as far as their quarterback can take them and no further than that. That's the way the league works. The quarterback is clearly the most valuable player on each team no matter how you determine value. So who then is each team's non quarterback mvp? They've done the NFC today. Who. Who are the non quarterback MVPs? They do this for each team and there is an argument made. So I just want to do the NFC north. So I want to see if we can if you can think here about who of outside the quarterback. And now that we have a starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. That was the breaking news. Yes, now that we know it's Kyler Murray. So who let's start with the Minnesota Vikings.

[Dan Bernstein]

Then who is what are the parameters again?

[Matt Abeticola]

The most valuable non quarterback on the team.

[Dan Bernstein]

It is okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Who will play a significant role in determining the team's ultimate success during a given season?

[Dan Bernstein]

Minnesota Vikings Justin Jefferson.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct. Jefferson is coming off the worst year of his career having averaged only 61.6 receiving yards after topping 87.5 in each of his first five NFL seasons. That was with J.J. mcCarthy at quarterback though with Kyler Murray under center he he should be back to his usual self. Notice that was written before the official announcement was yes. Breaking news today says he dominates when the ball is thrown his way. He opens things up for everyone else. Back to proving he's a top three wide out this season. Okay now Packers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Packers. I mean initially my I mean my brain immediately goes to Micah Parsons, but I don't know if they would do that with the injury.

[Matt Abeticola]

You're two for two. Parsons is going to miss a non insignificant portion of the season. But so good and so key to what the packers are going to want to do. Defensively we can't help but pick him here. There are very few pass rushers who can do what he does when he's at his best. He's going to going to be the best player on this team by a significant margin if he returns to the field at anything close to his best. Detroit Lions well, the guy they just paid, Jamir Gibbs. No, you got one wrong. It is.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait, wait, wait, wait wait wait. I'm on Ross St. Brown.

[Matt Abeticola]

Nope.

[Dan Bernstein]

Really?

[Matt Abeticola]

It's Penne Sewell. He has been one of the best tackles in football for years now he'll be playing an even more valuable role on Jared Goff's blind side. How he fares in his transition from right to left will go a long way toward determining how this new look line fares. And lastly, who is the non quarterback MVP of the Bears?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I mean if they're picking, they can't pick Joe Tuni.

[Matt Abeticola]

Just think about if, if you, this is back to your discussion. I don't want to make this negative, but back to everything we just spent the last 10 minutes talking about. If you heard this person is out for the year, it would absolutely alter their win total immediately. Colson Loveland, Bang. Yeah, Loveland showed during his rookie season he was well worth the number 10 pick. He finished the year with 58 catches or 713 yards and six touchdowns. Exploding down the stretch in the playoffs with DJ Moore no longer in town, he figures to be the focus of the passing attack for Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams has the skill set to be a star at the position. I would argue he was a star last year.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, he was.

[Matt Abeticola]

I and anything other than this answer would have been flatly wrong. And that's why it's one of the reasons I said, you know, when I mentioned Brock Bowers, I didn't want to spoil this segment because I was just like, you know, there are, he is it, he's, he's the matchup problem. He, he is the, the, the, the, the North Star of that offense where the way he decides a mismatch is going to trickle down to everybody else.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's interesting. That's interesting piece. The Penny Sewell thing. That's, that still gets, still gets me a little bit.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because I think, I mean would you, if you're a Lions fan, you said, all right, you're going to lose Pene Sewell for the year or you're going to lose Jameer Gibbs for the, for the year. What's going to get you more?

[Matt Abeticola]

Probably the latter. And the reason, the reason I probably wouldn't have done this is I don't know how valuable he is as a left tackle.

[Dan Bernstein]

You don't know yet, right? I mean you're assuming based and I'm sure he's going to. He's going to be great, but you just don't know.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's. He might, he might not be great. He might be fine. I don't think he's going to be bad, but it's a different position, so we'll see.

[Dan Bernstein]

I have one small NFL note I wanted to mention because I mentioned this guy during draft time and I loved him out of Arizona State. The offensive tackle, Max Honorshore. Yes, he has.

[Carvana Advertiser]

He's.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's actually in the running in Steelers camp to be the starting right tackle.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Cool.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. So I'm keeping an eye on that, hoping that, that, that works out.

[Matt Abeticola]

How about my guy, Alex Harkey, my guy out of Oregon?

[Dan Bernstein]

Is he the guy who falls down?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, he's the guy who occasionally falls down, but we're gonna work, we're gonna work with past that. Let's see. Look.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, he's a guard for the Chargers.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

How's he doing? What. Give me, just give me the latest reports on my guy, Alex Harkey. So they have moved him to guard.

[Dan Bernstein]

What could Alex Harkey roll be as a rookie for the Chargers? Fighting for a spot.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Damn it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right. He'll get there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Says he's falling down a lot, though, on his own. So he's doing well.

[Matt Abeticola]

Continues with his signature move of falling down without being touched. But that's okay. We can include that in the scouting report. We, we need to have full transparency here. I've got one last note for, for us, and you mentioned. But this is all sort of coming together sort of neatly here. You mentioned that the, when the Buffalo Bills built the stadium, it didn't just magically appear, didn't just sort of drop down out of the sky. It seems to be expected. Well.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, this is a great. This is great. Have you seen the photos of this?

[Matt Abeticola]

They've got a little problem.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, there's some bad seats, I'd say.

[Matt Abeticola]

And they've sold their seats and they did the PSLs and everything else. And they did this by allowing people through a, through a mock up, just like, you know, one of the ticket sites that says, here's the view of the field from the seat you're going to buy. This is very common, but it's not so common with a stadium that didn't exist yet, because anytime there's construction, it's going to differ a little bit from the renderings and from the virtual angles that you get when you're being assured of a clean vantage Point and. Oh, boy, boy. Do they have issues with obstructed seats.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

And there are fans with pictures of railings where you can't see the entire field.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, the one there's like a corner seat where there's a wall and like maybe 30% of the end zone is blocked off.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like you're missing. I'm looking at this right now. This is a corner seat. And on the far 15 yard line, almost the entire field is invisible.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. There's.

[Matt Abeticola]

There's railings and walkways and cantilevered concrete and glass. So they're. What's. I will tell you, they're going to have to refund a lot of money here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Because the bill said what they're doing.

[Sleep Number Announcer]

They.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is this in the story?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, they said it's a case by case basis that there were some that came up so obstructed they didn't even offer them. So from jump, they knew that there were some issues. So you got to get back to this architect or whoever vetted this and be like, how do we have a stadium where there are seats that we can't sell? How are there seats we can't sell? Why are there seats there? Why isn't that area being better used architecturally?

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. Why is there a seat with a wall in front of it?

[Matt Abeticola]

So I don't, I can't answer for the architects, but I do know that they are saying on a case by case basis, I don't know if our fans are going have to hire seat lawyers to argue their case. For him to say, if I can only see 75% of the field, I'm only paying 75% of the cost of the tickets.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's, I mean, first of all, that's just ridiculous that if an NFL team would push back at all if there's an NFL seat today, 2026, in a stadium that has an obstructed view for any NFL team to push back on that person is outrageous.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's unbelievable that you can build a. I'm shocked. This isn't a Bears story.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, oh my God. Yes. Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

This, this seems made for a Bears story where after all this are the Bears like forget to put seats in or the architect didn't account for the weight of fans and the whole thing collapses. Collapses.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, how do you build a Stadium in 2026 with obstructed views?

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't know. Like, I understand in Wrigley Field or Tiger Stadium, Fenway maybe.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sure, I get it. I get it. I mean, I sat in one of those seats in 2015 and saw Jake Arietta pitch a gem against the Pirates behind the fucking big concrete pillar. I get it. But, like, it's 20, 26. You're building an NFL stadium.

[Matt Abeticola]

You're building it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. That one seed I saw where. I mean, you. You lose a third of the end zone. That. That's unbelievable.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I would. Congratulations to the Buffalo Bills for bearsing this one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Good job.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, well done. And you're gonna have to give back some money to these poor people who were duped into buying seats because the rendering that you used to show their view differed so significantly from the actuality of what they could see from their seats.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, whoever built it for Buffalo needs to answer to that. And then the bill. I mean, you need to take these people with any obstruction at all and say, hey, where do you want to move? We'll discount tickets. We'll do something for you. But make it right, man. I mean, you. You can't. You can't. If there's any pushback at all, if you have any obstructed view. Oh, that would. That's just awful.

[Matt Abeticola]

Come watch our team play thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars. Well, when they get to the most important part of the field, you are not going to be able to see them, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah. I mean, yeah. A third of the end zone is blocked off that you can't see that touchdown. Which is why, Dan, what's. What's the best seat to watch a football game?

[Matt Abeticola]

My couch.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. The couch in your own home? Yep.

[Matt Abeticola]

Unobstructed.

[Commercial Voice]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Perfect. Well said.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Bears will find a way to obstruct that view.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's forward progress. It's been brought to you by Giordano's back to school means back to busy between practices, homework, and everything in between. Between. Give yourself a break with Giordano. Treat the kids and yourself to Chicago style pizza. Everyone can agree on and make tonight a giordano [e-mail] or visit your local Giordano restaurant today. Giordano, the one for Chicago style pizza or Progress has stopped.

[Dan Bernstein]

Forward progress. Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.

[Matt Abeticola]

Best thing that's ever happened to you financially. Go easy.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Sold my car on Carvana. Amazing offer, really.

[Matt Abeticola]

I hit 200 on the scratcher.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Did the scratcher come to your house and hand you a check? No. How many scratchers did you hit to get that? I hit a button on Carvana.com once.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, that's fair.

[Carvana Advertiser]

It's like the lottery, except you always win.

[Matt Abeticola]

Not like the lottery at all, actually.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Exactly. Inexplicably good offers worth bragging about. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pickup fees may apply.

[Sleep Number Announcer]

Sleep NUMBERS New collections are designed to adapt to the changing nature of your life and your sleep needs, whether it's the personalized comfort of the new Comfort Mode mattress, the targeted pressure relief of the Comfort Next mattress, or the Climate collection that actively cools or warms to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

[Sleep Number Sales Promoter]

And now get early access to our biggest sale of the year. Save 25% on the new Comfort Next Luxe for a limited time only at a Sleep Number store or sleepnumber.

[Commercial Voice]

Com.