PLAYER NOTES
–S Eddie Jackson (ankle) has a boot cast on his right ankle and will miss this week’s game against San Francisco after an injury suffered Sunday against Green Bay. Deon Bush will likely play most of the game in his place.
–DE Aaron Lynch (elbow) suffered a right elbow injury against Green Bay and is unlikely to play in Sunday’s game with the 49ers.
–G Kyle Long (foot) could return to practice with the team later this week, although this hasn’t been guaranteed. Head coach Matt Nagy suggested it’s possible. The Bears are hoping to activate Long off injured reserve so he’s available for the playoffs. He had been injured Nov. 2.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: FS Deon Bush. As a rookie three years ago, Bush had to start six games and didn’t fare well. He was in on 21 tackles and had one pass defensed but no turnovers. Bush has played a big role on special teams for two seasons since then, and gradually has learned the defense better. He came into the league with a reputation for delivering big hits in the secondary, but like most defensive backs he has learned to cut back as a big hitter and played better coverage. He’ll need to communicate effectively with cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Kyle Fuller and stay deep against a team with different threats as targets than wide receivers. The 49ers can throw to backs or tight ends as well as they do to wide receivers.
GAME PLAN: Defensively, this should be a coordinator’s dream. They’re facing the 49ers’ third-string quarterback, essentially, in Nick Mullens. With 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions, Mullens has made a statement about his abilities. He’s been at 102.1 or higher in three of his starts in terms of passer rating. But defensive coordinator Vic Fangio can be expected to mix up and disguise coverages without getting too exotic because they have two backups playing in the secondary in safety Deon Bush and slot corner Sherrick McManis. The Bears will not blitz much overall normally, but a few coming out of the slot can be effective against the pass — and also in disrupting the running attack on the stretch plays the 49ers want to run to Matt Breida.
Offensively, the Bears won’t run up against the most stout of defensive fronts, but the 49ers definitely can bring it in the pass rush with defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, in particular. The inside push is strong as Buckner has 11 sacks. Throwing to the backs and working the backs in the running game is a way Seattle attacked San Francisco successfully. The 49ers have given up 121 yards rushing on average over the last nine games, so the rushing attack and short passes can do damage. The Bears have the ability to use Tarik Cohen and hammer Jordan Howard and should use their edge. The linebacker corps in general have been a weakness of San Francisco’s the Bears can exploit with their sideline-to-sideline running approach.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Bears SS Adrian Amos, who has two interceptions, vs. 49ers TE George Kittle, who made the Pro Bowl with 72 catches for 1,154 yards. No tight end since Logan Thomas for Buffalo has had more than four catches against the Bears, and part of that is Amos’ work. Some is due to Roquan Smith’s improvement at linebacker. In a contract year, Amos has quietly put up 60 tackles, fourth-best total on the team. Kittle is versatile, and at his best with the short catch and run.
–Bears RB Tarik Cohen, who made the Pro Bowl and has 28 receptions over the last four games, vs. 49ers LB Fred Warner, who has a team-high 105 tackles. Warner is doing much of the tackling for a linebacker corps hurt by the loss of Reuben Foster. Warner is probably at his best in pass coverage. His 4.6 speed in the 40, though, may not be enough for the quickness of Cohen, who needs just a step in the open field to get past tacklers.
–Bears LB Roquan Smith, who leads the team with 108 tackles, vs. 49ers RB Matt Breida, who has 794 rushing yards. At 5-10, 190, Breida is no power back, but he does run hard through tackles and with good speed. He’s dangerous on stretch plays and outside zone runs, getting in behind linemen and then popping out into gaps. As Smith has improved, fewer backs have found running room or openings in the short passing game. Smith has roamed sideline to sideline and makes fewer power decisions than in the first few weeks. It’s why he became a Pro Bowl alternate as a rookie. Breida aggravated an ankle injury in the last game and his status is uncertain, although he practiced Wednesday on a limited basis. The injury has helped hold him to 56 yards total on 22 attempts the last two games.