Brad Biggs 10 Thoughts On 2Nd Preseason Game

Kmet was productive in Fields’ rookie season and the tight end was easily the No. 2 target behind wide receiver Darnell Mooney for the quarterback. Kmet was targeted 52 times by Fields and made 32 receptions for 330 yards in 2021. That accounted for roughly half of his production (60 receptions for 612 yards), which stands to reason as Fields played in 12 games with 10 starts. The pair got going right away Thursday with Kmet catching a screen pass for 12 yards on the first play from scrimmage during a 10-play, 52-yard drive that led to a 35-yard Cairo Santos field goal. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy seemed to want to have Fields get the ball out of his hand quickly, and that led to quick throws to the perimeter like this one. But on a shot downfield, Fields faked a handoff and rolled out to his left to catch Kmet wide open in the middle for a 19-yard gain. It would be a big breakthrough for Getsy, Fields, Kmet and everyone else is this can be a more regular thing. [ [Sign up} Be the first to read Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on the Bears during the regular season ] “It builds your confidence,” Kmet said. “All the work you put in through the offseason, the experience I’ve been having these past two years, it continues to grow each game we play. It feels good.” There have been stories galore about production needed from the tight end position. When Kmet and Jimmy Graham were teamed up. When Adam Shaheen was drafted in Round 2. And before that. But there hasn’t been a break out. “It was just a naked play,” Fields said of the long gain. “And just went through progressions, so he was my second read and he was open. Just threw him the ball. “Cole’s a great tight end. He can do pretty much all. He can block. He’s a great route runner. He has great hands, so he definitely brings another weapon to our offense for sure. I was glad to see him out there.” [ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears dominate the Seattle Seahawks in a 27-11 win. Here’s what you need to know from the 2nd preseason game. ] Fields is going to need that sure-handed target in the middle of the field. And if the Bears aren’t trying to take the top off a defense with the speed of Mooney on the outside, Kmet should get a lot of the targets coming off play action, which should define the passing game more this season than it did a year ago. Fields was under pressure on the possession — the only one the offensive starters got — and coach Matt Eberflus went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Seattle 49-yard line when the Bears benefited from a neutral zone infraction penalty. The drive stalled out when Fields floated a pass to running back Khalil Herbert in the flat and then the QB was flattened by free safety Josh Jones for a 2-yard loss. “It was zone,” Fields explained. “I should have worked through to the middle of the field. That was my fault for sure.” Bears QB Justin Fields looks to throw in the first quarter during the preseason game against the Seahawks at Lumen Field on Aug. 18, 2022. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images) Getting a field goal was good to see — and an improvement over the performance last week against Kansas City. It’s a ridiculously small sample size. The offensive line, where the Bears are still trying to figure things out, is going to be leaky from time to time, even against a Seattle front seven that lacks a serious pass-rushing threat. Kmet had a solid season last year, but if the quarterback is going to ascend, someone other than Mooney will have to put up numbers. In the end, the running game will key a lot of this. Successfully running the ball will keep opposing defenses honest. It will create bigger throwing windows for Fields. And it will make life easier on the line. It will feed the play-action game. “I thought the operation was good,” Eberflus said of Fields. “His preparation was great. He handled the offense the way we wanted him to, had a nice drive and scored the field goal. It’s progress. And guys see more progress in practice sometimes, where his footwork is getting better, his delivery when he feels pressure, how he slides in the pocket and delivers the ball. He’s improving every single day.” The regular season will provide a true status of where the offense as a whole is. Bears offensive tackle Teven Jenkins leaves the field after a preseason game vs. the Chiefs at Soldier Field on Aug. 13, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Jenkins, who played at right tackle in the preseason opener, was preparing for the short week that led the Bears to Seattle. He was sitting down for dinner when his cellphone rang. It was offensive line coach Chris Morgan. “He said, ‘Hey, you’re going to be moving to right guard, how do you feel about that?’” Jenkins said. “I told him my feelings about that. The next day I went out there and got right guard reps. I didn’t know until the night before. That’s better than the morning of.” There’s no arguing that. It was a brief phone conversation, maybe because Jenkins’ mind was swimming a bit, which is understandable. He doesn’t recall specifically how it went. “I would tell you that it was more positive than anything else. That’s what I recall.” What Jenkins, the second-round pick from a year ago, needs to do now is stack positive practices. His right guard debut for the Bears came Monday in a practice without pads. He got introduced to the position and then the next day, when the team was in full pads, he replaced veteran Michael Schofield with the starting unit — a sure sign he would be the starter vs. the Seahawks. [ [Don’t miss] Teven Jenkins returns to Chicago Bears training camp after missing 7 practices — and says his relationship with coaches is solid ] The Bears will likely have 13 practices before the Sept. 11 opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Half (at most) will be in pads. There is some stuff Jenkins will know without watching long to clean up, but it’s a different position. If an offensive tackle sets up on an island, a guard sets up in a phone booth. “I’m still adjusting to the tackle to guard difference,” he said. “It’s only like the third day. I am getting used to it and I am fortunate enough to get help from Sam (Mustipher) inside and I am getting help from Larry (Borom), so it’s been a nice transition.” Even with the help, does he have enough time to win the job and be part of the starting five? “I feel like I can acclimate myself fast enough to be prepared,” Jenkins said. “In the NFL, it’s about production now. I need to speed up the process. Whatever gets me on the field and is best for the team I am willing to do.” For what it’s worth, I like his attitude. There is a challenge ahead for him and it would be great for him to haveworked at guard in OTAs. The Bears probably know what they can get from Schofield. If they feel Jenkins has potential to give them more in the future without being a liability in the present — including exposing the quarterback to danger — maybe he can pull this off. Bears linebacker Roquan Smith sits on the bench with linebacker Nicholas Morrow during a preseason game on Aug. 13, 2022 at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) With any luck — and maybe it’s wishful thinking — Smith will be running as a participant in practice at Halas Hall next week. One thing that improves the odds of the impasse ending is that as regular season nears, the more pressure there is for a resolution. Derwin James’ deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, which was finalized Wednesday morning, certainly doesn’t increase the chances that the Bears and Smith can find common ground on a contract extension. Both players were 2018 first-round draft picks and both began staging “hold ins” at the start of training camp. James plays safety and is represented by an NFLPA-certified agent, while Smith is operating without a registered agent. It’s difficult if not impossible to compare linebacker pay to safety pay. The $76.3 million, four-year extension made James the highest-paid safety in the league. Surely, Smith would like to leapfrog Shaquille Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts to become the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker. If what the Bears proposed (at least before Smith’s comments asking for a trade were sent to NFL Network) hit key benchmarks to achieve that, it’s probably safe to imagine a deal would have been done. The regular season begins in 23 days for the Bears. That leaves nine practices before the first week of the regular season on Monday, Sept. 5. They will likely have four practices that week, meaning there are just 13 practices between now and the start of a new era for general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus. That’s plenty of time for Smith to get up to speed on defense. As I have written previously, the Bears hold most, if not all, leverage. They have Smith under contract with the fifth-year option in his rookie deal, and at the negotiating table they can remind him they will also could use the franchise tag on him in 2023. The only real leverage for Smith is withholding his services during the regular season — and that’s where things could get very expensive for him quickly. If the Bears don’t trade Smith — and the appropriate time for Poles to do that would have been the spring — then the linebacker faces the prospect of playing for $9.735 million and inheriting the risk that an injury could affect his chances of a much larger payday in the future. [ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears Q&A: What will get a deal done with Roquan Smith? ] [ [Don’t miss] Column: As Roquan Smith’s contract strife with the Chicago Bears drags on, it’s difficult to see how this might end. Or when. ] Scouts around the…

title: “Brad Biggs 10 Thoughts On 2Nd Preseason Game Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-02” author: “Paul Hupp”

Kmet was productive in Fields’ rookie season and the tight end was easily the No. 2 target behind wide receiver Darnell Mooney for the quarterback. Kmet was targeted 52 times by Fields and made 32 receptions for 330 yards in 2021. That accounted for roughly half of his production (60 receptions for 612 yards), which stands to reason as Fields played in 12 games with 10 starts. The pair got going right away Thursday with Kmet catching a screen pass for 12 yards on the first play from scrimmage during a 10-play, 52-yard drive that led to a 35-yard Cairo Santos field goal. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy seemed to want to have Fields get the ball out of his hand quickly, and that led to quick throws to the perimeter like this one. But on a shot downfield, Fields faked a handoff and rolled out to his left to catch Kmet wide open in the middle for a 19-yard gain. It would be a big breakthrough for Getsy, Fields, Kmet and everyone else is this can be a more regular thing. [ [Sign up} Be the first to read Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on the Bears during the regular season ] “It builds your confidence,” Kmet said. “All the work you put in through the offseason, the experience I’ve been having these past two years, it continues to grow each game we play. It feels good.” There have been stories galore about production needed from the tight end position. When Kmet and Jimmy Graham were teamed up. When Adam Shaheen was drafted in Round 2. And before that. But there hasn’t been a break out. “It was just a naked play,” Fields said of the long gain. “And just went through progressions, so he was my second read and he was open. Just threw him the ball. “Cole’s a great tight end. He can do pretty much all. He can block. He’s a great route runner. He has great hands, so he definitely brings another weapon to our offense for sure. I was glad to see him out there.” [ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears dominate the Seattle Seahawks in a 27-11 win. Here’s what you need to know from the 2nd preseason game. ] Fields is going to need that sure-handed target in the middle of the field. And if the Bears aren’t trying to take the top off a defense with the speed of Mooney on the outside, Kmet should get a lot of the targets coming off play action, which should define the passing game more this season than it did a year ago. Fields was under pressure on the possession — the only one the offensive starters got — and coach Matt Eberflus went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Seattle 49-yard line when the Bears benefited from a neutral zone infraction penalty. The drive stalled out when Fields floated a pass to running back Khalil Herbert in the flat and then the QB was flattened by free safety Josh Jones for a 2-yard loss. “It was zone,” Fields explained. “I should have worked through to the middle of the field. That was my fault for sure.” Bears QB Justin Fields looks to throw in the first quarter during the preseason game against the Seahawks at Lumen Field on Aug. 18, 2022. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images) Getting a field goal was good to see — and an improvement over the performance last week against Kansas City. It’s a ridiculously small sample size. The offensive line, where the Bears are still trying to figure things out, is going to be leaky from time to time, even against a Seattle front seven that lacks a serious pass-rushing threat. Kmet had a solid season last year, but if the quarterback is going to ascend, someone other than Mooney will have to put up numbers. In the end, the running game will key a lot of this. Successfully running the ball will keep opposing defenses honest. It will create bigger throwing windows for Fields. And it will make life easier on the line. It will feed the play-action game. “I thought the operation was good,” Eberflus said of Fields. “His preparation was great. He handled the offense the way we wanted him to, had a nice drive and scored the field goal. It’s progress. And guys see more progress in practice sometimes, where his footwork is getting better, his delivery when he feels pressure, how he slides in the pocket and delivers the ball. He’s improving every single day.” The regular season will provide a true status of where the offense as a whole is. Bears offensive tackle Teven Jenkins leaves the field after a preseason game vs. the Chiefs at Soldier Field on Aug. 13, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Jenkins, who played at right tackle in the preseason opener, was preparing for the short week that led the Bears to Seattle. He was sitting down for dinner when his cellphone rang. It was offensive line coach Chris Morgan. “He said, ‘Hey, you’re going to be moving to right guard, how do you feel about that?’” Jenkins said. “I told him my feelings about that. The next day I went out there and got right guard reps. I didn’t know until the night before. That’s better than the morning of.” There’s no arguing that. It was a brief phone conversation, maybe because Jenkins’ mind was swimming a bit, which is understandable. He doesn’t recall specifically how it went. “I would tell you that it was more positive than anything else. That’s what I recall.” What Jenkins, the second-round pick from a year ago, needs to do now is stack positive practices. His right guard debut for the Bears came Monday in a practice without pads. He got introduced to the position and then the next day, when the team was in full pads, he replaced veteran Michael Schofield with the starting unit — a sure sign he would be the starter vs. the Seahawks. [ [Don’t miss] Teven Jenkins returns to Chicago Bears training camp after missing 7 practices — and says his relationship with coaches is solid ] The Bears will likely have 13 practices before the Sept. 11 opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Half (at most) will be in pads. There is some stuff Jenkins will know without watching long to clean up, but it’s a different position. If an offensive tackle sets up on an island, a guard sets up in a phone booth. “I’m still adjusting to the tackle to guard difference,” he said. “It’s only like the third day. I am getting used to it and I am fortunate enough to get help from Sam (Mustipher) inside and I am getting help from Larry (Borom), so it’s been a nice transition.” Even with the help, does he have enough time to win the job and be part of the starting five? “I feel like I can acclimate myself fast enough to be prepared,” Jenkins said. “In the NFL, it’s about production now. I need to speed up the process. Whatever gets me on the field and is best for the team I am willing to do.” For what it’s worth, I like his attitude. There is a challenge ahead for him and it would be great for him to haveworked at guard in OTAs. The Bears probably know what they can get from Schofield. If they feel Jenkins has potential to give them more in the future without being a liability in the present — including exposing the quarterback to danger — maybe he can pull this off. Bears linebacker Roquan Smith sits on the bench with linebacker Nicholas Morrow during a preseason game on Aug. 13, 2022 at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) With any luck — and maybe it’s wishful thinking — Smith will be running as a participant in practice at Halas Hall next week. One thing that improves the odds of the impasse ending is that as regular season nears, the more pressure there is for a resolution. Derwin James’ deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, which was finalized Wednesday morning, certainly doesn’t increase the chances that the Bears and Smith can find common ground on a contract extension. Both players were 2018 first-round draft picks and both began staging “hold ins” at the start of training camp. James plays safety and is represented by an NFLPA-certified agent, while Smith is operating without a registered agent. It’s difficult if not impossible to compare linebacker pay to safety pay. The $76.3 million, four-year extension made James the highest-paid safety in the league. Surely, Smith would like to leapfrog Shaquille Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts to become the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker. If what the Bears proposed (at least before Smith’s comments asking for a trade were sent to NFL Network) hit key benchmarks to achieve that, it’s probably safe to imagine a deal would have been done. The regular season begins in 23 days for the Bears. That leaves nine practices before the first week of the regular season on Monday, Sept. 5. They will likely have four practices that week, meaning there are just 13 practices between now and the start of a new era for general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus. That’s plenty of time for Smith to get up to speed on defense. As I have written previously, the Bears hold most, if not all, leverage. They have Smith under contract with the fifth-year option in his rookie deal, and at the negotiating table they can remind him they will also could use the franchise tag on him in 2023. The only real leverage for Smith is withholding his services during the regular season — and that’s where things could get very expensive for him quickly. If the Bears don’t trade Smith — and the appropriate time for Poles to do that would have been the spring — then the linebacker faces the prospect of playing for $9.735 million and inheriting the risk that an injury could affect his chances of a much larger payday in the future. [ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears Q&A: What will get a deal done with Roquan Smith? ] [ [Don’t miss] Column: As Roquan Smith’s contract strife with the Chicago Bears drags on, it’s difficult to see how this might end. Or when. ] Scouts around the…

title: “Brad Biggs 10 Thoughts On 2Nd Preseason Game Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-09” author: “Gerald Green”

Kmet was productive in Fields’ rookie season and the tight end was easily the No. 2 target behind wide receiver Darnell Mooney for the quarterback. Kmet was targeted 52 times by Fields and made 32 receptions for 330 yards in 2021. That accounted for roughly half of his production (60 receptions for 612 yards), which stands to reason as Fields played in 12 games with 10 starts. The pair got going right away Thursday with Kmet catching a screen pass for 12 yards on the first play from scrimmage during a 10-play, 52-yard drive that led to a 35-yard Cairo Santos field goal. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy seemed to want to have Fields get the ball out of his hand quickly, and that led to quick throws to the perimeter like this one. But on a shot downfield, Fields faked a handoff and rolled out to his left to catch Kmet wide open in the middle for a 19-yard gain. It would be a big breakthrough for Getsy, Fields, Kmet and everyone else is this can be a more regular thing. [ [Sign up} Be the first to read Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on the Bears during the regular season ] “It builds your confidence,” Kmet said. “All the work you put in through the offseason, the experience I’ve been having these past two years, it continues to grow each game we play. It feels good.” There have been stories galore about production needed from the tight end position. When Kmet and Jimmy Graham were teamed up. When Adam Shaheen was drafted in Round 2. And before that. But there hasn’t been a break out. “It was just a naked play,” Fields said of the long gain. “And just went through progressions, so he was my second read and he was open. Just threw him the ball. “Cole’s a great tight end. He can do pretty much all. He can block. He’s a great route runner. He has great hands, so he definitely brings another weapon to our offense for sure. I was glad to see him out there.” [ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears dominate the Seattle Seahawks in a 27-11 win. Here’s what you need to know from the 2nd preseason game. ] Fields is going to need that sure-handed target in the middle of the field. And if the Bears aren’t trying to take the top off a defense with the speed of Mooney on the outside, Kmet should get a lot of the targets coming off play action, which should define the passing game more this season than it did a year ago. Fields was under pressure on the possession — the only one the offensive starters got — and coach Matt Eberflus went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Seattle 49-yard line when the Bears benefited from a neutral zone infraction penalty. The drive stalled out when Fields floated a pass to running back Khalil Herbert in the flat and then the QB was flattened by free safety Josh Jones for a 2-yard loss. “It was zone,” Fields explained. “I should have worked through to the middle of the field. That was my fault for sure.” Bears QB Justin Fields looks to throw in the first quarter during the preseason game against the Seahawks at Lumen Field on Aug. 18, 2022. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images) Getting a field goal was good to see — and an improvement over the performance last week against Kansas City. It’s a ridiculously small sample size. The offensive line, where the Bears are still trying to figure things out, is going to be leaky from time to time, even against a Seattle front seven that lacks a serious pass-rushing threat. Kmet had a solid season last year, but if the quarterback is going to ascend, someone other than Mooney will have to put up numbers. In the end, the running game will key a lot of this. Successfully running the ball will keep opposing defenses honest. It will create bigger throwing windows for Fields. And it will make life easier on the line. It will feed the play-action game. “I thought the operation was good,” Eberflus said of Fields. “His preparation was great. He handled the offense the way we wanted him to, had a nice drive and scored the field goal. It’s progress. And guys see more progress in practice sometimes, where his footwork is getting better, his delivery when he feels pressure, how he slides in the pocket and delivers the ball. He’s improving every single day.” The regular season will provide a true status of where the offense as a whole is. Bears offensive tackle Teven Jenkins leaves the field after a preseason game vs. the Chiefs at Soldier Field on Aug. 13, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Jenkins, who played at right tackle in the preseason opener, was preparing for the short week that led the Bears to Seattle. He was sitting down for dinner when his cellphone rang. It was offensive line coach Chris Morgan. “He said, ‘Hey, you’re going to be moving to right guard, how do you feel about that?’” Jenkins said. “I told him my feelings about that. The next day I went out there and got right guard reps. I didn’t know until the night before. That’s better than the morning of.” There’s no arguing that. It was a brief phone conversation, maybe because Jenkins’ mind was swimming a bit, which is understandable. He doesn’t recall specifically how it went. “I would tell you that it was more positive than anything else. That’s what I recall.” What Jenkins, the second-round pick from a year ago, needs to do now is stack positive practices. His right guard debut for the Bears came Monday in a practice without pads. He got introduced to the position and then the next day, when the team was in full pads, he replaced veteran Michael Schofield with the starting unit — a sure sign he would be the starter vs. the Seahawks. [ [Don’t miss] Teven Jenkins returns to Chicago Bears training camp after missing 7 practices — and says his relationship with coaches is solid ] The Bears will likely have 13 practices before the Sept. 11 opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Half (at most) will be in pads. There is some stuff Jenkins will know without watching long to clean up, but it’s a different position. If an offensive tackle sets up on an island, a guard sets up in a phone booth. “I’m still adjusting to the tackle to guard difference,” he said. “It’s only like the third day. I am getting used to it and I am fortunate enough to get help from Sam (Mustipher) inside and I am getting help from Larry (Borom), so it’s been a nice transition.” Even with the help, does he have enough time to win the job and be part of the starting five? “I feel like I can acclimate myself fast enough to be prepared,” Jenkins said. “In the NFL, it’s about production now. I need to speed up the process. Whatever gets me on the field and is best for the team I am willing to do.” For what it’s worth, I like his attitude. There is a challenge ahead for him and it would be great for him to haveworked at guard in OTAs. The Bears probably know what they can get from Schofield. If they feel Jenkins has potential to give them more in the future without being a liability in the present — including exposing the quarterback to danger — maybe he can pull this off. Bears linebacker Roquan Smith sits on the bench with linebacker Nicholas Morrow during a preseason game on Aug. 13, 2022 at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) With any luck — and maybe it’s wishful thinking — Smith will be running as a participant in practice at Halas Hall next week. One thing that improves the odds of the impasse ending is that as regular season nears, the more pressure there is for a resolution. Derwin James’ deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, which was finalized Wednesday morning, certainly doesn’t increase the chances that the Bears and Smith can find common ground on a contract extension. Both players were 2018 first-round draft picks and both began staging “hold ins” at the start of training camp. James plays safety and is represented by an NFLPA-certified agent, while Smith is operating without a registered agent. It’s difficult if not impossible to compare linebacker pay to safety pay. The $76.3 million, four-year extension made James the highest-paid safety in the league. Surely, Smith would like to leapfrog Shaquille Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts to become the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker. If what the Bears proposed (at least before Smith’s comments asking for a trade were sent to NFL Network) hit key benchmarks to achieve that, it’s probably safe to imagine a deal would have been done. The regular season begins in 23 days for the Bears. That leaves nine practices before the first week of the regular season on Monday, Sept. 5. They will likely have four practices that week, meaning there are just 13 practices between now and the start of a new era for general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus. That’s plenty of time for Smith to get up to speed on defense. As I have written previously, the Bears hold most, if not all, leverage. They have Smith under contract with the fifth-year option in his rookie deal, and at the negotiating table they can remind him they will also could use the franchise tag on him in 2023. The only real leverage for Smith is withholding his services during the regular season — and that’s where things could get very expensive for him quickly. If the Bears don’t trade Smith — and the appropriate time for Poles to do that would have been the spring — then the linebacker faces the prospect of playing for $9.735 million and inheriting the risk that an injury could affect his chances of a much larger payday in the future. [ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears Q&A: What will get a deal done with Roquan Smith? ] [ [Don’t miss] Column: As Roquan Smith’s contract strife with the Chicago Bears drags on, it’s difficult to see how this might end. Or when. ] Scouts around the…

title: “Brad Biggs 10 Thoughts On 2Nd Preseason Game Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-16” author: “Richard Boucher”

Kmet was productive in Fields’ rookie season and the tight end was easily the No. 2 target behind wide receiver Darnell Mooney for the quarterback. Kmet was targeted 52 times by Fields and made 32 receptions for 330 yards in 2021. That accounted for roughly half of his production (60 receptions for 612 yards), which stands to reason as Fields played in 12 games with 10 starts. The pair got going right away Thursday with Kmet catching a screen pass for 12 yards on the first play from scrimmage during a 10-play, 52-yard drive that led to a 35-yard Cairo Santos field goal. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy seemed to want to have Fields get the ball out of his hand quickly, and that led to quick throws to the perimeter like this one. But on a shot downfield, Fields faked a handoff and rolled out to his left to catch Kmet wide open in the middle for a 19-yard gain. It would be a big breakthrough for Getsy, Fields, Kmet and everyone else is this can be a more regular thing. [ [Sign up} Be the first to read Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on the Bears during the regular season ] “It builds your confidence,” Kmet said. “All the work you put in through the offseason, the experience I’ve been having these past two years, it continues to grow each game we play. It feels good.” There have been stories galore about production needed from the tight end position. When Kmet and Jimmy Graham were teamed up. When Adam Shaheen was drafted in Round 2. And before that. But there hasn’t been a break out. “It was just a naked play,” Fields said of the long gain. “And just went through progressions, so he was my second read and he was open. Just threw him the ball. “Cole’s a great tight end. He can do pretty much all. He can block. He’s a great route runner. He has great hands, so he definitely brings another weapon to our offense for sure. I was glad to see him out there.” [ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears dominate the Seattle Seahawks in a 27-11 win. Here’s what you need to know from the 2nd preseason game. ] Fields is going to need that sure-handed target in the middle of the field. And if the Bears aren’t trying to take the top off a defense with the speed of Mooney on the outside, Kmet should get a lot of the targets coming off play action, which should define the passing game more this season than it did a year ago. Fields was under pressure on the possession — the only one the offensive starters got — and coach Matt Eberflus went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Seattle 49-yard line when the Bears benefited from a neutral zone infraction penalty. The drive stalled out when Fields floated a pass to running back Khalil Herbert in the flat and then the QB was flattened by free safety Josh Jones for a 2-yard loss. “It was zone,” Fields explained. “I should have worked through to the middle of the field. That was my fault for sure.” Bears QB Justin Fields looks to throw in the first quarter during the preseason game against the Seahawks at Lumen Field on Aug. 18, 2022. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images) Getting a field goal was good to see — and an improvement over the performance last week against Kansas City. It’s a ridiculously small sample size. The offensive line, where the Bears are still trying to figure things out, is going to be leaky from time to time, even against a Seattle front seven that lacks a serious pass-rushing threat. Kmet had a solid season last year, but if the quarterback is going to ascend, someone other than Mooney will have to put up numbers. In the end, the running game will key a lot of this. Successfully running the ball will keep opposing defenses honest. It will create bigger throwing windows for Fields. And it will make life easier on the line. It will feed the play-action game. “I thought the operation was good,” Eberflus said of Fields. “His preparation was great. He handled the offense the way we wanted him to, had a nice drive and scored the field goal. It’s progress. And guys see more progress in practice sometimes, where his footwork is getting better, his delivery when he feels pressure, how he slides in the pocket and delivers the ball. He’s improving every single day.” The regular season will provide a true status of where the offense as a whole is. Bears offensive tackle Teven Jenkins leaves the field after a preseason game vs. the Chiefs at Soldier Field on Aug. 13, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Jenkins, who played at right tackle in the preseason opener, was preparing for the short week that led the Bears to Seattle. He was sitting down for dinner when his cellphone rang. It was offensive line coach Chris Morgan. “He said, ‘Hey, you’re going to be moving to right guard, how do you feel about that?’” Jenkins said. “I told him my feelings about that. The next day I went out there and got right guard reps. I didn’t know until the night before. That’s better than the morning of.” There’s no arguing that. It was a brief phone conversation, maybe because Jenkins’ mind was swimming a bit, which is understandable. He doesn’t recall specifically how it went. “I would tell you that it was more positive than anything else. That’s what I recall.” What Jenkins, the second-round pick from a year ago, needs to do now is stack positive practices. His right guard debut for the Bears came Monday in a practice without pads. He got introduced to the position and then the next day, when the team was in full pads, he replaced veteran Michael Schofield with the starting unit — a sure sign he would be the starter vs. the Seahawks. [ [Don’t miss] Teven Jenkins returns to Chicago Bears training camp after missing 7 practices — and says his relationship with coaches is solid ] The Bears will likely have 13 practices before the Sept. 11 opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Half (at most) will be in pads. There is some stuff Jenkins will know without watching long to clean up, but it’s a different position. If an offensive tackle sets up on an island, a guard sets up in a phone booth. “I’m still adjusting to the tackle to guard difference,” he said. “It’s only like the third day. I am getting used to it and I am fortunate enough to get help from Sam (Mustipher) inside and I am getting help from Larry (Borom), so it’s been a nice transition.” Even with the help, does he have enough time to win the job and be part of the starting five? “I feel like I can acclimate myself fast enough to be prepared,” Jenkins said. “In the NFL, it’s about production now. I need to speed up the process. Whatever gets me on the field and is best for the team I am willing to do.” For what it’s worth, I like his attitude. There is a challenge ahead for him and it would be great for him to haveworked at guard in OTAs. The Bears probably know what they can get from Schofield. If they feel Jenkins has potential to give them more in the future without being a liability in the present — including exposing the quarterback to danger — maybe he can pull this off. Bears linebacker Roquan Smith sits on the bench with linebacker Nicholas Morrow during a preseason game on Aug. 13, 2022 at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) With any luck — and maybe it’s wishful thinking — Smith will be running as a participant in practice at Halas Hall next week. One thing that improves the odds of the impasse ending is that as regular season nears, the more pressure there is for a resolution. Derwin James’ deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, which was finalized Wednesday morning, certainly doesn’t increase the chances that the Bears and Smith can find common ground on a contract extension. Both players were 2018 first-round draft picks and both began staging “hold ins” at the start of training camp. James plays safety and is represented by an NFLPA-certified agent, while Smith is operating without a registered agent. It’s difficult if not impossible to compare linebacker pay to safety pay. The $76.3 million, four-year extension made James the highest-paid safety in the league. Surely, Smith would like to leapfrog Shaquille Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts to become the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker. If what the Bears proposed (at least before Smith’s comments asking for a trade were sent to NFL Network) hit key benchmarks to achieve that, it’s probably safe to imagine a deal would have been done. The regular season begins in 23 days for the Bears. That leaves nine practices before the first week of the regular season on Monday, Sept. 5. They will likely have four practices that week, meaning there are just 13 practices between now and the start of a new era for general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus. That’s plenty of time for Smith to get up to speed on defense. As I have written previously, the Bears hold most, if not all, leverage. They have Smith under contract with the fifth-year option in his rookie deal, and at the negotiating table they can remind him they will also could use the franchise tag on him in 2023. The only real leverage for Smith is withholding his services during the regular season — and that’s where things could get very expensive for him quickly. If the Bears don’t trade Smith — and the appropriate time for Poles to do that would have been the spring — then the linebacker faces the prospect of playing for $9.735 million and inheriting the risk that an injury could affect his chances of a much larger payday in the future. [ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears Q&A: What will get a deal done with Roquan Smith? ] [ [Don’t miss] Column: As Roquan Smith’s contract strife with the Chicago Bears drags on, it’s difficult to see how this might end. Or when. ] Scouts around the…