Jimmy the Superstar-Flickr
The Chicago Bears defense put on a dismal display for much of last season and while injuries to key players certainly had a lot to do with the Monsters of the Midway earning an overall defensive ranking of 30th in the NFL, the safety position was a glaring problem that needed to be addressed. Being proactive, the Bears brought in veterans Ryan Mundy, MD Jennings, and Danny McCray early in free agency as well as drafting Brock Vereen out of Minnesota in the 4th round. With Chris Conte unlikely to make the start of camp due to his recovery from shoulder surgery and Craig Steltz being a perennial backup and special teams’ standout; it would seem the competition would be between these four. However, the folks at Halas Hall weren’t done yet because they signed Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson to a one-year deal this week.
One look at Wilson’s stats over his 12 years with the Arizona Cardinals and it appears to be a “no-brainer” as to why Chicago would bring him into the fold. After all, he’s a five time Pro Bowler with 885 tackles, 27 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, and 25.5 sacks making him just the type of aggressive player with an eye for the ball that the Bears have always liked. However, before anyone thinks Adrian Wilson is a guaranteed fix for Chicago’s safety conundrum, he does have a bit of a downside. Last summer, after signing a 3 year deal with the New England Patriots, he suffered an Achilles injury that kept him off the field for the entire season and was then released by the Pats in April. Combine his missed year with his age of 34 and there is obviously going to be some concern.
No one will know whether this player can return to his Pro Bowl caliber play until camp is well underway. However, with the drive and determination it takes to be a top player in the NFL, as well as having some of the best rehabilitation services available to him, one can be optimistic that Adrian Wilson can return to form and be part of the Bears solution at safety. One thing is for certain, if he can cover the likes of Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall in the summer heat, the Bears new addition will have earned his spot on the roster.
Chris Kazmierczak is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow him on Facebook.