SEATTLE — The Chicago Bears beat the Seattle Seahawks 27-11 on Thursday night at Lumen Field. Here’s what you need to know about the game.
Justin Fields’ day
Bears coach Matt Eberflus decided earlier in the week to limit his starters’ playing time because they had only five days between games.
So Bears quarterback Justin Fields and most of the first-team offense played just one drive, which ended in Cairo Santos’ 35-yard field goal. That was a step up in one way from the preseason opener, in which Fields didn’t lead a scoring drive in three tries.
Fields completed 5 of 7 passes for 39 yards Thursday, hitting tight end Cole Kmet with a 12-yarder and 19-yarder, the latter putting the Bears at the 21-yard line. Kmet was playing in his first preseason game after sitting out with an injury.
The Bears’ drive included a fourth-and-2 play in which Seahawks outside linebacker Darrell Taylor committed a neutral-zone infraction to give the Bears a first down. But after a 6-yard pass to Darnell Mooney to get to the 15, the drive stalled with a Fields incompletion out of the end zone and a negative-yardage pass play to Khalil Herbert.
Big returns
In his NFL preseason debut, Bears third-round pick Velus Jones Jr. had his biggest moment late in the first quarter when he caught Michael Dickson’s punt and cut toward the left sideline. Jones raced past multiple Seahawks to the Seattle 33-yard line — a 48-yard return.
The Bears scored their first touchdown six plays later on Trevor Siemian’s 2-yard pass to Jake Tonges.
Jones, who sat out Saturday’s preseason opener with an undisclosed injury, also returned the opening kickoff 28 yards — but fumbled it. He recovered his fumble, and the Bears went on to put points on the board on the drive with Santos’ field goal.
The Bears rotated between Jones, Dante Pettis and Nsimba Webster for punt returns later in the game. Webster had a 58-yard kickoff return in the third quarter.
Another debut
Second-round pick Kyler Gordon also made his debut in his home state, and he had a crew of supporters on the field before the game preparing to cheer him on.
Gordon played in the slot into the second quarter and didn’t record any stats — but he was noticeable on several plays.
He chased quarterback Geno Smith around in the first quarter before Nicholas Morrow got to Smith for a quarterback hit. Gordon was among the players swarming tight end Colby Parkinson when Parkinson fumbled — though Joe Thomas was credited with the forced fumble and the Seahawks recovered it.
But Gordon also was among the players Seahawks running back Travis Homer left falling at his feet as Homer charged for a 33-yard run early in the second quarter.
The Bears defense, with some starters playing more than one series, held the Seahawks scoreless in the first half.
Also notable
-- Linebackers Matt Adams (shoulder) and Caleb Johnson (knee) and running back Trestan Ebner (ankle) left the game with injuries.
-- Running back David Montgomery, who was limited in practice during the week with an undisclosed injury, didn’t play in his second straight preseason game. Safety Jaquan Brisker, who didn’t practice this week after his strong performance in the preseason opener, also missed the game. Wide receivers Byron Pringle and N’Keal Harry, offensive tackle Riley Reiff, cornerback Kindle Vildor and fullback Khari Blasingame were among the other players to sit out.
-- For the second straight preseason game, linebacker Roquan Smith, who is conducting a “hold-in” with the Bears amid stalled contract negotiations, worked out on the field before the game but didn’t play.
-- Teven Jenkins made his debut at right guard with the first-team offense after moving there from tackle in practices earlier in the week. With Reiff out, Larry Borom started next to Jenkins at right tackle, and the pair got reps beyond the first drive. Rookie Braxton Jones again started at left tackle.
-- When Seahawks punt returner Cade Johnson muffed a fair catch late in the second quarter, rookie Elijah Hicks, a seventh-round pick, recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown.
-- Santos made field goals from 35 and 47 yards and three extra points. Running back Darrynton Evans scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Former Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai visited with Bears players and staff before the game. Desai, whose Bears tenure spanned nine seasons and three head coaches, is the Seahawks’ associate head coach for defense.
