The Chicago Bears have an awfully quick turnaround in Week 7, going from a win in Atlanta on Sunday and heading back to Chicago to welcome the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football. Taking on last year’s AFC Champions, the Bears will have an opportunity to slow down the momentum of the Patriots, who have looked like a much improved football team in the last two weeks.
Having reeled off three straight wins, New England is starting to look like a threat in the AFC again, and their only losses this year have come to the Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars. While most of their offseason headlines revolved around their head coach and his personal life, the Patriots did make several additions on both offense and defense looking to upgrade their roster following a Super Bowl appearance.
Each week here at Bears Wire, we’re targeting one player to steal from each team and put on the Bears to boost their roster. This week, we’re bringing back a meaningful veteran leader who departed this offseason, safety Kevin Byard.
There’s an argument to be made for cornerback Christian Gonzalez, one of the league’s best, but Byard addresses a more pressing need at the safety position. Rookie Dillon Thieneman has been asked to do a lot with Coby Bryant out with a knee injury, and veteran safety Cam Lewis has not played up to standard in Bryant’s absence.
Last year, Byard led the NFL with seven interceptions, and through the first six weeks this season, the Bears as a team have three. Byard is not only a much-needed playmaker but he’s a leader in the locker room that would’ve been a big help as Chicago struggled with injuries and poor play in the secondary.
Having reunited with Mike Vrabel this year in New England, Byard has not recorded an interception but does have 26 total tackles and two passes defended. Byard was very important during his two years in Chicago, and he’d be welcomed back with open arms this season.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Gimme him: One player the Bears would steal from the Patriots