Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
Do you think that Robert Quinn will set the Bears' single-season sack record?
Bill P.
Lindenhurst, Illinois
I think Robert Quinn has a decent chance to break the Bears' sack record. With 14.0 sacks in 12 games—he missed one contest while on the COVID-19 list—the veteran outside linebacker has averaged 1.2 sacks per outing. If he continues at that same rate over the final four weeks of the season, he'd finish with 19.5 sacks, eclipsing Richard Dent's team record of 17.5 sacks set in 1984. Dent followed with 17.0 sacks for the Super Bowl champions in 1985. Quinn's 14.0 sacks are already the third most in a season behind Dent. It won't be easy for Quinn, though. Two of the Bears' remaining games are against the Vikings, who rank second in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed per pass play. Kirk Cousins has thrown 477 passes and been sacked just 18 times this year. The other two teams the Bears play, the Seahawks and Giants, rank 31st and 14th in fewest sacks per pass play, respectively. Whether or not Quinn breaks the record, he's had a tremendous bounce-back season, excelling as a pass rusher as well as defending the run. You could certainly make a case for him being the Bears' MVP this year.
When was the last time a Bears player (before Jakeem Grant Sr. Sunday night in Green Bay) scored touchdowns on a kick return and a reception in the same game? I'm assuming that Devin Hester did it at some point in his career, maybe more than once.
Brian L.
Michigan
You are correct. Prior to Jakeem Grant Sr. accomplishing the feat against the Packers, the last Bears player to score touchdowns on a kick return and a reception in the same game was the legendary Devin Hester, who actually did it four times. The most recent game was Oct. 16, 2011 when he scored TDs on a 48-yard catch and a 98-yard kickoff return in a 39-10 win over the Vikings at Soldier Field. The other three times Hester did it, he scored touchdowns on receptions and punt returns.
Here's a list of the 10 longest punt return touchdowns in Bears history, topped by Pro Bowler Jakeem Grant Sr.'s 97-yarder during Week 15's game in Green Bay.
(10) Devin Hester, 84 yards
Sept. 10, 2006 in Green Bay
Hester made his NFL debut a memorable one, returning a punt 84 yards for his first career touchdown to cap a memorable 26-0 shutout of the Packers in the 2006 season opener.
(9) Gale Sayers, 85 yards
Dec. 12, 1965 in Chicago
Fifty-six years to the day before Grant's 97-yard return in Green Bay, Sayers returned a punt 85 yards for one of his NFL record-tying six touchdowns in a 61-20 rout of the 49ers.
(8) Jeff Fisher, 88 yards
Sept. 20, 1981 in Chicago
Before he became a long-time NFL head coach, Fisher's 88-yard TD gave the Bears a 14-7 lead en route to a 28-17 victory over the Buccaneers.
(5) Devin Hester, 89 yards
Oct. 14, 2007 in Chicago
In a game that featured TDs from scrimmage of 60, 39, 67, 73, 35, 33 and 81 yards, Hester recorded what was then the longest punt return of his career to give the Bears a 7-0 lead in an eventual 37-34 loss to the Vikings.
(5) Devin Hester, 89 yards
Oct. 17, 2010 in Chicago
The record-breaking return specialist drew the Bears to within 23-20 of the Seahawks in the fourth quarter, but Seattle held on for the three-point win.
(5) Ray McLean, 89 yards
Oct. 11, 1942 in Chicago
McLean's 89-yarder remained the longest punt return TD in Bears history for 45 years before it was topped by Dennis McKinnon in 1987. It came in a 41-14 win over the Chicago Cardinals.
(4) Glyn Milburn, 93 yards
Sept. 20, 1998 in Tampa
Milburn's first quarter return gave the Bears a 10-0 lead, but the Buccaneers rallied for a 27-15 victory.
(3) Dennis McKinnon, 94 yards
Sept. 14, 1987 in Chicago
McKinnon's spectacular 94-yarder was once voted the best punt return in Monday Night Football history. It helped the Bears beat the Giants 34-19 in the 1987 season opener in a clash of the previous two Super Bowl winners.
(2) Johnny Bailey, 95 yards
Dec. 29, 1990 in Chicago
Bailey's 95-yarder in the 1990 season finale gave the Bears a 10-9 lead over the Chiefs at Soldier Field, but Kansas City rallied for a 21-10 win.
(1) Jakeem Grant Sr., 97 yards
Dec. 12, 2021 in Green Bay
Grant ran to his right and then reversed field to his left, racing down the sideline with a convey of blockers to give the Bears a 24-14 lead in an eventual 45-30 loss to the Packers.
With Eddie Goldman joining Mario Edwards Jr. on the COVID-19 list and Akiem Hicks still bothered by an ankle injury, do the Bears have any linemen on their practice squad they can elevate to the active roster?
Phil W.
Oak Brook, Illinois
The only defensive lineman on their practice squad is LaCale London, who has spent the past two seasons on the practice squad after joining the Bears in 2020 as an undrafted free agent from Western Illinois. I wouldn't be surprised if the Bears bolstered the position this week by signing a player off another team's practice squad or a street free agent.
Chalk Talk features fan questions multiple times each week. Email your question to Larry.
