Everything that could've gone south in the Chicago Bears' trip to Lambeau Field went terribly wrong. Ben Johnson's team didn't seem prepared in this one , and neither quarterback could keep the chains in motion.
The loss also came at a steep price. Tyrique Stevenson and T.J. Edwards left the game with injuries, but none of those absences might sting as much as losing Dayo Odeyingbo, who suffered a quad injury in the second half.
Odeyingbo had been a pleasant surprise for Dennis Allen's defense this season. And while the injury might not be long-term, the evident lack of depth at the position should make the Bears seriously consider bringing Khalil Mack.
The Los Angeles Chargers are 0-5 and likely to be sellers at the November 10 trade deadline. Mack wants and deserves to play for a Super Bowl contender, and he'd probably be more than willing to return to the Windy City.
Soft-tissue injuries are tricky and tend to linger. There's still no word on the extent of the injury, but it could be an issue to keep an eye on throughout the season, and it might limit Odeyingbo's explosiveness.
Even if he can suit up for Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons, watching the Bears struggle to put pressure without him exposed how thin they are in the pass-rushing department. Montez Sweat needs some help, and not many people are better at the job than Khalil Mack.
The Bears can have an absolutely elite pass-rushing unit with Mack, Sweat, and Odeyingbo rotating there. Odeyingbo is up to 14 pressures, 9 total tackles (5 solo), three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and 3.0 sacks, and adding a future Hall of Famer by his side can only raise this team's ceiling.
Ryan Poles threw his name in the hat when Maxx Crosby was up for grabs, but to no avail. Then, the Bears looked like a potential landing spot for Cameron Jordan, but again, they didn't do enough to reel him in. This is an opportunity they simply can't waste.
Multiple teams will come knocking after the Chargers dropped their fifth game of the season. The Bears can give Mack a fighting chance for a ring before riding into the sunset, not to mention a fan base that cherishes him and values him and a city he's already familiar with.
Odeyingbo's injury might become a blessing in disguise if it finally leads the team to make a much-needed move for another headhunter.
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This article was originally published on www.dawindycity.com as Dayo Odeyingbo's injury should force Bears to go all-in for Khalil Mack .
