Vic Fangio

Q. What have you seen from S Sydney Brown? Assuming Sydney’s going to have an expanded role, what have you seen from going back to camp and when he has played this year? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: I think he’s been doing a good job in practice with the reps that he does get. He’s done a good job staying in tune in the meetings and the walkthroughs, and I’m excited to see how he does.

Q. Expect to have S Reed Blankenship back this week? (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: Yes, I do.

Q. So S Sydney Brown would be the next man up with S Andrew Mukuba obviously sideline? (Tim McManus)

Vic Fangio: [Nods.]

Q. How big of a loss is that? I mean, S Andrew Mukuba seemed like he really kind of, over the last month or so, was playing really well. (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: I think we talked about it last week. He has been playing a lot better, avoiding the big negative plays and playing to his ability.

Q. After CB Adoree’ Jackson went down, what made you want to go with the combination of DB Cooper DeJean on the outside and CB Michael Carter on the inside? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: That’s what we thought was the next best combination.

Q. How do you think DB Cooper DeJean held up outside? Tough matchup, obviously. (John McMullen)

Vic Fangio: He got beat a couple of times. I thought he was tight, just at the catchpoint got beaten. It’s going to happen.

Q. Now that you’ve had CB Michael Carter for a little while, what stands out most about him? (Dave Zangaro)

Vic Fangio: I think he’s a good player, good natural football player. [He] understands the game. He’s got good instincts, got good technique to his game, he’s quick. We’re pleased to have him.

Q. If CB Adoree’ Jackson is still out, is that the combination you’re still- (Brooks Kubena)

Vic Fangio: It’s possible.

Q. Is S Andre Sam a guy who has stood out at all, going back to camp? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, in camp he has the last two years. There’s a chance he’ll be elevated.

Q. Could you see CB Michael Carter getting into the mix at safety? (Cayden Steele)

Vic Fangio: He’s gone into these last few games as our fourth safety.

Q. How much does it help DB Cooper DeJean to be able to, if he’s going to practice there, how much does that help for the week if he’s going to play there? How hard was it for him to have to do that in the middle of a game? (Bob Brookover)

Vic Fangio: I mean, when you’ve got to change gears like that, it always comes at a price. But he’s been playing corner and base, so it’s not like he hasn’t been out there.

Q. What is Chicago showing you on offense? (Dave Spadaro)

Vic Fangio: A lot. It’s a great scheme. They do a great job calling the game, mixing it up, marrying their run game and their pass game. They’re highly ranked in a lot of areas, and I don’t think it’s any accident. They’ve got really good players and it’s a great scheme and a great play caller.

Q. What do you think contributed to the lack of pass rush this past game? (Jeff Neiburg)

Vic Fangio: I don’t think it was terrible that way. I mean, the sacks weren’t what you want, which I know you guys think that’s the only barometer of pass rush.

Q. As far as DB Cooper DeJean goes, was it a little surprising to see him struggle a little bit on the outside? (Ed Kracz)

Vic Fangio: Well, I mean, I don’t know if surprising is the right word. Guys get beat sometimes and those are good receivers. They have two top-notch receivers.

Q. Circling back to Chicago. Can you talk about Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson and what makes him a difficult guy to prepare for? (Dave Spadaro)

Vic Fangio: Ben does a good job of mixing it up. They package things well together. They play multiple personnel groups and they’re under center a good bit, probably more than most teams in this league. Kudos to him and his staff for bringing that young quarterback along who I don’t think ever played under center in college. He’s doing a great job, and they have fought through any of the pitfalls of that and now they’ve got a quarterback that is executing their offense the way they want to.

Q. Will we continue to see the trend of LB Jihaad Campbell? Fewer snaps than we’ve seen over the last month. (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, [LB] Nakobe [Dean] has been playing very well, and he deserves to be in there.

Q. What makes LB Nakobe Dean such an effective blitzer? (Jeff Neiburg)

Vic Fangio: He’s got a good feel for it. He can be physical when he needs to be, and he can slip a guy when he needs to slip a guy. So, he’s got a good feel for it.

Q. On the Cowboys WR George Pickens reception that set up the game-winning field goal, where CB Quinyon Mitchell and CB Michael Carter collided. Did you get an explanation for what happened there or what the assignments were that led to that? (Tim McManus)

Vic Fangio: No, I don’t remember that.

Q. What led to LB Nakobe Dean having the interception overturned? I guess by too many men on the field to play DE Brandon Graham. (Ed Kracz)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, they subbed, which allows us to sub and give us time to sub. The umpire was actually going up to the line of scrimmage to hold up the play and for some reason didn’t. That one, I’m not sure really what happened there, but they subbed so we should be able to sub, and we didn’t get off in time.

Q. When it comes to calling a game, when you have a quarterback that can extend plays like Bears QB Caleb Williams, how much does that change things for you? (John McMullen)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, it’s an added dimension to their offense. We’ve talked about how good their offense is, and now with him, there’s going to be plays where you have to defend a second play that he’s creating with his scrambling. He’s a high-level scrambler, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s got good instincts when he is scrambling. It’s tough.

Q. DE Brandon Graham lined up inside for two snaps, and it’s not a look you’ve had with three Edge guys on the field since early last year. What was behind that and is that something that can grow? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, we could play him in there more.

Q. What was behind that? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: Just that he can rush pretty good from in there. We were playing a lot of plays, and guys needed a break.

Q. Do you remember the last time you coached a game on a Friday? (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, two years ago. Miami and Jets. Prior to that it was 1982 Dunmore High School.

Q. In a week when you’re playing against an offense that puts strain on the secondary and you’re moving parts, I guess with only one practice, how do you navigate that? Do you have to go into the week knowing who that five’s going to be? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, but I mean you always have to be ready for adjustments. You saw it the other day, we lost a couple guys and if that game had gone into overtime, [CB Michael] Carter [would] probably [be] playing safety and Cooper [DeJean] would be back to nickel and [CB] Kelee [Ringo] would have been at corner.

Q. Head Coach Nick Sirianni was saying the other day that you kind of give those guys chances during developmental periods, like different scenarios that could play out if injuries happen. How helpful is that? I mean, obviously it’s not the same as being in a real game, but do you think it kind of helps when they have to go in like they did against the Cowboys? (Martin Frank)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, it’s helpful. It’s going against our own offense so it’s not going against the team we’re getting ready to play. So, there’s not the carry over there, but at least they’re out there executing calls against an offense.

Q. Is there any similarities here? You just played the Lions and now you’re getting the Bears. Any similarities? (Bob Brookover)

Vic Fangio: There definitely are some, but not as much as you think.

Q. You faced some other scrambling quarterbacks this year. Is there anything unique about the way Bears QB Caleb Williams scrambles? (Dave Zangaro)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, he just probably does it better than most. He and the guy in New York are pretty elite at scrambling.

Q. What has CB Jakorian Bennett shown you in practice and what has your assessment been of him since he’s returned from IR? (Brooks Kubena)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, he’s been getting some reps, doing pretty good. I don’t think we’re going to truly know until he gets out there and has to play.