The Bears made official this week what started to become obvious in training camp: Johnny Knox is behind Roy Williams on the depth chart.
Devin Hester is locked into a starting flanker role, which leaves Chicago’s leading receiver of a year ago (Knox) no higher than No. 4 on the depth chart. (Earl Bennett plays the slot.)
Knox believes he can get his job back. If that doesn’t happen, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes that Knox could push for a trade.
“There’s a better than fair chance he will push for a new home, according to a source,” Biggs writes. “This is a guy, after all, who thought he would be talking contract extension before the end of the season and now has to surpass a competitor coming off three mediocre seasons with the Cowboys.”
We suspect the Bears are trying to motivate Knox to eliminate his mental mistakes. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz says Knox’s starting job last year was given to him -- it wasn’t earned.
“He just was not ready, not because he can’t do it or he’s not talented. The preparation, the consistency that’s required … he does a lot of good things, but they have to be good all the time. That’s what Roy is,” Martz said.
(We’ll give Cowboys fans a minute to clean up whatever they just spit on the computer screen.)
Knox’s big-play ability would be attractive to other teams, but there’s just no reason for the Bears to trade him. Expect him to be in Chicago this year, and to eventually climb back up the depth chart because of his talent.