Watch out for ‘Sonic’ and ‘Knuckles’, the Lions’ stud running back duo

Bears must keep an eye on both “Knuckles” and “Sonic”.

It’s the nickname “Thunder and Lightning” style that the Lions are running back David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs gave each other a nod to the video game “Sonic the Hedgehog” earlier this year.

“Both of them are pretty good backs, but they present a different style of play,” defensive end Montez was sweating said before the Bears’ walkthrough Tuesday. “(Gibbs) is definitely a faster back. Montgomery, who used to be here before I was, is more of a middle short.”

In his second season, Gibbs ranks fourth in the NFL with 886 rushing yards.

“The way they can isolate him against certain aspects of your coverage and … they find ways to scheme to get him to the football,” defensive coordinator Erik Washington said.

Montgomery, who spent his first four seasons with the Bears before signing with the Lions in March 2023, has 632 rushing yards — just 33 shy of the Bears’ leading rusher, D’Andre Swift.

Only five teams have more rushing yards than the Lions. They have played nine games in which both running backs scored touchdowns, tied for third all-time for a pair of teammates, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

That’s a big challenge for a Bears defense that has gotten worse against the run since the nose tackle Andrew Billings was injured in Week 9 against the Cardinals.

“Our most important thing in this game is to stop the run so we can earn the right to rush the pass,” defensive end Darrell Taylor said.

Less ‘Rique

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson started Sunday but played less than half of the Bears’ defensive snaps for the first time all season. Stevenson – who infamously spent the start of the Commanders’ Hail Mary jabbing at fans – was replaced by Terrell Smithwho appeared in two-thirds of the Bears’ defensive snaps to Stevenson’s 35% against the Vikings. The week before, Smith appeared in 41% of the Bears’ snaps to Stevenson’s 59%.

The reason for the increase, Washington said: Smith’s production.

“I love his ability to cover people,” he said. “Love his ability to diagnose and really feel route concepts, pattern pressure. … A few weeks ago he brought us a choice. So the production is there. We trust him, he’s reliable and he can really fit exactly what we need that position to do.”

Special error

Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said he thought coach Matt Eberflus decided to try a field goal when he kicked Cairo Santos and holds Tory Taylor ran down the field for fourth-and-4, only to be sent back when the offense stayed on the field. Quarterback Caleb Williams eventually threw an incomplete pass.

Hightower said his headset was tuned to the special teams channel when Eberflus communicated the decision on the offensive coaches channel.

“(Eberflus) said he was (coming to it) on the other line and he just didn’t get it communicated back to us,” Hightower said.

Notes

The Bears have been working on Santos’ spinning onside kick — the one he converted to give his team a chance to tie the game — since Hightower’s arrival.

“They’ve never complained about doing it twice a week for two and a half years,” Hightower said.

• The Lions and Bears assessed their practice attendance after holding a review for the second straight day. Ninth year left tackle Taylor Decker missed his second straight Lions practice with a knee injury. Receiver Caliph Raymond (foot) and cornerback Carlton Davis III (knee/thumb) also missed practice. Receiver of all kinds Amon-Ra St. Brownthere was a knee injury, was a limited participant.

• Carries security Elijah Hicks did not participate in the team review while the guard Ryan Bates was limited but remains in the concussion protocol.

The Bears’ offense has momentum after two weeks of progress under new coordinator Thomas Brown, but faces a Lions defense that ranks second in points allowed. The Lions’ running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will test the Bears’ run defense.

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