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Sowell To TE Shows Belief In Coward


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Bradley Sowell position change proves belief in Rashaad Coward

ByMatt Eurich May 24, 1:15 PM
 
 

One of the biggest stories surrounding the Chicago Bears at the start of OTAs was the team's decision to move offensive tackle Bradley Sowell to the tight end position. That move alone shows the team is not 100 percent sure about the depth at the tight end position, but it all proves the team has confidence in Rashaad Coward as an offensive tackle.

Coward is entering his third year with the organization and his second as an offensive lineman. The Bears opted to move him from the nose tackle position along the defensive line to the tackle position last offseason. Head coach Matt Nagy was asked about who can take over as the new swing tackle with Sowell moving to tight end and the only name he brought up was Coward.

"Right now we are playing through that," Nagy said when asked about who will be the team's swing tackle. "We've got guys in Rashaad Coward that can do some things [both] interior and tackle wise."

Coward joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and spent the season on the practice squad. Chicago then moved him to the offensive side of the ball following the addition of offensive line coach Harry Hiestand last year. The team initially listed Coward as a guard but he spent his time during the preseason mostly playing the right tackle position. When the Bears opened up the preseason against the Baltimore Ravens in the Hall of Fame game he played every snap on offense that night.

Working with Hiestand, a noted offensive line coach, has already helped Coward's transition to the offensive side of the ball. For someone who had not played the position in a game before the preseason opener against the Ravens, Coward looked comfortable getting in and out of his stance off the snap of the ball. He went on to play well throughout the preseason for Chicago. Coward appeared poised to land on Chicago's practice squad but the Bears kept him on the 53-man roster throughout the year.

Coward did not appear in a game last season for Chicago.

The team is currently locked in with its starters at the two anchor positions with Charles Leno at left tackle and Bobby Massie at right tackle. The rest of the position is filled with either journeymen or youngsters looking to make the roster. That list includes veteran Cornelius Lucas and undrafted rookies such as Blake Blackmar and Marquez Tucker.

Sowell proved to be a solid swing tackle a season ago and could still conceivably move back into that position. But if Coward is able to perform at a high level throughout training camp and the preseason it would not come as a surprise to see him land on the 53-man roster once again in 2019.

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