Chicago Bears Week 9 Stock Report

The Chicago Bears dropped to 2-5 on the season following a 23-20 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8, and they will hit the road in Week 9 to take on the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football.

The Bears and Chargers have met just 11 times since 1970, and Chicago leads the all-time series 6-5. The Bears won the last meeting between the two teams back in 2011, but the Chargers have won four of the six games the two teams have played in San Diego.

Chicago has struggled in recent weeks to close out close games, and head coach John Fox admitted on Monday his team needs to do better.

"We've just got to play better," Fox said, per the team's official Twitter account. "It's our job as coaches and their job as players, and our fans deserve that."

Some players played better in Week 8 than they did in Week 6, but a few took a step back on Sunday afternoon.

Whose stock is rising and whose stock is falling as the Bears head into their Week 9 matchup with the San Diego Chargers?

Stock Up: Matt Slauson

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Veteran guard Matt Slauson was forced to move to center during Chicago's Week 4 victory over the Oakland Raiders because of an injury to starter Will Montgomery, and he made his first career start at center on Sunday against the Vikings.

Rookie Hroniss Grasu started Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs and Week 6 against the Detroit Lions in place of Montgomery, but he suffered a neck injury in practice last week and was unable to play against the Vikings.

Slauson moved from right guard to center on Sunday, and he played well at his new position.

According to Pro Football Focus, Slauson finished Sunday's game with a plus-2.6 overall grade, and he allowed just one quarterback hurry. The veteran offensive lineman looked comfortable playing center, and Dan Pompei thinks Slauson's experience with identifying pre-snap looks helped the Bears against Minnesota.

"Bears might have actually had an advantage with Matt Slauson at center—his experience helped with Vikings’ pressure packages," tweeted Pompei.

Slauson has played well at both the center position and at right guard this season, and he has said he will do whatever he can to help the team moving forward.

“I’m good with whatever,” Slauson said, per the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer. “It’s part of doing my job, part of being a pro. I have to be able to adjust. And I feel good about that.”

The veteran offensive lineman has the athleticism to get out in front in the running game, he plays with a solid base in pass protection and he is rarely overpowered by opposing defensive linemen. He has not complained about having to move over to the center position because of injuries, and his play has not declined despite playing the position for the first time.

Chicago's offensive line has had its share of ups and downs this season, but Slauson has been able to stabilize the interior at both the guard and center positions.

Stock Down: Antrel Rolle

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The Bears signed Antrel Rolle to a three-year deal this offseason with the hope that the veteran safety could help stabilize Chicago's shaky secondary, but he has not lived up to his billing this season.

He showed some flashes against the run and the pass in the first three games of the season, but he suffered an ankle injury against the Oakland Raiders in Week 4 and missed both Week 5 and Week 6. He returned to the lineup in Week 8 against Minnesota, but he struggled against the pass.

Rolle played well up in the box on Sunday against Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, but he failed to haul in an interception late in the game, which would have sealed a victory for the Bears. 

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw a floater toward receiver Charles Johnson, who was covered by Rolle, but the veteran safety misplayed the ball in the air before Johnson was able to come down with the big first-down catch.

Rolle explained the play after the game.

"I was baiting the quarterback a little bit. I got exactly what I wanted,” Rolle said, per Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times. “There was nothing I could have done differently.”

The veteran safety played back on the ball before Bridgewater made the throw to give the illusion he was beaten down the field by Johnson, and Rolle thought he would then have an opportunity to make a play on the ball once it was in the air.

“We were in Cover 2,” Rolle said, per Potash. “I saw the ball was underthrown. I thought it was a for-sure layup. I couldn’t even see [Johnson] on the outside of me. I just reached for the ball. I jumped up and I guess he had a running start coming from the outside … and undercut me and got the ball.”

Rolle's decision to bait Bridgewater into making the throw to his side of the field was not a bad one, but his lack of execution once the ball was in the air led to a big first down by Minnesota.

The former University of Miami standout has not been a playmaker in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's system so far this season, but he is still the team's best option at strong safety moving forward.

Stock Up: Bryce Callahan

Uncredited/Associated Press

Bryce Callahan went undrafted out of Rice in May, and after making a couple of appearances on special teams earlier this year, the young cornerback got his first opportunity to play defense this season in Week 8 against Minnesota.

According to Pro Football Focus, Callahan was targeted four times in the passing game against the Vikings, and he gave up three catches for just 15 yards. 

He did a nice job of eliminating yards after the catch, and he finished the game with four tackles. In addition to making stops in the passing game, he also played well against the run. He stood tall in the box when he was asked to take on Peterson in the running game, and he recorded a tackle for loss.

Callahan played a solid game all afternoon against the Vikings, but according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times, the young cornerback suffered a concussion near the end of the contest.

He was not on the field for the final few minutes of the game, and his replacement, veteran cornerback Sherrick McManis, was beaten by receiver Stefon Diggs for a touchdown.

Callahan needs to do a better job of playing with physicality at the line of scrimmage, but he held his own at the nickelback position on Sunday. He played with solid technique throughout the afternoon, and proved to be a solid tackler.

The Bears have not said whether or not Callahan will be ready to play this Monday against the Chargers, but if he does play, he will be tested by Philip Rivers in the passing game.

Stock Down: Willie Young and Lamarr Houston

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Outside linebackers Willie Young and Lamarr Houston were expected to be two of Chicago's best pass-rushers this season, but both have struggled at their new positions in the team's 3-4 defense.

Through seven games this season, Young has recorded four tackles and one sack. According to Pro Football Focus, Young has played just 124 of the team's 440 snaps on defense and has recorded just one quarterback hit and nine quarterback hurries.

Young led the Bears in sacks last season with 10, but he suffered an Achilles injury in Week 16 against Detroit and was forced to move to 3-4 outside linebacker this offseason after spending his entire career as a 4-3 defensive end. He has struggled to disengage from opposing offensive linemen this season, and he lacks the explosiveness that made him one of the NFC's best pass-rushers last season.

In addition to Young's struggles this year, Houston has also struggled to bounce back from an injury he suffered last season. Houston tore his ACL last year and made the move to 3-4 outside linebacker this offseason. According to Pro Football Focus, he has played just 119 snaps in 2015, including just four against the Vikings on Sunday.

Houston has appeared in all seven games this season and has recorded eight tackles and one sack. According to Pro Football Focus, he has registered three quarterback hits and three quarterback hurries. He has been used primarily in the team's nickel package, but he has struggled to earn playing time behind Young and starter Sam Acho. 

Like Young, Houston has struggled with his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, but he has played well against the run. The former Oakland Raider was one of Chicago's biggest offseason signings in 2014, but he has failed to live up to lofty expectations through the first year and half of his contract. 

When asked about Young and Houston's lack of playing time, Fox offered very little insight about why neither player has received consistent reps so far this season.

"Obviously, we like them," Fox said, per Jahns. "They're on our football team. They have uniforms on Sunday."

Both Young and Houston have the talent to be effective pass-rushers in the team's 3-4 defense, but they both have to become more consistent to earn more playing time in the coming weeks.

Stock Up: Jay Cutler

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

When healthy this season, quarterback Jay Cutler has arguably been the best player on offense for the Bears.

After throwing for more than 350 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Week 6 against Detroit, Cutler threw for 211 passing yards with one touchdown, ran the ball two times for 11 yards and scored one rushing touchdown against the Vikings.

Cutler has looked poised in the pocket all season long, and Pompei thinks the veteran quarterback has looked different under center this year.

"Like how Jay Cutler protected the football and played smart," Pompei tweeted. "Reflection of maturity and coaching."

Chicago's offense played it safe early in the game because of all the changes along its offensive line, but once offensive coordinator Adam Gase opened up the playbook late in the first half, Cutler came alive in the passing game.

With the Bears trailing the Vikings 10-3 with less than 50 seconds left on the clock in the second quarter, Cutler threw a perfect ball to Jeffery in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown to tie the game up just before the end of the first half.

Chicago was tied with Minnesota 13-13 late in the fourth quarter before Cutler dove into the end zone for a touchdown to give the team a 20-13 lead. Cutler rolled out to his right before he dropped his shoulder into Vikings safety Harrison Smith before scoring his first rushing touchdown of the year.

“That was awesome,” outside linebacker Pernell McPhee said after the game, per Jahns. “He sold out his body for the team. Jay’s one of our leaders and everybody respects him, and that’s what leaders do, sell out their body for the team.”

The veteran quarterback has been smart with the football this season, and he has looked like a different quarterback at times in Gase's system. He has improved his throwing mechanics and his footwork, and he has also improved his decision-making. 

Cutler should have a chance in Week 9 to pad his stats even more against a Chargers defense that is giving up 362.9 total yards per game this season and has allowed 14 passing touchdowns.

Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.

Matt Eurich is a Chicago Bears featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

Follow @MattEurich.