Pass Rusher's Issue a Medical One According to Report

A Tribune report says Robert Quinn's mysterious lack of production this season might be due to a nerve condition in his foot

It seems Robert Quinn's mysterious disappearance from the pass rush at a cost of over $30 million guaranteed might have a medical explanation.

According to Chicago Tribune reporter Brad Biggs, two sources said Quinn might have missed time back during training camp team drills due to the medical condition "drop foot."

The condition actually is known as foot drop, but has become better known as drop foot, according to MedMd.com.

Biggs said a source said Quinn has a nerve issue affecting a foot and another source said Quinn told teammates he had drop foot.

WebMd says it can be a sign of an "underlying neurological, muscular or anatomical problem."

The situation isn't necessarily permanent but can be. 

The person suffering from it tends to have trouble raising the front part of their foot. They drag their toes and it can be addressed by wearing a brace on the foot and ankle depending on the cause.

One of the potential root causes listed by the web site is a sports injury, which could be applicable in this case.

This tends to absolve Quinn of his problems getting sacs, but the real issue then is general manager Ryan Pace. 

This is a case where he should have more thoroughly researched a medical condition. As Biggs points out in his article, Dallas didn't want to pay out money close to what the Bears did to sign Quinn. The Cowboys had money to burn, too.

This all smacks of the situation the Bears went through when Pace signed Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Pernell McPhee to a big contract in 2015. McPhee had a knee issue and really hasn't been the same pass rusher since his early days in Baltimore. He's playing and contributing with the Ravens but not like a dominant edge rusher.

The Bears never had the production from him like they anticipated.

In Quinn's case, it's possible the pandemic could have impacted the ability to thorough research it, this isn't known.

Quinn seems to be giving the effort but has played 447 snaps without a sack since making a sack on his first Bears play. Considering his past and the effort that he constantly gives, the story seems plausible, if not totally logical.

In fact, the Bears have intentionally increased Quinn's snap count throughout the season according to outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino. On Sunday, though, it declined to 50% of the defensive snaps but this may have been more due to the lopsided score. 

What isn't logical is the way the Bears have treated it in terms of covering it up. 

Instead, they've let Quinn take a beating among fans in media and social media for lack of production when the fault lies more with the general manager and/or team medical personnel for their assessment.

Meanwhile, the search for sacks goes on. Monachino on Monday said his film review showed Quinn close a few times Sunday and responsible for plays that allowed others to make a play on Deshaun Watson.

"The other thing is I personally have to do a better job of figuring out ways that Robert finishes better," Monachino said.

His feeling is Quinn will eventually make plays.

"You've just got to keep grinding at it and keep giving the guy enough tools for his tool box that he knows when to use them at the rght times and hopefully we end up on top of the quarterback some in the next few weeks," Monachino said.

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