Bears stick with roster as is at trade deadline; Vikings bring back QB Kirk Cousins

The Bears kept quiet at the trade deadline Tuesday, opting to continue their Super Bowl pursuit with the players they’ve got. That was widely expected after they swung big two weeks ago by sending two first-round picks to the Titans for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

The top realistic targets were Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack, Jets cornerback Nahshon Wright and Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen. Wright and Mack are former Bears, and Wright could still be available this season if the Jets release him.

The Vikings made the biggest move in the NFC North on Tuesday as they tried to stop what looks like a plunge down the standings because of their quarterback trouble. They sent a third-round pick to the Raiders to bring back Kirk Cousins, who was there from 2018 through ’23.

Vikings starter Kyler Murray is out with a hamstring injury, and backup Carson Wentz was a disaster Monday in their loss to the Bills. The Bears don’t play the Vikings again until the final week of the season, so there’s no telling who will be playing quarterback for them at that point.

The Vikings’ loss put the Bears in first place in the North for the first time since Week 1. At 7-2, they lead the Lions and Vikings at 6-2 and the Packers at 6-3.

The Bears are off this week and resume Nov. 22 at home against the Saints. The Vikings visit the Packers on Sunday, while the Lions will face the Patriots in Germany.