Skip to main content

Bears’ Wilson breaks collarbone, out indefinitely

By WTOP Staff

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Marquess Wilson is out indefinitely after breaking his collarbone in practice on Monday.

Wilson was in a battle for the No. 3 wide receiver position behind starters Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, and last week coach Marc Trestman said he was “in the lead right now into winning it.”

Wilson sprawled out for a deep pass in scrimmage, had trouble getting up and was taken from the field in a cart. Trestman said it’s too soon to speculate on how long Wilson might be sidelined.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” Trestman said. “He was continuing to ascend. That’s football, unfortunately. We will pray for his recovery as soon as we can get things done that need to get done.”

Trestman said coaches normally do not encourage players to dive for passes during practice due to the injury risk.

“That’s probably the hardest part about coaching,” Trestman said. “You hear us say it all the time: ‘Stay off the ground, stay off the ground.’ And diving for balls is probably one of the most difficult things not to do when you’re a competitive player.”

Wilson, with his arm in a sling at lunch after Monday’s practice, called it a reaction as much as an attempt to make a risky catch.

“Me being a receiver, I saw the ball and in my mind I said, ‘Go get it,’ ” he said. “It was just second nature.

“I look back at it and I probably shouldn’t have done it. But it just happened.”

The 6-foot-3, 194-pound player in his second year from Washington State made just two catches last year, but stood a solid chance of winning the third receiver spot that became open when the Bears opted not to bring back free agent Earl Bennett. Wilson worked out in the offseason with Jeffery and Marshall extensively and had credited that for improvement over his rookie year.

“He’s been showing it consistently, making plays,” tight end Martellus Bennett said of his teammate. “Back in the day he was a flash player, but he’s been working so hard and he’s been stepping up.

“So those are going to be some hard shoes for us to fill because he’s been doing a great job.”

Veterans Eric Weems, Josh Morgan, Armanti Edwards and Michael Spurlock, and first-year players Chris Williams, Josh Bellamy and Dale Moss are the other wide receivers on the Bears’ roster.

NOTES: Bennett took offense to being knocked down near the goal line in a limited-contact scrimmage by cornerback Kyle Fuller, then grabbed Fuller and threw him to the ground with a body slam. Following the skirmish, Trestman stopped the scrimmage and had players go immediately to the walk-through portion of practice. … Defensive end Jared Allen had a second consecutive day off for personal reasons. … Cornerback Tim Jennings (quad) missed practice, while right guard Kyle Long is practicing now after missing more than a week of camp due to a viral infection.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote