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Bears TE Zach Miller out for season

By WTOP Staff

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller has been placed on season-ending injured reserve because of the foot injury he suffered in Thursday’s 20-19 preseason victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Miller, a former tight end for Jacksonville, was trying to make the team, most likely as a backup behind starter Martellus Bennett and backup Dante Rosario.

“He had an excellent camp,” coach Marc Trestman said. “Things transitioned from the practice field to the games over the last couple weeks. That was clear, and we were certainly excited about what we saw.”

Miller, obtained off waivers by the Bears, had six catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns in the first preseason game.

The Bears didn’t reveal the severity of the injury. Miller’s injury depletes the Bears at tight end. They were also without Rosario on Thursday due to a calf injury.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Bears quarterback Jordan Palmer after Thursday’s game.

“He’s had an unbelievable camp. This is really the kind of camp that when you come in off the streets this is the camp you dream of. You’re patient, not a lot of opportunities. Really when he got opportunities, he made the most of them.”

For Miller, it’s a difficult situation after he was out of the NFL in 2012. His 2011 season was ended by a shoulder injury while with Jacksonville after he’d made 45 catches in three seasons. He has struggled with injuries in his career.

Matthew Mulligan has had the most success in trying to make the team from among several other tight ends on the roster.

“We’ve seen his speed in practice, we’ve seen his ability to run vertically up the field and make plays, which showed up last night and it’s showed up in practice,” Trestman said of Mulligan. “He’s shown good hands and good speed, besides his ability to block at his point of attack.

“So we’re excited about it. He’s got great experience.”

Miller wasn’t the only injury concern for the Bears. Rookie first-round pick Kyle Fuller suffered an ankle injury and left Thursday’s game early. Trestman said he didn’t have an update on that injury.

The injury to Fuller may become an issue because Tim Jennings had been moved to nickel corner from left corner in passing situations.

If he has to move back to playing left cornerback, he’ll lose time trying to learn the new spot. Jennings already missed more than half of training camp with a quad injury.

“He (Jennings) was highly competitive covering our receivers inside during camp before he got hurt,” Trestman said. “So I think that transition is something that he’s going to be able to handle easily.”

To take Miller’s roster spot, the Bears added wide receiver Kofi Hughes to compete in the battle for a third receiver behind Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall.

The 6-foot, 215-pounder entered the NFL last year as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins out of Indiana

Trestman’s other big problem at this point is better production in special teams after his return teams have struggled.

They have lost a fumbled punt, had another fumbled punt and lost a kick return.

Their kick coverage team allowed a 102-yard touchdown return in the first preseason game.

“We’re not feeling good today about our kickoff return and our punt return game right now,” Trestman said.

Eric Weems lost the ball on a kick return against Jacksonville. In the first preseason game against Philadelphia, Micheal Spurlock lost a fumbled punt after a near collision with Michael Ford while fielding it.

Spurlock also fumbled a punt out of bounds against Jacksonville deep in Bears territory.

Without Devin Hester, who left in free agency for Atlanta, finding a return man figured to be important, but the coverage units and blocking have had problems, too.

“I think one of the things that we can get caught up in the (special) team aspect and what we really have to do is continue to develop a lot of new guys who are going to be core special teams players and continue to work with them, and we will,” Trestman said. “I’m optimistic we’ll get better.”

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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
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