Down Bear: A First Look at Some Injured Players Ahead of Thursday’s Preseason Opener

You’ll have to excuse head coach John Fox and GM Ryan Pace for their unbridled optimism and excitement about the fresh and healthy start to 2017.

Unfortunately, it just didn’t last long, as Pernell McPhee’s placement on the PUP list was an inauspicious start for a team that finished with 19 players on injured reserve last season. Injuries are unavoidable in football, but they’re worrisome – especially after seeing how they ravaged a team with depth issues such as the 2016 Bears.

While the Bears aren’t obligated to issue an injury report until leading into the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, several key players went into the weekend on the mend:

  • Quarterback Connor Shaw missed Friday’s practice with an ankle problem, according to Brad Biggs.
  • Running back Jeremy Langford did not participate in Saturday’s Family Fest because of a lingering ankle injury, per Chris Emma.
  • Wide receiver Markus Wheaton is still recovering from his appendectomy, but could be back sooner than expected.
  • Outside linebacker/defensive end Willie Young was suffering with a groin strain and cornerback Kyle Fuller sat out with a calf, reports Jeff Dickerson.
  • Defensive back Rashaad Reynolds had the only notable injury at Family Fest, which Hub Arkush described as a leg injury.
  • Per Bob LeGere, other players who didn’t practice on Friday included wide receiver Titus Davis and safety Harold Jones-Quartey.
  • Danny Trevathan (who could start 2017 on the regular season PUP list) and Pernell McPhee (who is currently on the training camp PUP list) are also notable Bears missing in action.
  • It will be interesting to see who’s in and who’s out early this week as the team prepares for its first preseason contest.

    written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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