NEWSLETTER
Adrian Amos’ breakout season has hit a snag.
A hamstring injury has kept Amos out of practice all week, pushing the Chicago Bears to list the safety as doubtful to play in Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. Amos is one of a handful of defensive backs on Friday’s injury report, but his injury (and absence) could be the one with the biggest impact.
Amos’ 92.3 grade is one of two categorized as “elite” by Pro Football Focus’ grading standards. Only Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings has a better grade than Amos.
Safeties Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson did not practice as both were nursing ankle injuries. Both are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, though having either in the rotation would be a major boost for the Bears’ safeties. At it stands, newly signed Chris Prosinski (who played two years with the Bears before being cut this season) is lined up to start next to Eddie Jackson at safety. Those are your only healthy safeties currently on the active roster.
Expect Lamarr Houston to get some quality playing time as rookie Isaiah Irving will miss the game with a knee injury. Irving played a season-high 36 defensive snaps in Week 12 and was expected to be in the mix to fill in some of the playing time left behind by Leonard Floyd’s injury.
Left guard Josh Sitton (concussion) and cornerback Bryce Callahan (knee) were limited participants on Friday. Both are questionable to play and both could leave the Bears with some big shoes to fill. Sitton played just 15 snaps before being removed and placed into the NFL’s concussion protocol. Reserve offensive lineman Bradley Sowell took over for Sitton and played 40 snaps. Either Sowell or Tom Compton would likely start in place of Sitton if he can’t give it a go against the 49ers.
Cornerback Cre’von LeBlanc (illness) didn’t practice and was also listed as questionable. He has filled admirably for Callahan, who hasn’t played since Week 8 against the New Orleans Saints. LeBlanc’s 78.3 grade via Pro Football Focus would rank as the second best among Bears cornerbacks if he played enough snaps to qualify for the leaderboard.
LeBlanc has played on just 172 defensive snaps this season … all but five of which have come in the last four games. The second-year cornerback played on a season-high 49 snaps in the team’s Week 12 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles and secured a team-best 86.5 grade from PFF for his efforts.
