The Chicago Bears might be without three starters when the team takes the field on Sunday to face the Cincinnati Bengals.
Nose tackle Eddie Goldman, outside linebacker/edge defender Pernell McPhee, and safety Adrian Amos each missed their third consecutive practice on Friday. Further, each is listed as doubtful on the team’s official injury report.
And if Goldman is out for Sunday, the Bears will be six players who were starters in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Chicago’s defense is already banged up entering Week 14, as it is already without starters at defensive end (Mitch Unrein), outside linebacker (Willie Young, Leonard Floyd), inside linebacker (Jerrell Freeman) and depth pieces throughout the roster (Quintin Demps, Isaiah Irving) who are on injured reserve. In total, the Bears have 14 players on IR and only Demps is eligible to return from this group.
Wide receiver Josh Bellamy missed Thursday’s practice with an illness, but returned to full participation. Bellamy could start at receiver against the Bengals. In the two games since the bye in which he has been healthy, Bellamy has played on 61 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Bellamy has a bit of a rapport this season with quarterback Mitch Trubisky, including this nifty touchdown against the Packers in Week 10.
Safety DeAndre Houston-Carson could help patch up the Bears’ problems with safety depth. Houston-Carson was limited in practice, but listed as questionable.
If you’ll recall, the Bears re-signed Chris Prosinski in the middle of the week leading up to Week 13 and had him play 100 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in his first game back. Chicago could use some able-bodied safeties in the secondary, and they could come in the form of Houston-Carson, Deiondre’ Hall, and possibly Deon Bush.