NEWSLETTER
Watching Adam Shaheen limp off the field on Saturday had us running through the worst-case scenarios for the second-year tight end, but things might not be as bad as we once feared:
It looked nasty, but the ankle injury for #Bears TE Adam Shaheen wasn’t nearly as bad as it appeared. Source said Shaheen suffered a low-ankle sprain based on initial tests. More tests are coming, but if that holds, he wouldn’t be ruled out to play Week 1.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 19, 2018
A source has informed NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport that Shaheen has suffered a low-ankle sprain, according to initial tests. Rapoport adds more tests are coming, which could presumably provide more information about Shaheen’s health. And if those tests come back with positive results, it’s possible that Shaheen will be available to play in Week 1. All things considered, not losing Shaheen for any regular season games would be considered a win.
Shaheen caught 12 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games (seven starts) in his rookie season, but figured to play a bigger role in a more tight end friendly offense. And if he could bounce back while not missing any regular season time, then he very well could do so.
There should be no rush to get Shaheen back into the lineup. This isn’t to say getting him reps would be a bad thing, but keeping him out of the lineup could give the Bears a chance to give an extended look at reserve tight ends such as Daniel Brown and Ben Braunecker — especially if Dion Sims (concussion) still can’t get on the field. Sims, who was listed as the second-string tight end on the Bears’ first depth chart, has missed the last two preseason games because of concussion issues.
