The Chicago Bears’ are that much closer to being at full strength for kickoff on Sunday:
Bears OLB Khalil Mack (right ankle) and WRs Allen Robinson (groin) and Taylor Gabriel (knee) fully participated in Friday's practice.
They are a GO for Sunday vs. Lions, barring some unforeseen setback.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) November 9, 2018
Unless happens between now and when inactives are announced around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, star pass-rusher Khalil Mack and standout wide receiver Allen Robinson were full participants in Friday’s practice. That means both are on schedule to play on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, marking their first action since Week 7. The Bears have held their own the last two weeks while Mack and Robinson were sidelined, but the team enters a stretch of three division games in 11 days and will be as healthy as possible as it embarks on this journey.
Joining Mack and Robinson as fully participating in Friday’s practice was receiver Taylor Gabriel, who has been dealing with a knee issue. Gabriel was on last week’s injury report because of a knee injury and left the win against the Bills early due to a knee issue. However, Gabriel has since returned to practice, thus, making it a non-issue heading into game day.
Having a fully operational group of receivers could go a long way toward another possible Mitch Trubisky breakout. Opposing quarterbacks have a 5.3-to-1 touchdown-interception ratio against the Lions defense this year, and it doesn’t figure to get any better with the news that top cornerback Darius Slay is OUT with a knee injury. As for Mack, his return will come against a Lions offensive line that allowed Matthew Stafford to get sacked 10 times last week against the Minnesota Vikings.
Things are shaping up for the Bears to do some major damage on Sunday. But no matter how it looks in the box score, the only thing that matters is that the Bears escape with a win. And because they are healthy (and healthier than their opponent), I’m inclined to believe that’s what is most likely going to happen.