NEWSLETTER
An updated Bears injury report now features two prominent starters.
Here is the latest:
#Bears Tuesday Injury Report:
Limited: TE Trey Burton (groin); OL Rashaad Coward (elbow); DT Bilal Nichols (knee)— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) September 3, 2019
Tight end Trey Burton (groin) practiced for the second straight day in a limited capacity, but his status for Thursday’s regular-season opener against the Packers is still in question. Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic tweets Burton will be a game-time decision, per Head Coach Matt Nagy.
Burton sat out the Bears’ playoff loss to the Eagles with a groin injury back in January and underwent sports hernia surgery in the offseason that kept him off the practice field during the offseason training program. And while Burton practiced at training camp in Bourbonnais, a groin injury unrelated to what led to his offseason surgery flared up and put him on the injury report to start the season. Mitch Trubisky posted a 112.0 passer rating on throws targeting Burton last season, so losing that type of passing option is a less-than-ideal way to start the regular season. But with that in mind, it is imperative the Bears get Burton healthy for the long haul.
Defensive lineman Bilal Nichols appeared on Tuesday’s injury report as having been a limited participant in practice with a knee issue. But as WGN Radio’s Adam Hoge points out, a knee issue led Nichols to find his way on the injury report often last season, but it wasn’t enough to keep him off the field for too long. Fishbain also chimes in on Nichols’ situation, noting the second-year defender was often on the injury report with a knee problem during indoor practices. It’s possible that this is simply a precautionary tactic by Nagy and the health/training staff. If that’s the case, then that lake breeze you’ll feel will be a collective sigh of relief.
Seeing a pair of starters on the injury report just days before the start of the regular season is a bit unsettling. Nichols’ situation might not be dire situation. And if it is anything like last year, then there isn’t much to worry about. On the other hand, Burton’s injury is a cause for concern. Because even as he continues to practice, his availability remains in doubt. Even if he does suit up and play, there will be questions about how hard he can go and for how long.
The Bears did an excellent job managing injuries last year, but are being put to the test early in 2019.
