NEWSLETTER
Yesterday, we saw running back David Montgomery, one of the Bears’ most effective offensive players, get placed on the injury report with some sort of ankle injury, putting his availability for Sunday’s game against the Rams in doubt.
Adam Jahns of The Athletic has a little more on the injury:
#Bears coach Matt Nagy says that RB David Montgomery “lightly” rolled his ankle yesterday in practice.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) November 14, 2019
Ugh! Whenever I read about a player with an ankle injury, the Drake line: “like a sprained ankle, I ain’t nothin’ to play with” plays in my head, which I hate it. And I hate it more that it is Chicago’s best running back with the issue.
Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy told reporters at Halas Hall that rookie running back David Montgomery “lightly” rolled his ankle during Wednesday’s practice. Nagy isn’t sure about Montgomery’s status for the Bears’ Sunday Night Football showdown against the Rams, and the team will monitor his status as the week progresses. That Nagy doesn’t have a feeling either way about Montgomery’s status is worrisome in its own way. None of this makes me feel good.
Montgomery has been given 129 carries, rushed for 466 yards, and has scored five touchdowns in the first nine games of his rookie season. His production has picked up in recent weeks, averaging 19 carries and 78 yards over his last three games. That doesn’t seem like much, but it is a significant up-tick compared to the 11 carries and 38 yards he averaged in his first six games. Missing Montgomery would tweak the Bears’ offensive game plan, which would likely lean more on quarterback Mitch Trubisky since the team doesn’t have another back who can carry a bulk of the load in the backfield.
We will continue to keep tabs on Montgomery’s practice status over the next two days. If he is limited, then perhaps it could be viewed as a sign that things are progressing to a point where he can play against the Rams. If he continues to show up as a DNP on the practice report, then we might need to keep an eye on the waiver wire for possible additions to the roster. Tarik Cohen and Ryan Nall are currently listed as Montgomery’s backups, while rookie seventh-round pick Kerrith Whyte Jr. is on the practice squad as a fall-back option if things get dire.
