NEWSLETTER
The quick turnaround from Sunday to Thursday has limited the Bears to walk-through practices this week.
So instead of a traditional injury report, teams push out estimated participation reports that are meant to reflect projected statuses had the team been going through a regular practice. The Bears shared their injury report this afternoon, and it features a slew of players who are going to be missing in action on Thanksgiving.
Here it is in all of its glory:
#Bears Wednesday injury report:
Note: The Bears conducted a walk-through Wednesday. Practice participation reports are estimates. pic.twitter.com/13Cp2B8jAI— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) November 27, 2019
Tight end Ben Braunecker, wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, right tackle Bobby Massie, and defensive back/special teams ace Sherrick McManis — all of whom suffered injuries during last Sunday’s win against the Giants — are OUT for tomorrow’s game against the Lions.
That quartet joins tight end Adam Shaheen (foot) and Danny Trevathan (elbow) as being non-participants in practice this week who have also been ruled out. Of the six players ruled out for the Thanksgiving throw down, only Trevathan will travel with the team to Detroit.
Perhaps this wave of injury-related absences will provide an opportunity for others on the roster to strut their stuff.
Maybe fourth-round rookie receiver Riley Ridley will be placed on the active game-day roster with Gabriel out with his fourth documented concussion of his career. At minimum, second-year wideout Javon Wims should see an up-tick in playing time. Jesper Horsted will move up the tight end depth chart in his second game on the active roster, though J.P. Holtz will likely get the starting nod and a larger percentage of the snap share. Kevin Toliver II and DeAndre Houston-Carson figure to get a chance to slide into McManis’ role as a special teams standout and extra secondary help.
The one area in question is who will start in place of Massie. Will it be Cornelius Lucas? The Bears were using Lucas as an extra lineman on run plays and play action opportunities before he filled in for Massie when he left with his injury on Sunday. But they could also turn to undrafted rookie Alex Bars, who played some right tackle during the preseason. Heck, the Bears could roll out a revolving door of options depending on how things go. Remember, that’s how they got James Daniels acclimated to things as a rookie last year.
These late-season Thursday games tend to have loaded injury reports, and the one the Bears put out there was no exception.
