The final Chicago Bears injury report of the year (and decade, for that matter) has been released.
Here’s what it looks like:
#Bears Friday injury report: pic.twitter.com/7bdBXbJONK
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) December 27, 2019
Defensive stalwarts Akiem Hicks (elbow) and Eddie Goldman (concussion) have been ruled OUT for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. As has wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, whose time in concussion protocol will have kept him out for the final five games of the 2019 season. And because it is Gabriel’s fourth documented concussion of his career, I can imagine why the cautious approach has been taken here.
Elsewhere on the injury report, right tackle Bobby Massie and right guard Rashaad Coward have been listed as doubtful to play on Sunday. Massie was upgraded from a non-participant in Thursday’s practice to a limited participant on Friday. Meanwhile, Coward was downgraded from limited participation to not practicing at all. I would lean toward neither player being available on Sunday, meaning Ted Larsen and Cornelius Lucas III will be lined up to start at right guard and right tackle, respectively. But because this game provides one last opportunity to evaluate players in a game situation, I would not rule out the possibility of Alex Bars getting some playing time on a short-handed line.
Cornerback Prince Amukamara was limited for a second consecutive practice, and has been designated as questionable to play against Minnesota. Amukamara’s playing time has been slashed since self-reporting a hamstring injury after Chicago’s Thanksgiving Day win in Detroit. If Amukamara can’t give it a go, then Kevin Toliver II will go from being in a time share to getting a full load of snaps starting at corner opposite of Kyle Fuller.
And as is the case every Friday when the Bears practice indoors, defensive lineman Bilal Nichols was limited (but has no designation attached and is otherwise expected to lineup as a starter on Sunday).
Unless the Bears make some moves before Saturday’s roster deadline, they will end the year having placed nine players on injured reserve this season. Among them, the top three tight ends on the depth chart, both starting inside linebackers, a pair of defensive backs, and two offensive linemen. This injury riddled season wasn’t as bad as the record-breaking ones John Fox suffered through when he was a head coach in Chicago. But it all hurts the same when the team misses the postseason.