The first injury report of the Chicago Bears’ 2020 season is out. And while I know it’s just Wednesday and things can change between now and game day, I don’t like it one bit.
And here it is:
#Bears Wednesday Injury Report: pic.twitter.com/z7Ahs3d1uh
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) September 9, 2020
I don’t love seeing Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, David Montgomery, and Cordarrelle Patterson on the injury report. Not at all. But I’ll try and write my way through this without totally freaking out.
Seeing star pass-rushers on the injury report makes me itchy. Quinn, the Bears’ big-ticket free-agent acquisition, missed practice with an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Mack’s knee limited his participation. That tag team is supposed to wreck opposing offensive lines. And maybe they will. But for now, their presence on the early injury report is unsettling.
The injury report brings no clarity to Montgomery’s status for Week 1. Head Coach Matt Nagy played it coy when talking about it earlier, while running back Tarik Cohen shared an optimistic appraisal of the situation. I’m looking forward to hearing how the coach frames his answers regarding Montgomery’s status on Thursday.
Seeing Patterson on the injury report bugs me, too. Not only because he is the team’s top kick return specialist and return team gunner, Patterson also serves as one of the backups behind Montgomery on the running backs depth chart. In other words, two top rushing options were limited in Wednesday’s practice. That’s not ideal.
Also appearing on the injury report as limited are swing tackle Jason Spriggs (knee) and eceiver Javon Wims (achilles). Starting right guard Germain Ifedi (triceps) was a full participant. Ifedi’s triceps injury is a new one. But that he is practicing in full is an encouraging sign. Here’s to more positive developments tomorrow.
Here’s the Lions’ injury report:
Full Lions practice report pic.twitter.com/WkNYMSGzsT
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) September 9, 2020