The Chicago Bears will be without a key role player when it takes the field Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
Safety Deon Bush is OUT for Sunday because of a hamstring injury. This will mark the second consecutive game Bush has missed because of the issue. Bush is a core special teams contributor and rotational defensive back in pass-defense packages, so his absence means the Bears will be a bit short-handed in two phases of the game. That’s a bummer, but a look at injury reports around the league should serve as a reminder that Chicago should consider itself fortunate.
As for the rest of the injury report, here it is:
#Bears Friday Injury Report pic.twitter.com/9H4vSAtxvR
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) October 16, 2020
Offensive lineman Alex Bars (shoulder), defensive back Sherrick McManis, and defensive lineman Brent Urban (knee) are questionable to play on Sunday. Bars and McManis were full participants in Friday’s practice, which suggests both will suit up and play against the Panthers. The Bears listed Urban as questionable after a third consecutive practice as a limited participant. Even with that being the case, I expect Urban to play his role as a run-stopping rotational linemen.
Speaking of run-stuffers, the Bears announced their most experienced nose tackle is coming off Injured Reserve:
We have activated veteran DT John Jenkins from IR – he's listed as questionable for #CHIvsCAR.@Hyundai | #DaBears
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 16, 2020
John Jenkins did his time on the IR and has been activated. Jenkins, the only true nose tackle on the roster after Eddie Goldman opted out, missed three weeks because of a thumb injury. No, Jenkins won’t play a heavy snap load. But his presence in the middle could be helpful as the defense tries to limit Carolina’s running game. Jenkins is questionable to play on Sunday.
When compared to the rest of the league, the Bears have a relatively clean injury report. Let’s not take that for granted.