NEWSLETTER
Chuck Pagano might be holding out hope that Roquan Smith can play on Sunday.
Unfortunately, the updated injury report doesn’t provide more reasons to be optimistic:
#Bears Thursday injury report pic.twitter.com/Cu4y6caQgl
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) January 7, 2021
Smith was one of five Bears players who didn’t participate in Thursday’s practice. After suffering an elbow injury in last Sunday’s loss to the Packers, Smith’s status is up-in-the-air for Chicago’s playoff game in New Orleans. For what it’s worth, the Bears’ defensive coordinator is still holding out hope Smith plays. It’s just that every day that passes with Smith having a “DNP” designation next to his name makes it seem less likely he can suit up.
Wide receiver Darnell Mooney (ankle), cornerback Buster Skrine (concussion), and receiver Allen Robinson (hamstring) sat out Thursday’s practice. Robinson was a full participant in Wednesday’s walk-through, so you can probably look at his absence as more of a maintenance day than anything else. As for Mooney, don’t expect a game-day designation until Friday’s updated injury report goes live. Sprained ankles are nothing to mess around with, but I imagine Mooney will try to give it a go to suit up where he played his college ball at Tulane.
Fellow rookie Jaylon Johnson continues to practice with limitations, which still counts as an upgrade after not practicing since suffering a shoulder injury against the Texans in Week 13. Cornerback Duke Shelley and linebacker Josh Woods were also limited in practice one day after being full participants. Shelley figured to resume his role as slot corner if Skrine can’t play, while Woods is most likely to fill in if Smith can’t go.
More to come tomorrow. Hopefully, it comes with positive developments.
