NEWSLETTER
Seeing six players opening the week as not participating in the Bears’ first practice ahead of the team’s Week 7 game against the Buccaneers adds injury to the insult of having lost just days ago to the Packers.
Nevertheless, we dive in:
#Bears Wednesday Injury Report: pic.twitter.com/fuvrhQuWzV
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) October 20, 2021
Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Allen Robinson II not practicing stands out most from the week’s first injury report. All three players played in Sunday’s loss to the Packers. Which is to say that I wouldn’t read too much into anyone from that trio not practicing. It is clear that Chicago’s coaches and medical staff have come to the conclusion that those players could participate with limitations (and in some cases, sit out practices) with the goal being getting them in gear for game day. And let’s be honest with each other. It’s more important that the Bears’ top pass-catcher and two of the team’s top defenders are healthy for game day than getting work in the week’s first practice.
Jakeem Grant returns to the injury report, this time with an ankle injury. If you’ll recall, Grant spent time on last week’s injury report due to a groin injury. And while Grant was returning kicks and punts on Sunday against Green Bay, he did miss time with an injury. We’ll continue to monitor his situation, as it is unclear as to how serious the issue is ahead of the upcoming game against Tampa Bay.
Seeing J.P. Holtz practicing in a limited capacity constitutes asa an upgrade from recent injury reports. A quad injury has kept Holtz out of the lineup and off the practice fields the last two weeks. That Holtz was practicing on Wednesday counts as a step in the right direction. The arrow is pointing up in that regard.
Same for Khalil Herbert. Fresh off a breakthrough performance against the Packers, seeing Herbert’s name on in the injury report would’ve been more concerning had he not been a full participant. A shoulder issue might be bothersome, but not so much as to keep him out of practice. That breeze you felt was from Halas Hall, where the Bears are already down three running backs with David Montgomery, Damien Williams, and Tarik Cohen out of action.
More to come as the week goes on.
