When the Bears take the field on Sunday, they’ll do so with both parts of a 1-2 punch at running back that should hold the fort down while David Montgomery is unavailable.
#Bears RB Damien Williams has been activated from the COVID-19 reserve list.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2021
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport tweets the Bears are activating running back Damien Williams from the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Williams was unavailable for last week’s loss to the Packers, which let Khalil Herbert have a breakout performance. In theory, Herbert could still get a bulk of the carries on Sunday against the Bucs. But having Williams in the lineup as a change of pace option brings an additional wrinkle to this offense.
Unfortunately, the news isn’t all good when it comes to health watch:
#Bears roster moves:
– OL Dieter Eiselen and DT Margus Hunt have been flexed from the PS to the active roster (COVID-19 replacements)
– RB Damien Williams has been activated from Reserve/COVID-19
– DT Akiem Hicks did not travel with the team and has been downgraded to OUT— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) October 23, 2021
No Akiem Hicks, who was downgraded to OUT after not traveling with the team on Saturday. And no mention of Robert Quinn’s status, as far as travel plans go. I don’t want to read too much into it, but I struggle to envision a scenario where Quinn suits up on Sunday. Besides, player safety should still be of primary concern in the midst of a global pandemic.
More on the Bears and their health later as other developments present themselves.