If Thursday’s injury report update has you feeling blue (because it’s looking like Khalil Mack won’t play), then perhaps seeing some other injured players on the Chicago Bears’ practice field will lift your spirits.
Admittedly, it ain’t much. But seeing beat reporters share images and videos of Teven Jenkins, Tarik Cohen, and Larry Borom milling around at practice brought a sliver of sunshine on what has otherwise been a rainy day in my neck of the woods.
#Bears practice on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/eaPZBg8jgN
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) October 28, 2021
By the looks of things, Larry Borom is lined up at right tackle. I won’t jump to the conclusion that Borom will start this week at right tackle against the 49ers. But with Germain Ifedi on IR, Elijah Wilkinson on the COVID reserve list, and Lachavious Simmons struggling in his first career start, it would make sense to give Borom some run at the position as his practice window begins.
Remember, the Bears gave Borom some burn at left tackle throughout training camp. As well as in Week 1 of the regular season when Jason Peters left early due to injury. That Borom suffered a high-ankle sprain that put him on IR put him behind on the development curve. But that Chicago’s decision-makers were trusting Borom to protect the QB’s blindside in a regular-season affair says something. At minimum, it (once again) hints how much they think of him. Perhaps it’s a feeling that comes with a big body and a strong work ethic. Whatever it is, I’m curious to see it on Sundays. And because he is a right tackle by trade after his career at Missouri, it’s worth giving him a shot to develop with game reps once he is healthy.
This video from Shaw Media’s Sean Hammond appears to be from the same place Pearson took his still shots:
#Bears OT Larry Borom (75) looked to be working at right tackle as he returns from an ankle injury. Teven Jenkins (76) was also spotted at practice, though he’s not participating. pic.twitter.com/MiA7fbdrpL
— Sean Hammond (@sean_hammond) October 28, 2021
Teven Jenkins lining up as the WildBear quarterback is something no one will ever see coming. It’s like that scene in Little Giants where they’ve got the guards in the backfield, center to the right, and the quarterback isn’t even there.
Sure, they’re just standing around, Butz! Or is this just all a ruse so the Bears can run The Annexation of Puerto Rico in Week 16 when no one expects it?
Perhaps the most encouraging post, at least from a morale point of view:
Good to see Tarik Cohen out here. pic.twitter.com/M2r9MURpes
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) October 28, 2021
It has been 396 days since Cohen has played in a regular season game. And I imagine that wears on Cohen. To suffer that ACL injury, have surgery, hit the recovery trail, do the rehab, and to still not be back with your teammates must sting. So to see Cohen bouncing around as if he was in good spirits is good to see.
Cohen remains on the physically unable to perform list. However, Cohen became eligible to come off last week. In other words, Cohen can be activated at any time. And just like a stint on IR, activation from the PUP list opens a 21-day window for the team to evaluate the 2018 All-Pro return ace. Should he pass the necessary physical tests, Cohen will be eligible to return to action. For his sake, I hope it happens sooner, as his comeback story deserves to be celebrated.