The final injury report of the week is oftentimes the one that is the most telling, as practice participation tends to give us an inkling when it comes to who’s in (or out) for the upcoming game.
This week’s ending update is no different.
But first, some good news:
#Bears HC Matt Nagy says "there's a really good chance" that RB David Montgomery will be activated and play Monday night vs. Steelers.
— Larry Mayer (@LarryMayer) November 6, 2021
That Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy explicitly said there was “a really good chance” running back David Montgomery gets activated from IR and will play on MNF is the best injury news the Bears have received in quite some time. Montgomery left early from Chicago’s Week 4 win against Detroit with a knee injury. And while Khalil Herbert and Damien Williams were successful in holding down the fort while Montgomery was out, it will be nice to have the Bears’ top rusher back in the fold. Before his injury, Montgomery was on pace for a 1,000+ yard rushing season with 10+ scores. That’s nothing to sneeze at, my friends.
Adding Montgomery to the mix makes one of the NFL’s top ground games that much more potent. If only it meant success for the pass attack.
As for the rest of the injury report:
#Bears Saturday injury report: pic.twitter.com/RQLflYiICF
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) November 6, 2021
Pass-rusher Khalil Mack, running back Damien Williams, and tight end J.P. Holtz are OUT for Monday’s Bears game against the Steelers with their respective injuries. Holtz and Williams suffered injuries in Chicago’s loss to San Francisco last week. Meanwhile, Mack remains on the sidelines due to a foot injury that has been bothersome for a chunk of this season. Meanwhile, quarterback Nick Foles joins the group of unavailable Bears, with what Head Coach Matt Nagy describes as an illness.
All in all, it’s a big yikes on the health front. And that’s before we even get to safety Eddie Jackson, who is doubtful to play this week despite not practicing at all in the lead-up to the primetime showdown. Jackson went down with a hamstring injury after the second play and never came back into the game. That he is a doubtful is somewhat of a surprise considering his lack of practice. I’d venture to guess Jackson won’t suit up, which will leave DeAndre Houston-Carson as the next-man-up in a starting role.
With the Bears not playing on Sunday, we’ll get to relax a little more than usual over the next two days. And I encourage you to do the same.