NEWSLETTER
Akiem Hicks came back with a bang on Monday Night Football.
After missing three games because of an injury that came up during the Bears’ Week 9 loss to the Steelers, Hicks put up a stat line reminding us how important he was to the defense. Hicks came away with 2 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, a pair of tackles-for-loss, and 5 total tackles. No one shows out for rivalry games under the lights like Hicks.
Unfortunately, Hicks’ status for an encore performance against the Seahawks is up-in-the-air:
We have placed Akiem Hicks on the reserve/COVID-19 list.https://t.co/IaUYLrbAMs
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 23, 2021
Sigh. And Hicks makes it an even 10 Bears on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
There is nothing like being hit with the crud rock that is news of Hicks’ placement on the COVID reserve list. Can we not have nice things for one week? What about the players? Doesn’t anyone deserve some good fortune around here?
Apparently, not:
#Bears Thursday injury report: pic.twitter.com/GmMKOgBCRR
— Bears Communications (@BearsPR) December 23, 2021
So, in addition to Hicks joining the ranks of unavailable due to his landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Bears’ Thursday injury report lists Justin Fields as not practicing due to an ankle injury. Fields was limited in Wednesday’s practice because of the ankle tweak that went down during Monday Night Football. I’ll be curious to see if this was done for precautionary reasons on a short week, or if it is more serious.
The rest of the injury report has some more encouraging news. Most notably, receiver Marquise Goodwin being a full participant for the first time in a while. After practicing with limitations on Wednesday, there were no such setbacks keeping him from being a full go on Thursday. Goodwin could be back in the lineup on Sunday against the Seahawks. If that happens, that would be his first game action since Thanksgiving.
Of course, now we’re unsure who will be throwing him the ball on Sunday. More to come later.
