NEWSLETTER
We’ve reached the Friday before Week 18 of the regular season. This means we’ve come to the last injury report update of the 2022 NFL season. I’m not sure if I should be rejoicing, sighing in relief, or emoting in some other type of way. But whatever, we made it.
As for how the final injury report of the year shakes out, what’s notable is that three players — QB Justin Fields, LB Stephen Weatherford, and DB Jaylon Jones — won’t play at all. Fields’ hip injury led the Bears to shut him down. Jones remains in concussion protocol. And Weatherford has an illness. Hopefully, everyone gets healthy during the offseason and can get the most out of the offseason once they’re back at full strength.
And then there is Kyler Gordon, who is listed as questionable to play on Sunday. Gordon has been practicing with limitations for the last two days due to a groin injury. The first of the Bears’ two second-round picks from the 2022 NFL Draft popped up on Thursday’s injury report. And again on Friday. All things considered, the Bears should do with Gordon what they did with Fields — shut him down. Give the rookie a pat on the back. Thank him for a good effort. Congratulate him on his in-season growth. And let someone else on the roster try their hand at defending Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and others. Gordon might be listed as “questionable” for now, which means he *COULD* play on Sunday. Maybe he’ll be good enough to give it a go. But I doubt the juice is worth the squeeze when it comes to managing that injury.
Because you care, here’s the entire injury report:
I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure, but the injury report has so often been a pit of despair. Hopefully, the higher power in charge of handling NFL injuries has the Bears having better fortunes in 2023.
