Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus opened his Wednesday media availability with notable injury updates, including news on veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen, who missed the last two games with a heel injury.
Bears Injury Updates: Keenan Allen, Darnell Wright, More
Wide receiver Keenan Allen will be limited in practice today. This is the first time the veteran wide receiver has practiced since the Bears prepared for their Week 1 matchup with the Tennessee Titans.
“Keenan’s back on the field today; he’ll be listed as limited. He’ll be working through some drills and doing different things out there. He was working over the weekend with the rehab group, so that’s looking good. We’ll see where it progresses as we go.”
Allen missed the last two games with a lingering heel injury that flared up late in training camp, but it has been an issue since last season when he missed time with the Los Angeles Chargers at the end of the year.
Eberflus also said that right tackle Darnell Wright will not practice today and is considered day-to-day with a back injury suffered in the Bears Week 3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Eberflus said that he’s hopeful Wright will respond to treatment and some extra rest this week and be ready for Chicago’s Week 4 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams this weekend.
Eberflus also said that the defensive end, Darrell Taylor, will miss today’s practice due to illness.
Other Notes From Matt Eberflus’ Wednesday Media Availability
- Eberflus was asked about right guard Matt Pryor and said he was impressive on Sunday against the Colts and will remain the starting right guard for now: “We thought that Pryor did a nice job. You guys all watched the tape; he was firm in the pocket and did a nice job [of] blocking at times. He had a couple of plays that he wished he’d have back, but for the most part, he did a nice job there.”
- More on Pryor: “First of all, he’s a great teammate, he’s got a great attitude. He works well [at right guard] with Darnell Wright next to him. I think that’s a good partnership there.”
- Eberflus also noted that if Darnell Wright’s back doesn’t improve as the week progresses, they may have to look at Pryor at right tackle. “He’s a guy that we have some flexibility with there,” Eberflus said. “We’re going to have to see where we are based on the health of Darnell.” Eberflus also said that rookie Kiran Amegadjie is an option at right tackle if Wright can’t play on Sunday against the Rams.
- With Pryor seemingly winning the right guard job over Nate Davis, Eberflus was asked about competition on the offensive line and whether he welcomes it. “We’re looking for the best five. We don’t want musical chairs there; we’re not at that point. We want guys to solidify themselves in there by their performance and then keep going in terms of consistency, week after week, performing at a high level. That’s what we’re searching for. It’s early in the season, we’re looking for that, some of the guys are doing that, we just have to keep pressing the whole group to do it.”
- On Caleb Williams’ interception to the flat on Sunday: “That’s just throwing late to the side,” Eberflus said. “That was on a couple of hitches; it’s got to be a one-hitch and ball out, even two hitches; there was a couple more in there, and then it was late to the sideline. He knows we can’t do that because the ball is going to be in harm’s way.”