NEWSLETTER
There are few things as sobering as a Chicago Bears injury report that features the names of a handful of starters.
Let’s dive into it:
- Right tackle Darnell Wright was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury. Wright was limited to playing just 55 percent of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 13 against the Detroit Lions because of the injury. His absence was certainly felt down the stretch, specifically on the sack that led to that game’s chaotic ending. That Wright was limited on Wednesday was a pleasant surprise.
- The same can be said for Coleman Shelton, whose knee injury also had him practicing in a limited capacity on Wednesday. Shelton, who played every snap at center before missing some snaps in Week 13 with the injury, was briefly replaced by Doug Kramer during the game. I didn’t notice Kramer do anything incredibly offensive to my eyes as a fan, but I’d still want Chicago’s starting center available for Week 14.
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- Safety Kevin Byard makes three Bears who were practicing with limitations on Wednesday. Byard is dealing with a shoulder issue. The 31-year-old two-time first-team All-Pro played 100 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last week against the Lions on Thanksgiving. Hopefully, the limited participation on Wednesday represents more of a maintenance day for a key cog on the defense.
- Two Bears players (running back Roschon Johnson, offensive lineman Ryan Bates) did not practice because they are in concussion protocol.
- In case you missed it, Demetric Felton re-joined Chicago’s football team as a practice squad addition. That seems incredibly important, especially with fellow running back D’Andre Swift missing Wednesday’s practice with a quad injury. As of now, the only fully healthy backs on the roster are Felton and Darrynton Evans — both of whom are on the practice squad. Yikes.
- Wide receivers DJ Moore (quad) and Keenan Allen (ankle) joined Swift in not practicing on Wednesday. Those two wideouts have done a ton of heavy lifting throughout the year, particularly since Thomas Brown took over offensive play-calling duties. I am holding out hope that today is being used as a maintenance day for key veterans. We’ll see what injury report updates bring us over the next two days.
- Safety Elijah Hicks (ankle) also remains out of action.
Chicago Bears Injury Report — Week 14
There is no sugarcoating it, friends. This is an ugly-looking injury report. Hopefully, Thursday’s update will provide some more promising news.
