NEWSLETTER
With the Andy Dalton injury situation sorting itself out and leading to the announcement of Justin Fields as the Chicago Bears starting quarterback going down earlier, we can turn our attention to the rest of the injury report.
And while I promise not to freak out about it, you’re going to see some names here that will fill you with mixed feelings:
#Bears Wednesday injury report: pic.twitter.com/MVMkVaGoaO
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) September 22, 2021
We’ll start with a positive development on the Eddie Goldman front. The Bears’ starting nose tackle was practicing with limitations on Wednesday. This counts as an upgrade after not practicing at the end of last week despite briefly being “limited” last Wednesday. Obviously, we won’t get too far ahead of our skis when it comes to Goldman’s health status. But Goldman’s knee injury putting him as “limited” is better than seeing “DNP” next to his name. This is a situation worth monitoring, even as the Bears were solid against Joe Mixon and the Bengals running game last week.
Joining Goldman as “limited” were safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. and receiver Darnell Mooney. Gipson is dealing with a hamstring issue, while Mooney lands on the report with a groin. Mooney spent some time on last week’s injury report with a back issue, so the hope here is that one injury isn’t complicating another.
Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks did not practice because of an illness. Ahhh, Fall. Plenty of folks like autumn and I think it’s fine for what it is. But the illnesses that pop up this time of year are no fun to deal with. Hopefully, it’s a minor thing and Hicks will be back on the field in no time.
Like fellow defender Tashaun Gipson Sr., outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu is dealing with a hamstring injury to start the week. But unlike Gipson, Attaochu didn’t practice. The Bears have versatility and depth behind Attaochu with Trevis Gipson and Christian Jones as able-bodied defenders who could fill in if called upon. But we’ll keep tabs on this as the Bears enter a game week against a talented offense.
And to close things out is Jimmy Graham, who didn’t practice with a veteran’s rest day. Graham, 34, has had the “DNP/resting vet” designation to start each of the first three weeks of the season. It’s a good life if you can get it, although I’d bet on Graham wishing he had more involvement on offense (particularly, in the red zone).
