The most significant injury report for the Bears of the day was the announcement that Justin Fields is already uncertain to play on Sunday Night Football against the Chargers. Tyson Bagent will continue to lead the team as quarterback until Fields returns to health, according to head coach Matt Eberflus, who stated on Monday that there has been no change in Fields’ situation.
The offensive line, which is in charge of defending the quarterback, should go first. Nate Davis, the starting right guard, is recovering from an ankle injury this week, so he won’t practice. Davis is regarded as a weekly player. With Davis sidelined, the Bears started Lucas Patrick at starting center and shifted Teven Jenkins back to guard against the Raiders. Cody Whitehair had started at left guard for the first four games of the season. The team will probably use that combination again against the Chargers because they performed well together on Sunday.
Due to a neck injury, starting left tackle has missed the team’s last five games; however, Eberflus intimated that Jones might be named to return on Wednesday. Accordingly, Jones can resume his practices. The Bears will then have 21 days to decide whether to activate Jones again or bench him for the remainder of the campaign. Meanwhile, Larry Borom has taken over at left tackle and, according to PFF, has been the team’s least effective pass blocker when filling in. Borom has conceded 19 pressures in 167 opportunities, based on their analytics. The only offensive lineman for the Bears with a pressure-allowed rate higher than 10% is him.
Roschon Johnson could also return to practice soon. The rookie running back missed the last two games with a concussion.
“He’s got another hurdle that he has to clear but it looks real positive and that looks good for Wednesday,” Eberflus said.
Johnson entered the season as the No. 3 running back, but quickly worked up to the primary change-of-pace rusher working behind Khalil Herbert. The Bears have had to rely on D’Onta Foreman and Darrynton Evans as the top two rushers over their past two games with Johnson in the concussion protocol and Herbert on IR with an ankle injury. Both Foreman and Evans have played well in relief, and Foreman exploded for three touchdowns in Week 7. If Johnson can re-enter the mix it will make a team strength even stronger and bolster the special teams units.
