The Chicago Bears are looking much healthier going into the weekend compared to the Carolina Panthers based on the final injury reports.
The Bears only ruled out two players following Friday’s practice, defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin) and cornerback Terell Smith (hip), while the Panthers ruled out three players including two starting linebackers.
However, the Bears have two other players listed as questionable and it could complicate things if they aren’t able to suit up on Sunday.
Those two players are left tackle Teven Jenkins (ribs) and starting returner Deandre Carter (ribs). Both players missed practice on Wednesday but returned as limited participants over the last two days of practice. While speaking to the media on Friday, head coach Matt Eberflus said their availability on Sunday will depend on each player’s pain tolerance.
Let’s start with Jenkins first. The Bears starting left tackle left the game in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams with his injury and was replaced by Matt Pryor, who started the game at right guard. In Pryor’s place, the Bears moved Nate Davis back into the lineup. On Wednesday, head coach Matt Eberflus said the team will be looking at all offensive line combinations, with Pryor at LG and Davis at RG being one of them.
The only alternative to this combination would be mixing rookie Kiran Amegadje in at guard, a player offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was asked about on Thursday.
“He was ready to go. He knew what to do. He was prepared. He worked hard in the offseason,” Waldron said. “Each week, you just see him improving, whether it’s taking a scout team rep during the course of the week, whether it’s taking a rep with the with the ones or twos, however the rep plan plays out. He’s taken every one of those as a game-like rep, and you just see that constant improvement every single day.”
As for the issue in the return game, if Carter can’t go on Sunday, the Bears might have to return to Velus Jones Jr. Since Week 1’s blunder on the kickoff return against the Tennessee Titans, Jones has been inactive for the Bears with Carter taking his role.
On kickoff, the Bears have used running back Khalil Herbert back deep, but Carter has handled all the punt return reps so far this season. The Bears experimented with different players returning punts during the offseason and the most likely option would have to be rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze since he’s been hinted about being used in that role before.
Ideally, both Jenkins and Carter will be able to suit up on Sunday and play in their allotted roles but the health of each will be something to monitor going into the weekend.
