The Chicago Bears head into Week 7 with real uncertainty at right guard after Jonah Jackson left the Week 6 win over the Atlanta Falcons with a hip injury.
Jackson’s status still hasn’t been settled, and the short week doesn’t help his chances of getting back on the field. The Bears had a walkthrough on Monday, and Jackson was listed as a did not participate on the estimated injury report.
Johnson said on Monday after the game that the team is still figuring things out when it comes to who will start at right guard. That uncertainty isn’t just about Jackson’s availability - it also extends to who steps in if he can’t go.
Offensive coordinator Press Taylor said the Bears will keep working through it as the week progresses, but he also pointed to Luke Newman and Jordan McFadden as options that give the team confidence.
"We'll see where Jonah's at and if he's got a chance to play on Thursday night. But we're excited about the depth we have there," added Taylor.
Reports are that Jackson is week-to-week, leaving his status for Week 7 very much in doubt.
Taylor said Newman earned trust with what he did in Week 6. He also noted that McFadden started for the Bears in the Divisional Round last year, filling in at left guard after the team moved Joe Thuney out to left tackle.
That makes this a flexible situation for Chicago. McFadden has usually been the backup at left guard, while Newman has been behind Jackson at right guard.
But McFadden was inactive in Week 6, which helped push the Bears toward Newman once Jackson went down. Johnson and Taylor both indicated that having a full week of practice could open the door for McFadden to be activated and start instead.
If Newman gets the nod, it would be the first start of his career. Jackson played 98% of the Bears' snaps last season and had never missed a start in his NFL career.
Newman has 25 snaps in his rookie season, including 22 in relief during a Week 12 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He added 27 more snaps in relief in Week 6, which doubled his career total.
So Chicago can stick with Newman, who has been working there, or turn to McFadden, who has 230 career snaps. Either way, the Bears have decisions to make before Week 7.
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