The Bears left Seattle with a win, but the injury situation around the roster keeps tightening. As Chicago heads into Sunday’s matchup with Tampa Bay, two players are already looking like long shots to return this season, and a handful of others are still in question.
Head coach Ben Johnson gave the clearest update Wednesday on Braxton Jones, Kentavius Street and Kyle Monangai, and the news wasn’t encouraging.
Braxton Jones is done for the year
There’s no path back this season for Braxton Jones.
The offensive tackle had surgery Tuesday to fix a partially torn patellar tendon in his right knee. Jones first suffered the injury against Philadelphia in Week 3 and has been on injured reserve since October 3.
The Bears had initially hoped rehab might be enough to get him back on the field. That plan is off the table now, and Jones’ season ends after only three starts.
That matters even more because Chicago is already dealing with another issue on the offensive line. Theo Benedet injured his shoulder against Seattle and was not part of Wednesday’s walkthrough. If he can’t play against Tampa Bay, Ozzy Trapilo would be the next option at left tackle.
It’s a spot worth watching closely with Caleb Williams playing so well since returning from his hamstring injury.
Kentavius Street likely won’t be back either
Jones may not be the only Bear whose season is over.
Kentavius Street was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after hurting his knee against the Seahawks, and Johnson said the injury will probably sideline him for the rest of the year.
Street played in all eight games this season and started seven before the Bears brought in Jeffery Simmons from Tennessee.
His production wasn’t eye-popping - he had one sack - but Chicago is now down one more veteran body on the defensive line.
That front got thinner in another way, too. Grady Jarrett missed Wednesday’s walkthrough because of a groin injury, which makes his status especially important with Tampa Bay bringing the league’s leading rushing attack to Soldier Field.
Chicago also made a pair of roster moves Wednesday, promoting tight end Stephen Carlson from the practice squad and signing defensive lineman Earnest Brown IV to the practice squad.
No practice return yet for Kyle Monangai
There wasn’t much movement on Kyle Monangai either.
The rookie running back has now missed four straight games with thumb and toe injuries, and he was again listed as a nonparticipant Wednesday.
Before getting hurt, Monangai had 324 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 60 carries. The Bears could use that kind of production back in the mix, especially with D’Andre Swift shouldering so much of the load.
Swift ran 27 times against Seattle and finished with 69 yards and three touchdowns.
Johnson has already said Chicago needs to be careful with Swift’s workload, and asking him to keep taking that many carries isn’t a great long-term answer. The problem is the Bears aren’t getting much help elsewhere at the position. Zavier Scott also missed Wednesday’s walkthrough with a wrist injury.
For now, Chicago is waiting to see whether either back can make progress before Sunday.
Wednesday’s report was based on a walkthrough, so the participation labels were estimates rather than the product of a full practice. Thursday and Friday should offer a clearer picture of who’s trending toward playing against Tampa Bay.
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