The Chicago Bears have been through the wringer this season when it comes to injuries, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. It’s been a revolving door of absences, with several key starters missing extended time - some even lost for the year.
That kind of attrition has made it tough for the defense to find rhythm or consistency, and the results have shown on the field. But heading into this week, there’s finally a bit of good news: the injury list is shorter than it’s been in a while.
Only two players - corner Kyler Gordon and running back Travis Homer - missed practice. That’s a rare win for a team that’s been dealing with setbacks for months.
The same can’t be said for the Cleveland Browns, whose injury report reads more like a triage unit.
On Thursday, nine Browns players didn’t practice at all. Another nine were limited.
That’s 18 players either sidelined or banged up - and the names on that list aren’t just depth guys. Three starting offensive linemen were among those who didn’t practice, and perhaps the most concerning development was the appearance of rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham on the report with a rib injury.
Graham has quietly been a major reason Cleveland’s defense has been one of the league’s best this season - currently ranked second overall. While he’s not lighting up the stat sheet with sacks, his impact goes far beyond that.
He’s second on the team in total pressures (29), and his ability to collapse the pocket from the inside has played a huge role in Myles Garrett’s monster season - 20 sacks in 13 games. With Maliek Collins already out for the year due to a quad injury, losing Graham would leave the Browns dangerously thin on the interior.
That’s not a great place to be, especially this week.
Cleveland’s interior defensive line is already dealing with issues. Guards Zak Zinter (back) and Teven Jenkins (shoulder) were both added to the injury report and listed as limited.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris is also nursing a knee injury. That’s a lot of wear and tear on a unit that’s about to face one of the league’s most physical offensive lines.
The Bears’ interior trio of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson has been one of the most consistent and effective groups in football this season - especially in the run game. They’ve been opening up lanes and setting the tone in the trenches all year. That’s going to matter in this matchup, especially considering what happened to the Browns last week.
Cleveland gave up over 180 rushing yards to the Tennessee Titans - a team that, prior to that game, had the worst rushing attack in the league. That’s not just a bad day at the office.
That’s a red flag. Now the Browns have to gear up for a Bears team that ranks second in the NFL in rushing, and they’ll have to do it potentially without two of their top interior defenders.
Add in some bitter December weather, and this game has all the makings of a grind-it-out, run-heavy slugfest.
Sure, Myles Garrett is capable of taking over a game all by himself. He’s done it before.
But if the Browns can’t hold the point of attack up front, it may not matter how dominant he is off the edge. The Bears have the personnel and the motivation to lean into a ground-and-pound approach, especially after a frustrating loss last week.
This one’s shaping up to be a battle in the trenches - and right now, the Bears are the healthier, fresher unit. That could be the difference.