The Bears are heading to Nashville this weekend for a Week 9 showdown of 5-win teams. Here’s the first practice report for both sides:
Titans
| Player | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Status |
| OLB Jadeveon Clowney (Knee) | DNP | |||
| WR Adam Humphries (Concussion) | DNP | |||
| OT Dennis Kelly (Knee) | DNP | |||
| P Brett Kern (Wrist) | DNP | |||
| CB Kareem Orr (Illness) | DNP | |||
| DT Jeffery Simmons (Ankle) | DNP | |||
| S Dane Cruikshank (Groin) | Full | |||
| OL Daniel Munyer (Hand) | Full | |||
| CB Tye Smith (Shoulder) | Full |
THOUGHTS
It looks like a mix of rest days and legitimate injuries for the Titans.
Jadeveon Clowney, Dennis Kelly, and Jeffery Simmons all missed practice on Wednesday, as has become common practice. Clowney has taken at least one maintenance day almost every week this season. Kelly has been nursing and playing through a knee issue for a few weeks.
Adam Humphries took a non-flagged illegal hit and was knocked out on the field last weekend. Fortunately, he was able to get up, but the wide receiver has been diagnosed with a concussion. He technically has a chance to play this week, but it would be quite shocking if he recovered so quickly.
Brett Kern injured his wrist on a botched extra point attempt against Cincinnati. He will likely miss some time. The Titans worked out a number of punters and will find a new holder for the time being.
I wouldn’t expect either Humphries or Kern to practice this week. Meanwhile, it looks like Dane Cruikshank and Tye Smith are on track to return from injuries that kept them out of last week’s game.
In other positive news, Adoree Jackson was back on the practice field after missing last Friday’s session. This is the final week Jackson can be activated before the team is forced to return him to Injured Reserve for the rest of the season. I would put Jackson’s chances of returning this weekend somewhere between “high” and “very high.”
Bears
| Player | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Status |
| TE Jimmy Graham (Knee/Hamstring) | DNP | |||
| DT Akiem Hicks (Not Injury Related) | DNP | |||
| DB Eddie Jackson (Knee) | DNP | |||
| DT John Jenkins (Ankle) | DNP | |||
| WR Anthony Miller (Toe) | DNP | |||
| OL Sam Mustipher (Knee) | DNP | |||
| DE Roy Robertson-Harris (Shoulder) | DNP | |||
| LB Danny Trevathan (Not Injury Related) | DNP | |||
| QB Mitchell Trubisky (Shoulder) | DNP | |||
| OL Cody Whitehair (Calf) | DNP | |||
| DB Tashaun Gipson (Foot) | Limited | |||
| OL Rashaad Coward (Ankle) | Full | |||
| DB DeAndre Houston-Carson (Forearm/Ankle) | Full |
THOUGHTS
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Chicago is dealing with numerous injuries to their offensive line. Starting center Cody Whitehair has been out with a calf injury since after Week 7. His backup Sam Mustipher was injured last week and didn’t practice Wednesday. James Daniels would be in line to play that spot, but he is on Injured Reserve.
Also on Injured Reserve is starting right tackle Bobby Massie. His backup, Jason Spriggs, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. Starting right guard Germain Ifedi has tackle experience too, but he was deemed a close contact of Spriggs’ and finds himself also on the Reserve/COVID list.
The Bears have a chance to get Ifedi back before Sunday, but it’s no guarantee. Even so, he’ll miss practice all week. Chicago will also hope to get Mustipher practicing again by the end of the week for a chance to play Sunday.
There are a few rest days sprinkled in above, as well as some legitimate injuries (like to backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s shoulder), but by far the most significant is what Chicago is dealing with on the OL.
We’ll continue to monitor all these injuries throughout the week…
