Bears defense gets hit with a double dose of bad news leading up to kickoff against the Cardinals
The Chicago Bears are getting set for kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals and just got hit with bad news on the injury front.The Bears will be without two key defenders on Sunday as the team prepares to face Kyler Murray and the rest of the Cardinals' explosive offense.Star pass rusher Montez Sweat (shin) and slot […]
The Chicago Bears are getting set for kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals and just got hit with bad news on the injury front.
The Bears will be without two key defenders on Sunday as the team prepares to face Kyler Murray and the rest of the Cardinals' explosive offense.
Star pass rusher Montez Sweat (shin) and slot cornerback Kyler Gordon (hamstring) were both listed on the inactives list and will not play on Sunday.
Sunday's game will be the first game Sweat has missed due to injury since joining the Bears last season. The team's top edge rusher left the game last week against the Washington Commanders and did not return due to the injury.
As for Gordon, the team's defensive back will be missing his second consecutive game due to an injury he suffered back in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Gordon was hoping to return to the field this week but the team seems to be playing it safe with the injury.
"It's definitely tough, you know—being smart, and being eager like you said—so trying to figure out the in-between, not pushing it over the limit, but definitely testing out and just trying to make good progress on it," Gordon said earlier this week. "Because I want to be on the field back as fast as possible. I want to be out there and make plays, and have fun, and be out there with my brothers."
Without Sweat and Gordon, the Bears are once again going to have to rely on the depth players on defense. At edge, that'll mean a higher role for veteran Jacob Martin, who made his debut with the Bears last week. In the slot, the Bears will rely on Josh Blackwell once again and the team elevated rookie Reddy Steward from the practice squad for Sunday's game.
The unit will also be without safety Jaquan Brisker, who was ruled out on Friday. Brisker suffered a concussion against the Carolina Panthers on October 6th and is still in the concussion protocol. Elijah Hicks has been starting in Brisker's place.
The Bears also listed running back Khalil Herbert as a healthy inactive for Sunday's game. It will be the second straight game Herbert was a healthy inactive. He's garnered trade interest and could be moved ahead of the November 5th deadline.
