Bears Final Week 11 Injury Report: Latest injury gives Dennis Allen one more immediate thing to worry about with his defense
The Bears could be without multiple defensive starters on Sunday.
The Chicago Bears got a major morale boost on Friday when head coach Ben Johnson announced the team will be opening the 21-day practice window for Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson to return to the injured reserve and will have him back out on the grass.
It’s massive news for the defense, and the entire team, but it overshadowed some of the immediate injury concerns the Bears still have on that side of the ball going into Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.
After Friday’s practice, the Bears officially ruled out two players, including a key defensive starter while listing another one as questionable for Week 11. Here’s the full report going into the weekend.
Bears Final Week 11 Injury Report
| Player | Injury | W/T/F | Status |
| LB T.J. Edwards | Hand/Hamstring | DNP/DNP/DNP | Out |
| WR Jahdae Walker | Concussion | DNP/DNP/Limited | Out |
| S Jaquan Brisker | Back | DNP/DNP/Limited | Questionable |
| CB Jaylon Johnson* | Groin | -/-/Limited | Questionable |
| CB Josh Blackwell | Concussion | Full/Full/Full | Active |
| S Kevin Byard | NIR (Rest) | DNP/Full/Full | Active |
| LB Ruben Hyppolite II | Knee | Full/Full/Full | Active |
| DT Grady Jarrett | NIR (Rest) | DNP/Full/Full | Active |
| TE Cole Kmet | Back | Limited/Full/Full | Active |
| WR DJ Moore | Shoulder | DNP/Limited/Full | Active |
| WR Rome Odunze | Ankle | DNP/Limited/Full | Active |
| DE Dominique Robinson | Ankle | Limited/Full/Full | Active |
| CB Tyrique Stevenson | Shoulder | DNP/Full/Full | Active |
| RB D’Andre Swift | Hip | Limited/Full/Full | Active |
| LG Joe Thuney | NIR (Rest) | DNP/Full/Full | Active |
Bears having uncertainty with Jaquan Brisker adds even more problems for the defense
The Bears will officially be without linebacker T.J. Edwards for the second consecutive week after he reaggravated a hamstring issue he dealt with earlier in the season, not to mention a broken hand that required surgery.
Chicago really missed Edwards in the second level last week against the New York Giants, especially when it came to defending against quarterback Jaxson Dart’s mobility. So, the legs of quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be something to watch out for on Sunday.
But, that’s not all. The Bears also listed starting safety Jaquan Brisker as limited going into the weekend after not practicing on Wednesday and Thursday. Brisker returned to practice on Friday but only as a limited participant.
Safety is the one position the Bears have been lacking at in terms of depth all season long and can’t afford to be without Brisker in the secondary. If he is forced to miss Sunday’s game, C.J. Gardner-Johnson will be the player to watch to see if defensive coordinator Dennis Allen moves him into that role or if the team turns to another safety in Jonathan Owens or Elijah Hicks. It’s worth noting Brisker did tell reporters after practice that he intends to play, but it’s still something to monitor.
Other observations
- Defensive end Dominique Robinson will be making his return after missing the last two games with a high ankle sprain, giving the team another option in the rotation off the edge.
- Wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are good to go after taking the day off on Wednesday and ramping back up throughout the week.
- The same goes for running back D’Andre Swift.
- The team is listed Jaylon Johnson as questionable going into the weekend, but it’d be a major stretch to see him back on the field so soon after getting his practice window opened.
Chicago Bears News
DJ Moore’s one-word response after Thursday’s practice puts all doubt to rest regarding his Week 11 status vs. Vikings
Nothing is going to keep him off the field on Sunday.
