The Bears have survived without cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Buster Skrine the past two weeks, but the prospect of facing Aaron Rodgers without them Sunday would present a much bigger challenge for their replacements, rookie Kindle Vildor and Duke Shelley.
Neither Johnson nor Skrine participated in Wednesday’s walk-through at the Payton Center. Johnson has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury he suffered against the Texans. Skrine has missed the last three games with a concussion.
Johnson, a second-round draft pick from Utah, had 15 pass break-ups in his 12 complete games this season. He had a tackle-for-loss and a pass break-up against the Packers on Nov. 29, when Aaron Rodgers threw for 211 yards but four touchdown passes in a 41-25 victory at Lambeau Field.
“He’s getting a little bit better, but I don’t have any changes [in his status],” coach Matt Nagy said. “He’s day-to-day and he’s progressively getting better.”
Defensive end Akiem Hicks (ankle) and back-up safety Deon Bush (foot) also did not participate in practice Wednesday.
Massie on the way back
Right tackle Bobby Massie has been “designated for return” from the injured reserve list, meaning he is eligible to practice and be activated as early as Sunday’s game against the Packers. That appears unlikely, but it positions Massie to return in the playoffs if the Bears qualify.
Massie has missed the last eight games after suffering a knee injury on the first series against the Saints on Nov. 1 at Soldier Field. Rashaad Coward started against the Titans and Vikings before being replaced by Germain Ifedi, who has started for Massie the past five games.
It remains to be seen if the Bears want to mess with a good thing. The Bears have averaged 159 rushing yards, 396.8 total yards and 34.5 points in their last four games with a revamped offensive line with Charles Leno at left tackle, Cody Whitehair at left guard, Sam Mustipher at center, Alex Bars at right guard and Ifedi at right tackle. It is unsure who would be the odd-man out if Massie returns.
Trubisky: Good Guy
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky won the “Good Guy Award,” presented by the Chicago chapter of the Professional Football Writers of America in recognition of his exemplary cooperation in helping reporters do their jobs.
Allen Robinson (who won the award last season), Bears media relations assistant Eric Szczepinski, Tashaun Gipson, Roquan Smith, Akiem Hicks, Jaylon Johnson, Nick Foles and Matt Nagy were among the runners-up.
Trubisky has been a stand-up guy in handling his media responsibilities in good times and bad not only this season but throughout his four-year career with the Bears — perhaps never more than in his postgame interview after being benched in Week 3 against the Falcons, the lowest moment of his career.
“It’s an honor,” Trubisky said. “Just looking at the [previous winners] on the plaque, and specifically guys I’ve played with — Zach Miller, Prince Amukamara and Allen Robinson — all are really good friends of mine, people I hold in very high regard. So just to have my name next to theirs, it means a lot to me.”
Making history
With the Bears assured of finishing no worse than 8-8, Matt Nagy is the first Bears head coach without a losing season in his first three years since Ralph Jones in 1930-32. Not a bad accomplishment considering the Bears were 5-7 and foundering after back-to-back losses to the Packers (41-25) and Lions (34-30) capped the six-game losing streak.
“I see the same guy,” wide receivers coach Mike Furrey said when asked what he’s seen from Nagy since giving up play-calling duties. “I see the same guy that when I walked in here three years ago; the same guy I’ve known for 15 years — a guy that still does his job, is passionate, loves what he does, loves the players. So whatever is going on up there, nothing has changed out of Matt.”
