The Bears are preparing to wait until Thursday evening to decide whether Trey Burton will play in the season opener against the Packers.
The tight end, who hurt his groin last week in what the team claims is a separate injury from the problem that prompted offseason surgery, was limited in practice for the second-straight day. Burton was on the field during the portion Tuesday’s practice that was open to the media.
“I feel like it is getting slightly better but we’ll make that decision as we go,” coach Matt Nagy said. “But it’ll end up being pretty much a game-time decision and that’s all we can really do. We’re prepared both ways.”
Burton suffered a mild groin strain last week, the Bears said.
The team will issue a league-mandated injury report Wednesday, and Burton figures to be on it. Because they won’t hold a standard practice, the report will be hypothetical, showing how much work their players could have done.
Burton missed the Bears’ last game of consequence, too. He woke up the day before the Eagles playoff game with a groin problem that later required surgery.
Defensive end Bilal Nichols was limited with a knee injury Tuesday, but it was no surprise. The Bears traditionally hold their last practice of the week indoors at the Walter Payton Center. They try to keep Nichols off the artificial turf as much as they can. He’ll still start Thursday night. Backup tackle Rashaad Coward practiced for the first time since hurting his left elbow in the third preseason game. He was limited.
