The Chicago Bears are getting back a key defensive player for today’s game. Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks is active and will play against the Oakland Raiders.
Hicks missed his first start as a Bear last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings after suffering a right knee injury in Week 3 against the Washington Redskins.
While Roy Robertson-Harris and Nick Williams have been reliable fill-ins on the defensive line, getting back a star like Hicks is huge for this Bears defense.
Linebacker Roquan Smith is also active for the Raiders, where Matt Nagy said he would start barring any setbacks.
There aren’t any surprises on the inactives side. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky (left shoulder), wide receiver Taylor Gabriel (concussion) and offensive lineman Ted Larsen (knee) had all been ruled out prior to today’s game.
Defensive lineman Bilal Nichols will miss his third game as he nurses a broken hand. The Bears don’t believe he’ll land on injured reserve, which means that they expect him to return, likely with a club, at some point.
Other inactives include defensive back Duke Shelley, wide receiver Riley Ridley and linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe.
