Heading into Week 5, the Chicago Bears are banged up, where they’re currently without four starters. Luckily, they have a much-needed bye week coming up where players like QB Mitch Trubisky, DL Akiem Hicks, WR Taylor Gabriel and DL Bilal Nichols can rest up.
Trubisky, Hicks, Gabriel and Nichols, as well as LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe and OL Ted Larsen, did not practice Wednesday.
Trubisky suffered a dislocated left shoulder in last Sunday’s win over the Vikings, and he is not expected to play Sunday against the Raiders, although he will travel with the team. The Bears are optimistic that he’ll be ready after the bye week to play New Orleans in Week 7.
Hicks, who missed his first start as a Bear, continues to nurse a knee injury sustained during the fourth quarter of the Redskins game. He was a game-time decision against the Vikings, but coach Matt Nagy indicated that he was close to starting. The Bears might want to play it safe with him this week and let him rest up during the bye before returning to play his former Saints team.
Gabriel hasn’t cleared concussion protocol after suffering a concussion in Chicago’s Week 3 win over the Redskins.
But there was some encouraging news as LB Roquan Smith returned to practice after dealing with a personal matter. Smith told reporters that he expects to play Sunday against the Raiders.
RG Kyle Long was a limited participant in practice Wednesday as he continues to nurse a hip injury. Long missed Sunday’s game, where Larsen filled in for him before Rashaad Coward relieved him after he suffered a knee injury.
K Eddy Pineiro (right knee) and TE Trey Burton (groin) were also full participants in practice.
The Bears are headed to London on Thursday before playing the Raiders on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
