Dec. 10--Bears receiver Eddie Royal took a step Wednesday toward returning to game action, practicing for the first time since Oct. 30. He has missed the last five games with an injured left knee.
"You just miss being in the huddle, part of the team, being one of the guys," Royal said. "It's hard being on the sideline just watching it all. It was just great to be back out there."
Royal has played in only six games this season. An ankle injury suffered in the Week 4 victory over the Raiders sidelined him for the next game. He returned for two contests but hasn't played since the Nov. 1 triumph over the Vikings.
No. 1 receiver Alshon Jeffery has missed five games this season to injury, and No. 3 receiver Marquess Wilson remained out of practice Wednesday because of a foot problem. Overall, the Bears' top three receivers have been active together for only three games.
Royal was limited in Wednesday's practice, but that's a good sign he could play Sunday against the Redskins.
"We haven't been able to keep our same wide receiver group together for some time," coach John Fox said. "He started the season in pretty good shape and has been banged up. He looked, actually, pretty good today in practice."
The Bears considered Royal, 29, a big-play threat out of the slot when they signed him as a free agent in March to a three-year, $15 million contract that included $10 million guaranteed. He has 26 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown this season.
Broken Unicorn: Tight end Martellus Bennett indeed has a fractured rib, which prompted Tuesday's move to the season-ending injured reserve list, Fox confirmed Wednesday.
"He tried to gut it up and go this past week and it just wasn't going to work," Fox said. "The only real way to fix him is to let it rest and heal. Playing football is not real conducive to healing ribs. (It) was best for us and him moving forward."
Bounce back: Bears coaches are confident in rookie safety Adrian Amos' ability to rebound from his involvement in two costly, decisive plays in Sunday's loss to the 49ers.
The fifth-round pick has emerged as a building block with his steady play during the course of his first season. But Amos slipped in pursuit of quarterback Blaine Gabbert on the 44-yard game-tying touchdown scramble in the fourth quarter and was involved in the miscommunication that enabled the game-ending 71-yard touchdown reception.
"He's not the first guy those things have happened to," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "So overall in his career and his development, it'll have good effects. You learn from bad experiences."
Injury report: Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee did not practice as the Bears continue to manage his ailing left knee. Safety Antrel Rolle (right knee) also sat out.
