The Chicago Bears are in the middle of a much-needed bye that’s allowing some injured players to rest up for what’s sure to be a challenging remainder of the 2019 season.
While some players are gearing up for returns possibly coming out of the bye, there are others that might be out indefinitely.
Here are where the Bears stand as of the bye week in terms of injuries:
QB Mitch Trubisky
After suffering a left shoulder injury on the opening series against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4, starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky appears on track to return against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7.
Trubisky dislocated his left shoulder and suffered a slight labrum tear, that Adam Schefter said won’t require surgery. Schefter said that Trubisky would return “sooner rather than later.” Trubisky is expected to wear a shoulder harness when he does return.
Quarterback Tyler Bray was released by the Bears on Wednesday, which indicates that the Bears believe Trubisky should be ready to go Oct. 20, barring any setbacks.
DL Akiem Hicks
After returning from a right knee injury that resulted in his first missed game as a Bear, Akiem Hick suffered a separate injury against the Oakland Raiders in Week 5.
Hicks suffered what appeared to be some sort of elbow dislocation on the first series of the game, where his elbow was caught between edge rusher Khalil Mack’s helmet and running back Josh Jacobs’ pads. Hicks was in a ton of pain.
While Eddie Jackson recently said that the Bears are hopeful that Hicks will return “sometime this season,” it doesn’t appear that Hicks’ return is imminent. Matt Nagy didn’t provide an update following the Raiders game, which means we’ll have to wait until next Monday for any sort of update.
DL Bilal Nichols
While Akiem Hicks doesn’t appear to be close to returning to the Bears’ defensive line, Chicago may be getting some reinforcements with the return of Bilal Nichols.
Nichols broke his hand against the Denver Broncos in Week 2, and he’s been sidelined for the past three games. While the Bears’ depth on the defensive line wasn’t a problem until last Sunday against the Raiders, getting Nichols back would certainly be a boost for that defensive front.
Matt Nagy recently said that Nichols is “very close to returning” to game action. When Nichols does return, he’s expected to wear a club on that broken hand, similar to the one that Leonard Floyd wore last season.
WR Taylor Gabriel
Aside from Allen Robinson, the Bears’ receiving corp. has been ineffective. But you could make the argument that receiver Taylor Gabriel was hitting his stride in Week 3 against the Redskins, where he had three second-quarter touchdowns before suffering a concussion in the fourth quarter.
Gabriel has remained in concussion protocol since that game, where he’s missed games against the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders. Gabriel hasn’t practiced since suffering that concussion.
There’s been no update on Gabriel’s status, although you’d figure the more time he has to recover the sooner he’ll be back. We’ll have to wait for an update from Matt Nagy on Monday.
K Eddy Pineiro
Of all of the injuries the Bears are dealing with in the bye week, Eddy Pineiro’s is the least concerning. Pineiro is dealing with a pinched nerve in his right kicking leg, which hasn’t resulted in him missing any game time and that doesn’t look to change.
Pineiro said that it’s more about dealing with the pain than anything, and that he was looking forward to the bye week as a way to rest his leg up. Punter Pat O’Donnell has been handling kickoffs since Week 3, while Pineiro has been able to kick field goals and extra points.
Pineiro has been a solid addition to the Bears’ roster, as he’s connected on 8-of-9 field goals, including two from 50-plus yards. Pineiro’s lone miss came in Week 3 when he first dealt with that injury.
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