Roquan Smith’s personal matter isn’t keeping him from his teammates.
The Bears’ inside linebacker spent Tuesday working out at Halas Hall, even ducking into the locker room during the period in which reporters were allowed access — only to be shooed away by a member of the team’s media relations staff.
That left his teammates to answer questions about how, two hours before Sunday’s game against the Vikings, the Bears announced that Smith was doubtful to play because of a personal matter. They scratched the first-round pick a half-hour later, though he watched the game from the sideline.
Coach Matt Nagy offered little in terms of clarification Monday, answering 12 different questions about Smith’s absence with some version of, “it’s a personal matter.”
The Bears have made no public declaration that he will accompany the team to London on Thursday night or play against the Raiders on Sunday. Wednesday will be telling — that’s when the Bears will hold their first practice of the week and, by league rule, be forced to file an injury report detailing Smith’s participation.
On Tuesday, fellow inside linebacker Danny Trevathan said that he was “probably not as concerned” about Smith’ status as the media was, while his teammates spoke about him dealing with the issue.
“It’s something that’s in-house,” outside linebacker Khalil Mack said Tuesday. “But at the same time, we know he’s going to get better and we look forward to him getting back out there with us.”
Smith left the Bears’ locker room before reporters could enter Sunday and did not appear at a cancer function Monday night at Maine East High School.
Cornerback Prince Amukamara was among the Bears who claimed he had no direct knowledge of the specifics behind Smith’s absence. Those that did, though, mimicked Nagy’s tight-lipped responses. Nick Kwiatkoski, who replaced Smith in the starting lineup, said he didn’t want to speak much about Smith’s situation.
“We’re there for him if he needs it,” Kwiatkoski said.
The Bears are handling his absence well, receiver Allen Robinson said.
“I mean, nobody really knows too much detail on it,” he said. “So, I mean, there’s not too much that we can kind of overthink. I mean, guys are out of the lineup sometimes for whatever the reason may be. It could be injury, It could be anything.
“For guys in this locker room, everybody is ready to step up and play.”
Outside linebacker Aaron Lynch was asked if he had reached out to Smith.
“The same thing we do every day — we love him up,’ Lynch said. “We love each other all up all the time. We’re so close on this team, we’re there for everybody. And that’s every day. That’s not when somebody’s having a down day or whatnot. So we’re just there for him.”
