LONDON — Matt Nagy was still awaiting an update on Akiem Hicks’ grisly left elbow injury Monday when he detailed how the Bears could end up getting defensive line reinforcements after the bye week.
Defensive end Bilal Nichols, who broke his right hand in Week 2, is “very close to returning” to game action, Nagy said. The team wants to discuss the virtues of putting a club over his hand, to protect it.
“It can be hard as a D-lineman when you’ve got to try to grab somebody and that, so we’ll see,” Nagy said. “But I’m excited. It feels like a little while since he’s been out. But hopefully, you get guys hurt, this bye week can come at a good time.”
Hicks’ left arm got pinned between teammate Khalil Mack’s helmet and Raiders running back Josh Jacobs’ pads on the game’s eighth play Sunday. Hicks appeared to hyperextend or even dislocate his elbow — both Nagy and his teammates described him being in a tremendous amount of pain.
Hicks missed the first game of his Bears career a week earlier because of a right knee injury that forced him from the Redskins game.
