Injury Bug Won't Stop Biting The Bears
By Chris Emma—
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) – Sticking to protocol, Bears coach John Fox opened his post-practice remarks on Tuesday with the injury report. He may as well have been reading the Magna Carta to save time.
To wit: running back Matt Forte was held out for a rest day; quarterback Jimmy Clausen is recovering from his concussion; receivers Alshon Jeffery (calf), Eddie Royal (hip) and Marquess Wilson (hamstring) were sidelined; tackle Jermon Bushrod is battling a back issue; nose tackles Eddie Goldman (concussion) and Jeremiah Ratliff (ankle) didn't participate; linebackers Sam Acho (sick) and Jon Bostic (ankle) are still unable to play; cornerback Tracy Porter is still nursing a hamstring injury; and receiver A.J. Cruz hurt his foot.
It might have been easier to ask, who's actually healthy?
The most mysterious of the Bears' walking wounded is Jeffery, the team's top receiver, who has been listed as day-to-day with a calf injury for nearly three weeks. Jeffery didn't travel to Cincinnati last Saturday and hasn't been seen on the practice field.
"It's not like he's sitting there eating Bonbons," Fox said. "He's conditioning."
However, Fox shrugged off questions digging for details about Jeffery's injury. Jeffery was injured in a walk-through prior to the Bears' first preseason game on Aug. 13 and hasn't seen the field since. At the time, Fox declared Jeffery to be day-to-day, similar to his initial ruling for Kevin White's injury, one that became a stress fracture in his shin.
When asked why Jeffery has remained day-to-day for several weeks, Fox simply responded, "He's injured."
Is there anything that happened to Jeffery during this time to cause a setback?
"Not for me," Fox said. "It's on to tomorrow."
The past two seasons in Chicago, Jeffery has recorded 174 catches for 17 touchdowns. He had 85 receptions last season and a career-best 10 scores. With Brandon Marshall dealt to New York this offseason, combined with the injury to White, there's added importance to Jeffery's role in the offense. Jay Cutler is counting on his physical 6-foot-3 receiver to be on the field.
Chicago hosts rival Green Bay in 12 days, and Cutler is without his top four receivers. Josh Bellamy, the third-year player with zero career receptions, is currently the team's top healthy target.
Given the Bears' injury issues, Jeffery is just one of many concerns for the Bears as Sept. 13 at Soldier Field approaches.
"I've mentioned it a lot of times, I'd prefer they're out there," Fox said. "But until they're cleared medically, I don't have them. I can't predict what's going to happen, other than day-to-day. We'll assess it. The plan is, hopefully we get everybody ready for opening day."
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