Bears' Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery, Pernell McPhee, Eddie Royal All Miss Practice
By Chris Emma--
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- Practicing inside the Walter Payton Center on Thursday, the Bears were without running back Matt Forte (knee), receiver Alshon Jeffery (groin, shoulder), receiver Eddie Royal (knee) and Pernell linebacker McPhee (knee)as they deal with injuries.
Forte and Jeffery were each limited a day prior, though in differing workloads, while Royal and McPhee each didn't practice.
The injury to Forte is an MCL sprain, which has caused him to miss the Bears' last two games. Forte worked Wednesday and spent much of Thursday getting treatment. Fox said he will be re-evaluated Friday.
"Right now, we're just trying to get Matt completely healthy," Fox said.
Forte said his work on Wednesday was pain-free, and that he sat out Thursday's practice due to the Bears working on a hard turf field inside the Walter Payton Center.
No indication has been made about Forte's status for Sunday's game.
"I still got to play it smart," Forte said. "I've been talking to our head trainer and obviously Coach Fox about it. We've got two games in five days (Sunday against the Broncos and Thursday against the Packers). I got to be smart about it. I don't know what our plan is now."
In the Bears' win over the Rams on Sunday in St. Louis, Forte, Royal and McPhee didn't play or even travel. Jeffery was more of a decoy, recording three catches for 23 yards in a reduced workload.
McPhee's absence last Sunday was his first of the season, despite an ongoing battle with a knee injury.
McPhee's status for Sunday will be a game-time decision for the coaches and doctors to make, he said Thursday.
"Him and the training staff, they know what they're doing," McPhee said. "I'm going to let them answer the questions. Right now, I'm feeling good -- I'm feeling great.
McPhee said his injury was caused with a knee tweak, though he declined to get into details. He's unsure if it will be a sustained recovery for the rest of the season.
"Maybe, maybe not," McPhee said.
The Bears and Broncos kick off at noon this Sunday at Soldier Field.
