Due to a rash of injuries, the Bears could be shorthanded on both sides of the ball Sunday when they visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Left tackle Jermon Bushrod has been ruled out for the second straight game with a concussion, safety Antrel Rolle is doubtful with an ankle injury, and 13 others are listed as questionable.
Left tackle Jermon Bushrod has been ruled out for the second straight game.
That group includes quarterback Jay Cutler (hamstring), receivers Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) and Eddie Royal (ankle), right tackle Kyle Long (back/ankle), outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (shoulder) and defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff (ankle).
Others on that list are quarterback Jimmy Clausen (back), tackle Tayo Fabuluje (ankle), guard Patrick Omameh (ankle), defensive lineman Will Sutton (elbow), linebacker Shea McClellin (elbow), and cornerbacks Alan Ball (groin) and Sherrick McManis (hamstring).
Of the 13 players who are questionable, four did not practice Friday: Jeffery, Royal, McPhee and Omameh. The other nine were limited. Punter Pat O'Donnell, who's listed as probable with a knee injury, is expected to return after missing last Sunday's win over the Raiders.
"It's kind of par for the course so far this season," coach John Fox said of the injuries. "We've had the injury bug kind of in a variety of positions. Sometime they just come in waves. Hopefully it thins out here moving forward."
Fox said that if a player is cleared to play, he doesn't expect that individual to be limited.
"If they're deemed healthy—we have medical people that do that—then we expect them to perform at a high level," Fox said. "I'm not sure anybody's 100 percent in the league in Game 5. But they're healthy and if they're deemed that way and they'll play."
Asked if he knows how many of the players listed as questionable will be able to suit up against the Chiefs, Fox said: "I have my own feel, but we still have until Sunday. We'll take everybody on the trip. We'll continue to treat them and evaluate them and see how that goes."
