The Bears are dealing with injuries on both sides of the ball as they prepare to face the Cardinals in Arizona Sunday.
Left tackle Braxton Jones (knee) has been ruled out of the Week 9 contest while defensive end Montez Sweat (shin) is listed as questionable. Both starters sustained injuries during the last Sunday's game in Washington. While Jones did not practice all week, Sweat did not practice Friday after being a limited participant Thursday.
"We're just giving [Sweat] another day of rest and we'll see where it goes through the next 48 hours," coach Matt Eberflus said in his press conference Friday. "But again, we thought the day of rest would be good for his injury."
While safety Jaquan Brisker remains in concussion protocol and will miss his third consecutive game, the secondary may still get a boost this week. Nickel back Kyler Gordon (hamstring) is listed as questionable after returning to practice Friday for the first time this week in a limited capacity.
"There's always a ramp-up process," Gordon told reporters Friday. "I'm glad to be on the field."
After suffering the injury in London against the Jaguars, Gordon has been trying to balance his desire to be back on the field with getting back to full strength.
"I wanted to be there immediately the day after," Gordon said. "It's definitely tough being smart and then being eager. Just trying to figure out the in between, not pushing it over the limit, but definitely testing it out and trying to make good progress on it because I want to be able to be back on the field as fast as possible. I hate being out. I want to be out there and make plays and have fun and be out there with my brothers."
The offensive line is the group whose depth will be tested the most Sunday. Rookie Kiran Amegadjie (calf) will miss Sunday's game after not practicing all week while Teven Jenkins (knee), Larry Borom (ankle) and Ryan Bates (shoulder) are all questionable.
"Teven Jenkins was good today," Eberflus said. "He participated in most of the practice. He looks good out there, feels good, so we're hopeful there."
Both Borom and Bates still remain on injured reserve and would have to be added to the 53-man roster prior to game time. Eberflus spoke highly of Borom's work at left tackle in practice with Jones sidelined.
"Larry's been working in there," Eberflus said. "We feel really good about that. We want to make sure that we're not moving multiple spots. We'll see where that goes, but Larry's done a good job in there. And again, our right side is the right side. It should be pretty solid there."
