The Bears on Thursday placed Pro Bowl return specialist Jakeem Grant Sr. on injured reserve with an ankle injury, meaning that he will miss Sunday's season finale in Minnesota.
After being obtained Oct. 5 in a trade with the Dolphins, Grant appeared in 11 games with the Bears. Entering the final weekend of the season, he ranks third in the NFL in punt returns with an 11.9-yard average with one touchdown on 26 returns and 11th in kickoff returns with a 23.4-yard average on 23 returns.
This season, Grant was named to the first Pro Bowl of his six-year NFL career.
Grant's 97-yard punt return touchdown Dec. 12 in Green Bay was the NFL's first punt return TD of the season and the longest punt return TD in Bears history, eclipsing Johnny Bailey's 95-yarder Dec. 29, 1990 against the Chiefs. He also had a 46-yard TD reception in the Bears' 45-30 loss to the Packers.
Grant now has six kick return TDs in his career, four on punts and two on kickoffs.
He also contributed as a receiver for the Bears this season, catching nine passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
In other news Thursday, the only player on the Bears' active roster who did not practice was defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, due to an ankle injury.
The Bears on Thursday also signed linebacker John Daka to their practice squad. Daka entered the NFL with the Ravens in 2020 as an undrafted free agent from James Madison. He also spent time with the Jets and Rams in 2021 but has yet to appear in a regular-season game. Daka is believed to be the first player of Zambian descent to sign with an NFL team.
