The Bears on Saturday made the following roster moves:
• Running back Damien Williams was activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list. The seven-year NFL veteran returns after missing one game. He'll buoy a Bears rushing attack that's still missing starter David Montgomery Sunday against a Buccaneers run defense that ranks No. 1 in the NFL.
In five games this season, Williams has rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries and caught 10 passes for 61 yards. Two weeks ago against the Raiders, Williams (16 carries for 64 yards and one TD) combined with rookie Khalil Herbert (18-75) to rush for 139 yards on 34 attempts in a 20-9 win in Las Vegas.
• Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks was downgraded from questionable to out for Sunday's game in Tampa. The 10-year NFL veteran returned to practice on a limited basis Friday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday. Hicks did not travel to Tampa with the team.
Hicks hurt his groin on the defense's first play Oct. 3 in a win over the Lions. He sat out the following week against the Raiders but played last Sunday versus the Packers.
• Defensive tackle Margus Hunt and guard Dieter Eiselen were flexed from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
Hunt has appeared in three games this season, recording two tackles. Born in Estonia, Hunt was signed to the Bears practice squad Sept. 8. He arrived having appeared in 104 NFL games with 26 starts in nine seasons with the Bengals (2013-16 and 2020), Colts (2017-19) and Saints (2020), registering 114 tackles, 26 tackles-for-loss and 8.5 sacks.
Since signing with the Bears last year as an undrafted free agent from Yale, Eiselen has played a total of five snaps, all on special teams: three last year in a Week 9 loss to the Titans and two last week against the Packers.
For the second straight year due to COVID-19, NFL teams are permitted to flex up to two players from their practice squad to their active roster prior to 3 p.m. (CT) the day before a game without having to place any players on waivers.
