After listing injury designations for three of their pass-catchers on the injury report, the Chicago Bears could be missing half of their receiving corps, including rookie Tyler Scott, for their rematch with the Detroit Lions in Week 14.
After adding veteran wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown to the injury report in the middle of the week, the Bears have already ruled him out with a pectoral injury. They are also keeping an eye on fellow wideouts Scott (hamstring) and Velus Jones Jr. (illness), who are both listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Lions.
Scott, a fourth-round pick in 2023, would be a more difficult loss for the Bears than Jones. During the four games St. Brown was on injured reserve in October, he stepped up and played the No. 3 receiver role, catching five of his 12 targets for 42 yards. Jones, meanwhile, has been a healthy scratch in two of the Bears’ last three games and played only one offensive snap in their pre-bye week game against Minnesota.
If none of the three play, the Bears will be down to two mainstay starters — D.J. Moore and Darnell Mooney — and punt returner Trent Taylor, who has caught zero passes on two targets in his first season with the team.
Collin Johnson, a third-year player who was promoted from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday, will also be available for the Bears.
Collin Johnson has appeared in 26 games.
Johnson is not a name that fans have been clamoring for to be promoted from the practice squad, but his presence in the lineup against the Lions in Week 14 could be beneficial given that he has more playing experience than the average practice-squad receiver.
Johnson showed promise as a fifth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He appeared in 14 games as a rookie and caught 18 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. He also boasted an ideal frame (6-foot-6, 222 pounds) to fill the “X” receiver role for a Jaguars offense that required big-bodied targets at the time.
However, the Jaguars released Johnson during final roster cuts in 2021, ahead of their first season with No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence at quarterback. The Giants claimed Johnson off waivers the next day, but he saw his role diminish in New York, catching just 11 passes for 105 yards in 12 games and producing roughly half of that output (five catches, 51 yards) in a single game.
Johnson hasn’t played a single regular-season snap since. A torn Achilles ended his 2022 season, and the Giants decided to move on during this summer’s training camp with enough options in their receiving room to feel comfortable. He could get his next shot as soon as this Sunday if the Bears are unable to clear Scott or Jones of their injuries in time for kickoff against the Lions.
Bears Looking Mostly Healthy on Injury Report vs. Lions
The Bears may have to overcome injuries in their receiving corps against the Lions, but the rest of their roster appears (mostly) healthy coming off the bye week.
The Bears did not have D’Onta Foreman (ankle/shin), Tyrique Stevenson (ankle), Noah Sewell (knee), or Larry Borom (illness) available in the final game before the bye week, but all four have been cleared to play against the Lions in Week 14.
As a result, veteran pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue is the only non-receiver with an injury designation for the matchup. Ngakoue is listed as questionable by the Bears due to a knee injury suffered in the middle of the week. He did, however, return to full practice on Friday after being limited by his knee on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Lions have three notable injuries on their roster: rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee), veteran center Frank Ragnow (knee/back/toe), and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle).
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