Bears place top CB Johnson on IR because of finger injury
The Chicago Bears shut down top cornerback Jaylon Johnson for the final three games, placing him on injured reserve because of a ring finger injuryDECEMBER 23, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO BEARS 4-7 · 4TH IN NFC NORTH
4-7 · 4TH IN NFC NORTH
Next Game at Lions · Thu 5:30PM
CHI +9.5 TOTAL 48
Chase Allen - Elevated from practice squad Chicago elevated Allen to its active roster from the practice squad Friday ahead of Saturday's matchup against Buffalo, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.
Impact With Trevon Wesco (calf) out, Allen has been elevated from the practice squad and will be eligible to make his NFL debut in Week 16. The undrafted rookie out of Iowa State caught 62 of 94 targets for 687 yards and six touchdowns during his final three collegiate campaigns.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
David Montgomery - Gets more competition in Week 16 Montgomery could face more competition for snaps out of the backfield Saturday against Buffalo with Chicago activating Khalil Herbert (hip) from injured reserve Friday, Larry Meyer...
Impact While Herbert was sidelined for the past four games, Montgomery averaged 14.3 carries and four targets per contest, with both figures being marginally ahead of his season-long averages (13.2 carries, 2.5 targets). Herbert shouldn't be much of a threat to poach work from Montgomery on passing downs, but he'll likely earn more carries than the five per game that Darrynton Evans and Trestan Ebner combined for over the past four weeks. Even if the arrival of Herbert results in Montgomery forking over more snaps, there's a decent chance that both backs push for double-double digit touches against the Bills. Saturday's forecast in Chicago calls for sustained winds around 20 to 25 miles per hour as well as temperatures around 10 degrees Fahrenheit, which could prompt both teams to largely eschew intermediate and deep passes and favor the ground game more heavily.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nsimba Webster - Elevated to active roster again Chicago elevated Webster from its practice squad to the active roster Friday ahead of Saturday's game against Buffalo, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.
Impact With Chase Claypool (knee) doubtful and Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) out for Saturday's matchup, Webster will be elevated to the active roster for a second consecutive week. The undrafted wideout out of Eastern Washington caught two of three targets for 14 yards across 10 offensive snaps during last week's loss to Philadelphia, marking his first career NFL receptions. Given Chicago's depleted wideout corps, Webster figures to garner a similar role in Week 16.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kindle Vildor - Heads to IR The Bears placed Vildor (ankle) on injured reserve Friday, Larry Mayer of the team's official site reports.
Impact Vildor was slated to miss a third consecutive game Saturday against the Bills due to an ankle injury, but he'll now be sidelined for the remainder of the 2022 campaign after landing on IR. He'll finish his third NFL season with 34 tackles, five pass defenses and one interception across 11 appearances. Jaylon Johnson (finger/ribs) was also placed on injured reserve Friday, paving the way for Jaylon Jones and Kyler Gordon to garner major roles in Chicago's secondary.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jaylon Johnson - Out for season The Bears placed Johnson (finger/ribs) on injured reserve Friday, Larry Mayer of the team's official site reports.
Impact Johnson was forced to leave the Bears' Week 15 loss to Philadelphia early due to rib and finger injuries, but he logged full practices Tuesday and Wednesday, suggesting he was going to be fine moving forward. However, the third-year defensive back was downgraded to a limited participant Thursday and drew a questionable tag for Saturday's matchup against Buffalo. The finger issue appears to be worse than initially thought, as coach Matt Eberflus said after practice Thursday that Johnson may be dealing with a broken ring finger, per Adam Hoge of AllCHGO.com, but the exact extent of the issue remains unclear. Nonetheless, Johnson will be forced to miss Chicago's final three regular-season matchups after landing on IR. He'll end the 2022 campaign with 35 tackles, seven pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 11 appearances.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Khalil Herbert - Comes off IR Chicago reinstated Herbert (hip) from injured reserve Friday, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.
Impact After missing the minimum four games while on IR, Herbert was cleared to resume practicing Tuesday and checked out fine during the Bears' three sessions this week, prompting head coach Matt Eberflus to sign off on the running back's return to the 53-man roster ahead of Saturday's game versus Buffalo. While Herbert was sidelined, Darrynton Evans and Trestan Ebner handled limited roles behind top running back David Montgomery, but expect Herbert to push for a larger share of backfield snaps and touches now that he's healthy again. Over the last six games in which both Montgomery and Herbert were available from Weeks 5 through 10, Herbert saw snap shares ranging between 22 and 41 percent and averaged 9.3 carries per contest.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills trailer | Bears Buzz | Chicago Bears
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Cody Whitehair - Deemed doubtful for Saturday Whitehair (knee) is doubtful to play Saturday against Buffalo.
Impact Whitehair hasn't practiced at all this week, putting his status for Saturday's contest in serious doubt. Fellow starting guard Teven Jenkins (neck) is also doubtful, so Chicago's offensive line will likely be significantly shorthanded in a tough matchup against the Bills.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills | By The Numbers
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Bills try to clinch AFC East against Bears, eye No. 1 seed
The Buffalo Bills can clinch their third straight AFC East title when they meet the Bears in frigid Chicago on SaturdayDECEMBER 23, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
NFL odds Week 16: How bad weather impacts betting lines
Gambling analyst Sam Panayotovich talks about how weather impacts betting totals and shares an oddsmaker's thoughts on how the Bills-Bears g...DECEMBER 22, 2022
Trevon Wesco - Won't play vs. Bills Wesco (calf) is listed as out for Saturday's game versus Buffalo.
Impact Wesco will miss his second consecutive game as he works to recover from a calf injury he sustained in Week 13 versus Green Bay. In his absence, Ryan Griffin should see more snaps as a blocker.
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kindle Vildor - Won't play vs. Buffalo Vildor (ankle) is listed as out for Saturday's game versus the Bills.
Impact Vildor will miss his third consecutive game as he works to recover from a lingering ankle injury. In his absence, Jaylon Jones should again be in line for a significant role (and even some fantasy IDP utility) in Week 16.
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Khalil Herbert - Will be activated for Week 16 Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Herbert (hip) will be officially reinstated from injured reserve Friday, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
Impact Once the transaction is made official, Herbert will be back on the Bears' 53-man roster and thus eligible to make his return to action Saturday against the Bills after spending the minimum of four games on IR due to the hip issue. Herbert was cleared to resume practicing with the Bears on Tuesday and has apparently responded well to his on-field work, so expect him to step back in as the top complementary option to David Montgomery, who will likely see his opportunities take a hit with Herbert back in the fold. While both Montgomery and Herbert were available over a six-game stretch from Weeks 5 through 10, Herbert averaged 9.3 carries per contest.
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jaylon Johnson - Downgraded to questionable Johnson (finger/ribs) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Bills.
Impact Johnson was forced out with a pair of rib and finger injuries during Chicago's loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. While he initially seemed to be in the clear after logging full sessions both Tuesday and Wednesday, the cornerback then took a step back as a limited participant in practice Thursday. It appears the finger issue could be Johnson's biggest obstacle to playing Saturday, as Bears coach Matt Eberflus said that the 23-year-old has had one of his ring fingers in a brace and that he's unsure if it's a broken bone, according to Adam Hoge of AllCHGO.com. Should Johnson sit out, Jaylon Jones and Josh Blackwell would likely see increased playing time after Kindle Vildor (ankle) was already ruled out Thursday as well.
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Teven Jenkins - Unlikely to play Saturday Jenkins (neck) was listed as doubtful on the Bears' final injury report ahead of Saturday's contest against the Bills.
Impact Jenkins was carted off with a brace on his neck after going down during Sunday's loss to the Eagles. The second-year offensive lineman was then limited during practice to begin Week 16 prep before logging back-to-back DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday, so it's not surprising to see he'll likely sit out at least one game due to this injury. As a result, either Alex Leatherwood or Michael Schofield should be in line to start at right guard Saturday versus Buffalo.
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Allen, Bills look to lock up AFC East title against Bears
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills look to clinch the AFC East title when they visit Chicago in what is expected to be one of the Bears' coldest home gamesDECEMBER 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
NFL odds Week 16: How to bet Bills-Bears
Here's everything you need for the Bills-Bears game, from the point spread, moneyline, total Over/Under and expert pick from Sam Panayotovic...DECEMBER 22, 2022
Bears CB Johnson questionable for Bills game with injury
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is questionable for Saturday’s game against the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills because of a ring finger injuryDECEMBER 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chase Claypool - Status in doubt for Saturday Claypool (knee) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against the Bills.
Impact Claypool has managed just one limited listing on Bears injury reports the last two weeks due to a knee issue, which appears destined to sideline him for a second consecutive contest. Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) already has been ruled out for Week 16 action, so assuming Claypool joins him on the sideline Saturday, Chicago will be rolling with some combination of Byron Pringle, Dante Pettis, Velus Jones and N'Keal Harry (back) at wide receiver.
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Equanimeous St. Brown - Won't play Saturday St. Brown (concussion) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Bills.
Impact Meanwhile, Chase Claypool (knee) is listed as doubtful for the contest, which sets the stage for Byron Pringle and Dante Pettisto lead the Bears' Week 16 wideout corps, with Velus Jones and N'Keal Harry candidates to mix in. St. Brown will now look to gain clearance to play Jan. 1 against the Lions.
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Bears not necessarily scheming for Fields to break record
Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy says he hopes Justin Fields breaks the NFL single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterbackDECEMBER 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
