Windy City Gridiron
The final injury report of the regular season is out for the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, and all things considered, neither looks too bad for this time of the season.
The good news for Chicago is that wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) got his first practice in on Friday, albeit limited, and is listed as questionable. This is his first work in a few weeks, and it feels like more of a ramp-up to be ready for the playoffs than it does him playing on Sunday.
More good news for Odunze is that he says offseason surgery isn’t something he believes would be needed for the stress fracture he’s been dealing with.
Also questionable for the Bears is starting left tackle Ozzy Trapilo (knee/quad), but he did practice every day this week in a limited capacity. If Ozzy can’t go, look for Theo Benedet to get the start.
That bug is still making its way through Halas Hall, and starting safety Jaquan Brisker and corner Nick McCloud are both questionable with an illness. McCloud was limited all week, while Brisker was fine up until today, when he was held out of practice.
Defensive lineman Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has been ruled out with a concussion.
The Lions have nothing to play for except pride after a disappointing three-game losing streak, but this is still a Dan Campbell-coached team, and I expect them to be ready to play spoiler.
Detroit lists the following players as out: defensive tackle Alim McNeill (abdomen), linebacker Alex Anzalone (concussion/personal), Pro Bowl right tackle Penei Sewell (ankle), safety Thomas Harper (concussion), and center Trystan Colon (wrist).
Their questionable players are wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee/ankle), guard Kayode Awosika (illness), guard Christian Mahogany (illness), starting left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/illness/rest), and offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (knee).
St. Brown was limited the last two days after missing Wednesday, and Decker did not practice today after being limited the previous two days. The other questionable Lions were all limited at Friday’s practice.
Lions head coach Dan Cambopell did say that Manu would not play on Sunday, so I wonder if they’ll be cautious with all the questionable players, as there’s nothing on the line for them on Sunday.
