Tillman Takes Some Practice Reps, Questionable for Sunday

The Bears CB has been hampered by a knee injury suffered in Week 2

The Chicago Bears have been dealing with some injury concerns this week, and although the good news is that Kyle Long and Martellus Bennett are both 100% for the upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, another Bear is still ailing.

That's because CB Charles Tillman is still suffering from a sore knee he injured during the Bears' Week 2 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. He only did limited off-field work on Thursday, and although he did get some on-field reps Friday, head coach Marc Trestman says that the team is taking it easy with him.

"He worked about half the reps," Trestman told the media Friday. "We'll leave it up to Charles and our trainers to see where he is. We're optimistic. But we don't know right now."

According to John Mullin of CSN Chicago, Zack Bowman will start for Tillman on Sunday if the Pro Bowl cornerback is unable to play. Bowman hasn't started a game since 2011 for the Bears, but he did take most of the practice reps with the first team this week.

Tillman has had a good start to the season, picking off Bengals QB Andy Dalton twice in the Bears' Week 1 victory over Cincinnati. That number nearly matches his total from the 2012 season, but in addition to the three interceptions he had that year he also forced 10 fumbles.

It will be interesting to see how the Bears defense functions with either a limited Tillman or with him missing the contest. In all likelihood, Jennings will draw the more difficult assignment against the Steelers and cover Antonio Brown regardless, but the Bears will also have to contend with TE Heath Miller, who will be playing for the Steelers and represents a serious pass-catching threat over the middle.  

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