While the Green Bay Packers have a virtually clean bill of health heading into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, the Monsters of the Midway aren’t so lucky.
That’s because five players have already been ruled out for the contest as the Bears try to run their winning streak to three games. Shea McClellin, who broke his hand in the run-up to the Bears’ Monday night game against the New York Jets, will still be sidelined, as will linemen Matt Slauson and Roberto Garza. Both players are still recovering from high ankle sprains that they suffered in the team’s Week 1 loss against the Buffalo Bills, but both have been ably replaced by Michael Ola and Brian de la Puente.
The Bears will also be without cornerback Sherrick McManis once again as he continues to deal with a quadriceps injury, and Jeremiah Ratliff’s concussion will keep him out of the game as well. There had been talk that he would be cleared to play on Friday, but that didn’t come to pass as he remains listed as “out” on the final injury report.
The Bears also have a couple of players who could be game-time decisions against the Packers, as Jared Allen continues to deal with an illness that has forced the lineman from being at the Bears’ facility. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall is also listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but he has played the past two weeks in spite of the ailment, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see him on the field come Sunday.
Safety Chris Conte is also recovering from yet another shoulder injury. This one forced him out of Monday’s game against the Jets, but he still wants to play in what he considers a critical game for the Bears.
The Packers’ injury report is far less expansive, with only wide receiver Jarrett Boykin and linebacker Brad Jones listed as questionable. Boykin participated in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before being listed as a “Did Not Practice” on Friday’s report. Linebacker Clay Matthews, who is nursing a groin injury, was a limited participant in practice for most of the week, but is expected to play Sunday against the Bears.
