The Chicago Bears got some great news on the injury front on Wednesday, as quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and wide receiver Taylor Gabriel were both full participants in the team’s workout at Halas Hall.
Trubisky, who missed the team’s game against the Oakland Raiders with a left shoulder injury, is hopeful that he will be able to return to the field Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, but the team plans to take things cautiously with him as he ramps back up to full workload.
Gabriel has missed the Bears’ last two games due to a concussion he suffered against the Washington Redskins in Week 3. One of Trubisky’s primary downfield weapons, Gabriel’s return could spark an offense that has struggled to find its sea legs this season.
The Bears also said that defensive tackle Bilal Nichols, who broke his hand earlier this season, was a full participant in practice. Nichols will likely play with a cast on his broken hand, and will need to step up his game after Akiem Hicks was placed on injured reserve by the Bears as he continues to rehab an elbow injury.
The Bears announced that linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe (hamstring) and offensive lineman Ted Larsen (knee) were limited in Wednesday’s workout.
Larsen’s health status could pave the way for either Rashaad Coward or Alex Bars to step in for Kyle Long, who was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury. The Bears’ offensive line has been a question mark this season, and while Larsen seemed to be the frontrunner to replace Long at guard, the team could start Coward or Bars in an attempt to identify whether either player could be the team’s future answer at the position.
