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Bears Blitz: Previewing Bears vs. Lions at Soldier Field
The Chicago Bears take on the Detroit Lions this Sunday at Soldier Field. The Bears Blitz panel of Lou Canellis, Anthony Herron and Cassie Carlson previews the game.
The Chicago Bears are hopeful that they'll be closer to full strength on the offensive line against the Detroit Lions.
The Bears were without starting left tackle Braxton Jones last Monday after Jones was a late addition to the injury report with a concussion.
Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown was ask about how optimistic he'd be heading into Sunday's game against Detroit that Jones would be back.
"As much as I can be, yeah," Brown said. "We’ll see how it goes though."
Jones will be a game-time decision. However, the Bears are monitoring Jaylon Johnson, who Brown said had an illness but the team expects him to play Sunday.
Left guard Teven Jenkins was listed as questionable for Sunday, too. Jenkins was limited in practice and the Bears will see how he progresses throughout the weekend.
"We’ll see how it goes the next couple of days," Brown said. "Limited in practice, doing some reps. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow and Sunday before the game."
Running back Travis Homer is listed as doubtful. The Bears will get Roschon Johnson back, though.
In the running back room, it's the more the merrier for Brown.
"When it comes to the running back spot you want to have enough depth there," Brown said. "You have different guys in that room from body type stand points. Travis also provides some down hill run ability for us as well. Roschon has been a bit hit this year when it comes to short yardage, goal line. Good to get those guys back rolling together."
Sunday provides another chance for Brown to get that first win as the Bears' interim head coach, especially against a Lions team that's reeling off a loss last weekend but also with a plethora of injuries.
In his first two games, Brown has been asked to juggle plenty of tasks as a head coach. Now, he no longer feels like he's "drinking from the hose" like he said when he was introduced as the interim head coach.
"The first week was a different deal because it was Friday, get notified, had already planned to go home so I went home anyway for those couple of days," Brown said. "Tried to have some type of a normal experience around my wife and my kids – which was not 100 percent normal. Then coming back on Monday with the press conference, roll into that first week. I think it has slowed down for sure. Having the help from guys around from a staff standpoint helps out as well. I am not a one man show at all – whether being a coordinator or being in the head coach role. I feel pretty good about how the process goes."