The Chicago Bears are clinging to their 2021 season at this point. The upcoming game on Sunday at Soldier Field might be do-or-die against the top-seeded Arizona Cardinals. One would hope the team is getting healthy enough to at least have a chance. Sadly that doesn't appear to be the case. Matt Nagy delivered some solemn news during his Friday press conference in regards to the injury situation.
Justin Fields was limited in practice all week but the team doesn't appear comfortable starting him with those cracked ribs. So he will be inactive for the game and veteran Andy Dalton will start for the second straight week. It doesn't get much better for the offense. Allen Robinson is doubtful with his hamstring issue. Marquise Goodwin is out due to foot and rib problems. Damien Williams also remains out with a calf problem.
On top of all that? Akiem Hicks and Roquan Smith may not play on defense too.
There is no getting around it. This is a brutal development for the Chicago Bears. For all the talk about Nagy and his coaching problems, the reality is this hasn't been a healthy football team since October. Khalil Mack is done for the year. Hicks hasn't played in weeks. Now Smith might be out too. How in the world are they going to stop Kyler Murray and that high-flying Cardinals offense. If they can't, that means the Bears need to score. The problem is they can do that even when they're healthy. Now they're supposed to without two of their top three wide receivers? Dalton being a veteran might help somewhat but it feels like this game keeps shifting in favor of the visitors with each passing hour. If ever Nagy wanted to show everybody that he is a better coach than we thought? This is the time to do it.
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