The Chicago Bears was already facing a difficult test when they drew with the New Orleans Saints as their first round playoff opponent. After today’s injury report, that effort becomes even more tiring.
This afternoon, the Bears officially ruled out Darnell Mooney and Roquan Smith for Sunday’s Wild Card game against the Saints. Linebacker Manti Te’o and Safety Marqui Christian were promoted from the training team as matching plays.
Mooney (ankle) and Smith (elbow) suffered injuries in last week’s loss to the Packers. None of the players participated in the training this week.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson was also on the injury report, but the team did not provide an update on his status. The last time the Bears and Saints played, New Orleans’ big receiver Michael Thomas did not adapt. Thomas will be in the lineup this time, so the Bears will need all the depth of corner they can get. Johnson and his fellow defenseman Kyle Fuller will be instrumental in limiting Thomas’s production.
In recent weeks, the offense of Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears has started to click with Mooney serving as a quick and deep threat. The rest of the receiving body will need to raise their game to help the Bears ‘attack keep up with the Saints’ attack.
As for defense, Roquan Smith’s absence opened the middle of the field for the Packers in week 17. The injury exposed some holes in the defense. With the elusive Alvin Kamara returning to the Reserve / COVID-19 Saints team, there is great concern that the Bears’ defense will be fully occupied.