When it comes to banged-up Bears and Buccaneers, the big news was in Tampa.
A day after officially passing league protocol for concussions, Bucs receiver Mike Evans — an imposing 6-foot-5 force with 55 catches, 745 yards and eight touchdowns this season — told reporters he never had a head injury.
“They put me in the protocol, but I knew that I didn’t have a concussion,” Evans said Friday in Tampa. “ I appreciate [the cautious approach], but I just know my body.”
Bucs starting running back Doug Martin, meanwhile, will be a game-time decision. A 1,400-yard rusher last season, Martin hasn’t played since injuring his hamstring Week 2. He’s listed as questionable.
“Doug will go right up to the [deadline on game day],” Bucs coach Dirk Koetter told reporters. “Doug did more every day this week. He increased [his work] a little bit more.
“As we stand here right now, officially he’s still not cleared. But there’s still a chance. The [next] 48 hours, we’ll see what happens there.”
As for the Bears, guards Josh Sitton (ankle) and Kyle Long (triceps) fully participated in practice for the second day in a row and will be active on Sunday.
Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (high ankle sprain) was one of six players listed as questionable by the Bears.
The others include outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (knee), cornerback Tracy Porter (knee), receiver Eddie Royal (toe), cornerback Bryce Callahan (hamstring) and defensive tackle Mitch Unrein (back).
A starter in the Bears’ base 3-4 defense, Unrein was added to the injury report on Friday. His back injury kept him completely out of practice.
The only player ruled out was rookie cornerback Deiondre’ Hall (ankle sprain).
With an open roster spot on the 53-man roster, the Bears could activate receiver Marquess Wilson from the physically unable-to-perform list.
Wilson started the season on the PUP list after breaking his left foot during mandatory minicamp in June. He returned to practice on Monday, opening the 21-day window for the team to make a decision.
“I thought he looked healthy,” Fox said. “Now it’s a matter of getting back into football shape. You can do all kinds of conditioning, you can do all kinds of rehab, but there’s nothing really like practicing and playing the game. He had a good first week from that standpoint.”
