Bears’ Matt Nagy on Week 1 boo-birds: ‘We want to play better, so they can cheer better’

Coach Matt Nagy fondly remembers how loud the Soldier Field crowd was the last time the Vikings came to town. He wants more of the same Sunday.

“We had that last year, and we want to keep that going,” he said Thursday. “It’s a division game, and our players completely feed off of that passion.”

Still, Nagy acknowledged that the Bears heard when the home crowd booed the offense in the season-opening dud against the Packers. The fans did so often — in the second, third and fourth quarters.

Nagy’s solution: Play better.

“You hear it at times,” Nagy said. “And any human being, you don’t really want people booing you, let alone your home fans. We want to play better, so they can cheer better.

“But, all in all, the advantage that we have from that crowd and just how loud that they get, it’s awesome. And we love that. So the more of that we get, the better. It helps us out and helps us win.”

Immediately after the season-opening loss, Nagy said the fans had “every right to boo” and that they “deserve better.”

Injury updates

The Bears produced a lengthy injury report, with five starters not practicing Thursday.

Guard Kyle Long, who practiced Wednesday, missed practice with a hip injury. He was on the injury report last week with the same problem.

Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks missed his second straight practice with a knee injury that Nagy said would likely force a game-time decision Sunday. Eddy Pineiro didn’t kick, either, as he battles a pinched nerve in his right knee.

Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, while running back Mike Davis missed his second consecutive practice for personal reasons. Defensive lineman Bilal Nichols remains out with a broken hand suffered against the Broncos.

Safety Eddie Jackson was limited for a second consecutive day with a shoulder problem.

Tight end Trey Burton, offensive tackle Bobby Massie, defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson were full participants.

Mitch forced the throw

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky forced the pass to Allen Robinson that was intercepted by the Redskins at the goal line, offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said.

Trubisky said after the game that he mistakenly threw the pass to Robinson’s back shoulder because of a presnap read. It landed in the arms of cornerback Josh Norman.

“That’s a thing, presnap, you’d want to go, ‘OK, is this — it’s our best guy down there, right?’ ” Helfrich said. “We’ve been hammering him on the chemistry of those two guys. We believe in those two guys a ton and probably forced one that wasn’t there.”

Whyte cut

The Bears cut running back Kerrith Whyte, a seventh-round pick, to make room for the return of tight end Bradley Sowell. The Bears cut Sowell, a converted offensive tackle, on Monday to make room for defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson.

Whyte, who flashed his speed in the preseason, could land back on the Bears’ practice squad.