The Bears will face the NFL’s leading rusher Sunday without two of their best interior players Sunday.
Defensive end Akiem Hicks was ruled out for the game with a right knee injury, while, in a surprising turn, inside linebacker Roquan Smith was inactive due to what the team is calling personal reasons.
Guard Kyle Long, who has a hip injury, was also ruled out. Running back Mike Davis, who missed two practices this week because of personal reasons, was also inactive.
Hicks left the game Monday night with a right knee injury and didn’t practice all week. He was one of four Bears players ruled questionable for the Vikings game, alongside Long (hip), tight end Trey Burton (knee) and kicker Eddy Pineiro (knee).
Coach Matt Nagy said on Friday that Burton would definitely play against the Vikings, while the Bears have talked all week about how Pineiro would have to kick through the pain of a pinched nerve in his right knee.
Hicks worked out before the game. Wearing a brace on his right knee, he ran, got in a three-point stance and hit blocking pads.
The Bears seemed to prepare for Hicks’ absence on Saturday when they promoted defensive lineman Jonathan Harris from the practice squad.
Receiver Taylor Gabriel (concussion) and defensive lineman Bilal Nichols (broken right hand) were ruled out Friday. Cornerback Kevin Toliver is also inactive.
