Bears remain under NFL’s intensive protocol

The Bears entered their second consecutive game week in the NFL’s intensive protocol, which requires teams to take special precautions after being near someone infected with COVID-19.

Last week, the Bears took league-mandated special steps after practice-squad offensive lineman Badara Traore was put on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list. He remains out.

Offensive line coach Juan Castillo self-quarantined, starting Oct. 13, after learning someone in his personal life had contracted the coronavirus. He returned to practice Thursday.

The Bears haven’t put anyone else on the reserve/COVID-19 list. But they stayed in protocol this week after playing Sunday against the Panthers, who have four players on the reserve list.

Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks missed practice Thursday with an illness, but it was unclear whether his symptoms were consistent with those of the coronavirus. Last week, the NFL said players could miss practices — and even games — if they are symptomatic but do not test positive for the coronavirus. Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was sent home from practice last week because he was sick but played Sunday.

Under the league’s intensive protocol, players and coaches must pass quick-turnaround coronavirus tests each day in order to enter the practice facility. Players must wear a mask or an Oakley face shield — a clear plastic device put on over the helmet’s face mask — in practice. All meetings must be virtual. The weight room and locker room have a capacity limit.

“We’re basically going right into practice right from the walkthrough, and the guys will head home after practice,” coach Matt Nagy said. “We don’t have individual meetings. They go home, and then we get up with them and do some stuff later on through technology.”

The NFL held phone calls, arranged in small groups, with all 32 teams this week. Each call featured at least one team that had been under intensive protocol. Those teams were asked to give pointers on how to get the facility into shape.

“Part of what these calls were utilized for was to share things, to get the facility prepared, to spread out areas in the facility even more so than they have been and to really begin implementing the different aspects of the intensive protocol,” said Dawn Aponte, the NFL’s chief football administrative officer.

Injury report

Slot cornerback Buster Skrine did not practice because of an ankle injury, and safety Sherrick McManis sat out with a hamstring injury. McManis missed a game this month with the same injury.

Safety Deon Bush returned to practice after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury but was limited. Rashaad Coward, who started at left guard Sunday, was limited with a finger injury.

Wide receiver Ted Ginn, inside linebacker Danny Trevathan and tight end Jimmy Graham were given veteran days off.

Inside linebacker Manti Te’o, the former Notre Dame star, practiced for the first time with the team.

Kai on Monday?

Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters that Kai Forbath, whom his team took off the Bears’ practice squad earlier this week, won’t be allowed into their facility until Sunday because of coronavirus intake testing. He still could make his Rams debut Monday night.