Robert Quinn, Cairo Santos join list of missing Bears at practice

The Bears’ injury report Thursday read like a who’s-who.

Defensive end Robert Quinn, who set a franchise sack record last year, missed practice because of an illness. Cairo Santos, who kicked the game-winning field goal Sunday, was out for a personal reason.

Running back David Montgomery, who has injuries to his right knee and ankle, and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who hasn’t practiced in a week because of a quadriceps injury, also were sidelined. Montgomery isn’t expected to play Sunday; Johnson missed last week’s win against the Texans.

Defensive line coach Travis Smith said the Bears were “just being cautious” because Quinn “wasn’t feeling well.” He has one sack this season but is the Bears’ most feared edge rusher.

Linebacker Roquan Smith was limited for a second straight day because of a quadriceps injury. He missed every practice last week because of a hip injury. Asked why he was able to play well against Houston, Smith joked that it was because he didn’t practice.

“I feel a lot better right now than I did last week,” Smith said.

Velus returning?

Rookie wide receiver Velus Jones once again was limited with a hamstring problem. The Bears are hopeful he can make his debut Sunday against the Giants.

If so, he figures to return kicks and play on offense. Jones was the 2021 SEC co-special teams player of the year and left school as the active leader in kickoff-return yards with 2,973.

Special-teams coach Richard Hightower said the Bears’ return plan wasn’t likely to change much if he did.

“We’re just hopeful he plays,” Hightower said. “And our game plan, we usually tailor it to anybody who has a helmet on. We don’t change a lot of different things.”

Flag day

For the next two games, NFL players can wear a helmet decal with a flag that represents their nationality or heritage. It will sit underneath the American flag decal on the back left-hand side of the helmet.

“I wish I could have it for the whole season,” said wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, whose mother is from Germany.

St. Brown learned German before he learned English.

Santos said earlier this week that he was thrilled to be “bringing Brazil on the field with me.”

This and that

Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy made it sound as though the Bears’ right-guard rotation between Lucas Patrick and Teven Jenkins would continue. He said Patrick, who had thumb surgery during the first week of training camp, could only move to center once he’s fully comfortable.

“We’ve got to keep building up,” he said. “And when we feel really good about it, then we can make a real decision of, ‘Are we going to move him to center full-time or not?’ But right now I don’t think we’re to that point just yet of feeling that comfort.”

u Linebacker Matt Adams (hamstring), safety Dane Cruikshank (hamstring) and tight end Ryan Griffin (Achilles tendon) missed practice. Linebacker Sterling Weatherford was limited with an ankle issue.