Wide receiver Chase Claypool won’t play against the Eagles on Sunday because of a knee injury he suffered against the Packers in the Bears’ last game Dec. 4.
Claypool, acquired Nov. 1 in a trade with the Steelers, initially hurt the knee on a reception in the second quarter, fumbling and losing possession on the play. Although the injury looked ominous, he returned after going into the medical tent and finished the game with a brace on his knee.
But after a week off for the bye, Claypool was unable to practice this week.
“He’s just rehabbing it — getting better, not where we need it to be this week,” coach Matt Eberflus said.
Still, Eberflus was confident Claypool would return this season.
“Oh, yeah. For sure,” he said.
Claypool has 12 receptions for 111 yards and no touchdowns in five games (three starts) with the Bears.
Elsewhere on the injury report, quarterback Justin Fields (illness), running back David Montgomery (illness), safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion) and cornerback Kyler Gordon (concussion) all participated fully in practice Friday and are expected to play against the Eagles.
Wide receiver N’Keal Harry (back) practiced in full all week but is questionable, in part because of the unpredictable nature of back injuries. But Eberflus said he was hopeful the 6-4, 225-pound Harry could play against the Eagles — a key factor with the 6-4, 238-pound Claypool out.
Cornerback Kindle Vildor, who missed the last game with an ankle injury, also practiced in full this week but is questionable. Tight end Trevon Wesco (calf) is out. Right tackle Larry Borom (knee) was limited Friday and is doubtful.
Leatherwood update
With Borom doubtful, Alex Leatherwood will be in “a little bit of” a rotation with veteran Riley Reiff at right tackle Sunday. Leather-wood played 10 snaps in a rotation with Reiff against the Packers.
Prep coaches honored
The Bears hosted nine high school coaches who won their “Coach of the Week” award this season, including Ken Leonard of Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, whom the Bears nominated for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award.
Leonard, who’s retiring after 43 seasons as a high school coach, won six state titles in 39 seasons at Sacred Heart-Griffin, including this season, when the Cyclones finished 14-0. He’s 419-81 overall — the most wins in Illinois High School Association history.
Eberflus said he previously met Leonard when Eberflus was at Missouri recruiting Sacred Heart-Griffin running back Kenni Burns, who ultimately went to Indiana in 2003 and recently was named head football coach at Kent State.
All the high school coaches will be honored at Sunday’s game against the Eagles.
Bears unfazed
Playing the 12-1 Eagles might be daunting for a 3-10 team like the Bears, but it’s also an opportunity.
“If you want to be the best as a player, you’ve got to play the best players,” linebacker Nick Morrow said. “This offense is really good. They’ve got really good players at every position. There’s not one position where you can say, ‘That guy’s not good.’ So as a competitor, that’s what you look for. They’re a good offense, and they’re a good challenge for us, and I’m excited. I think everybody else is excited.”
