Bears RB Matt Forte, WR Alshon Jeffery expected to play Thursday vs. Packers

The Bears’ offense should have more firepower Thursday night against the Packers than it did Sunday against the Broncos. Receiver Alshon Jeffery and running back Matt Forte should be back in the lineup.

“I’m good enough to go,” Forte said.

“Everything is good now,” Jeffery said. “We’ll be all right.”

The Bears had an abbreviated practice at Halas Hall on Tuesday, and officially Forte and Jeffery were limited participants. As for other injured players, receiver Eddie Royal (knee) and safety Antrel Rolle (knee) are expected to sit out Thursday after not practicing.

Forte missed the last three games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. He nearly played against the Broncos after going through an extensive pregame routine with the Bears’ training staff.

“I probably could have played last Sunday, but I might not have been able to play coming up this week, if something would have happened,” said Forte, who had totaled 767 yards in seven games played this season. “Time heals. Just a couple of extra days will help.”

Jeffery has dealt with various injuries since training camp. He missed his fifth game this season last week with groin and shoulder issues. But Jeffery is no longer listed with a shoulder ailment.

“Last game was last game, I wasn’t feeling pretty well,” said Jeffery, who has 36 catches for 515 yards and two touchdowns in five games played this season. “I feel a lot better than I felt last week.”

After missing the preseason with a strained hamstring, Jeffery said he didn’t feel in game shape in the Bears’ season opener with the Packers, even though he made five catches for 78 yards.

“We’re a different team than we were earlier in the season, the first game of the year,” he said.

One reason for that is rookie running back Jeremy Langford’s emergence as another weapon for coordinator Adam Gase’s offense.

“We’re obviously watching the injury report to see if they’re going to have both [Langford and Forte] back this week,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s an excellent 1-2 punch.”

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