The Bears practiced Wednesday without their receiving yards leader or Pro Bowl safety.
Wide receiver Allen Robinson sat out with sore ribs, three days after hurting them while diving for a 43-yard completion against the 49ers. He returned to finish the game, but coach Matt Nagy said he was sore afterward.
Safety Eddie Jackson, meanwhile, will stay on the same plan as last week, Nagy said. Jackson hasn’t practiced or played since spraining his right ankle after intercepting Aaron Rodgers in the Bears’ victory over the Packers on Dec. 16. Linebacker Aaron Lynch, who missed the 49ers game with a sprained right elbow, sat out his fourth straight practice, too. Defensive tackle Bilal Nichols was limited with a knee injury.
The Bears don’t figure to push Robinson to be ready for the regular-season finale Sunday at Minnesota if sitting out ensures he’ll be healthy for the postseason. They’re hopeful Jackson and Lynch will be recovered for the playoffs.
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“We do think they’re getting better, which is good,” Nagy said. “But we’ll just kind of monitor this week and see exactly where they’re at. But they are getting better.”
Nagy pushed back against a suggestion that it would make sense to rest his players Sunday, when the Bears have a chance of securing a first-round playoff bye. They would have to beat the Vikings, who are playing for their postseason lives, and hope the 49ers beat the Rams. If the Rams win, the Bears are locked in at No. 3.
The Bears could, however, pull their starters in the second half if the Rams have a large lead on the 49ers.
“Where it gets real easy is if you just go and you play your guys to win,” Nagy said. “It would have to be something that somebody comes to me and says, ‘Hey, listen, it’s a complete blowout.’ And then you still have decisions to make, as well.
“We’re going there to win the game. Regardless of who is in the game, we’re going to win the game. None of that’s going to change for any of the players [or] the coaches.”
