ï»żAkiem Hicksï»ż had expressed hope Friday that he'd be able to return from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for three games and play Sunday night against the Packers. But the veteran defensive tackle was downgraded from questionable to out on Saturday.
The Bears on Saturday also downgraded safety ï»żTeez Taborï»ż to out due to an illness and flexed outside linebacker ï»żCharles Snowdenï»ż, an undrafted rookie, from the practice squad to the active roster.
The Bears offense, meanwhile, will benefit from the return of two key players. Neither Bears rookie quarterback ï»żJustin Fieldsï»ż or receiver ï»żAllen Robinson IIï»ż were given injury designations Friday, meaning that they will both play against the Packers after missing multiple games with cracked ribs and an ankle injury, respectively.
Running back ï»żDavid Montgomeryï»ż sat out practice Wednesday with shoulder, groin and glute injuries. After being limited Thursday, he was a full participant Friday and was not given an injury designation.
Others who were removed from the injury report after being unable to practice or limited earlier in the week included running back ï»żDamien Williamsï»ż (calf), outside linebacker ï»żTrevis Gipsonï»ż (illness), defensive tackle ï»żAngelo Blacksonï»ż (knee), linebacker ï»żChristian Jonesï»ż (back) and kicker ï»żCairo Santosï»ż (illness).
Quarterback ï»żAndy Daltonï»ż (left hand) is doubtful and not expected to be available Sunday night, meaning that fellow veteran ï»żNick Folesï»ż likely will serve as Fields' backup. Dalton injured his non-throwing hand in last Sunday's loss to the Cardinals while making a tackle following an interception, but he remained in the game.
"I could tell that he was in pain, but he gutted through it and it was not affecting his game," said coach Matt Nagy. "Guys play through some of those injuries and that was one that he was able to do that."
Dalton isn't expected to be available Sunday night because he has continued to experience pain and swelling that prevented him from practicing this week.
Receiver ï»żMarquise Goodwinï»ż is also doubtful with a foot injury that kept him from practicing Thursday and Friday.
Defensive end ï»żMario Edwards Jr.ï»ż (ribs) is also questionable for Sunday night's game after practicing without restrictions Thursday and Friday.
The only Bears player ruled out of Sunday night's game is outside linebacker ï»żCassius Marsh Sr.ï»ż, who sustained a knee injury Thursday in practice. The Bears on Friday placed Marsh on injured reserve and promoted veteran outside linebacker ï»żBruce Irvinï»ż from the practice squad to the active roster.
Irvin was signed to the practice squad Nov. 19. He was flexed up to the active roster last Saturday and made his Bears debut against the Cardinals, playing 17 snaps on defense and registering one tackle.
Prior to joining the Bears, Irvin had appeared in 121 NFL games with 92 starts in nine seasons with the Seahawks (2012-15, 2020), Raiders (2016-18), Falcons (2018) and Panthers (2019), recording 308 tackles, 52.0 sacks, 64 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, 16 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
With the Bears visiting the rival Packers Sunday night, senior writer Larry Mayer ranks the top 10 Bears players who have also suited up for Green Bay.
(10) Josh Sitton, guard
Sitton spent two seasons with the Bears in 2016-17, appearing in 26 games with 25 starts and being selected to the Pro Bowl in 2016. He arrived in Chicago after earning three Pro Bowl trips in eight seasons with the Packers from 2008-15.
(9) Adrian Amos, safety
Selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2015 draft from Penn State, Amos was a Day 1 starter who opened 56 of 60 games played with the Bears from 2015-18. He is now in his third season with Green Bay.
(8) Mike Tomczak, quarterback
One of four members of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears to play for the Packers, Tomczak compiled a 21-10 record as a starter in Chicago from 1985-90 before spending the 1991 season with the Packers.
(7) Jim Morrissey, linebacker
Morrissey spent his first nine NFL seasons with the Bears from 1985-93, appearing in 108 games with 56 starts, before closing his career by playing six games with the Packers in 1993.
(6) ï»żJimmy Grahamï»ż, tight end
Graham led the Bears with eight touchdown receptions in his first season in Chicago in 2020 and added a ninth in the team's playoff loss to the Saints. He signed with the Bears after spending two seasons with the Packers.
(5) Glyn Milburn, return specialist
Obtained by the Bears in a trade with the Packers for a seventh-round pick, Milburn played four seasons in Chicago from 1998-2001. He was named All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl in 1999 and ranks second behind Devin Hester in team history with 4,596 kickoff return yards.
(4) Martellus Bennett, tight end
Bennett posted big numbers in three seasons with the Bears from 2013-15, catching 208 passes for 2,114 yards and 14 touchdowns. He later appeared in seven games with the Packers in 2017.
(3) Jim McMahon, quarterback
The punky QB was selected by the Bears with the fifth pick in the 1982 draft out of BYU. He spent his first seven seasons in Chicago, helping to lead the famed 1985 Bears to a Super Bowl championship. McMahon spent his final two NFL seasons serving as Brett Favre's backup in 1995-96.
(2) Julius Peppers, defensive end
The future Hall of Famer was voted to the Pro Bowl in three of his four seasons with the Bears from 2010-13, registering 37.5 sacks, before spending his next three years with the Packers from 2014-16.
(1) Steve McMichael, defensive tackle
"Mongo" played in a Bears-record 191 straight games over 13 seasons from 1981-93 and ranks second on the club's all-time list with 92.5 sacks. He played the final season of his career with the Packers in 1994.
