The Bears may be without their leading rusher on Sunday.
Rookie running back David Montgomery was limited in practice Friday after rolling his ankle earlier in the week. Montgomery did not participate in Thursday's practice. He is listed as questionable against the Los Angeles Rams.
"It was good to get him back out there and just kind of see where he's at," said coach Matt Nagy. "He's gonna end up being a game-time decision for us."
If Montgomery is unable to play, the team may turn to Ryan Nall to replace Montgomery's power running. Nall stepped into the special teams roles previously held by Mike Davis, who the team released last Saturday. Nagy expressed confidence in the first-year player out of Oregon State.
"Developmentally, he's done a great job," said Nagy. "He came in last year and was a little bit raw, but he picked up the system very quick. I think the biggest thing was probably the speed of the game early on in preseason last year and he did some good things. Every day that went by in the past 365 days, he's gotten better. If that's the case and that's where we're at, we feel absolutely comfortable with him."
Nagy also suggested that the team might look to involve Cordarrelle Patterson more in the run game.
The Bears will also be without two tight ends, with Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen both ruled out for Sunday.
Shaheen was inactive last week against the Detroit Lions and has been ruled out with a foot injury. Burton, who has struggled to get healthy all year, suffered a calf injury last week, which will hold him out of a game for the second time this season.
Nagy would not rule out placing Burton on the IR in the next few weeks.
"It's been frustrating for Trey," said Nagy. "You can understand that. And it has been frustrating for us, which you can understand that as well. They'll be some decisions that we've got to collaborate—we've got to get together and just talk it through and see what's best for him and what's best for us and then decide on that."
The move will likely put Ben Braunecker in a starting role. Braunecker, playing for Shaheen, caught his first career touchdown last week. Bradley Sowell, a converted tackle who has been on and off the active roster all season, may see time as well, though he hasn't played in a game since Week 2.
"We knew there was going to be a little bit of a transition," said Nagy of Sowell. "That's hard going from tackle, having your hand in the ground every play, to now possibly running some routes. He's done well with that. We'll kind of see where he's at. Certainly a possibility with him."
The Bears may have the option to bring up one of two rookie tight ends on the practice squad: Jesper Horsted and Dax Raymond. Horsted turned heads in the preseason, catching eight passes for 121 yards in two games.
