Bears vs Packers: Injury Updates & Matchup Preview for Rivalry Week Finale 🤔

Here’s the Quick -n- Dirrty..

• Several Bears players are injured, including Jalen Johnson, Cole Kmet, and DJ Moore, making their availability uncertain for the season finale against the Packers. Montez Sweat and Jalen Johnson were named to the Pro Bowl.
• There is speculation that offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and the coaching staff will be retained despite a disappointing season. Justin Fields is expected to remain the starting QB over rumored top draft prospect Caleb Williams.
• The writer believes free agent signee DJ Moore was snubbed by not making the Pro Bowl after a career year as the Bears’ #1 receiver.
• The Packers are expected to be mostly healthy besides Bakhtiari’s lingering knee issues. The game is at Lambeau Field. A Bears win would end the season on a high note in the long-standing rivalry.
• The writer is incentivizing subscribers by offering a Montez Sweat jersey giveaway if his YouTube channel can reach 500 subscribers. He recaps injuries and key storylines and previews Sunday’s game.

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Now…

The Chicago Bears enter the final week of the 2023 NFL regular season limping into Lambeau Field to take on their NFC North division rival Green Bay Packers. Several key Bears players are battling injuries, putting their availability in question for the season finale. Star cornerback Jalen Johnson popped up on the injury report this week with a shoulder issue but has expressed optimism about suiting up Sunday. Meanwhile top tight end Cole Kmet continues to nurse a bothersome knee injury. Wide receiver DJ Moore has been playing through an ankle sprain but is expected to gut it out versus Green Bay.

The lengthy Chicago injury report also includes backup quarterback Trevor Siemian falling ill with a sickness, which could press third-stringer Nathan Peterman into duty if something happened to Justin Fields. Running back Khalil Herbert is also less than 100% along with depth receivers Darnell Mooney and N’Keal Harry. Despite all the injuries, fans are hoping the Bears can field a competitive lineup to challenge their bitter rivals on the road.

There was some good news this week as pass rusher Montez Sweat and cornerback Jalen Johnson were named to the NFC Pro Bowl team, earning the first nods of their careers. Sweat has terrorized opposing quarterbacks this season, racking up 12.5 sacks. Meanwhile, Johnson has intercepted five passes in a breakout year showcasing his lockdown coverage skills. He has teamed with rookie Kyler Gordon to form a promising young cornerback duo. However, one notable Bears snub was DJ Moore failing to make the Pro Bowl despite posting a career year as the team’s clear cut number one receiver.

In terms of the coaching staff, speculation continues to mount that the struggling Luke Getsy will somehow keep his job as offensive coordinator. Given how poorly the Justin Fields-led offense has performed in stretches this season, many fans and media members believed Getsy would be one-and-done calling plays. But rumors in league circles suggest head coach Matt Eberflus prefers continuity over shaking up his staff. If the Bears fall flat against Green Bay, expect the angry pitchfork mob to come calling for Getsy’s job posthaste.

Speaking of Justin Fields, he figures to be under center Sunday as he wraps up an up-and-down sophomore campaign. Fields has flashed his immense potential making electric plays with his arms and legs this season. However, he has also struggled mightily for stretches and missed games due to injury.

Rumors have swirled that GM Ryan Poles may consider trading the #1 overall pick to a QB-needy team that wants to select heralded USC signal caller Caleb Williams. But as alluring as Williams’ talent and pedigree playing for Lincoln Riley may be, it seems unlikely Poles would give up on Fields after only two seasons. Fields is also a superior running threat with comparable arm talent, warranting patience through his growing pains developing in Luke Getsy’s system.

If Fields closes out 2023 with a strong outing to upset the Packers, it could go a long way towards cementing him as the Bears long term answer under center. It would also take some heat off Getsy and let Poles continue constructing the roster with mid and late round picks instead of an early first rounder. Of course, the season finale could also go poorly and ramp up calls for a clean sweep.

For the Packers, eternal quarterback Aaron Rodgers continues to defy time and carry an undermanned supporting cast. But Green Bay has battled injuries up front all year and may be without left tackle stud David Bakhtiari protecting Rodgers’ blindside. The Pack will likely lean on running back Aaron Jones and young receiver Christian Watson, who broke out with eight touchdowns over the past six games. The Bears defense must contain those two playmakers and pressure Rodgers into mistakes.

At Lambeau Field, Chicago will face both a tough opponent and hostile crowd environment Sunday. But they have a shot if Fields protects the football and the defense forces a turnover or two. Roquan Smith and Nicholas Morrow must take charge at linebacker with Johnson iffy in the secondary. Amon-Ra St. Brown exploited Chicago LB’s in coverage last week, so that must be tightened up against Jones and tight end Robert Tonyan. Offensively, the Bears need Herbert to fight through his various ailments and move the chains. If Moore, Kmet and other receivers can win their matchups, Fields has proven he will take shots downfield when opportunities arise.

In the end, while Green Bay likely needs to win to lock up playoff positioning, this game means more for the Bears future. Can young contributors make enough splash plays for coaches and the front office to believe in the roster’s upward trajectory? Will Justin Fields flash his tantalizing potential even with limited weapons around him? A loss ensures GM Ryan Poles will make major offseason shakeups. But a shocking upset at Lambeau could galvanize the rebuild efforts and setup the Bears for an intriguing 2024 campaign.

Bear Down Bears fans! and as always… PEACE!