Bears rookie wide receiver Kevin White's shin injury delivered a major blow to Chicago's offense before his role was even defined. An injury to Alshon Jeffery, though, seemed as if it would be the knockout punch.
But in a stroke of good luck, the Bears had Jeffery for the opener against Green Bay despite a calf injury. The Bears announced that Jeffery along with wide receivers Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson are all active for the season-opener against the Packers.
The second-round pick from 2012, by far the best receiving option the club has left after shipping Brandon Marshall to the Jets, caught 85 passes for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago.
This Bears are already a trendy pick for next year's No. 1 overall draft pick, but all is not lost yet. Though there is little confidence in Jay Cutler, his relationship with Jeffery can still yield some explosive results. Now, it's on the Packers to stop them.
Elsewhere in NFL injury news on Sunday:
- Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans will not play against the Titans, the team announced. Evans has been dealing with a hamstring injury.
- The Rams are already without first-round pick Todd Gurley at running back, and they also be missed the explosive Tre Mason for their opener against the Seahawks, the team announced. Mason (thigh) will give way to Benny Cunningham against a dominant Seattle defense. It's safe to say this is not how Rams head coach Jeff Fisher envisioned his offense.
Wide receiver Brian Quick is also inactive for St. Louis.
- After much speculation about where Robert Griffin III will be on the Redskins' QB depth chart, the former No. 2 overall pick is listed as inactive for Washington's game against the Dolphins. RGIII, however, did pass the concussion protocol.
- The Browns did not activate Dwayne Bowe for their opener versus the Jets, the team confirmed. The team's prized offseason acquisition on offense is still nursing a hamstring injury leaving Josh McCown with a combination of Andrew Hawkins, Brian Hartline and Travis Benjamin for their game against the Jets in New Jersey.
Pass-rusher Barkevious Mingo is active despite having knee surgery during the offseason. Cornerback Justin Gilbert, who was involved in a road rage incident on Friday, is inactive.
- Robert Mathis is inactive for the Colts' opener versus the Bills. The pass-rusher missed the 2014 season after tearing his Achilles.
- The Packers will have star wide receiver Randall Cobb, who was listed as active. Cobb injured his shoulder during the preseason.
- Jaguars' Sen'Derrick Marks, Marqise Lee, Toby Gerhart and Julius Thomas all inactive versus the Panthers.
- Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd is active for Sunday's game against the Saints, just a month after dislocating three fingers.
