The Chicago Bears welcomed coach Matt Nagy back this week, and he brought with him some updates on a couple of key players.
Nagy, who missed Week 8 after testing positive for COVID-19, told reporters Thursday that he had been cleared to return from quarantine on Tuesday, meaning he will be back on the sidelines for Week 9.
Nagy then announced that running back David Montgomery (sprained knee) has been designated to return from injured reserve; he has been on IR since Oct. 9, six days after he was injured against the Lions. The team will now have three weeks to elevate him to the active roster.
Montgomery's absence left a notable void on the offense but it created opportunities for rookie Khalil Herbert, who filled in admirably over the past four games. Nagy mentioned that Montgomery isn't expected to lose any touches despite Herbert's emergence.
Nagy also announced that there is no change in the status of star linebacker Khalil Mack. The vaunted pass rusher missed Week 8 with a sprained foot.
Mack, defensive back Eddie Jackson (hamstring), tight end J.P. Holtz (concussion), running back Damien Williams (knee) and LB Alec Ogletree (ankle) did not practice.
The Bears head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers this week on Monday Night Football.
Injuries/COVID-19
- New York Jets safety Marcus Maye suffered what head coach Robert Saleh said was an Achilles injury that "doesn't look good" in the third quarter on Thursday night and limped under his own power into the locker room. He was designated as doubtful, but never returned. "It's huge," Saleh said of potentially losing Maye for the year. "I'm sick for him." Tight end Tyler Kroft (chest) was ruled out Thursday night just before the second half.
- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (calf) was a full practice participant Thursday. Prescott told reporters it's "safe to say" he'll play on Sunday against Denver. Receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) did not practice. Coach Mike McCarthy said earlier that Lamb was expected to be limited after spraining his ankle Wednesday. Tight end Blake Jarwin (hip) and offensive tackle Tyron Smith (ankle) remained out.
- Los Angeles Rams defensive end Von Miller (ankle) was a limited participant on Thursday a day after he was a DNP in his first L.A. practice. Quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) and wide receiver Robert Woods (foot) did not practice for a second day in a row, but earlier in the week head coach Sean McVay said neither was expected to practice this week, but that both were expected to play Sunday.
- Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur announced receiver Davante Adams returned from the reserve/COVID-19 list and he's hopeful he'll play on Sunday against the Chiefs. Offensive tackle Dennis Kelly (back) was again limited in practice while defensive lineman Kingsley Keke (concussion) remained out.
- Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) was a full participant Thursday a day after he was limited. Rookie cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (concussion) did not practice for a second day in a row.
- Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer (shoulder), offensive lineman Jon Feliciano (calf) and receiver Cole Beasley (ribs) did not practice. Beasley and Feliciano also sat on Wednesday.
- The Indianapolis Colts activated receiver Dezmon Patmon from injured reserve and placed safety Khari Willis on IR.
- Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray was designated to return from injured reserve, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via the transaction wire. Murray has been on IR since Oct. 4 with an ankle injury.
- Tennessee Titans receiver Julio Jones (hamstring), defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (ankle) and linebacker Bud Dupree (knee) were again listed as limited. Offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (knee) and LB Harold Landry (hamstring) were limited after not being listed Wednesday; LB Rashaan Evans (ankle) remained out.
- New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins (knee) was upgraded from DNP to limited while quarterback Taysom Hill (concussion) was a full partcipant after being limited yesterday. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead (groin) remained limited.
- Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (back/wrist) was a full participant in practice after being limited Wednesday. Offensive lineman Mike Remmers (knee) remained out.
- Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been cleared to play in Week 9, per coach David Culley. He's been sidelined for the six games. Tight end Pharaoh Brown (thigh) and linebacker Christian Kirksey (thumb) remained out. Receiver Chris Conley (calf) was upgraded from limited to full while LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (illness) was limited after sitting Wednesday.
- The Minnesota Vikings placed center Garrett Bradbury on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Linebacker Anthony Barr (knee) and cornerback Cameron Dantzler (ankle) were limited after missing Wed.'s session.
- Miami Dolphins quarterbackTua Tagovailoa (ribs/left finger), receiver DeVante Parker (shoulder/hamstring) and linebacker Jerome Baker (knee) remained limited.
- Baltimore Ravens receiver Sammy Watkins (thigh) was a limited participant after sitting Wednesday. Offensive lineman Patrick Mekari (ankle), running back Latavius Murray (ankle) and defensive tackle Brandon Williams (shoulder) did not practice.
- Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (concussion/shoulder) was limited in practice again. Guard Pat Elflein returned to practice as a full participant; he was designed to return from injured reserve on Wednesday.
- The Arizona Cardinals designated offensive lineman Justin Murray to return from injured reserve. Quarterback Kyler Murray (ankle) and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. Linebacker Zaven Collins (shoulder) and running back Chase Edmonds (shoulder) were limited.
- San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (ribs), offensive tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) were limited in practice Thursday.
- Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson (heel) remained out of practice while RB Carlos Hyde (calf) was a full participant after being limited Wednesday.
- Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackles Fletcher Cox (knee) and Javon Hargrave (shoulder), and receiver Jalen Reagor (ankle) were limited after missing yesterday's practice.
- New York Giants receivers Kenny Golladay and John Ross (knee) were limited in practice; Golladay missed Wed.'s session. Linebacker Lorenzo Carter (ankle) and WRs Sterling Shepard (quad) and Dante Pettis (shoulder) remained out. Running back Saquon Barkley (knee) and defensive back Xavier McKinney remained in COVID protocol while offensive lineman Matt Skura returned after clearing protcol; RB Gary Brightwell entered COVID protocol.
- Atlanta Falcons receiver Russell Gage (groin) was upgraded to a full participant in practice after being limited Wednesday.
- New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (foot), linebackers Ja'Whaun Bentley (ribs), Dont'a Hightower (ankle), Kyle Van Noy (groin) and Josh Uche (shoulder); defensive back Kyle Dugger (neck), kicker Nick Folk (knee), offensive lineman Shaq Mason (abdomen) and tight end Jonnu Smith (shoulder) were again limited. Cornerback J.C. Jackson (illness) was again a DNP.
- The Cincinnati Bengals activated offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji to the active roster from the reserve/non-football injury list. Adeniji had been on the list since Aug. 31 due to a pectoral injury.
- The New York Jets placed defensive lineman Bryce Huff on injured reserve.
Roster news
- Free-agent receiver DeSean Jackson, who was released by the Rams on Tuesday, cleared waivers, per Rapoport, via the wire.
- The Cleveland Browns excused receiver Odell Beckham from practice for a second consecutive day. The team also added recently waived fullback Johnny Stanton to the practice squad.
- The Green Bay Packers signed running back Patrick Taylor from the practice squad and signed quarterback Blake Bortles to the practice squad.
- The Cincinnati Bengals claimed cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III off waivers from Houston, which released him yesterday.
- The Indianapolis Colts elevated practice squad safety Jahleel Addae to the active roster.
- The Minnesota Vikings signed tight end Luke Stocker to the active roster from the practice squad, signed defensive end Nate Orchard to the practice squad and waived defensive end Jonah Williams.
- The Philadelphia Eagles signed offensive lineman Brett Toth to the practice squad, and released cornerback Craig James in a corresponding move. Toth was released on Wednesday.
- The Atlanta Falcons signed linebacker Dorian Etheridge to the practice squad.
- The Detroit Lions re-signed guard Tommy Kraemer to the practice squad. In a corresponding move, the team released cornerback Daryl Worley.
- The Tennessee Titans waived offensive lineman Daniel Munyer.
- The New York Jets activated linebacker Hamsah Nasirildeen, and elevated quarterback Josh Johnson and defensive lineman Jabari Zuniga from the practice squad.
- The Las Vegas Raiders signed receiver Dillon Stoner to the active roster, and added linebacker Javin White to the practice squad. White was released on Tuesday.
- The New York Giants elevated practice squad linebacker Benardrick McKinney as a COVID replacement.
- The Dallas Cowboys re-signed recently waived defensive end Bradlee Anae to the practice squad.
- The Houston Texans claimed former Eagles linebacker Eric Wilson off waivers.