The Chicago Bears are generally healthy going into their Week 5 matchup with the Carolina Panthers, and there are indications that Teven Jenkins will be able to play through the rib injury he has been enduring. Speaking to reporters at Halas Hall on Friday, Matt Eberflus said that whether Jenkins and wide receiver DeAndre Carter would play on Sunday would depend on their ability to tolerate discomfort. Given that neither player practiced much on Thursday or Friday, it would seem likely that both will be active on Sunday.
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The Bears will probably start the same offensive line they had against the Los Angeles Rams last week if Jenkins plays on Sunday. Braxton Jones, Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, Matt Pryor, and Darnell Wright were on the starting offensive line from left to right.
Week 5 final injury report for the Chicago Bears
Carter has been phased out of the offensive picture since Keenan Allen’s comeback. The Bears have occasionally used four wide receiver sets this season, but now that Allen is back, Carter is the fourth wide receiver rather than the slot receiver like he was in the first few weeks of the campaign. The depth of the Bears’ interior defensive line has been diminished by Zacch Pickens’ persistent groin injury and Chris Williams’ inefficiency since he was acquired at the conclusion of preseason. It’s odd that the Bears haven’t taken action to pace the second-year defensive tackle on injured reserve, given that Pickens has been battling this issue since the start of the season.
Terell Smith is the other ailment; he will miss his second straight game because of a hip problem. Although Smith has shown himself to be a useful depth addition to the Bears’ secondary, depth is likely their greatest asset outside of talent.
