Chicago Bears cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman injured his ankle during the first half of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings and is questionable to return, the team announced. When the Bears took the field to begin the second half, Tillman was not with his teammates, leaving Chicago a bit thinner in the secondary.

Earlier in the game, Tillman temporarily left to be seen by trainers, presumably with the same ankle injury he's dealing with now. He ultimately returned, though, and helped to anchor a defense that limited the Vikings to less than 100 total yards in the first half.

The Bears were holding a double-digit lead entering the second half of Sunday's game, which presumably explains part of why Lovie Smith was comfortable removing Tillman from the game. In his place, offseason acquisition Kelvin Hayden will presumably get most of the snaps.

Tillman is considered by some to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate this season, having recorded 56 tackles, seven forced fumbles, nine defended passes and two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns) entering Sunday's game.