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The big injury news for this game was revealed yesterday, when the Green Bay Packers named Aaron Rodgers healthy enough to start at quarterback. He's listed as probable with his collarbone injury, but he will start. The rest of the Packers week of injuries was a mixture of good news and bad news depending on your rooting interests.
Packer outside linebacker Clay Matthews will not play after re-injuring his thumb last week, but there's a chance Green Bay will have wide out Randall Cobb available after spending time on the Injured Reserve/Designated to Return list. Cobb will be evaluated on Saturday and the decision to activate him will be made then.
Everyone else on the Packers report is listed as probable, meaning there's a 75% chance they will play. Here's their remaining report.
Linebacker Brad Jones (ankle), running back Eddie Lacy (ankle), DE/LB Mike Neal (abdomen), LB Nick Perry (foot), defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (knee), tight end Andrew Quarless (ankle), TE Jake Stoneburner (illness), and TE Ryan Taylor (illness).
If the Chicago Bears had a good defense, this is where I would joke about their illness being the Bear Flu...
The Bears have a relatively clean injury report again this week. The only injured player that shows up is OLB Lance Briggs, but he was a full participant at practice all week. He's listed as probable, but we all know that he'll be out there.
Wide receiver Earl Bennett was excused from practice all week, as he deals with a family matter. The Bears have given him the questionable designation, meaning it's 50/50 if he will play.
Earl missed a practice last week for personal reasons, but ended up playing against the Eagles. He sent out the following Instagram on Sunday asking for prayers for his brother.
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If Bennett can't go, that could mean more snaps for rookie Marquess Wilson. Bears head coach Marc Trestman has gone with 3 WR sets quite a bit this year, so if Wilson isn't up to speed, that will mean more Eric Weems.
Even thought the Bears injury report is small, don't forget how many key players will be missing from their defense. CB Charles Tillman, LB D.J. Williams, DT Henry Melton, DT Nate Collins, and NB Kelvin Hayden are all on season ending injured reserve.
The Packers aren't without their share of injuries either, as they have 15 players on IR including TE Jermichael Finley, OT Bryan Bulaga, and DT Johnny Jolly.
What are your thoughts on the injury report this week?
