Bears injury report: Khalil Mack’s status for the Patriots unclear

For the second straight day on Thursday, Bears superstar outside linebacker was held out of practice as he recovers from an ankle injury suffered in last Sunday’s 31-28 loss to the Dolphins.

Mack, 27, rolled his ankle early in the first half in Miami but still ended up playing 62 of 78 defensive snaps. Even while it is disconcerting not to have Mack practice at all in the midst of the week leading up to a matchup against the offensive machine known as the Patriots, it shouldn’t be that big of a concern. Mack hasn’t missed a start in his illustrious career with the Raiders and now Bears (69 starts). Here’s a hunch that Mack won’t start missing games now, especially with Tom Brady on the horizon. The question isn’t availability but effectiveness for him this Sunday.

Elsewhere on the Bears defense, Prince Amukamara was a limited participant for a second straight day. Amukamara re-aggravated a hamstring injury against the Dolphins and will likely be a game-time decision on Sunday. His backup, Marcus Cooper, also continues to be ailed by a hamstring, and hasn’t featured in live action since Week 3 against the Cardinals. If neither can go, that means rookie Kevin Toliver gets the start. A terrifying prospect that you know Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will attack relentlessly.

On the offensive side of the ball, Allen Robinson was a surprise inclusion as a non-participant Thursday with a groin injury. Seeing as how this is a new development, I wouldn’t anticipate Robinson sitting out the Bears’ game against the Patriots without further clarification as to severity. Something to monitor, nonetheless.

To round things off, Eric Kush continues to recover from a neck injury suffered last week. If Kush can’t go, that means rookie James Daniels gets the start. The Bears had been rotating Kush and Daniels of late, but with Kush’s injury Daniels (56 percent) did eclipse Kush (44 percent) in snap counts against Miami. A disparity that should only grow more if Kush can’t get healthy in the next few days.

Robert is the Editor-in-chief of The Blitz Network (subscribe here!), the managing editor of Windy City Gridiron, and writes for a host of other fine publications. You can follow him on Twitter @RobertZeglinski.