Bears training camp: James Daniels, Josh Woods leave practice with thigh injuries

The Chicago Bears are in the full swing of training camp for the 2021 season and, unfortunately, so is their injury list. James Daniels, an important cog for Chicago’s offensive line, and Josh Woods, a depth linebacker, both left Tuesday’s Family Fest practice at Soldier Field early with respective thigh injuries, reports Shaw Media’s Sean Hammond. This, already coming on the heels of 2021 second-round pick Teven Jenkins and 2020 big ticket free agent Robert Quinn both dealing with back tightness while missing the last few days of practice altogether.

Update: The Bears placed nose tackle Eddie Goldman, linebacker Christian Jones, long snapper Patrick Scales, and offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

At the moment, there are no further updates on the extent of anyone’s ailments or progress toward a return. But it does bring about a good point, especially for the veteran offensive guard involved.

Daniels, 23, is entering his fourth NFL season — a contract year. The former Hawkeye can ill afford to miss any time as yet another new Bears offense tries to gel. Chicago could use another above average building block up front and it wouldn’t be a stretch for them to still believe that this year is when Daniels blossoms into such a role. It’s a crucial year in a major developmental spot for the organization. In order for that to happen, Daniels will have to be healthy first. Here’s hoping, both for Daniels’s and the Bears’ case, that he hits the field again soon, if he misses any time at all.

The Bears have an off day on Wednesday before they return to training camp practice at Halas Hall on Thursday morning.