Vikings at Bears: Final injury reports for both teams

We’ve made it to Friday, ladies and gentlemen, and that means that the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears have both released their final injury reports leading up to Sunday’s big NFC North clash at Soldier Field. There are a couple of big names on both sides that either will miss this one or could end up sitting out, so let’s take a look at both sides.

Minnesota Vikings

Out

• LB Kentrell Brothers (wrist/hamstring)
• G Josh Kline (concussion)

Questionable

• CB Mackensie Alexander (elbow)

Injury designation not given

• LB Anthony Barr (groin)
• LB Ben Gedeon (groin)
• DE Everson Griffen (elbow)
• S Jayron Kearse (back)
• DT Shamar Stephen (knee)

Kline is, obviously, a pretty significant loss, as he’s been a pleasant surprise this season at the right guard spot. The assumption appears to be that Dakota Dozier, who started at left guard for Pat Elflein in Week 2, will get the start at right guard in Kline’s spot.

Alexander has been a full participant in practice the past couple of days, and signs are looking positive for him to be back after suffering a nasty dislocated elbow in the season opener against Atlanta.

All of the Vikings listed on the final injury report were full participants in Friday’s practice session except for the two players that have been declared “out.”

And now, on to the home team.

Chicago Bears

Out

• WR Taylor Gabriel (concussion)
• DT Bilal Nichols (hand)

Questionable

• TE Trey Burton (hand)
• DT Akiem Hicks (knee)
• G Kyle Long (hip)
• K Eddy Pineiro (knee)

Injury designation not given

• RB Mike Davis (personal)
• S Eddie Jackson (shoulder)
• OT Bobby Massie (illness)
• DE Roy Robertson-Harris (knee)
• WR Cordarrelle Patterson (tricep)

The big one for the Bears, obviously, is Hicks. As great as Khalil Mack is. . .and he is great, obviously. . .Hicks was arguably the most responsible for things going very badly for the Vikings during last year’s contest at Soldier Field. He has not practiced all week and Bears’ coach Matt Nagy has declared that he will be a game-time decision.

Gabriel had three touchdown receptions in the Bears’ win on Monday night over Washington. Pineiro’s situation could be an interesting one. He had a pinched nerve in his back that he kicked through on Monday, and now has a knee issue. He did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and was limited. . .as much as a kicker can be “limited” in practice, I guess. . .on Friday. There haven’t been any reports of the Bears bringing in or signing a new kicker or anything, but Pineiro could have some significant issues to deal with.

That’s a look at the final injury report for both the Vikings and the Bears. Definitely some things to keep an eye on as we get closer to game time.