The Bears will continue to be cautious with Khalil Mack

Nothing’s changed for the Bears star outside linebacker and a lingering sprained ankle. But don’t expect him to miss any game time soon.

We’re a now little almost two weeks out since the Bears’ Khalil Mack rolled his ankle against the Dolphins. In that two week span, with the constant duress an NFL season presents, Mack’s ankle and health hasn’t improved in any noticeable fashion even as he featured against the Patriots last Sunday.

With the Bears set for a date against the Jets this weekend, don’t expect Mack’s practice schedule or status to differ in any way from last week, said Matt Nagy on Wednesday. That means Mack won’t practice again until this coming Friday, and even that will be in a limited capacity for a walkthrough. This time of year, especially with Chicago’s bye week behind them, doesn’t allow for any appropriate rest period beyond participating minimally in practice.

If Mack is going to feature through the rest of the Bears’ 2018 season, he’ll have to hope the damage he takes in games is small enough to continue relevant progress towards health. He’ll also have to hope the time he doesn’t spend on the practice field in full pads lets him recover enough to help the Bears defense as much as he can.

Given the way the Bears defense has performed without a healthy Mack of late, it might behoove Chicago to sit the superstar or play him on a relative pitch count if they can against the Jets. That’s obviously a game-time decision we won’t see come to fruition until Sunday.

Elsewhere on the notable Bears’ injury front Wednesday, Allen Robinson continues to be bothered by a strained groin he suffered late last week as the veteran was a non-participant in practice. Robinson didn’t play much near the end of the Bears’ defeat to the Patriots and is someone to monitor moving forward given Chicago’s lack of proven playmakers on the outside. Meanwhile, Eric Kush also didn’t practice with a neck injury that’s bothered him since Week 4. If he’s healthy for action, the veteran guard will curiously continue to be in a rotation with James Daniels, though.

If you were worried in any way about Bryce Callahan, he was a full participant despite an ankle injury that had Sherrick McManis take his place for a few plays against New England. A welcome development for a Bears defense that desperately needs it’s top nickel cornerback to stay healthy for the long run.

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.

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