Injury Report: Cleveland at Chicago
INJURY REPORT AND IMPLICATIONS
Cleveland Browns (1-6) at Chicago Bears (3-3)
By
Michael Nudo
Derek Anderson starts at quarterback for the Browns (AP Photo/Tony Dejak).
BEARS OFFENSE vs. BROWNS DEFENSE
Adrian Peterson returned to practice this week. The Bears are eager to see him return to special teams and as a backup running back to Matt Forte. Although left guard Frank Omiyale is not on the injury report, his status as a starter is up in the air due to ineffectiveness. Last year’s starter, Josh Beekman, has been getting reps with the first string and it appears he’ll get the starting nod.
Team captain D’Qwell Jackson was lost for the season to a shoulder injury two weeks ago. The inside linebacker was their leading tackler. Kaluka Maiava started last week and had 5 tackles. The Browns’ front line should be ready to go despite minor aches, pains and illnesses. Kenyon Coleman (groin), Shaun Rogers (illness) and Robaire Smith (calf) were all able to play last week. Rogers, the former Lion, will renew acquaintances with Bears’ center Olin Kreutz. Starting cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are recovering from moderate shoulder injuries.
The Browns are last in the league in total yards allowed and next to last in rushing yards allowed. If the Bears cannot establish their ground game and right their offensive ship, it’s going to be a long rest of the season. It’s no slam dunk. Cleveland runs the 3-4 alignment that the Bears have had difficulty running against in the early part of this season. Keep an eye on the return of Josh Beekman. His mobility and ability to block in space was sorely missed. Against the 3-4, he should be able to get out and lead the way for Matt Forte off tackle and around end.
BROWNS OFFENSE vs. BEARS DEFENSE
Tight end Michael Gaines was signed by the Browns before last week’s game and had two catches. Cleveland has been dinged up at the position and needed depth help. Robert Royal (illness) and Steve Heiden (knee) could not play last week, forcing tackle Hank Fraley to start. Heiden and Royal are making progress but it might still be another week before either is effective. The Browns had high hopes for backup running back James Davis (shoulder), but he got injured in the preseason and then again at the start of the year. He’s out for the balance of this season.
Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) was held out of last week’s game against the Bengals. In spite of being given Wednesdays off throughout the season, he has been ineffective every Sunday, averaging less than two tackles per game and rarely getting off the ball with any burst. Harris felt well enough to play against the Bengals, but Bears coaches deemed it time to make a change to his practice routine. This week marked his first participation in a Wednesday practice in distant memory. Marcus Harrison Started for Harris last week and had 7 tackles. There is a chance he might slide over to replace Anthony Adams. Backup Matt Toeaina has a calf injury that’s expected to keep him out. With linebackers Brian Urlacher (wrist) and Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) out for the season, the duties fall to Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer. Both players struggled to defend run and pass last week against the Bengals. Hillenmeyer is expected to return to the middle, moving Roach back to the strong side. Linebacker Lance Briggs shows up on the report this week with a minor shoulder injury. Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye injured his ankle last week against the Bengals. Newly acquired Gaines Adams will see more time if Ogunleye is limited. The matchup there will be against former Bear John St. Clair.
Quarterback Derek Anderson has been given a vote of confidence in spite of glaringly bad numbers over the last three weeks (23-70-244, TD, 3 INT). That’s a completion percentage of 33 percent and an average of 3.5 yards per attempt. The poor souls who have been watching the Browns realize that it hasn’t all been on Anderson. Even after trading away Braylon Edwards, the Browns have continued to drop passes at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, the Bears’ pass defense looked like a walk-through against the Bengals last week. Something’s gotta give.