The Chicago Bears are facing mounting injury concerns, with defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. becoming the latest starter to appear on the injury report ahead of their Week 15 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Dexter was listed as a non-participant in Thursday’s estimated practice report due to a knee injury sustained during Week 14’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Although the Bears conducted a walkthrough and participation levels were estimated, Dexter’s status for the game remains uncertain.
In the loss to the 49ers, Dexter exited during the first half after suffering the injury and briefly entered the sideline medical tent. He returned to the field with a large brace on his right knee but was limited to a season-low 13 defensive snaps, indicating the Bears were exercising caution with their starting defensive tackle. Despite his effort to play through the injury, concerns linger about whether he’ll be ready to suit up for Monday Night Football against the Vikings.
The Bears could face significant challenges on the defensive line if Dexter is unable to play. They are already without interior defensive starter Andrew Billings, who was placed on injured reserve with a potentially season-ending pectoral injury. Losing Dexter would further deplete their depth, forcing the team to rely heavily on Zacch Pickens, Chris Williams, and Byron Cowart to handle the majority of the interior defensive snaps.
The situation adds to the team’s growing list of injury-related setbacks and could impact their ability to contain the Vikings’ offense in a crucial divisional matchup. The Bears will be closely monitoring Dexter’s progress in the coming days to determine whether he can contribute on Monday night or if they’ll need to adjust their defensive game plan accordingly.
