The Chicago Bears (1-1) might be without wide receiver Keenan Allen for a second straight week, as head coach Matt Eberflus provided an update on Wednesday. Allen missed Week 2’s game against the Houston Texans due to plantar fasciitis, and his status for Sunday’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts (0-2) remains uncertain.
Eberflus told reporters that Allen was not practicing and there is no set timeline for his return. In the Bears’ season opener against the Tennessee Titans, Allen recorded four receptions for 29 yards. While he hasn’t officially been ruled out for the Colts game, if Allen remains sidelined, the team will look to Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott, and DeAndre Carter to fill the gap.
In addition to Allen, the Bears are monitoring other injuries. Left guard Teven Jenkins, who has a deep thigh bruise, missed practice on Wednesday, along with fullback Khari Blasingame (knee) and defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin). Jenkins has been the top performer on the offensive line in the first two games, earning a 73.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF). No other Bears offensive lineman has a grade above 70. For context, a PFF grade of 60.0 is considered average, while those in the 30s are poor and the 90s are elite.
Blasingame has missed three straight practices, dating back to last week, and was ruled out for the Week 2 game against Houston. Pickens sustained his groin injury in the same game, and his availability for Sunday is still in question.
The Bears are looking to bounce back after a rough start, and injuries to key players like Allen and Jenkins could impact their performance as they prepare for the Colts this weekend.
