USA Today
Bears May Face Tough IR Decision on Trey Burton
Running back David Montgomery will be a game-time decision Sunday night against the Rams due to an ankle injury, and the Bears might have a big decision coming on tight end Trey Burton.
The week's final injury report has Montgomery questionable after he practiced Friday on a limited basis, and Burton is out with a calf injury. Montgomery suffered an ankle injury and practiced only on a limited basis Wednesday, then didn't practice Thursday.
Whatever happens, the Bears won't be able to assume much with Montgomery.
"He's naturally a quiet person so he's hard to read sometimes," Nagy said. "You know because he always has that look on him like he's, you know, what's the word? He's determined. He's not angry, he's determined and he always has that.
"He'd be a really good poker player because you can't read how he is. I know he wants to be out there as much as he can and he's going to try, but we just have to see and see where he's at. But he's going to do everything he can."
The Bears could turn to Ryan Nall if Montgomery can't go.
"Developmentally, he's done a great job," Nagy said if Nall, a fan favorite from 2018 training camp. "He came in last year and was a little bit raw but he picked up the system very quick. I think the biggest thing was probably the speed of the game early on in preseason last year and he did some good things.
"Every day that went by in the past 365 days, he's gotten better. If that's the case and that's where we're at. We feel absolutely comfortable with him."
Burton isn't the only tight end out. Like Burton, Adam Shaheen missed Friday's practice. He's suffering from foot pain.
Burton had a groin injury before the season and last week suffered a calf injury. Nagy wouldn't discount the suggestion the Bears might have to look at shutting Burton down for the year on injured reserve.
"You're right, it's been frustrating for Trey, you can understand that," Nagy said. "And it has been frustrating for us, which you can understand that as well.
"There'll be some decisions that we've got to collaborate—we’ve got to get together and just talk it through and see what's best for him and what's best for us and then decide on that."
Tight end Bradley Sowell could be active for the first time since Week 2. It's also possible the Bears could look at bringing tight end Jesper Horsted off the practice squad.
The Bears will be without linebacker Danny Trevathan due to an elbow injury, but he hasn't yet been placed on injured reserve as had been anticipated. Also out is outside linebacker Isaiah Irving with a quad injury.
The Rams will be without wide receiver Brandin Cooks, tackle Rob Havenstein and cornerback Darious Williams due to injuries. Tight ends Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee and Johnny Mundt are all questionable.
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