Bears Could Start Two Backup Tackles

Justin Fields sat out a second straight practice on Thursday but this was expected.

What wasn't anticipated from the Bears was the absence of both safety Eddie Jackson and right tackle Darnell Wright.

Wright, their first-round draft pick this season, has a shoulder injury and missed part of Wednesday's practice. His absence a day later from a full practice isn't a good sign for Sunday. It's especially troubling when he was likely to be going against Raiders standout pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

With left tackle already manned by backup tackle Larry Borom, the Bears would be looking at either starting reserve Aviante Collins in Wright's absence or moving Teven Jenkins to right tackle and playing Cody Whitehair or Lucas Patrick at left guard. Borom is currently at left tackle for injured starter Braxton Jones.

Collins has been in the NFL since 2017 on practice squads or the bottom or rosters. He initially signed as an undrafted free agent with the Vikings, Steelers, Cowboys and has played in seven games with one start in 2019 for Minnesota.

The Bears held Jackson out of practice after he was limited in Wednesday's practice. This indicates a worsening situation with his foot injury.

Jackson had tried to play on his injured foot Sunday against Minnesota following a week when he was questionable to return and had gone through three straight limited practices but not a full one.

"He's doing everything with the trainers and the medical people are asking him to do," Bears safeties coach Andre Curtis said. "He's been attentive in our meetings. I'm sure he wants ... as a player you want things to happen right now. So it's a process to everything."

Jackson played a full game in the opener but hasn't played one since then. He started against Tampa Bay in Week 2 and left with the foot injury after he had his season ended in 2022 by a foot injury in Week 12.

Jackson has five tackles and two pass breakups for 91 plays this season, according to Sportradar.

Elijah Hicks has played 297 defensive snaps in his absence and has a 133.3 passer rating against this season when targeted. He has been targeted 11 times and allowed seven completion with three touchdowns.

Other players who did not practice besides Fields and Jackson were guard Nate Davis with a high ankle sprain, guard/center Dan Feeney with a knee injury, running back Roschon Johnson with a concussion, cornerback Terell Smith with an illness and Marcedes Lewis for a veteran's day off.

Running back Travis homer, who had a limited practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury, was back for a full practice Thursday and the same was true for defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who has a back injury.

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