Bear Digest

Bears defense facing full brunt of Packers' running attack

Running back Josh Jacobs will play against Chicago even though he did not practice all week and was listed questionable.
Gene Chamberlain|
Packers running back Josh Jacobs carries against the Bears on Dec. 7 at Lambeau Field.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs carries against the Bears on Dec. 7 at Lambeau Field. | Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Chicago Bears

After a week of watching the injury reports closely for both the Bears and Packers, there is only one real surprise.

It's a Packers player. Running back Josh Jacobs faces the Bears after missing every practice this week with a knee and an ankle injury. At least this is what the Packers had reported on their daily injury reports.

"Jacobs continues to battle a knee injury," NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported prior to the game. "He was on crutches Monday. He didn’t practice all week. But with the division potentially on the line, he’s going."

Jacobs gutting it out and Jacobs being healthy does make a difference. However, the Packers would be in a difficult situation without him.

Backup Emanuel Wilson hasn't had the impact in his limited playing time. He has 354 yards on 90 carries. Jacobs appears headed for his second straight 1,000-yard season with the Packers and fifth for his career. He has 890 yards on 218 attempts with 13 TDs, and also has 33 catches for 270 yards with a TD.

Jacobs has 206 yards on 44 runs in three games against the Bears since coming to Green Bay from the Raiders.

It can't help the Packers that tackle Zach Tom is unavailable to block for Jacobs, though. He is inactive due to a knee injury.

Bears inactives are injured receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, third quarterback Case Keenum, linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, defensive tackle Jonathan Ford and defensive end Dominique Robinson.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.