All-Backup Bears Secondary for Vikings Game

The bad became worse on Sunday for the Bears defense when they announced two more players had gone on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and both are in positions where they could not afford to lose anyone.

Both starting safety Tashaun Gipson and cornerback Jaylon Johnson are now in the NFL's COVID-19 protocol.

This means the entire starting Bears secondary is out of the game. The Bears likely will be promoting practice squad players and using backups—the few that are healthy.

Those out already included, slot cornerbacks Xavier Crawford and Duke Shelley. Starting right cornerback Artie Burns was out already with COVID-19.

They were slated to get Shelley back from a hamstring injury but he went on the COVID-19 list this week, and Crawford hasn't come out of the concussion protocol. Backup safety and nickel corner DeAndre Houston-Carson is out with a broken forearm.

Bears fans being more worried Matt Nagy calling the offensive plays than having a starting defensive backfield of Kindle Vildor, Deon Bush, Teez Tabor and Marqui Christian (the only four rostered DB's currently active) is the most "Bears Fans" thing ever.
— Ken Mitchell (@WCGBearsDenDude) December 19, 2021

Starting safety Eddie Jackson went into the COVID protocol earlier in the week.

The Bears do have former starting cornerback-turned-backup Kindle Vildor healthy. He's likely to start. Safeties Deon Bush, Marqui Christian and Teez Tabor are currently healthy and available.

Cornerbacks will need to be brought up off of the practice squad either to start or back up and play special teams.

Thomas Graham Jr. is a rookie sixth-round pick who has been on the practice squad all year after the team cut him initially.

Also on the practice squad is Michael Joseph, a Bears player for three years on the practice squad who fought back from an ACL injury, was cut in August and then was signed back to the practice squad earlier in the month.

They also had signed former Colts and Chiefs cornerback Thakarius Keyes and former Lions cornerback Dee Virgin. Virgin has been in 21 NFL games but has only played two snaps on defense. Keyes has started a game and played in 12 games, making eight tackles.

COVID-19 Bears

QB Andy Dalton

CB Jaylon Johnson

S Tashaun Gipson

CB Duke Shelley

CB Artie Burns

S Eddie Jackson

WR Allen Robinson

DT Mario Edwards Jr.

OLB Sam Kamara*

RB Ryan Nall

T Larry Borom

TE Jesse James

ILB Joel Iyiegbuniwe

WR Isaiah Coulter*

Players Ruled Out Due to Injury

CB Xavier Crawford (concussion)

S DeAndre Houston-Carson (broken arm)

NT Khyiris Tonga (foot)

*Practice squad player

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