Bears to Miss Facing Biggest Vikings Weapon

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The Bears have operated under the assumption Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson would play, according to their players.
Never mind.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Monday morning the Vikings won't have their injured star receiver available for Monday night's game against Chicago due to his injured hamstring. ESPN's Adam Schefter had reported on Sunday it was unlikely Jefferson would play.
Jefferson had been officially listed questionable even though he hadn't yet been activated from injured reserve. His 21-day window has opened for consideration but it made sense the Vikings would wait because they have a bye after this game and can give him one more week of rest.
Jefferson has been out since he suffered the injury in Week 5 and his absence means he missed both Bears games this season.
Without Jefferson, the main receiving threats for Minnesota have been tight end T.J. Hockenson and rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison.
Hockenson has 75 receptions for 736 yards and four TDs while Addison has 48 receptions for 647 yards.
They've also used Brandon Powell and K.J. Osborn as key wide receiver replacements with Jefferson out.
In the first Bears game, Hockenson had six catches for 50 yards, Addison three for 28 and a TD and Osborn four catches for 48 yards.
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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.