Injury Situation Can Be of Benefit to Bears

The Minnesota Vikings could be concerned all week about a key injury and it can't be bad news for the Bears.

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson left Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Minneapolis with a hamstring injury.

Hamstrings are such tricky injuries that there's no way to know much about it at this point, and the Vikings weren't speculating about it after the game as coach Kevin O'Connell took the old "it's too soon to tell" route.

The Bears had Jaylon Johnson and Josh Blackwell leave games with hamstring issues and Blackwell went on injured reserve after trying to fight back and play through it while Johnson has been out the last two games after suffering his.

Minnesota still has plenty of weapons in the passing game and showed this in the loss to Kansas City by staying close.

Tight end T.J. Hockenson, rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison, receiver K.J. Osborn and running back Alexander Mattison are all receiver threats.

Still, Jefferson is the big-play threat the Bears have been unable to match and considering their own state of injuries in the secondary it would have to be a break not to face him. He has 36 catches on the season, but was limited to three for 28 yards before his injury against the Chiefs.

Johnson's status for this week is unknown, same as safety Eddie Jackson's (foot). Slot cornerback Kyler Gordon is eligible to return from injured reserve after a hand injury but the Bears haven't said if he'll be ready. Two other cornerbacks—rookie Terell Smith and slot player Greg Stroman Jr.—left Thursday's game with injuries and their status will be updated Wednesday.

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