Lovie Smith Expects Injured Matt Forte To Return This Season

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith says that he expects running back Matt Forte to return this season from his sprained knee, ESPN Chicago reports.

"As far as when, I'll just say we're still evaluating him," Smith told reporters. "He looked pretty good this morning, but it is an MCL. He didn't finish the game. So there is concern."

Forte suffered the injury after a low hit by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson in Sunday’s 10-3 loss. It has been reported that the star running back could miss anywhere from two to six weeks with what was diagnosed as a grade two sprain to his medial collateral ligament.

The Bears had won five games in a row to improve to 7-3 before star quarterback Jay Cutler went down with a thumb injury. Since his absence the club has struggled to put points on the board, scoring just 20 points in a 20-25 loss to the Raiders in Week 12, and just seven points in their most recent loss to Kansas City in Week 13.