By Adam Hoge-
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Here are 10 things you need to know as the Bears get ready to host the Packers Sunday at Soldier Field.
1. There seems to be legitimate doubt in the Bears’ locker room about whether or not Jared Allen will play. Allen missed practice all week with an illness and only appeared at Halas Hall briefly Friday morning before being sent home.
The Bears have gone on without Allen this week and Willie Young, who will start in Allen’s place if he can’t go, sounded as if his teammate won’t be playing Sunday.
“This is an opportunity,” Young said. “But at the same time, Jared will be missed. Hopefully we still have some leadership and his presence on the sideline with us and whatnot. Kind of help us with some stuff here and there.”
That sure sounds like Allen isn’t expected to play, right?
“Actually, I don’t know,” Young clarified. “I’ve been all-in on the playbook just getting stuff down. I haven’t heard anything yet. It’s going to be a game-time decision, I guess. I have no idea.”
Allen is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
2. Brandon Marshall is also questionable. He did not practice all week, continuing a trend since he first injured his ankle Sept. 7 against the Bills. Marshall has only participated in one practice since, and that was just some light jogging and walk-through work.
That said, the wide receiver hasn’t missed a game yet, although his status for Sunday’s game is more in doubt than it was last week against the Jets. With the shorter week and aggravation of the injury Monday night, Marshall’s situation will likely be similar to two weeks ago in Santa Clara when he went through a pre-game workout in front of the coaching staff and general manager Phil Emery before getting cleared to play.
3. Jeremiah Ratliff will miss his second-straight game. The defensive tackle has not been cleared from the concussion he suffered Sept. 14 against the 49ers. With Ratliff out, rookies Will Sutton and Ego Ferguson will once again be relied on to play significant reps. Both players performed well last week against the Jets.
4. Chris Conte is listed as questionable, but will likely play. The safety has been dealing with a nagging left shoulder injury and admitted Friday that it’s probably not going away anytime soon.
“It’s tough,” he said. “It’s just something I’m going to have to stay on top of and work with. It’s frustrating.”
Conte left Monday’s game against the Jets three separate times and did not finish the game. He was able to practice in a limited capacity this week, however, and will likely play through the injury. The question is, will he have to play through it all season?
“I hope not because I’ve been through shoulder stuff before and it’s not fun so I hope it’s something I can get healed up,” he said.
Conte had surgery on his right shoulder in March.
5. Conte admits this is a big game for him. It was just 10 months ago when he had the blown coverage on Randall Cobb’s division-winning touchdown catch at Soldier Field, something the safety has not hid from addressing all year.
“It’s a big rivalry game and obviously the way things went down last year, it’s a big game,” Conte said.
6. Ryan Mundy and Trevor Scott are probable. If Conte is limited or can’t play, the Bears will at least have their other starting safety in Mundy, who also left Monday’s game with a shoulder injury. Danny McCray will be ready to back up either player if necessary.
Meanwhile, if Jared Allen doesn’t play, Scott will be thrown into the rotation at defensive end. He missed last week’s game with a foot injury after being carted to locker room in Santa Clara against the 49ers.
7. Shea McClellin had surgery on his broken hand, but is not expected to be out very long. The linebacker will miss his second straight game Sunday, but Trestman hinted Friday that McClellin could be day-to-day next week instead of week-to-week, which is what they considered him this week.
8. Matt Slauson and Roberto Garza are getting closer to practicing. Neither of them got out on the practice field this week to test their injured ankles as they were hoping, but that appears to be a very real possibility next week. The Bears are really missing Slauson in the running game right now.
9. The Packers are much healthier than the Bears. Linebacker Clay Matthews (groin) is officially listed as probable, as is right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee), cornerback Davon House (knee) and linebacker Nick Perry (wrist). Wide receiver Jarrett Boykin (knee) and linebacker Brad Jones (quad) are questionable. Boykin did not practice Friday after practicing in full on Wednesday and Thursday, so he may have suffered a setback.
10. The referee for Sunday’s game is Terry McAuley. McAuley was the ref for Super Bowl XLVIII in January.
Adam Hoge covers the Bears for 87.7 The Game and TheGameChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHoge.