The Bears and Vikings play on Monday night, and both teams will be without notable skill-position players. And four other running backs were downgraded to “out” by other teams.
David Montgomery (concussion) won’t play for Chicago; he didn’t practice all week. Cordarrelle Patterson probably will be the main player at that position for Chicago. He’s been their 2nd-busiest runner this year, carrying 29 times for 88 yards. Patterson is listed as a wide receiver, but he’s big guy – listed at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds.
If somebody else on Chicago’s roster runs for more than 30 yards, it most likely will be Lamar Miller. Matt Nagy indicates Miller likely will be activated off the practice squad for this game. “To me, there’s an excitement of the possibility of him being able to fill a role for us,” Nagy said. Other veterans have come off practice squads and contributed this year, including Alfred Morris, Troymaine Pope and Kalen Ballage.
There are only two other running backs on Chicago’s roster, and neither has carried the ball in a game this year. Ryan Nall is primarily a blocking fullback; in 17 career games, he’s carried twice for 8 yards. And they’ve got rookie free agent Artavis Pierce.
Chicago also lists Allen Robinson (knee) and Cole Kmet (groin) as questionable. Robinson was a limited participant in practice all week. With Minnesota’s secondary having had a lot of problems against wide receivers, he still looks like a viable option. (If you’re the cautious type who’s worried about Robinson scratching on Monday, perhaps obtain Anthony Miller or Darnell Mooney as an emergency fill-in option.) Kmet looks dicier; he was a limited participant in practice today but didn’t participate the previous two days.
The Vikings have ruled out Irv Smith (groin). He didn’t practice all week. With Smith on the sidelines, Kyle Rudolph looks a little more palatable as a desperation-type starter at tight end. But Rudolph has been pretty crappy this year (there should be better options on the waiver wire in most leagues).
Elsewhere around the league:
The Seahawks have ruled out Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde, so there running back situation looks settled. It will be a three-man committee of DeeJay Dallas, Travis Homer and Alex Collins. Dallas seems to be the best runner of those guys, but Homer and Collins are better in passing situations. This was a possible scenario on Friday, and the Friday supplement includes rankings for Dallas and Homer on the condition that the two veterans would be out. (It’s not a good matchup with the Rams have a really good defensive eline).
The Chargers have placed Justin Jackson on IR and signed Kalen Ballage. Jackson will need to miss at least three games. They’ll use a three-man mix this week of Ballage, Troymaine Pope and Joshua Kelley.
The Bengals have officially ruled out Joe Mixon, which is what everyone was expecting. They’ll start Giovani Bernard again.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS at CHICAGO BEARS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
OUT TE Irv Smith (groin)
QUESTIONABLE CB Cameron Dantzler (concussion)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: RB C.J. Ham (shoulder, not injury related), TE Irv Smith (groin)
Friday: RB C.J. Ham (shoulder, not injury related), TE Irv Smith (groin)
Saturday: TE Irv Smith (groin)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: CB Cameron Dantzler (concussion)
Friday: CB Cameron Dantzler (concussion)
Saturday: CB Cameron Dantzler (concussion)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo (shoulder), WR Adam Thielen (shoulder)
Friday: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo (shoulder), WR Adam Thielen (shoulder)
Saturday: RB C.J. Ham (shoulder), DE Ifeadi Odenigbo (shoulder), WR Adam Thielen (shoulder)
CHICAGO BEARS
OUT DT John Jenkins (ankle), S Sherrick McManis (hand), RB David Montgomery (concussion), QB Mitchell Trubisky (right shoulder)
DOUBTFUL C Sam Mustipher (knee)
QUESTIONABLE TE Cole Kmet (groin), LB Barkevious Mingo (shoulder), WR Allen Robinson (knee), T Jason Spriggs (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: TE Jimmy Graham (not injury related), DT Akiem Hicks (not injury related), DT John Jenkins (ankle), TE Cole Kmet (groin), S Sherrick McManis (hand), RB David Montgomery (concussion), C Sam Mustipher (knee), T Jason Spriggs (knee), LB Danny Trevathan (not injury related), QB Mitchell Trubisky (right shoulder)
Friday: DT John Jenkins (ankle), TE Cole Kmet (groin), S Sherrick McManis (hand), RB David Montgomery (concussion), C Sam Mustipher (knee), T Jason Spriggs (knee), QB Mitchell Trubisky (right shoulder)
Saturday: S Eddie Jackson (not injury related), DT John Jenkins (ankle), S Sherrick McManis (hand), RB David Montgomery (concussion), C Sam Mustipher (knee), QB Mitchell Trubisky (right shoulder)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: S Tashaun Gipson (foot), LB Barkevious Mingo (shoulder), WR Allen Robinson (knee), LB Roquan Smith (back)
Friday: S Tashaun Gipson (foot), LB Barkevious Mingo (shoulder), WR Allen Robinson (knee), LB Roquan Smith (back)
Saturday: TE Cole Kmet (groin), LB Barkevious Mingo (shoulder), WR Allen Robinson (knee), T Jason Spriggs (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DT Brent Urban (shin, thumb), LB Josh Woods (ankle, calf)
Friday: TE Jimmy Graham (not injury related), DT Akiem Hicks (not injury related), LB Danny Trevathan (not injury related), DT Brent Urban (shin, thumb), LB Josh Woods (ankle, calf)
Saturday: S Tashaun Gipson (foot), TE Jimmy Graham (not injury related), DT Akiem Hicks (not injury related), LB Roquan Smith (back), LB Danny Trevathan (not injury related), DT Brent Urban (shin, thumb), LB Josh Woods (ankle, calf)