Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was a limited participant in practice for the second Wednesday in a row, but the reason for his appearance on the injury report was different this week.
Darnold was listed with a right hand injury in Week 11 and a foot issue led to Darnold landing on the list this Wednesday. Darnold returned to full practice participation before staring against the Titans last week.
Darnold was 20-of-32 for 246 yards and two touchdowns to help beat Tennessee. Thursday and Friday practices will show if there’s any reason for concern about his availability for this week’s date with the Bears.
Tight end Josh Oliver (wrist, ankle) was the only Vikings player out of practice. Defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard (toe) was limited while running back Aaron Jones (ribs), linebacker Gabe Murphy (knee), and tight end Nick Muse (hand) were full participants.
Coming off of Sunday’s loss to the Packers, the Bears won’t have their leading rusher on the practice field when they begin preparing for the Vikings on Wednesday.
Via multiple reporters, head coach Matt Eberflus said in his press conference that running back D’Andre Swift will not participate due to a groin injury.
But Eberflus added that the team is hopeful Swift will still be able to play in Week 12.
Swift has rushed for 635 yards with five touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 243 yards in 10 games this season.
Eberflus also noted offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion protocol) and defensive back Elijah Hicks (ankle) won’t practice on Wednesday.
After missing last week’s game, offensive lineman Teven Jenkins will practice in a limited capacity.
Chicago’s full first injury report of the week will be released later on Wednesday.
The Bears added a wide receiver to their 53-man roster on Wednesday.
Collin Johnson has been signed off of the practice squad. He appeared in two games in September as a temporary elevation and played 19 of his 22 snaps on special teams.
Johnson had one tackle in those appearances and he caught one pass for 11 yards in three appearances during the 2023 season. Johnson had 29 catches for 377 and two touchdowns in 26 games for the Jaguars and Giants in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
The Bears also signed veteran safety Adrian Colbert to the practice squad. His last regular season work came in two games for the Bears in 2022.
Free agent safety Adrian Colbert is re-signing with the Bears, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports. It is unknown whether Colbert is signing to the team’s active roster or the practice squad.
The Bears also worked out safeties Johnathan Abram, Terrell Edmunds, Jason Taylor and Tracy Walker with Jaquan Brisker on injured reserve and Elijah Hicks having injured his ankle.
Colbert was with the Bears this summer before they placed him on injured reserve on Aug. 21 with an unknown injury. They later waived him off injured reserve.
Colbert signed to Chicago’s practice squad during the 2022 season, and he played in two games for them late in the season. He spent 2023 on injured reserve.
Colbert was a 2017 seventh-round pick of the 49ers and also has played for the Dolphins, Giants, Browns and Jets. He has 109 tackles, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 41 career games.
Safety Terrell Edmunds has played for a couple of teams this season and his quest for a third will take him to Chicago.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Edmunds will work out for the Bears. If he should sign there, he will get a chance to be teammates with his brother Tremaine for the first time since they were teammates at Virginia Tech.
Edmunds began the season on the Jaguars’ practice squad and played one game for Jacksonville before being signed to the Steelers’ active roster. He had seven tackles in five games before being released earlier this month.
It was Edmunds’s second stint with the Steelers, who drafted him 12 picks after his brother went off the board in the first round in 2018. He has also played for the Eagles and Titans.
