A thumb fracture reshapes the backfield
Minnesota placed running back Jordan Mason on injured reserve on Wednesday. The diagnosis is a fractured right thumb. Kevin O’Connell now heads to Chicago with Aaron Jones Sr. and rookie Demond Claiborne as the two backs he can lean on.
O’Connell framed it as a rotation rather than a promotion.
“I think Aaron is part of our lead-back, 1A-1B rotation,” the coach said. “He’s going to be heavily involved. And at the same time, we want to keep him fresh. We ask a lot of him as it is, but we know we’ve got some guys that can handle some carries, handle some situational snaps on third down.”
Kyler Murray took part in Wednesday’s session on a limited basis and remains in the concussion protocol. O’Connell deferred to the medical staff on his availability. Carson Wentz starts if Murray is not cleared, which would hand him a second consecutive appearance after Minnesota erased a Green Bay lead in the opener and closed with 29 unanswered points on the way to a 39-22 win.
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Chicago scored until the clock ran out
The Bears arrive at Soldier Field for their home opener having put 59 points on Carolina in Week 1. Caleb Williams completed 21 of 29 for 269 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 65 more and scored twice on the ground, and posted a 124.1 passer rating. Tight end Colston Loveland, one of his primary targets, did not catch a single pass in that game.
Williams wants the same output and a cleaner version of it.
“Scoring every drive is our mindset,” he said. “That’s an internal expectation. It’s an expectation from ourselves to be able to go out there and score every time and figure out ways to help the defense.”
D’Andre Swift led Chicago with 124 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in Carolina. He was limited on Wednesday with an ankle and knee issue.
Two 1-0 teams, one early divisional marker
Right tackle Darnell Wright missed practice with a knee problem for the Bears, as did defensive lineman Neville Gallimore through illness. Kyle Monangai, Ozzy Trapilo, Dayo Odeyingbo, Xavier Woods and Malik Muhammad were all limited.
Andrew Van Ginkel leads Minnesota with a sack and a half and practised on a limited basis with a chest complaint. Blake Cashman and Brian O’Neill were also restricted. Receiver Jauan Jennings sat out what O’Connell called a personal family matter.
Montez Sweat and Kentavius Street have one sack apiece for Chicago. Both teams stand 1-0 and neither has met a defence that slowed them down yet.
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