Read More: Julius Peppers (DE – CHI), Chris Spencer (C – CHI), Jay Cutler (QB – CHI), Lance Briggs (LB – CHI), Devin Hester (WR – CHI), Brian Urlacher (LB – CHI), Marion Barber (RB – CHI), Nick Roach (LB – CHI), Kellen Davis (TE – CHI), Matt Forte (RB – CHI), Corey Wootton (DE – CHI), Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, Jan 1, 2012 12:00 PM CST

The Chicago Bears have already been without Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, and they may be without Brian Urlacher and Marion Barber on Sunday when they close out their injury riddled season against the Minnesota Vikings. Urlacher missed his second straight day of practice on Thursday with a knee injury and Barber did not practice again due to a calf injury.

The good news is that Devin Hester (ankle) was a full participant on Thursday after being limited yesterday. Julius Peppers also returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday’s due to a non-injury related matter.

Here is the full injury report for the Chicago Bears:

For more on the Chicago Bears, visit Windy City Gridiron. For more on the Minnesota Vikings, head over to Daily Norseman.

As the season draws to a disappointing end for the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Roy Williams says he hopes to be back in Chicago next season despite his struggles. I guess the question is whether or not the Chicago Bears and their fans want him. I’m not sure I do.

Perhaps it due to me being the Chicago Cubs fan that I am, but I’m normally a perpetual optimist. By this I mean that I get excited when any team that I follow signs just about anyone. I get intrigued at what the new player might bring to the table. This was the case with Roy Williams coming to Chicago. The last few years haven’t given us much hope to think Williams would resurrect his stellar 2006 campaign. Though, I continued to hope. The Bears were (are) in pretty dire need of a go-to receiver. The thought was that Williams could benefit from a reunification with Mike Martz. Well, that’s not what happened.

This season has been marred by inconsistencies, blown chances, and disappointment from Williams. He doesn’t see it that way saying “I feel like I made plays when the opportunity came. Of course everybody’s going to bring up the negatives, which is fine. But for the most part, I made enough plays, and I’ll be happy to sign, but if not, I’ll continue on elsewhere.”

I don’t claim to know all the intricacies of the game in terms of how well Williams was performing when he wasn’t the target of the play, but I’m not sure which tape he was watching that made him feel that he “made plays when the opportunity came.” He seemed to suffer from the same stone hands he suffered in Dallas. He certainly wasn’t the primary target the Bears were hoping he would be. 33 receptions for 447 yards isn’t getting the job done —at least not for someone that’s supposed to be a major part of the offense.

The problem is that the Bears are in such need of receivers. I’m inclined to say that Earl Bennett is the Bears best receiver, but he entirely disappeared when Jay Cutler went down. Johnny Knox certainly has some upside but is plagued by inconsistency. Devin Hester no longer seems to be getting better at the wide receiver position; he seems to be leveling out if not worsening. The Bears need someone like Williams to step into a major role for Jay Cutler. I’m just not sure Williams is the answer.

I really hoped he would be. Logic didn’t say he would be, it was just a hope. I think the Bears would be better off looking elsewhere.

Brian is a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, having lived in Illinois his entire life and having followed the NFL throughout.

Sources

Williams Wants to Return

By Travis Miller

– College Basketball Contributor

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Dec 25, 2011 – The Chicago Bears need a win to keep their faint postseason hopes alive, but they’ll have to shut down one of the league’s most prolific offenses and find a way to patch together enough offense of their own to pull out the win. The Bears offense has been ravaged by injuries to Johnny Knox, Matt Forte, Devin Hester, and Jay Cutler.

Josh McCown has replaced Caleb Hanie at quarterback for this Christmas night game, but has not exactly inspired confidence for Bears fans:

And now the Bears are starting Josh McCown. Joy to the world. Deck the halls with bad QB play, fa la la la la, la la la la. I’m really not sure what this does against the average scoring defense/bad pass-yardage defense of Green Bay. Might look okay on paper, “ease him in,” but he’s preparing for his first start in four years against a defense that loves turnovers. At least Nathan Enderle has started a game at some level in that time span, even if it was college.

Game Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 25; 8:00 p.m. ET

Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

TV Schedule
National: NBC

Read More: Josh McCown (QB – CHI), Jay Cutler (QB – CHI), Devin Hester (WR – CHI), Matt Forte (RB – CHI), Caleb Hanie (QB – CHI), Johnny Knox (WR – CHI), Nathan Enderle (QB – CHI), Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers

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Read More: Julius Peppers (DE – CHI), Jay Cutler (QB – CHI), Lance Briggs (LB – CHI), Devin Hester (WR – CHI), Marion Barber (RB – CHI), Kellen Davis (TE – CHI), Matt Forte (RB – CHI), Henry Melton (DL – CHI), Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers

The Chicago Bears have released their latest injury report, and in addition to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte — both of whom are rehabbing serious injuries — several other Bears were held out of practice on Thursday. Running back Marion Barber (calf), wide receiver Devin Hester (ankle) and linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

Lovie Smith hopes to get Barber, Hester and Briggs back on the field Friday.

Tight end Kellen Davis (back) and defensive lineman Henry Melton (shin) returned to practice on a limited basis after being held out on Wednesday. And defensive end Julius Peppers fully participated after missing Wednesday’s practice for reasons not related to injury.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this week’s game, visit Bears Blog Windy City Gridiron and Packers blog Acme Packing Company. For more from around the NFL, head over to SB Nation’s NFL news hub.

Read More: Jay Cutler (QB – CHI), Devin Hester (WR – CHI), Charles Tillman (CB – CHI), Marion Barber (RB – CHI), Sam Hurd (WR – CHI), Matt Forte (RB – CHI), Caleb Hanie (QB – CHI), Henry Melton (DL – CHI), Edwin Williams (C – CHI), Thaddeus Gibson (LB – CHI), Major Wright (S – CHI), Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears, Dec 18, 2011 12:00 PM CST

The Chicago Bears have released their Week 15 Injury Report:

Out

QB Jay Cutler
RB Matt Forte
WR Sam Hurd (released)

Questionable

DT Henry Melton
WR Devin Hester

Probable

CB Charles Tillman
G Edwin Williams
S Major Wright

The biggest news of the week has surrounded now-released WR Sam Hurd, who was arrested on federal drug charges on Thursday. The Bears used Hurd mostly on special teams, and have since promoted DE Thaddeus Gibson.

The Bears are also struggling on the injury front, with DT Henry Melton (7.0 sacks) and Devin Hester (league-leading 18.5 yards per punt return) questionable against the Seattle Seahawks. The Chicago offense will also be turning once again to backups QB Caleb Hanie and RB Marion Barber to lead the offense with Cutler and Forte still on the mend.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.