The Chicago Bears are preparing for a big matchup against the Seattle Seahawks while two of their biggest stars remain out of practice. Jay Cutler was an expected absence after straining his hamstring, but Alshon Jeffery still remains a mystery. The wide receiver has been dealing with several injuries to start the season and they do not seem to improving as he was once again a no-show at practice on Thursday.
UPDATE: Cutler and Jeffery are officially out for Week 3. Check here for more.
Jeffery was a surprise scratch in Week 2 as the receiver reportedly deals with a hamstring injury following the calf strain he suffered in the preseason. Optimism is not high for his Week 3 outlook as the receiver has yet to practice this week. According to the Chicago Tribune, Jeffery and Cutler were not present at practice Thursday which has their status for the game against Seattle as doubtful. That would leave Jimmy Clausen without the team's No.1 target on the field. Already without first-round draft pick Kevin White, losing Jeffery for any more amount of time could really set the Bears back as there is a talent drop off between the receiver and everyone else on the roster.
"We do have a next-man-up mentality, so guys have obviously been working in there [at wide receiver] and studying," running back Matt Forte said, via ESPN.com. "He's a great player. We don't have another Alshon on the team, so obviously it's going to hurt."
Without Jeffery on the field, Clausen will rely on Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson who will be required to step up in a bigger way than they did against the Arizona Cardinals. Both players struggled to make an impact without Jeffery on the field and it could get worse as they prepare to face Richard Sherman and company in Seattle. If the Bears can get Jeffery on the field even if it just to be a distraction, coordinator Adam Gase believes that will help.
"He affects everything," Gase said, via the Chicago Tribune. "He's a difference maker. He's a big guy, and (as a defense) you have to make sure you know where he's at. We like moving him around and putting him in different spots. And then that moves everybody else around. So it's hard (for an opposing defense) to target who we're trying to get the ball to and who's really the main guy that week."
With Jeffery potentially out, Clausen will lean heavily on Martellus Bennett and Forte. Bennett will be a nightmare mismatch for the Seahawks' defense while Forte is preparing to be the workhorse once again. The running back will be critical in this matchup and he knows it.
"My mindset is the same out there," Forte said, via ESPN.com. "If they put more people in the box, we may have to do something different, but it doesn't really affect me and how I approach the game mentally."
