As each week goes by in the NFL, teams suffer injuries minor and major that have repercussions for the rest of the season.
With just five more weeks left in the regular season, teams are hoping to stay healthy leading into the playoffs, but not everyone can be so lucky.
The Chicago Bears suffered injuries to a number of players, including a top performer on defense and the team's top running back, while the New York Giants lost their second-leading rusher to a broken fibula on Sunday night.
Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's win against the Minnesota Vikings. He left the game after a three-yard run with 6:39 left in the third quarter.
According to the Chicago Sun Times, "He fumbled the ball on the play and Vikings safety Mistral Raymond returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. But the play was reviewed and overturned as replays showed Forte's knee was down."
Forte rushed for 42 yards on 14 carries and was replaced by backup running back Michael Bush, who scored two touchdowns while gaining 60 yards on 21 carries.
According to Will Carroll at SI.com: "Forte isn't injury prone per se, but you also can't expect him to stay healthy or to recover within the normal parameters. Forte's injury looks to be a simple ankle sprain, with the severity sounding mid-grade. His response to treatment early this week will be key to the timing of his return. Look for him to be on the practice field by Friday if he's going to return and, if he is out there, look for reports that he's cutting on that injured ankle."
Forte has already missed one game this season after suffering an ankle injury against the Green Bay Packers in September.
The Bears also lost kick returner Devin Hester to a concussion earlier in the game as well as starting guards Lance Louis and Chris Spencer. Gabe Carimi came into the game after Louis left with a knee injury.
That wasn't even all the injuries for Chicago.cornerback Charles Tillman, who has been a defensive player of the year candidate, appeared to suffer an ankle injury during the game and was seen afterwards wearing a walking boot.
Apart from Hester, numerous players dealt with head issues on Sunday, no one more notable than Denver Bronco's quarterback Peyton Manning, who had concussion tests while playing against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Manning took a hard hit to the back of his helmet, but didn't miss a single snap in the game after going through all the standard concussion tests.
"I'm fine. Everything checked out OK," Manning said after the game, according to The Denver Post. "I took a hit there, but I was cleared."
Manning threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns in Denver's 17-9 victory at Kansas City.
Running back and wide receiver Dexter McCluster of the Chiefs left the same game with a neck injury in the second half after taking a hard hit to the head. McCluster rushed for 23 yards and caught four passes for 21 yards.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Steelers with a head injury and was replaced by backup Colt McCoy.
The Dallas Cowboys are another linebacker down after Thursday's game against the Washington Redskins.
The team placed linebacker Bruce Carter on injured reserve on Monday, stemming from a dislocated elbow injury sustained on Thanksgiving. The team signed Brady Poppinga to help with depth.
Carter is just the newest player to hit injured reserve for the Cowboys. The team already lost top linebacker Sean Lee to toe surgery and has also placed safety Barry Church and defensive end Kenyon Coleman on the injured list.
The linebacker has made 70 tackles this season, including nine in the 38-31 loss against Washington on Thursday.
In more positive injury news, Yahoo Sports is reporting that line backer Ray Lewis is likely to return for the Baltimore Ravens next month after tearing his triceps against the Cowboys a few weeks ago.
"For the greatest player in Ravens history to be able to return from this injury and come on this championship run with us? When he was said to be down and out? Man, that's critical mass. When he comes through that tunnel, that's gonna be the earthquake and the tsunami," Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo told Yahoo! Sports.
The Ravens placed Lewis on the injured/designated to return list last month, leaving him the option to return to the team when healthy. It was first thought that Lewis would miss the entire regular season, but the report says that he may play Dec. 16 against the Denver Broncos or the following week against the New York Giants.
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan also said that he expects quarterback Tim Tebow to dress and be ready to play despite two fractured ribs.
"I anticipate him being ready to go, but we'll see," Ryan said Monday to ESPNNewYork.
