#Bears roster moves:
We have activated DT Akiem Hicks from IR to the active roster and have placed TE Ben Braunecker on IR.— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) December 14, 2019
The Chicago Bears will return one of their best defensive players on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
The team activated Pro Bowl defensive lineman Akiem Hicks from injured reserve on Saturday, clearing the way for him to return after an elbow injury forced him to go on injured reserve in October.
Hicks, a first-time Pro Bowler last season, is one of the NFL’s most dominant interior defensive linemen. Between 2016 and 2018, Hicks produced 23 sacks, five forced fumbles, 38 tackles for losses and 53 quarterback hits.
He had a sack, one fumble recovery, three quarterback hits and a tackle for loss in four games to start the 2019 season.
Hicks has been a thorn in the Packers’ side recently. Over his last three games against the Packers, including Week 1 this season, he’s tallied two sacks, two tackles for losses, three quarterback hits, one forced fumble and a batted pass.
It’s unclear how much Hicks, who missed eight straight games, will play Sunday at Lambeau Field, but the Packers have said all week that they were preparing as if he would return and play a significant role for the Bears defense.
In Week 1, Hicks and the Bears held the Packers to 47 rushing yards and just 216 total yards in a 10-3 win for the visitors at Soldier Field.