Tag: James Vaughters

Bears OLB James Vaughters downgraded to out vs. Lions

Bears OLB James Vaughters, who was listed as questionable with a knee injury, has been downgraded to out vs. Lions.

The Chicago Bears’ injury list is a packed one heading into Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, and they’ll be without depth at the outside linebacker position.

James Vaughters, who has served as depth behind Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn, was listed as questionable with a knee injury. On Saturday, he was downgraded to out.

This means fifth-round rookie Trevis Gipson should be active and see some playing time in Vaughters’ place.

The Bears have eight other players, including six starters, that are questionable for Sunday. That includes defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, outside linebacker Khalil Mack and receivers Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney.

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Bears Week 13 injury designations: 5 starters listed as Questionable, including Khalil Mack

The Detroit Lions (4-7) Week 13 opponent, the Chicago Bears (5-6), have released their injury designations ahead of Sunday’s game.

The Detroit Lions (4-7) Week 13 opponent, the Chicago Bears (5-6), have released their injury designations ahead of Sunday’s game and nine players are listed as questionable, including five starters.

Here’s a look at the Bears’ full injury designations list.

Injury status

Player Position Injury Designation
Khalil Mack EDGE (starter) Back Questionable
Akiem Hicks DE (starter) Hamstring/Achillies Questionable
Allen Robinson WR (starter) Knee Questionable
Charles Leno LT (starter) Toe Questionable
Germain Ifedi RT (starter) Calf Questionable
Nick Foles QB Hip Questionable
Darnell Mooney WR Knee Questionable
James Vaughters LB Knee Questionable
Josh Woods LB Foot Questionable

Mack is, of course, the big name on the list, and while he did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, coach Matt Nagy insisted holding him out was just precautionary and they expected him to play on Sunday. On Friday, he got in a limited practice and appears on track.

Hicks is by far the Bears’ second-best player on a deep defense, and after missing last week with injuries, he got two limited practices in this week and has the potential to play.

Robinson, the Bears’ best player on offense, popped up on the injury report on Friday and received the questionable tag. Like with Mack, Nagy is preaching caution and says they will be monitoring him leading up to the game.

Left tackle Leno missed practice on Wednesday but returned to two limited practices the rest of the week, while right tackle Ifedi — an injury replacement himself — saw three limited practices. Both seem likely to play on Sunday.

Foles, saw a limited practice on Wednesday, followed by two full practices on Thursday and Friday, but Nagy has already named Mitchell Trubisky as the starting quarterback. If Trubisky struggles, Foles appears to be ready to step in.

Bears 2020 training camp preview: Linebackers

The Chicago Bears linebacker corps figures to be a strength on defense, but are there depth concerns on the roster?

Chicago Bears history is rich with linebacker talent that has generally been the backbone of the defense. Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher are just a few names who have left their mark on this franchise and on the NFL, as well.

And at first glance, the 2020 version of the linebacker corps looks strong on paper. The Bears added Robert Quinn in the offseason, officially ending a disappointing tenure in Leonard Floyd. Quinn, 30, was signed to a five-year, $70 million deal, and he’s coming off an impressive 11.5 sack year with the Cowboys.

Let’s take an in-depth review of the Bears linebacker room heading into training camp.

OLB Khalil Mack

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

After an impressive debut season in Chicago, Khalil Mack was double, and sometimes even triple-teamed, to limit the damage. He tallied his lowest sack total (8.5) since his rookie year, and he felt Akiem Hicks’ absence the most. After recording 4.5 sacks through the first four weeks, he logged just four sacks the rest of the way.

Mack remains one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL, and Hicks’ return should boost his statistics in 2020. He can single-handedly wreak havoc on an opposing offense. Despite a down year, Mack started in all 16 games, tallying four pass deflections and five forced fumbles.

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Roster Moves: Bears sign 9 players to reserve/future contracts

The Bears inked nine players that finished the season on their practice squad to reserve/future contracts on Monday.

The Chicago Bears signed nine players that finished the season on their practice squad to reserve/future contracts on Monday.

The group of players consisted of receivers Reggie Davis, Thomas Ives and Alex Wesley; tight end Dax Raymond; offensive linemen Dino Boyd and Sam Mustipher; linebacker James Vaughters; and defensive backs Xavier Crawford and Stephen Denmark.

Denmark was a seventh-round draft selection from 2019, but he didn’t appear in any regular-season games for the Bears. The lone Bear from the list to appear in a regular-season game was Vaughters, who filled in for the Bears that struggled with injuries to their linebacking corp. He registered three tackles in three games against the Eagles, Lions and Rams.

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Bears waive LB James Vaughters, sign 2 players to practice squad

The Bears announced 3 roster moves on Tuesday, which included the release of LB James Vaughters.

The Chicago Bears waived linebacker James Vaughters and signed running back Jeremy McNichols and outside linebacker Dewayne Hendrix to their practice squad on Tuesday.

Vaughters has recorded three tackles in the last three games, where he appeared as a reserve. He’s been filling in for the injured linebacker Isaiah Irving, who has been out with a quad injury.

McNichols, a fifth-round pick in 2017, appeared in three NFL games as a reserve, including two with the San Francisco 49ers and one with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. He had two career carries for four yards with the Colts.

Hendrix was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent from Pittsburgh this year.

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Bears place TE Trey Burton on injured reserve, promote LB James Vaughters

The Bears have placed tight end Trey Burton on injured reserve after a season-long struggle with injury.

After a season-long struggle with injuries, tight end Trey Burton has been placed on injured reserve by the Bears.

Burton’s struggles have been well-documented this season, as he’s dealt with a lingering groin injury since the start of the season and his production dipped significantly.

Burton, who was one of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s top targets in 2018, caught 54 passes for 569 yards and six touchdowns last season. He finishes this year with 14 catches for 84 yards.

Last week against the Lions, Burton exited the game with a calf injury. He was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Rams prior to being placed on IR.

Chicago is thin at tight end, as Adam Shaheen has also been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Rams. Ben Braunecker and Bradley Sowell are the Bears’ lone tight ends on the active roster.

The Bears promoted linebacker James Vaughters from the practice squad in his place, as linebacker Isaiah Irving will miss his third straight game with a quad injury. Vaughters will see his third straight action for Chicago.

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Bears sign TE Bradley Sowell, again, waive LB James Vaughters

In a shocking turn of events that will surprise no one, the Bears signed TE Bradley Sowell to the active roster and waived James Vaughters.

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It’s about that time when the Chicago Bears re-sign tight end Bradley Sowell to the active roster.

The Bears waived linebacker James Vaughters on Monday and promoted Sowell from the practice squad. A move that you hope would indicate that linebacker Isaiah Irving will be good to go for Sunday, although it’s far from a guarantee.

Vaughters should clear waivers and be re-signed to the practice squad.

The question is: Will Sowell be on the 53-man roster for a rematch of last year’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, where Sowell caught his first and only touchdown pass in the 15-6 victory.

Given the Bears’ struggles at the tight end position, with Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen, it might not be as far fetched as one might think.

We’ll have to wait and see when the Bears head to Los Angeles to face the Rams on Sunday Night Football.

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