Heading into their Week 8 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, the Chicago Bears thought they were likely facing Cooper Rush after Lamar Jackson missed Monday's practice, coming off their bye. Over the last two days, however, the outlook for the two-time MVP has changed as he practiced on both Wednesday and Thursday. He hasn't taken full reps yet, but considering that the Ravens are in desperation mode at 1-5, it's safe to assume that if he can give it a go, Jackson will be out there at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.
This obviously changes the entire outlook and the game plan for the Bears. The Ravens' offense completely tanked in the last two weeks without Jackson, scoring a total of 13 points and failing to hit 300 total yards in back-to-back games. With their star QB under center, however, the Ravens scored at least 30 points in the first three games of the season. The Bears should expect the dynamic Baltimore offense to return if Jackson is healthy.
Ravens Are Healthier Than Ever but Bears Still Have the Edge
The Ravens will not only be well-rested after their bye week, but they will also be the healthiest they have been all season, as WR DeAndre Hopkins is the only player on the 53-man roster to not practice on Thursday, according to the official team website.
Now, the Bears will face a tougher-than-expected challenge on Sunday. After winning four straight games to improve to 4-2, Chicago can't be complacent based on Baltimore's record heading into Week 8. The Bears have enjoyed an improved defensive effort since their own bye week, continuing to force a ton of turnovers and punching above their weight.
Unfortunately, the Bears are nowhere near as healthy as the Ravens. On the offensive side of the ball, the Bears are at risk of missing multiple key starters. Cole Kmet and Tyrique Stevenson missed their second straight practice on Thursday, and Joe Thuney and Braxton Jones didn't practice. Roschon Johnson is another playmaker whose status for Sunday is in jeopardy after back-to-back DNPs.
Even with the injuries on the offensive end, the Bears should still be favored heading into Sunday. The Ravens have allowed more points than any team in the league, and allowed the third-most yards so far this season. The return of a few key defenders will certainly help, but the Bears are clicking on both sides of the ball, giving them a slight edge on the road.