Bears WRs Robinson, Mooney dealing with knee injuries; LB Smith misses practice for unspecified reason

Bears receivers Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney both dealt with knee injuries Friday. Both are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. Mooney sat out practice Friday, while Robinson was a limited participant.

Additionally, Bears linebacker Roquan Smith and offensive lineman Alex Bars missed practice Friday for unspecified reasons.

In total, nine Bears players are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game: Robinson (knee), Mooney (knee), DT Akiem Hicks (hamstring/Achilles), LT Charles Leno (toe), OLB Khalil Mack (back), QB Nick Foles (hip), OL Germain Ifedi (calf), LB James Vaughters (knee) and LB Josh Woods (foot).

Bears coach Matt Nagy declined to say why Bars and Smith missed practice. Neither player is injured. Nagy said he’s optimistic Smith will play.

Asked directly if they missed practice due to COVID-19 concerns or contact racing, Nagy declined to answer. On Nov. 5, the Bears canceled practice when a player tested positive for the coronavirus. It figures that they would've done the same if it were a concern this week.

"Again, it’s on [the injury report] as non-injury related, did not participate," Nagy said. "It’s all, I guess, a little bit – I can’t get into all that. I apologize. This is, just so you understand, some of this stuff I don’t know what all I can and can’t say."

With Robinson, who caught two touchdowns last week, Nagy said the knee injury came about in practice Friday. Nagy said he didn't think the injury was serious.

"But as you all know, that’s not my job," Nagy said. "In the middle of practice he just started – it was something for us to be smart with. So that’s where we’re at with that. But I feel pretty good about it. Until we get more information we won’t know."

Nagy said Mooney’s absence Friday was precautionary.

Mack returned to practice in a limited capacity for the first time this week. Hicks practiced in a limited capacity for the second straight day. Hicks didn’t practice at all last week and sat out Sunday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers. Hicks has not played since injuring his hamstring Nov. 16 against the Vikings.

Foles returned to full participation in practice Friday for the first time since injuring his hip against the Vikings. He missed last week’s game against Green Bay. Nagy has already named Trubisky the starter for this week’s game against the Detroit Lions. Foles is expected to be healthy enough to serve as the backup Sunday.