The Chicago Bears are entering the first game of the 2022 NFL season with some favorable news.
With the team facing a tough week one opponent in the San Francisco 49ers, they need all hands on deck.
However, coming into the week, there were some questions about who will play.
With game day drawing near, the Bears have listed which players might miss the game.
So who’s in, who might miss, and how will it affect the Bears in their home opener?
Rookie Receiver Velus Jones Jr. Is Doubtful For Home Opener
The Bears’ third-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, Velus Jones Jr., is listed as doubtful for the team’s home opener.
His hamstring injury, which has bothered him since preseason, is keeping him out of Sunday’s game.
Matt Eberflus said the hamstring injury Velus Jones Jr. has now is the same injury that kept him out on and off during the preseason. “We’re close,” Eberflus said, adding he thinks Jones Jr. will be “ready soon.”
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) September 9, 2022
However, with head coach Matt Eberflus thinking the rookie will be “ready soon,” there’s hope fans can see him in 2022.
But for this game, they will see Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, and Equanimeous St. Brown as the three starting receivers.
While Mooney is the new number one in Chicago, fans were hoping Jones could turn into a solid number two receiver.
With him out, Brown and Pringle will get those increased targets Jones is missing.
This could hurt Chicago, as Jones was impressive during the team’s offseason mini-camps.
Rookie Defensive End Dominique Robinson Is Questionable For Sunday’s Game
Another rookie from the 2022 NFL Draft, Dominique Robinson, might miss Sunday’s game versus the 49ers.
Robinson is dealing with a knee injury he suffered during the preseason.
While the injury might not keep him out of Sunday’s game, it slows down the rookie talent.
The rookie defensive lineman is a great addition to the front line.
With him as Robert Quinn’s backup in 2022, he’s got a great mentor to learn from.
But pressure can be on him if he plays on Sunday in substitution packages.
This comes from who he’s backing up in each game this NFL season.
However, he’s ready to make a name whenever the team calls him for his first NFL game.
One Big Name Is Missing From Injury List
With Robinson and Jones being the only two players on the injury list, it gives good news with one other important player.
That player is offensive lineman Lucas Patrick.
While he wasn’t on the injury list, he’s not starting and is available as a backup during Sunday’s game.
Would imagine Sam Mustipher will start at center with Eiselen as his backup. Would also anticipate Lucas Patrick still dressing (he has no reason not to – he was not on the injury report this week) and serving as a backup guard.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) September 10, 2022
However, with him recovering from his injury, the Bears should let him rest.
Patrick comes over from the Green Bay Packers as the new starting center for Chicago.
Placing him in any other role could cause an issue.
While he’s both a center and guard, keeping him focused on the center position is critical to success in 2022.
But this might not stop the Bears from pushing him into a game they need to win.
However, doing this can easily risk hurting Justin Fields‘ best player on offense that can help him develop into a better QB.
The veteran center comes from a team who had Aaron Rodgers.
With him being the guy Rodgers put his trust in, the Bears need him at 100% as Fields’ center.
