The Chicago Bears are closing in on the end of training camp and their final preseason game this Saturday, which means the regular season is getting closer. Chicago has dealt with numerous injuries this summer, and head coach Ben Johnson had some notable injury updates before Tuesday's final open practice.
Johnson said that safety Elijah Hicks and linebacker Keyshaun Elliott will be back "sooner rather than later." Shortly after, the Bears announced they had activated Hicks and Elliott from the physically unable to perform list, where they'd be all training camp. Their returns are encouraging, especially for a defense that's been riddled with injuries.
With starting safety Coby Bryant expected to miss 4-6 months after knee surgery, Hicks will
be key to shoring up depth at safety. We'll see if Elliott, the fifth-round rookie, makes the roster without ever having seen the practice field this summer.
There are three players currently on the PUP: Cornerback Kyler Gordon, defensive tackle Shemar Turner and linebacker Noah Sewell. Johnson said Turner and Sewell's timelines for return are "unknown" and, while he didn't provide an official update on Tuesday, Johnson has repeated on several occasions that Gordon is still rehabbing with an unknown timetable for return.
With roster cutdowns on Sunday night, it certainly feels like Turner and/or Sewell could start the regular season on the PUP list.
As Tuesday's practice got underway, Brad Biggs noted that cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (week-to-week) and quarterback Tyson Bagent (week-to-week) were both back at practice.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears HC Ben Johnson shares injury updates before final open practice
