Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and quarterback Jay Cutler were among the seven members listed in the team's recent injury report as "Questionable" to play for this weekend's upcoming match against Oakland Raiders. Both players are currently dealing with hamstring injury.
If Jeffery sit out this weekend's game, it will be his third consecutive no-show for the season. His original plan was to play on Sunday against Oakland, but his injured hamstring reportedly did not respond well during practice. Jeffery had limited participation on Chicago's Wednesday and Thursday workout.
The team's number one wideout has suffered from a strained calf in the preseason, it is said to have been aggravated in practice while preparing for the Bears' second game of the season. It forced the receiver to be absent from all four exhibition games, but the team cleared him to play for the Week 1 home opener against the Green Bay Packers. Jeffery was able to deliver five receptions for 78 yards in the said game.
Meanwhile, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was also a limited participant in practice starting on Wednesday until Friday. The 32-year-old QB has not played since sustaining a similar hamstring injury during the second quarter of the Bears' September 20 match versus the Arizona Cardinals. His strained calf prevented him from participating in last weekend's games in Seattle.
Cutler mentioned that he is not ready to share any forecast about his chances of playing on Sunday's game against the Raiders. Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times, the quarterback said, "If you do come back on a hamstring earlier than you want to, it's definitely going to be in the back of your mind because there's that slight pull. It's an instinctual game out there. You're doing things on the run without thinking. To have to worry about a hamstring and moving around is something that can weigh on you."
Nevertheless, the Bears quarterback has history of healing relatively fast. Cutler missed one game with a concussion in separate occasions back in 2010 and 2012. He was initially expected to be out for four weeks with a groin injury against the Washington Redskins in 2013, but returned after missing only one game. However, he eventually struggled with that injury and sustained a sprained ankle, forcing him to leave the said game.
Other players the Bears listed as questionable due to individual injuries include cornerback Alan Ball (groin), defensive end Ego Ferguson (knee), punter Pat O'Donnell (right knee), nose tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (ankle), and defensive end Will Sutton.