Bears WR Johnny Knox expected to make full recovery
Johnny Knox came into Sunday’s game averaging an NFL-best 19.8 yards per catch, a full yard better than the Packers’ Jordy Nelson, who was second.
His season ended less than four minutes into the game, when Knox caught a 15-yard pass from Caleb Hanie but then fumbled and suffered a serious back injury while trying to recover the loose ball. After being attended to on the field for several minutes by medical personnel, Knox was carted off on a spinal board and taken to an area hospital.
He is scheduled to have surgery this morning to stabilize a vertebra in his lower back and is expected to eventually make a full recovery — although there is no timetable yet for his return.
Knox finishes with 37 catches for 727 yards and a 19.6-yard average, the highest by a Bear since Willie Gault averaged 20.1 yards in 1987.
“Johnny has total movement throughout his body, has total use of all his extremities,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said after the game. “He has total movement.”
Free safety Chris Conte hobbled off the field late in the second quarter with a foot injury and did not return. He was replaced by Brandon Meriweather.
Still in it:The Bears can still qualify for the playoffs if they defeat the Packers and Vikings and, either the Falcons or the Lions lose both of their last two games, and the Seahawks lose one of their remaining two.The Falcons play at New Orleans and host the Bucs. The Lions host the Chargers and play at Green Bay. The Seahawks host the 49ers and play at Arizona.#147;We haven#146;t been eliminated from anything right now,#148; Lovie Smith said. #147;Until someone tells us we#146;re eliminated, we#146;ll continue to play, but there#146;s disappointment right now.#148;Missing in action: Earl Bennett#146;s first catch of the game, a 20-yard grab in traffic midway through the first quarter, exceeded his production of the past three games combined, when he had just 10 yards on 2 receptions. But that was his only catch of the day.After going six games without a reception and with very little playing time, Dane Sanzenbacher had 2 catches for 26 yards, his first receptions since Oct. 23. Sitting it out:Sunday#146;s inactives were: quarterback Jay Cutler (right thumb), running back Matt Forte (knee), safety Major Wright (shoulder), defensive tackle Henry Melton (shin), offensive tackle Levi Horn and tight end Andre Smith.Amobi Okoye got his first start as a Bear in place of Melton, who had 1 sack in each of the previous three games. Craig Steltz got his second straight start in place of Wright. The Bears had only six players inactive because wide receiver Sam Hurd, waived on Friday, has not been replaced on the 53-man roster yet.Extra points:Julius Peppers#146; first-quarter sack, the only one of the game for the Bears, was his 10th of the season, giving him seven seasons with double-digit sacks. It#146;s the most sacks by a Bear since mark Anderson had 12 in 2006. ... Wheaton#146;s David Govertsen sang the national anthem.