Bears earned two wins without their Pro Bowl guards
In each of the Chicago Bears' last two victories, they were without starting guards Kyle Long and Josh Sitton, both of whom have been voted to the Pro Bowl three times.
Yet with Eric Kush at left guard and Ted Larsen at right guard, the Bears upset the Vikings 20-10 on Oct. 31 and whipped the 49ers 26-6 last Sunday.
"I'll go all the way back to the Minnesota game," coach John Fox said. "Against a pretty good defense, they were both the starters. They're getting valuable play time. They're tough competitors. It's not always perfect, but I think they've both performed well going back that far."
Against the Vikings, the Bears rushed for a season-high 158 yards, and their second-best ground game was the 142 they put up vs. the 49ers. In both games the O-line allowed just 1 sack.
Sitton (ankle) has been back at full practice all week, which should give the Bears better depth in three weeks. He played a couple snaps last week when center Cody Whitehair was briefly sidelined and Kush moved from left guard to the pivot.
"Last week (Sitton) wasn't ready to take a full load as a starter," Fox said. "We're evaluating that moving forward this week."
Kush had started just one game in his three previous NFL seasons, and that was back in 2013 with the Chiefs, who drafted him in the sixth round that year. The challenge of replacing a Pro Bowl player was simple, though not easy, for Kush.
"Just focus, do my job and seize the opportunity," he said. "Ted's played a lot of football, so there was no doubt Ted was gonna come in and do a good job. I took my opportunity and I'm seizing it, I'm doing a good job out there and showing what I can do."
Larsen, a seven-year veteran, had 51 NFL starts before this season.
He's the man:
Linebacker Sam Acho is the Bears' 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.
The award is presented by Nationwide and is the only NFL award which recognizes a player for his community service activities as well as his excellence on the field.
Acho is helping raise money to build hospitals in Nigeria through Living Hope Christian Ministries, an organization founded 28 years ago by his parents, Dr. Sonny and Christie Acho. Both are Nigerian natives and have returned there every summer for 28 years on mission trips to rural villages, which provide medical and dental assistance to those in need.
In addition to his regular appearances at local schools, hospitals and non-profits, the Bears' linebacker has joined his family for the past 10 years on their trips to Nigeria.
Injury update:
Wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe), linebacker Willie Young (knee) and offensive tackle Mike Adams (back) did not practice.
Wide receivers Josh Bellamy (shoulder) and Marquess Wilson (groin) and linebacker Jonathan Anderson (hamstring) were limited. Safety Adrian Amos (foot), cornerbacks Tracy Porter (knee) and Deiondre' Hall (ankle) and linebacker Pernell McPhee were full participants.
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