Bears place QB Dalton, DB Shelley on COVID-19 list
The Bears placed backup quarterback Andy Dalton and defensive back Duke Shelley on the COVID-19 list Friday.
The team had been holding Dalton out of practice this week due to a left hand injury, but he was present at practice on Thursday, one day before the team placed him on the COVID-19 list. The Bears were hopeful Shelley could return to action this week after returning to practice following a stint on injured reserve.
The team activated offensive tackle Elijah Wilkinson off the COVID-19 list Friday, but the addition of Dalton and Shelley brings the team's total to 13 players on the list.
Seven of the eight Bears players who missed Thursday's practice with a non-COVID illness returned to practice Friday. That list included: tight end Jesper Horsted, running back Khalil Herbert, tight end Cole Kmet, running back David Montgomery, receiver Jakeem Grant, guard James Daniels and tackle Teven Jenkins.
Defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga remained out, but Tonga is dealing with a shoulder injury in addition to a non-COVID illness.
"Whenever you start feeling something, you're worried that you might get COVID and might have to miss a game," Kmet said Friday. "So I was relieved when I got the negative COVID test the other day, so that's a good thing."
According to the Bears' injury report, defensive back Xavier Crawford (concussion), receiver Marquise Goodwin (foot), safety DeAndre Houston-Carson (forearm), left tackle Jason Peters (ankle) and Tonga (shoulder/illness) sat out practice Friday.
Tight end Jimmy Graham (knee) and linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) were limited. Quarterback Justin Fields (left hand) and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (ankle) were full participants.
With Dalton going on the COVID-19 list, there becomes some concern for everyone who has been near the quarterback, including Fields. The NFL has already rescheduled three games this week for later dates. At this point, there have been no changes for the Bears-Vikings game scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Monday.
Transactions: The Bears signed defensive back Michael Joseph to the practice squad Friday.
According to reports, the team had four additional players in for tryouts Friday: Running back Pete Guerriero, tight end Cole Hikutini, tight end Joshua Perkins and running back Bo Scarbrough.