Chicago Bears already carrying long injury list
Among the Bears' inactives were four starters, including quarterback Jay Cutler (sprained right thumb), nose tackle Eddie Goldman (high ankle sprain), linebacker Danny Trevathan (thumb surgery) and cornerback Kyle Fuller (knee).
Nickel cornerback Bryce Callahan (concussion), running back Ka'Deem Carey (hamstring) and offensive lineman Eric Kush were also inactive.
Rookie Nick Kwiatkoski was a surprise starter for Trevathan at inside linebacker, and Will Sutton started at nose tackle for Goldman. Kwiatkoski, a fourth-round pick from West Virginia, was inactive the first two weeks and missed part of the preseason with a hamstring injury.
Rookie safety Deon Bush, another fourth-round pick, was also inactive the first two weeks after suffering a concussion in the preseason, but he suited up against the Cowboys.
"Kwiatkoski should be further behind because he missed most of training camp," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said, comparing the two fourth-rounders. "He got to play in the last preseason game, but none prior to that. Deon got to play in the first two preseason games and hasn't played since. He should be a little bit farther along."
The Bears dressed four rookies in the secondary: safeties Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson and cornerbacks Deiondre Hall and Cre'Von Le Blanc.
Healthy enough:
Eight of the 10 players the Bears listed as questionable suited up Sunday night: Safeties Adrian Amos and Chris Prosinski, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, offensive tackle Bobby Massie, guard Josh Sitton, cornerback Tracy Porter, defensive lineman Will Sutton and linebacker Willie Young.
In addition to rookies Nick Kwiatkoski and Deon Bush, undrafted rookie cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc, running back Raheem Mostert and wide receiver Cam Meredith were also active for the first time.
Bright spot:
On his first carry Sunday night, rookie Jordan Howard sprinted through a big hole on the right side for 36 yards, the high point of a first half in which the Bears managed just 114 yards.
Howard later picked up 5 yards on a pass from Brian Hoyer.
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