Bears Wheaton eager to get back on field, but he's still questionable
With their top two wide receivers on injured reserve, the Bears are eager to get Markus Wheaton back on the field to bolster a position devoid of depth.
But the fleet five-year veteran hasn't been cleared for a full practice, and he's questionable for Sunday as he rehabs a fractured pinkie finger that required surgery.
Champing at the bit to return, Wheaton has fielded punts in practice and progressed to catching real footballs after being limited to handling foam footballs a couple weeks ago. But catching the ball isn't the biggest hurdle he still has to clear - it's using his injured hand while blocking.
"I have to be able to block to be on the field," Wheaton said.
And Wheaton said he must handle a full practice before he can play a full game.
"More so for them upstairs," he said. "They want to see me practicing before they throw me out in a game. So I have to build confidence in them, also in myself and my finger, and then we'll go."
With his ability to stretch a defense vertically, however, Wheaton could be a weapon as a deep threat or a decoy, even if he can't block. With backup wide receiver Josh Bellamy also questionable with an ankle injury suffered midweek at practice, the Bears might be forced to rush Wheaton.
After dealing with an appendectomy early in training camp and then injuring his finger, Wheaton can't wait to ditch the no-contact jersey he wears.
"It feel like that's all I've been wearing since I've been here," he said. "Hopefully I'll be in blue pretty soon."
Questionable health:
The Bears could be seriously short-handed Sunday in Tampa, especially on offense.
Last year's Pro Bowl running back Jordan Howard is questionable after being limited all week at practice, although coach John Fox was hopeful.
"He's had a good week of preparation," Fox said, "albeit limited."
Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, the team's best pass rusher, was added to the injury report Friday with a back issue, and he's also questionable.
Asked if he expected to play Sunday, Floyd replied: "Of course."
Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long (ankle) is also questionable, although it appears there's little chance he will suit up.
Wide receiver Josh Bellamy (ankle), linebacker Christian Jones (back) and cornerback Prince Amukamara (ankle) are also questionable.
Howard's loss would be the most critical. Benny Cunningham is doubtful (sprained ankle) and hasn't practiced. The only healthy running backs are rookies Tarik Cohen and Taquan Mizzell.
Cohen had a spectacular debut last week, but at 5-foot-6 and 181 pounds he can't carry the same workload as the 6-foot, 222-pound Howard.
Mizzell, undrafted out of Virginia, has been with the Bears less than two weeks.
If Howard can't go Sunday, the Bears could also promote Josh Rounds from the practice squad.
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