Rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson seems healthy enough for a return against the Lions Sunday at Soldier Field.
It’s a rare Monday when you can get anything resembling an injury report from Bears coach Matt Eberflus.
After the bye weekend, he was a bit more forthcoming on Monday with word they could get back cornerback Tyrique Stevenson to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Stevenson back this week?
“It looks that way,” Eberflus said. “Once we get him out there in pads and get him moving around and changing direction.
“Certainly like where he is, for sure.”
Stevenson suffered a foot/ankle injury during a Saturday practice Nov. 25 for the Minnesota Vikings game and had to sit out the game. Terell Smith started in his place.
Both rookies have played, although Stevenson is the starter. The Bears like Smiths’ play so much that they have given him a role alternating every third series in the past with Stevenson.
Smith has two pass breakups, a forced fumble and recovery to go with 30 tackles in three starts and seven games. Sportradar tracks Smith at a solid passer rating against when targeted of 89.9. He has allowed 63% completions on targets (17 of 27) without allowing a touchdown.
Stevenson has seven pass breakups, an interception, forced fumble and 61 tackles in 11 starts. Sportradar has his passer rating against at 112.5 and 66.7% completions, but both were once much higher and have trended downward in the last three games.
Asked if they’d consider a rotation again, Everflsu didn’t commit but seemed to lean that way.
“We’ll certainly look at that,” he said. “Smitty did play well and we want to get our young guys more and more playing time.
“If they’re effective and produce, we certainly will play them. You (media) guys know that.”
