'It's huge': Bears getting both starting tackles back from injury for Packers game

The Bears’ depleted offense line is getting reinforcements: starting tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, who have been out with knee injuries, will both start Sunday against the rival Packers.

“It's a great week to return,” Jones said Friday. “Green Bay week.”

The Bears hope that helps to staunch a group that allowed nine sacks last week. No Bears quarterback has ever been sacked more in a single game than Williams, who at times stubbornly refused to throw the ball away.

Coach Matt Eberflus called the return of Jones and Wright “huge,” while Jones said it should improve matters.

“You're never really gonna get normalcy,” Jones said. “You're trying to, with us two getting back and trying to do the best we can to implement some consistency on the edges.”

Guard Teven Jenkins, who has an ankle injury, will not play after hurting his ankle against the Patriots. Matt Pryor, who moved to tackle last week, will return to right guard. Ryan Bates, who returned from injured reserve last week, will start at left guard.

Swing tackle Kiran Amegadjie remains out with a calf injury.

Defensive end Montez Sweat is questionable after hurting his ankle Sunday. After he practiced in full Friday for the first time this week, Eberflus said the team felt “very optimistic” about Sweat playing Sunday.

“We’re good there,” he said.

Darrell Taylor, who starts on the opposite side, will play Sunday after missing last week's game with a knee problem.

Brisker regressed

Safety Jaquan Brisker was put on injured reserve Thursday because he kept regressing in his attempt to clear concussion protocol.

“We tried to get him past the protocol but we kept having setbacks,” Eberflus said. “We just feel like it’s best for us to take a step back. … We’re hopeful that he’ll improve as we go.”

Brisker hurt his head Oct. 6 when Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble led with his helmet on a Brisker tackle. Brisker was cleared to return to the game, and did. He started feeling symptoms the next day.

“I’ve seen it happen over the course where guys come in the next day and have symptoms when they didn’t have them that day before,” Eberflus said. “We’re still learning about a lot of these things, and doing what’s right.”

Brisker must miss at least the next four games.

Energy up

Eberflus said that hiring play-caller Thomas Brown to replace Shane Waldron has proven to be “a big energy boost” and “shot in the arm” this week.

Jones said he sensed “just a different energy with everybody” because of the move.

“[Brown’s] energy, jumping around and having a great positive attitude,” Jones said. “That's nothing against what we had before. Just a new feel ... We brought the energy as well ... it's been a better week, and I'm just excited for what's to come.”

This and that

• The Packers ruled out tackle Jordan Morgan (shoulder) and running back MarShawn Lloyd (appendicitis). Defensive tackle Colby Wooden (shoulder) is doubtful, while two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and safety Evan Williams (hamstring) are questionable.

• Kicker Cairo Santos declared last week’s wind to be the second-worst he’s seen at Soldier Field, behind only Christmas Eve 2022.

For each game, Santos pulls up the free weather app on his phone and looks at the hour-by-hour wind projection. He then consults years worth of notes to see what the ball did in similar conditions.

“When I go in the game, I just trust what my notes tell me,” he said.

The wind against the Packers will be more still, he said.