The Bears face the NFL’s most aggressive blitz defense without their starting left tackle. Braxton Jones did not play on Sunday due to a concussion suffered on Monday night.

Jones first reported symptoms to the team on Sunday morning, presumably from the 49ers game a full week earlier. He was fully involved in training all week. Jones did not travel with the team to Minneapolis.

Jones missed two starts earlier this season after injuring his knee against the Commanders. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Larry Borom. Rookie Kiran Amegadjie, who injured his calf against the Commanders, was unavailable at the time. However, the third-round pick is now healthy and could give the Bears a glimpse of how he could help the team next year. Borom, on the other hand, is in the final year of his contract.

Hinsdale Central High School’s Amegadjie injured his quadriceps last year at Yale and required surgery in October 2023, forcing him to miss most of training camp. He replaced Jones when he was injured against the Commanders and played 45 snaps before injuring himself. He has only 58 offensive snaps to his name this season.

Amegadjie said Saturday, “There’s no way I can say it’s a good season” because the Bears have lost games and he’s been on and off the injury report.

The Bears — whose slim playoff chances were officially wiped out by a Commanders win on Sunday — have two other players who will sit out the Vikings game with concussions: running back Roschon Johnson and guard Ryan Bates.

The Vikings have won six in a row and most recently demolished the Falcons.

From Jason Lieser

Jared Goff set a career high with five touchdown passes for the NFC North-leading Lions (12-2), whose loss gives the Vikings a chance to go home for the league lead with a win against the Bears on Monday night.

From AP

Williams is setting Bears rookie records but still has a lot of work to do in the final four games, starting Monday against the Vikings.

From Jason Lieser