CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- Bears linebacker Roquan Smith left his team's 35-16 loss to the Packers on Sunday afternoon with an elbow injury and didn't return. The team is still awaiting further clarity on the extent of the injury.
Smith's injury occurred with 1:55 remaining in the first quarter as Packers running back Jamaal Williams rushed for one yard. Smith then attempted to check himself out of the game but went down to the ground, causing an injury timeout.
Smith later returned from the Bears' locker room to the sideline and tested out his elbow with teammate James Vaughters. He didn't immediately return to action. The Bears later downgraded his status from questionable for a return to doubtful. Reserve linebacker Josh Woods replaced Smith for the remainder of the game, and veteran Danny Trevathan's role increased as well.
The Bears hope to know more about Smith's injury by Monday or Tuesday, coach Matt Nagy said. Chicago plays at New Orleans in the wild-card round next weekend.
"He's a tough son of a buck," Nagy said of Smith.
The Bears felt Smith's void on a 72-yard touchdown pass from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the second quarter, with Chicago's defense struggling to get aligned before the play and suffering a breakdown.
The Bears backed into the postseason by virtue of the Rams' 18-7 win against the Cardinals on Sunday, landing the No. 7 seed in the NFC and a wild-card round meeting with the Saints. Chicago and Arizona each finished 8-8, but the Bears won the tiebreaker by virtue of a better record in common games.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.