(670 The Score) The Bears on Saturday activated Pro Bowl defensive lineman Akiem Hicks off injured reserve, returning him amid a push for the playoffs.
Hicks spent the last eight weeks on injured reserve after suffering an elbow injury during the Bears' loss in London on Oct. 6. He's eligible to play when the Bears visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the earliest date he could've been designated for a return.
"It's a guy that you got to account for on every play," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Hicks earlier in the week. "He's a dominant performer, and he has been for a while. Just have to be mindful of where he's at every time he's out on the field."
A Pro Bowl selection in 2018, Hicks has one sack in four games this season. He also missed the Bears' win on Sept. 29 due to a knee injury suffered a week earlier. He returned to practice from the elbow injury two weeks ago as part of the 21-day window allowed for designating a player to return from injured reserve.
The Bears placed tight end Ben Braunecker (concussion) on injured reserve in a corresponding roster move with Hicks' return.
Kickoff between the Bears (7-6) and Packers (10-3) comes at noon Sunday from Lambeau Field.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
