LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – Eighteen days from kickoff of the regular season, the Bears' injury concerns are piling up.
The Bears worked Wednesday without 20 players inside the Walter Payton Center, and that was before tight end Cole Kmet was carted off the field following an evaluation with the team's medical staff.
Coach Matt Eberflus has repeatedly declined to discuss injury specifics prior to the start of the regular season, when an injury report is required by the NFL to be released. Eberflus has only confirmed that left guard Teven Jenkins (leg) is expected to miss multiple weeks. Details for others who have been missing practice haven't been provided.
The Bears declined to make Eberflus available for comment Wednesday, and the team's provide any official updates.
"That's just training camp," said linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who returned to practice Tuesday following a multi-week absence. "Things are going to come up. That's life in the NFL.
"It's kind of like that next-man-up mentality."
The Bears have shuffled their offensive line after Jenkins' injury, moving Cody Whitehair over to guard from center. However, Whitehair has been hampered by a right finger/hand injury. Lucas Patrick is a candidate to step in at center, but he has been limited by an undisclosed injury. Rookie right tackle Darnell Wright suffered an apparent left ankle injury during practice Tuesday. Right guard Nate Davis is also working back from an undisclosed injury.
Left tackle Braxton Jones is the Bears' lone healthy starter on the offensive line who hasn't been affected by some sort of injury.
The Bears also continued to practice without receiver Chase Claypool, who suffered an apparent hamstring injury two weeks ago. Claypool has been present with the team but hasn't returned to practice, even in a limited fashion.
On defense, the Bears on Wednesday were missing pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue, pass rusher DeMarcus Walker, safety Eddie Jackson and safety Jaquan Brisker.
The Bears host the Bills on Saturday at Soldier Field in their preseason finale.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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