(670 The Score) The Bears placed Pro Bowl defensive lineman Akiem Hicks on injured reserve, they announced Tuesday.
Hicks suffered a nasty left elbow injury in Chicago's loss to Oakland in London on Oct. 6. His trip to injured reserve means he'll miss at least the next eight games. It's unclear if he'll be able to return late in the regular season or for a potential trip to the playoffs, though coach Matt Nagy expressed hope Monday that will be the case.
"We're hoping that he's definitely able to return here by the season's end," Nagy said on WBBM Newsradio 780. "We'll find out exactly where that's at. That's our goal."
Hicks, 29 has been an anchor and disruptive force for a Bears defense that ranked first in the NFL in opponents' scoring in 2018 and is one of the elite units again this year. He has six tackles and a sack in four games this season. He had 41 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 16 games in 2018, when he earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time.
"It is a tough loss," Nagy said Monday. "But it's part of the game. We understand it. He understands it. And we just got to keep plugging away."
Second-year defensive lineman Bilal Nichols could help the Bears fill the void of Hicks. Nichols suffered a broken right hand in a win in Denver on Sept. 18. He had been nearing a return before the bye week. The Bears (3-2) host the Saints (5-1) on Sunday.
In corresponding roster moves, the Bears elevated offensive lineman Alex Bars from the practice squad to the active roster and signed linebacker Fadol Brown to the practice squad.
