Earlier this week, Bears running back Matt Forte said that he planned on playing in Week 17 against the Lions and coach Lovie Smith said that linebacker Brian Urlacher had a “chance” of returning for the regular season finale.
Things are looking better on the Forte front after Thursday’s practice. Forte was able to practice in a limited fashion after sitting out Wednesday’s session, a good sign that his ankle injury is progressing fast enough for him to play in a game the Bears have to win to have any chance of making the playoffs.
"[He’s] making a lot of progress,” Smith said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. "[He] was able to get some reps in today. He looked pretty good. We’re hopeful for him, which we thought all along. I know he’s been pretty optimistic about the plan. So hopefully that will be the case.”
Urlacher was seen testing his hamstring in Arizona before last Sunday’s game, but he hasn’t practiced either day this week and looks like a long shot to make it back on the field this week. If that’s the case, it will be up to his teammates (and the Vikings) to decide whether there will be another chance for him to play this season.