The Bears have made frequent use of the injured reserve list this season and they added another name to the rolls on Monday.
Coach John Fox announced that wide receiver Eddie Royal’s season is over due to a toe injury. Royal last played in Week 12 and played in just nine games this season.
That was the same number of games that Royal played during the 2015 season as his two years with the Bears have seen him sidelined by injuries far too often. He’s caught 40 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns when he has been in the lineup.
Royal is signed for next season at a salary of $5 million, but the Bears may choose to spend their money elsewhere in hopes of finding a more reliable option in the passing game.
Linebacker Jerrell Freeman is back on the roster after serving a four-game suspension for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy, leaving the Bears with 53 players heading into Week 16.