LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- One of the Bears' best pass-rushers went backward on the injury report as outside linebacker Pernell McPhee missed Thursday’s practice with wrist and knee injuries.
McPhee was officially limited on Wednesday with only a wrist problem.
Head coach John Fox refused to explain the development.
“He was held out,” Fox said.
McPhee’s status needs to be monitored heading into Sunday, especially since the Bears were unable to sack or hit Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 1. McPhee signed a lucrative contract in the offseason primarily because of his ability to pressure the quarterback while a member of the Baltimore Ravens from 2011-14.
McPhee skipped only four career games in Baltimore, but has been dealing with nagging injuries since the preseason.
Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made it clear he wants the defense to “bring more heat at the quarterback.” That will be increasingly more difficult to do with McPhee hurt or limited in Week 2.
The Bears have two more practices to get McPhee back on the field before game day.
In other injury news, defensive lineman Ego Ferguson (knee) had limited participation, linebacker Jon Bostic (ankle) and cornerback Tracy Porter (hamstring) did not participate, and linebacker Sam Acho (illness) and cornerback Sherrick McManis (thigh) had full participation.