The Chicago Bears could be down two important players when they visit Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints for a wild-card game on Sunday, with inside linebacker Roquan Smith and receiver Darnell Mooney injured.
Both players missed the team's walkthrough on Wednesday after leaving last week's loss to Green Bay, and coach Matt Nagy had little to say about their status.
The Bears (8-8) would be hard-pressed to beat the NFC South champion Saints (12-4) even at full strength. But with Smith and Mooney out, their task would be that much tougher.
Smith, Chicago's leading tackler, went out with a left elbow injury on Green Bay's first possession while Mooney left in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
The Bears (8-8) went on to lose the game 35-16. But they made the playoffs for the second time in Nagy's three years because the Arizona Cardinals lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
Smith's injury could leave the Bears more vulnerable against star running back Alvin Kamara, assuming he comes off the COVID-19 list. If Smith — who had a career-high 139 tackles and ranked second in the league with 18 for loss — is unavailable, Josh Woods could make his first NFL start. The third-year pro played 28 snaps.
Mooney, the Bears' second-leading receiver, set career highs with 11 catches for 93 yards against Green Bay. The fifth-round draft pick from Tulane ranked fifth among NFL rookies in receptions with 61 for 631 yards and overtook Anthony Miller as Chicago's No. 2 wide receivers.
Miller's production dropped in his third season. He had 49 receptions for 485 yards compared to 52 for 656 yards in 2019. He had seven games with two receptions or fewer.
