The Chicago Bears know beating the Green Bay Packers is never easy. Not with Aaron Rodgers under center for that team. This is why they need every able body available to pull it off. Looking at the injury report during the week, it was hard to feel optimistic. Several key players were nursing health problems and missing practices. Damien Williams is already out with COVID. Akiem Hick (groin), Khalil Mack (foot), and Allen Robinson (ankle) were all questionable on Friday.
Not ideal. Thankfully the Bears got some welcome good news via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Though his listing remains unchanged, expectations are the Bears will have Robinson available for the game at Soldier Field. This is a huge boost to their offense. Especially rookie QB Justin Fields he will need all the help he can get if he’s going to try keeping up with Rodgers.
#Bears WR Allen Robinson II (ankle) is listed as questionable, but expected to play, source said. … #Packers versatile OL Elgton Jenkins (ankle) is also optimistic about playing today, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 17, 2021
This is a favorable matchup for Chicago.
Robinson tends to play some of his best games against Green Bay. He topped 100 yards in each of the two meetings in 2019. Then he scored two touchdowns at Lambeau Field last year. Now he’ll have a chance to play a Packers defense that will be missing two of its top cornerbacks. Jaire Alexander and Kevin King are both out with injuries. If Fields gets time to throw, the odds are good he’ll see A-Rob open a number of times.
This feels like one of those games where the Chicago Bears will have to throw to win. The defense can’t be expected to hold Rodgers to 20 points or less. They were already down David Montgomery in the run game and now Williams too. The team has done everything they can to ease the pressure on Fields as he acclimates to the NFL speed. It feels like there will be no hiding him in this one. They’ll have to let him throw, and Robinson is undoubtedly a big help.