Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney will not play against the Falcons on Sunday because of a concussion, but guard Teven Jenkins is expected to play after clearing concussion protocol Friday.
Tight end Cole Kmet (knee) and center Lucas Patrick (knee) are questionable. Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral) and rookie linebacker Noah Sewell (knee) will be available Sunday after practicing in full all week.
Kmet was limited in practice Friday, but “everything looks good, so it’s positive,” coach Matt Eberflus said.
Mooney’s absence is yet another tough break for the fourth-year wide receiver, who has just 31 catches for 414 yards and one touchdown in 15 games. He had two catches against the Cardinals — for six yards and minus-one yard. St. Brown figures to help fill the void, though he has had his own issues this season. St. Brown has four receptions for 44 yards in five games and has missed the last three games with a pectoral injury.
Kmet’s Streak
Kmet, who has not missed a game since being drafted in the second round in 2020, is optimistic he can play Sunday. He’s the only Bears position player — and one of only 28 position players league-wide — to have played in every game over the past four seasons.
“That’s the one personal thing that means the most to me,” Kmet said. “Something that was stressed by Jimmy [Graham] when he was here, that that’s the most important thing that organizations look at — availability is dependability. My job is to be ready for the game the best that I can.”
But, Kmet, who had four receptions for 107 yards in the first quarter before the injury, said he’s not going to play just to keep the streak alive.
“I’m not going to be dumb about it,” Kmet said. “But if I feel good to go, I’m good to go. You’ve got to let it rip, too, when you’re out there. At this time of the year, most guys are playing at 80, 70%. It’s a matter of, ‘Can he play at 100% at 80%. That’s this league.”
The Heinicke-Sweat Connection
Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke is 1-2 as a replacement for Week 1 starter — including a victory over the Colts last week, when he threw for 229 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.
Bears defensive end Montez Sweat is most familiar with Heinicke who was 12-11-1 as a starter with the Commanders in 2020-22. They both went to high school near Atlanta — Heinicke in Suwanee, Sweat in Stone Mountain.
“Heinicke is a great teammate, probably one of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” Sweat said. “He’s a gritty guy. He’s tough as nails and he’s smart. Before he started back playing, he was actually thinking of getting into coaching. Taylor is a really good friend of mine.
“He’s going to be a hard guy to deal with. He brings a lot to the table. People rally around him, so he’s a great leader.”
Herbert honored
Running back Khalil Herbert won the FedEX Ground NFL Player of the Week Award after rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries against the Cardinals last week.
It was a breakout performance for Herbert, who had struggled to regain his form after missing five games at mid-season with an ankle injury. In his first four games back, Herbert had 31 carries for 75 yards — including three carries for eight yards against the Lions and six carries for eight yards against the Browns before last week’s game.
FedEx will make a $2,000 donation in Herbert’s name to a Historically Black College or University in recognition of the honor.
