Running back Khalil Herbert will play for the first time in six weeks when the Bears play the Lions on Sunday, coach Matt Eberflus said Friday. He’s as thankful as he is eager.
Herbert suffered an ankle injury that looked severe when he awkwardly tried to catch a pass from Justin Fields in a 40-20 victory over the Commanders on Oct. 5 at FedEx Field. To him, missing only five games was fortunate.
“Looking back at the video, it looks crazy,” Herbert said. “So that’s just God covering me and making sure that it was nothing crazy besides what it was. I’m just thankful to be able to be back and not be out for longer than I was.”
Herbert was just getting in a groove when he was injured. He had 10 carries for 76 yards (7.6 average) against the Commanders, four day after rushing for 103 yards on 18 carries against the Broncos.
“I feel like I’m right back where I was,” Herbert said. “I had five weeks off. So I’ve just been getting my body right, getting my mind right and I’m feeling good.”
Herbert is the Bears’ best big-play threat, but statistically they covered for him while he was out. With D’Onta Foreman carrying much of the load, Bears running backs averaged 98.6 yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry, with four touchdowns without Herbert. They had averaged 87.2 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry, with one touchdown, with Herbert.
Foreman rushed for 351 yards and three touchdowns on 81 carries in place of Herbert. But he is questionable for Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.
“It’s just going to be a heckuva group effort,” Herbert said. “We’ve got guys in our room that can take it the distance and punish the defense. One guy goes out, another guy goes in. They’re going to be tired, but we’re going to be fresh. I feel like that’s a lot to defend.”
Elsewhere on the injury reprt, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (knee) practiced on a limited basis Friday after not practicing Wednesday or Thursday and is questionable. He was uncertain whether he would be able to play Sunday but said “progress has been good” and the team has gradually increased his workload.
Linebacker Jack Sanborn did not practice Friday because of an illness but “he’s trending in the right direction,” Eberflus said. “Looks like he’ll be fine.”
Linebacker Noah Sewell (knee) is out and will miss a matchup against his brother, Lions right tackle Penei Sewell.
Fullback Khari Blasingame (concussion) and cornerback Terell Smith (illness) practiced in full Friday and are expected to be available.
