In a significant turn of events for the Chicago Bears, they have received a boost ahead of the Divisional Round of the playoffs due to the Los Angeles Rams placing cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon on injured reserve. This decision means he will miss the remainder of the postseason.
Last weekend, the Bears secured their spot in the next round with an exhilarating 31-27 comeback win against the Green Bay Packers. The victory was marked by a controversial overturned touchdown that stemmed from a little-known rule. Meanwhile, the Rams also earned their place in the Divisional Round by narrowly defeating the Carolina Panthers 34-31.
However, the Rams faced a substantial setback when Witherspoon re-injured his scapula during the first quarter of their Wild Card matchup. “Unfortunately, he ended up getting his shoulder bad,” said Rams head coach Sean McVay during a press conference. “He”s going to be on IR. It was a tough, good tackle by him. He re-aggravated that same thing from earlier in the year. He”ll end up being out. He”s the only guy that will actually miss … he”ll be out for the remainder.” This injury adds to Witherspoon”s challenges, as he initially hurt his shoulder in Week 2 during a game against the Tennessee Titans, which kept him sidelined for ten weeks.
Despite his eagerness to return, Witherspoon emphasized the importance of patience during his recovery, stating, “I mean, I think both can exist. You can be eager as hell and patient as hell. It”s just having perspective, understanding the reality of the situation, and letting both thrive in the midst of it.” He managed to return to the field in Week 13, but continued to struggle with injuries, remaining inactive in Weeks 15 and 16. Over the final three games of the season, he gave up four catches on six targets, allowing an average of 26.8 yards per reception, ranking among the highest in the league.
With Witherspoon unavailable for their upcoming showdown, the Bears will focus on containing Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who also faced injury concerns in the Wild Card round. Stafford sustained a sprained finger when his right index finger collided with the arm of Panthers linebacker D.J. Wonnum. Despite the injury, Stafford managed to finish the game and later expressed confidence about his status for the Divisional Round. “Hand is good. I”m not worried about it at all,” Stafford said on the “Let”s Go!” podcast. “I was just throwing a ball over the middle to Puka and caught somebody”s forearm. Just bent it way back. But it was fine, a little bit stiff throughout the game, like a jammed finger. But I know by Sunday next week I”ll be feeling great.”
As the Bears prepare for this crucial matchup, they will certainly aim to capitalize on the absence of Witherspoon while also being mindful of Stafford”s potential impact on the game.
