The bye week grants teams the opportunity to rest and heal up from the beatings the 17 week NFL season have in store for them.  The Bears had an early bye week for the second year in a row and unlike last year, it couldn’t have come at a better time.  

The Bears have been suffering injuries to key players, some of whom have now returned to practice for the first time.  During the Bears shortened practice on Monday, QB Mitch Trubisky, WR Taylor Gabriel, OL Ted Larson and DE Bilal Nichols participated

Head coach, Matt Nagy, won’t commit to Trubisky starting in week 7 but he did state Trubisky “looked like himself today.”  Though Nagy won’t commit to Trubisky, it’s safe to assume the third-year signal caller will suit up this Sunday as the team released third-string QB Tyler Bray. 

The Bears hope to get Gabriel’s speed and playmaking ability back in the lineup for the first time since he suffered a concussion in week 3 against Washington.  Before exiting the game, Gabriel had 3 touchdown receptions including a 36-yard sideline catch on a toss from a scrambling Trubisky.  

If Larson ends up playing, it looks like it will be in a back-up role as Rashaad Coward is taking first-team reps at practice following the Kyle Long injury.  Having some depth for an offensive line that has struggled mightily this season will be a plus.  

Nichols has impressed so far during his brief time in the NFL but if he is to continue to impress it will have to be with a cast on the hand he broke week 2 against the Denver Broncos.  The cast will limit Nichols but with Akiem Hicks out the Bears need help at the DE position.   

The Bears will need all the help they can get if they wish to add another tally to the W column against Sean Payton, Teddy Bridgewater and the 5-1 New Orleans Saints.  Thankfully for them, the early bye week allowed for the team to take some positive steps towards returning to full strength.