Jaquan Brisker Lost for Chargers Game Due to Illness

If Eddie Jackson's injured foot can't make it through Sunday night's game again, the makeup of the Bears deep secondary could be a total guessing game.

It's not an enviable position to be in going against Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

Safety Jaquan Brisker has been downgraded to out for Sunday night's game, leaving the Bears with Jackson and Elijah Hicks as probable starters against the Chargers at safety.

Jackson's foot was injured in Week 2 and he came back Oct. 15 against Minnesota after missing three games, but he reinjured the foot and missed last week's game. He is questionable for the Chargers game, although he did make it through a full practice for the first time this week on Friday.

If Jackson goes out, then they might be using Quindell Johnson or Duron Harmon.

Hicks has been key as a replacement safety throughout the season because they have had both Jackson and Brisker on the field together for only a handful of plays.

"He's done good in the back part of the field," coach Matt Eberflus said. "He's communicated well with Brisker and now that we got the other guys (cornerbacks) back, he's done a good job with that. He's made some plays. He's made some plays. I think he has gotten better every single week.

"If you go back to the Tampa game, I think he was pretty good there and he's gotten better every single week."

The difference is Hicks was playing back deep for Jackson and hasn't been playing the position Brisker plays as a more physical, strong safety type. Now he could be forced to do that unless Jackson moves into that role.

The Bears also released tackle Aviante Collins and released practice squad safety A.J. Thomas, while activating defensive end Khalid Kareem from injured reserve. Kareem's 21-day window still had a few weeks left.