Bears Downgrade Akiem Hicks, Call Up Charles Snowden

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Pat Boadway | Last updated 12/11/21

The Chicago Bears announced some good news earlier this week that wide receiver Allen Robinson is returning against Green Bay . Today, the news isn’t so great as the Bears downgraded Akiem Hicks’ status to out.

The Bears downgraded Akiem Hicks to out. He was hopeful to make his return against the Packers, but he’ll have to miss another game with his ankle injury.

Undrafted rookie OLB Charles Snowden was called up from the practice squad.

DB Teez Tabor was also downgraded to out.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) December 11, 2021

Charles Snowden

In place of Hicks, the Bears called up 23-year-old outside linebacker Charles Snowden.

Snowden has not played in a regular-season NFL game yet. He played his college football at Virginia, where he recorded 87 solo tackles and 15 sacks in four seasons. During his sophomore season, he stole two interceptions while defending a college career-high of eight passes. For a linebacker, specifically an outside linebacker, that is high.

Akiem Hicks’ Status

This week, Akiem Hicks was trending in the right direction. All signs pointed toward him making his return against the Packers on Sunday Night Football.

The defensive star recently commented on his time with the Bears and it appeared as though he was ready to go again.

“I’ve appreciated this last six yrs playing here in Chicago. I would challenge you to find another person on this team that has bled and fought and lived and died with his team the way that I have. Whatever comes from that, I accept…#Bears DE Akiem Hicks
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) December 10, 2021

It’s a surprise that the Bears downgraded Hicks today and it might mean he’s had a setback with his recovery. Considering the Bears are all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, bringing him back just to try to beat the Green Bay Packers would be foolish.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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