Bears Injury Report: Darnell Mooney in Concussion Protocol

With tight end Cole Kmet still missing Bears practices due to a knee injury and DJ Moore trying to get through an ankle injury, the last thing they need is another health problem among their better receivers.

They've got one.

Darnell Mooney is now in the concussion protocol after reporting concussion symptoms long after the Christmas Eve game against the Arizona Cardinals.

"Mooney came in Monday after the game, self-reported having concussion-like symptoms and he's in concussion protocol now," Bears coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday. "That's where it is. Many times that happens where a guy comes in, doesn't feel right, they test him and he's in the protocol."

Although Mooney did go into concussion protocol, they got Equanimeous St. Brown back at practice after three straight games missed due to a pectoral injury. It's not exactly an even trade-off since St. Brown has only been targeted only five times all season. However, Mooney has been struggling of late in the passing game, too, with 11 catches for 107 yards in the last six games.

The Bears are still dealing with the concussion to guard Teven Jenkins but it appears he is on the road to playing. Although Jenkins hasn't cleared the concussion protocol, he went through a full practice.

Long term, it would benefit the Bears and Jenkins to have their top offensive lineman back. Jenkins has been able to play only 29 of a possible 49 games of his career due to injuries, but Eberflus calls most of these more incidental than a chronic issue.

"Teven has done a great job maturing in that way, being there all the way through training camp, working through minor injury, and then, obviously he got hurt when we were in Indianapolis doing a drill," Eberflus said. "So that's just a freak deal. You got to look at those injuries as: Are they consistent or are they just a freak type of deal? That's kind of what we feel with him.

"He's done a really job of being consistent, being in the building, being a pro, and he has been dominant when he's been in there. The numbers say that and how we've graded him says that. He's just working to improve every single week. Moving him into guard was just a really good move for him. He just feels so comfortable in there."

The Bears also had running back D'Onta Foreman back for a full practice after a game away for personal reasons. Center Lucas Patrick missed practice with a knee injury but Eberflus painted this situation as less serious and he could return later in the week.

Also back now is linebacker Noah Sewell, who has been out three games with a knee injury.