Bears at Packers, SNF: Injury, Odds Analysis

NFL primetime sports betting action showcases an NFC North rivalry that the sportsbook lines as more lopsided than the standings. Our NFL injury report looks at who’s in and who’s out, as well as the NFL news leading up to the decision on who would start at quarterback for the Chicago Bears as they travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers.

In the first matchup of the season series, it seems the foregone conclusion the Green Bay Packers don’t have to worry so much about winning the division as they did when the Bears had an edge in the standings. The NFL betting odds suggest Bears’ coach Matt Nagy will be waiting another season to win his first game against his NFC North division rival.

Betting Lines

Chicago Bears

Whether quarterback Nick Foles stood any chance rehabbing his ankle in time to play this week, coach Matt Nagy presented a bye-week narrative where they could reasonably speculate about his availability and not have to declare Mitch Trubisky the actual starter. That story held up until Friday when the final report declared Foles as doubtful. He’ll be inactive, to be sure, but it’s not clear why they just didn’t make the call then. Saturday, they activated Tyler Bray, leaving little doubt Foles won’t even really be the backup.
A number of players — more than might be expected coming off a bye week — come in questionable behind them, or in this case in front of them, as left tackle Charles Leno is a game-time decision. He injured his toe on Wednesday, didn’t practice this week, and will likely be replaced by Jason Spriggs. Listed too is RT Rashaad Coward (ankle) but expect him to start.
Defensively, the biggest questionable name is DE Akiem Hicks (hamstring). He too missed the entire week’s practice and is listed as a game-time decision that likely means he won’t be playing. A truer game-time decision might be CB Buster Skrine who popped up on the injury report for the first time Friday with an ankle issue.
Chicago should return back special-teamer S Sherrick McManis (hand) after he worked back to full practice by the end of the week, though listed as questionable having missed the last game. They’ll also return a few other players after the week off. RB David Montgomery has finally cleared the concussion protocol, and DT John Jenkins (ankle) and C Sam Mustipher (knee) will see their first action since Week 8.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers looked earlier in the practice week as though they would come into this game short a number of valuable offensive weapons and down a half-dozen cornerbacks. It turned out to be injury-report drama as WRs Davante Adams and Allen Lazard were both cleared from injury status on Friday. Not so for Marquez Valdes-Scantling whose Achilles’ injury kept him out of practice Friday, leaving him a game-day decision. He’s a vital name to check on, but should be revealed before the inactives list is released. Also listed questionable is Equanimeous St. Brown (knee) who is expected to play.
Also deemed questionable on offense is C Corey Linsley (back) who the team insists is ok despite not making it through the first quarter of last Sunday’s game. He did limited practice throughout the week, so it’s likely he’ll play. Same for backup RB Tyler Ervin (ribs) who might return to action after missing last week.
As for the six-pack of corners they littered on the injury report, all but two were cleared by Friday, including Ka’dar Hollman (quadriceps) who Green Bay hopes to return after he sat out last Sunday. Two cornerbacks remain on the questionable list, however, and they’d certainly miss the presence of Kevin King (Achilles), as well as backup Josh Jackson (concussion). King is a must-check name leading into the game.
Finally, since last week, Green Bay cleared their punter J.K. Scott (back) from the injury report. They’ve also moved two backups, DE Montravius Adams (toe) and LB James Burgess (hamstring), to injured reserve.

Leans

Apparently spooked that Foles would hobble back on the field or maybe that Tyler Bray would be announced the starter after they posted NFL betting odds on this game, oddsmakers didn’t put this one on the board until Saturday. Green Bay opened as heavy chalk at -8½ and got bumped up from there. Currently, the line’s floating in the teaser range of -10 even. The total is a low 44.
Even with Trubisky under center, it would be surprising if support doesn’t come for the Bears in this position as a division rival catching double digits after a bye. But it’s Trubisky. We could only recommend holding your nose and lean to the Chicago Bears +10, anticipating a 10-3 or 24-10 game — though knowing 31-13 is a strong candidate too.
The total is low for a reason but we’d lean to the under 44 here but would wait to see if it notches up. If it breaks that Marquez Valdes-Scantling can’t play but Kevin King does, that would push it to a play.