Bears will be without 14 players on COVID-19 list Monday night

CHICAGO – A total of 14 Bears players remain on the COVID-19 list ahead of Monday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. The team called up eight players from the practice squad to fill out the roster for the game.

Players on the COVID-19 list and unavailable for Monday include right tackle Larry Borom, cornerback Artie Burns, receiver Isaiah Coulter, quarterback Andy Dalton, defensive lineman Mario Edwards, safety Tashaun Gipson, linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe, safety Eddie Jackson, tight end Jesse James, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, outside linebacker Sam Kamara, running back Ryan Nall, receiver Allen Robinson and defensive back Duke Shelley.

The team flexed up the following players from the practice squad for Monday’s game: receiver Nsimba Webster, defensive back Thomas Graham, defensive back Dee Virgin, defensive back Michael Joseph, defensive back BoPete Keyes, linebacker Charles Snowden, defensive end LaCale London and receiver Dazz Newsome.

The Bears will be especially thin in the secondary, where all four usual starters are out with COVID-19. Gipson and Jackson typically start at safety, with Burns and Johnson at cornerback. Cornerback Kindle Vildor started 10 games earlier this season before losing his starting job to Burns, but outside of Vildor the entire secondary will be inexperienced.

Offensive tackle Germain Ifedi has been activated off injured reserve. Ifedi injured his knee in Week 5 and hasn’t played since.

Defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson went on injured reserve after breaking his forearm last week against Green Bay. That move become official Monday but was expected.

Additionally, Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai will be available to call the game for the defense after clearing COVID-19 protocols. Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor are unavailable after testing positive for COVID-19 and failing to clear protocols in time for the game.

Quarterback coach John DeFilippo will serve as acting offensive coordinator and assistant special teams coach Brian Ginn will serve as acting special teams coordinator.