Matt Forte Injury: Updates on Bears RB’s Week 17 Status and Fantasy Value
Published by T.J. Mcaloon on December 26, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte has missed the last three games due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain. With his Bears team now eliminated from making the post season, it seems very unlikely that you should expect him to come back for Week 17.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 3:33 p.m. EST by Michael Dixon
Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that Forte has been placed on injured reserved, along with Jay Cutler.
Even though they were struggling, the Bears were still alive before Week 16’s action. Now that they are eliminated from playoff contention, there’s no need to do anything else.
Forte said in a December 17 interview with ESPN Chicago that if Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was out there, that he would have increased pressure to get back on the field.
If Jay was playing, there would probably be even more pressure to come back and play, Forte said. There’s a lot of pressure on him to play, but he’s got screws and pins in his thumb. You can’t go out there and play if you’re not 100 percent really. Guys can play injured and stuff, but right now I don’t think it would benefit me or the team to go out there and play on a half a leg, so to speak.
From that same ESPN Chicago piece, Forte’s physical therapist David Reavy doesn’t want to see Forte out there until there is no swelling, among other things saying:
“I’d like to see him having no swelling and getting back to running and having some functional activities for at least a week before he plays.”
After the huge game from backup running back, Kahlil Bell last night against the Packers where he went off for 121 yards on 23 carries, Forte could be feeling some pressure to get back on the field.
If you are playing in your fantasy football Super Bowl in Week 17, then you should not get your hopes up for a return of Forte. It looks like you should continue with whomever you have been using as his replacement.
Or, with how well Bell was playing last week, and the fact that the Bears are playing the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17, you can look towards Bell as a solid fantasy option.
However, it’s early in the week, and news can change. Make sure that you keep coming back, for any new developments to the fantasy All-Star running back.
UPDATE: Monday, Dec. 26 at 1:30 p.m. EST by Richard Langford
The Bears are out of playoff contention, but they aren’t going to let that little nuance of NFL reality keep them from playing Matt Forte.
Of course just because they won’t hold him out of the game doesn’t mean he will be ready to go either. It will still be a surprise to see Forte on the field on Sunday.
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