WHAT TO WATCH 4
Key matchup
Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who has not scored a touchdown in six games, has an opportunity to break out against a secondary missing starting cornerbacks Sam Shields ( concussion) and Damarious Randall ( groin), plus top reserve Quinten Rollins ( groin).
Shields, who has not played since Week 1 against the Jaguars, was put on injured reserve this week. This will be the first Bears- Packers game Shields has missed since he entered the NFL in 2010 — when he had two interceptions in the Packers 21- 14 victory in the NFC championship game.
Second- year cornerback LaDarius Gunter, an undrafted free agent from Miami, has played well as a replacement for Shields, but struggled last week against the Cowboys. With Randall — the Packers’ 2015 first- round draft pick— and Rollins out, Demetri Goodson, a 2014 sixth- round pick, is the next man up.
“I don’t care who’s out there guarding me,” said Jeffery, who has 29 receptions for 487 yards ( 16.8 average), including gains of 54, 49 and 38 yards. “Whoever’s out there, we’re going to try to take advantage.’’
Trending
After gaining 389 yards in a 17- 16 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday, the Bears’ offense improved from ninth to seventh in total yards, but dropped to 32nd and last in the NFL in points scored. That minus- 25 drop is by far the lowest for a team in the top 10 in total offense in the NFL ( the Redskins — fifth in yards, 15th in points — are next at minus- 10.).
In the last 30 years, the largest drop for a team in the top 10 in total offense is minus- 17 — by the 2015 Chargers ( ninth- to- 26th) and the 1999 Bears ( eighthto- 25th).
Player to watch
Newcomer Eric Kush is expected to start for left guard Josh Sitton, who is doubtful after suffering an ankle injury on the second- to- last offensive play against the Jaguars.
Kush, primarily a center, has played in 10 games ( one start) in four seasons — three ( one start) with the Chiefs in 2013 and seven last year with the Rams.
The X- factor
Overcoming injuries is a weekly hurdle for the Bears. Wide receiver Eddie Royal, who is out after suffering a toe injury last week, is the latest starter to go down.
Sitton, Jay Cutler ( sprained thumb), nose tackle Eddie Goldman ( high ankle sprain) and running back Jeremy Langford ( ankle) are doubtful. Reserve cornerback Deoindre’ Hall ( ankle) is out.
— Mark Potash