Unis get Butkus patch
The Bears will honor Dick Butkus with a rare addition to their iconic uniform. The team will wear a patch for the rest of the season honoring the Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker who died Oct. 5 at his Malibu, California, home, at age 80. The navy patch is shaped like a football and is outlined in orange with white lacing. Butkus’ No. 51 sits inside in the Bears’ jersey font.
The patch will reside on the Bears’ upper left chest. The team’s jerseys already have a permanent tribute to founder George S. Halas on their sleeves. Halas died 40 years ago this month.
The Bears will honor Butkus throughout Sunday’s game against the Vikings at Soldier Field. A tribute will be established near Gate 1, where the Bears will display his Hall of Fame bust and a replica locker. The team will hand out Butkus-themed buttons.
Butkus’ No. 51 will be painted at the 10yard line on the north end of the field. He also will be memorialized with videos shown on the Soldier Field scoreboard.
Optimism about Jackson
Safety Eddie Jackson, who has missed the Bears’ last three games with a foot injury, is questionable for Sunday’s game. But there’s still a good chance the Bears’ secondary will be whole for the first time since Week 1.
Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon practiced in full Friday and are expected to play. Jackson was limited in practice, but coach Matt Eberflus said he was “very hopeful” Jackson would play.
“We ramped him up a little bit [Wednesday and Thursday], but he was good to go [Friday],” Eberflus said. “It’s always good to have his leadership back there. It’s good to have him paired back there with [Jaquan] Brisker. That’s always a positive thing.”
Jackson said this injury wasn’t related to the Lisfranc injury that forced him to miss the last five games of the 2022 season. He has played only one full game out of the last 10.
“You just miss it, especially going out last year, being away from football,” Jackson said.
Herbert, St. Brown on IR
Running back Khalil Herbert (ankle) and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (hamstring) were put on injured reserve Friday, meaning they’ll miss at least the next four games.
Running backs Roschon Johnson (concussion) and Travis Homer (hamstring) and rookie cornerback Terell Smith (ankle/illness) also are out.
Center Lucas Patrick (concussion) practiced in full but is questionable. Reserve center Doug Kramer, who has been on injured reserve all season, practiced in full and is eligible to be activated from IR.
This and that
Tight end Cole Kmet (hamstring), who was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, practiced in full Friday and will play Sunday.
◆ Quarterback Nathan Peterman was promoted to the 53-man roster, making him eligible to be the emergency quarterback behind Justin Fields and rookie Tyson Bagent.
◆ Defensive tackle Andrew Billings will be the honorary captain against the Vikings.