Pringle out at least next 4 with calf injury
Wide receiver Byron Pringle’s slow start with the Bears hit another roadblock. He exited with a calf injury after just two snaps against the Texans on Sunday, and it was severe enough for the team to put him on injured reserve.
That knocks Pringle out for at least the next four games, meaning he can’t return any sooner than the Oct. 30 game at the Cowboys.
He has two catches for 33 yards and played just 26 snaps over the first three games. His most extended playing time was getting 34% of the snaps against the Packers in Week 2, and he was no higher than fourth in the pecking order at receiver behind Darnell Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown and Dante Pettis.
Pringle, 28, was general manager Ryan Poles’ second-most expensive addition in free agency this year. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal after catching 42 passes for 568 yards and five touchdowns with the Chiefs last season.
Very little has gone right since Pringle signed. He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and driving on a suspended license in April, prompting Poles to say, “I know him very well. It’s not a reflection of who he is at all. You don’t want your guys in the news at all. At that point, it’s disappointing.”
Pringle also has been hurt for most of his time with the Bears. He injured his quad muscle early in training camp and was out most of the preseason.
The Bears already have wide receiver N’Keal Harry on injured reserve with a sprained ankle. He is eligible to return next week against the Vikings, but that’s probably unrealistic.
The team also is waiting on the debut of rookie wide receiver Velus Jones, who missed the first three games because of a hamstring injury.
Giants lose top threat
The condition of the Giants’ receiver corps is nearly as bad as that of the Bears.
Sterling Shepard, who leads the team with 13 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the game against the Cowboys on Monday.
They’ll have a tough time replacing him. Veteran Kenny Golladay — whom the Bears chased in free agency in 2021 before the Giants signed him for $72 million over four years — has just two catches for 22 yards. Kadarius Toney, their first-round pick last year, missed the game Monday because of a hamstring injury.
Richie James is their leading receiver after Shepard at 14 catches for 146 yards. The Giants are 30th in passing yards and 20th in passer rating. Quarterback Daniel Jones went 20-for-37 for 196 yards with an interception Monday.
Kmet’s slow start
One major factor in the Bears’ passing woes: The Justin Fields-Cole Kmet connection they were counting on has yet to materialize.
Kmet caught his first pass of the season Sunday.
“It obviously took way longer than I thought it would,” he said. “That’s where we’re at.”
Kmet hasn’t had much opportunity in what needs to be a breakout season for him. He ranks 41st among tight ends in targets (five), 51st in catches (two) and 43rd in yards (40).