The Chicago Bears have no idea just how much rookie linebacker Roquan Smith will be able to play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
The No. 8 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft has not practiced in full since tweaking his hamstring in mid-August during a joint practice with the Denver Broncos.
Will be interesting to see how much Bears rookie ILB Roquan Smith plays on Sunday night in Green Bay. Matt Nagy reiterated on Wednesday that Smith hasn't practiced without restrictions since Chicago's first joint practice in Denver back in mid-August.
— Jeff Dickerson (@DickersonESPN) September 5, 2018
Smith held out of training camp while his agents and the Bears haggled over his rookie contract — specifically regarding guarantees attached to any league discipline over helmet-to-helmet ejections.
Once he returned to the Bears with rookie contract in hand, it didn’t take Smith long to end up in the trainer’s room with a tight hamstring. Now here we are, three weeks later and he’s still limited.
Hopefully Smith can get healthy, sooner rather than later. He’s one of the best rookie linebackers we’ve seen enter the league in some time and has a chance to contribute to a special defense in Chicago this year now that Khalil Mack is in the fold.