Bears offensive tackle Germain Ifedi returns to practice after hip injury

LAKE FOREST – Germain Ifedi put in all the work in the offseason, all the hours in the weight room. He came into training camp ready to roll.

Then he suffered a “freak” hip flexor injury while going through his conditioning exam upon reporting for camp in July.

Life in the NFL can be cruel sometimes.

“[It] just happened on a routine run, something you don’t even think about,” Ifedi said. “You’re not thinking about it happening. I’m just thankful it wasn’t anything worse and it was something I could attack and get back from in a reasonable amount of time.”

Ifedi returned to practice Monday. It was the 27-year-old’s first practice since training camp opened. He provided some much-needed relief for an offensive line that has been in shambles lately.

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Ifedi steps in as the presumed starting right tackle. Monday was a light practice for him to get back in the swing of things. Still, Bears head coach Matt Nagy must’ve been happy to see him on the field at all. The Bears had been forced to start 2020 seventh-round draft pick Lachavious Simmons at right tackle in each of the previous two preseason games.

On the other side of the offensive line, recently signed free agent tackle Jason Peters saw more action with the first-team offense Monday than he had previously. Peters, like Ifedi, had previously been working his way into practice slowly.

“There’s a rhythm to how they do it,” Nagy said. “So we’ve got to monitor that, but then we also know that this third game in preseason is going to be real for them to be able to get out there and see what they can do for football shape, too.”

The Bears play the Tennessee Titans on Saturday in Nashville.

Peters said he was in Texas fishing when he saw an incoming call pop up on his phone from Bears offensive line coach Juan Castillo.

“I was like, ‘Uh oh. I know what this is,’” Peters said.

The Bears were looking for another tackle because rookie second-round draft pick Teven Jenkins needed surgery on his back. Jenkins’ injury left the Bears without a starting left tackle.

[ Bears offensive tackle Teven Jenkins to undergo back surgery ]

The 39-year-old Peters was hoping for another chance to keep playing. He wasn’t ready to retire yet. The nine-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro was released in 2020 after more than a decade with the Philadelphia Eagles. In Philadelphia, he had experience working with both Nagy and Castillo, his offensive line coach for a time.

Questions about his age are bound to follow Peters. He had surgery on his toe last year and played in only eight games. He has played a full 16-game season just once in the past four seasons.

“I just tell them to come watch the game or practice and see if they can see if I’m 39 out there,” Peters said. “I feel good. I’ve still got my quicks, my strength. Like I said, it’s getting my legs up under me, because the guys started in April. They got a big head start on me. So I’m just trying to get my legs where their legs are right now.”

Injury report: Cornerback Jaylon Johnson missed practice Monday for a personal reason. Defensive back Teez Tabor left practice early due to a thigh injury.

Others who missed practice Monday included linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe (illness), tight end Scooter Harrington (knee), tight end Jesper Horsted (knee), defensive lineman Sam Kamara (ankle), defensive back Jordan Lucas (quad), defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (toe), defensive tackle Mike Pennel (groin), long snapper Patrick Scales (ankle), outside linebacker James Vaughters (calf) and receiver Javon Wims (oblique).

Guard James Daniels, defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, running back Ryan Nall and linebackers Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan all returned to practice after missing time last week.

Practice updates: Rookie quarterback Justin Fields threw one interception early in practice Monday, but rebounded moments later with a really nice deep ball to receiver Isaiah Coulter for a touchdown. Fields took some reps with first-team receivers Monday, though he hasn’t taken any with the entire first-team offense throughout camp. Players did not wear pads Monday in practice.