Chicago Bears injury report: Braxton Jones returns to full participation

LAKE FOREST – Chicago Bears starting left tackle Braxton Jones returned to full participation in practice Thursday at Halas Hall.

For the second day in a row, the Bears held a walkthrough practice, so the injury report was an estimation from the team’s training staff. Still, this is good news for the Bears offensive line.

Jones has not yet fully cleared concussion protocol, so he was unavailable for comment Thursday, according to the team. But he appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.

Jones was a surprise scratch prior to Monday’s loss in Minnesota. He had not been on the injury report in the days leading up to the game. The 25-year-old reported concussion symptoms Sunday morning, just hours before the team flight to Minneapolis. The training staff sent him home ahead of the flight.

In his place, rookie third-round draft pick Kiran Amegadjie was slotted into the starting lineup at left tackle. It was Amegadjie’s first career start. Given that he hadn’t prepared with the starters all week, it came as little surprise when Amegadjie struggled.

The rookie from Yale – and Hinsdale Central before that – committed four penalties and allowed one sack.

In addition to Jones, running back Roschon Johnson (concussion) and defensive end Darrell Taylor (shoulder) were full participants in practice Thursday, despite coming off injuries.

Johnson could give the Bears a boost in short-yardage situations if he plays this week.

I can be utilized in a lot of different ways. Whatever they ask me to do, I try to do that to the best of my abilities.”

—  Roschon Johnson, Bears running back

“I can be utilized in a lot of different ways,” Johnson said Thursday at Halas Hall. “Whatever they ask me to do, I try to do that to the best of my abilities.”

Offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion), defensive tackle Gervon Dexter (knee), offensive lineman Teven Jenkins (calf) and tight end Marcedes Lewis (rest) did not practice Thursday.