The 1-4 Chicago Bears will play the 1-4 Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field in a Week 6 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (noon, Fox-32).

The Bears will have their entire starting secondary active for the first time since the season opener when they play the Vikings on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon and safety Eddie Jackson will return after absences.

Gordon hasn’t played since the opener after he went on injured reserve with a broken hand. Johnson missed two games with a hamstring injury. Jackson missed three games with a foot injury he said was different than the one that ended his season in 2022.

Center Lucas Patrick also is active after going through concussion protocol last week.

The Bears previously ruled out running backs Khalil Herbert, whom they put on IR with an ankle injury, Roschon Johnson (concussion) and Travis Homer (hamstring).

Cornerback Terell Smith is out with an ankle injury and an illness. The Bears put wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown on IR on Friday.

Nathan Peterman is inactive but will be the emergency third quarterback behind Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent. Offensive lineman Aviante Collins is also inactive.

For the Vikings, safety Lewis Cine, tight end Nick Muse, outside linebacker Andre Carter II, offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji and defensive lineman Jaquelin Roy are inactive.

A long weekend coming off the most complete performance in Justin Fields’ three seasons gave the Bears quarterback an opportunity to reflect.

The passing game in the last two games has looked, well, like a full-fledged attack and that’s not something we’ve seen with any regularity in these parts. Whether Fields reflected or not, he didn’t have anything revelatory to share about what those at Halas Hall have to hope is a breakthrough.

“I think I’m just focused on continuing to get better each and every day,” Fields said. “The offense, as a whole, we’ve gotten better each and every week. Our main goal is to just do that.” Read more here.

The Bears ruled out their top three running backs — Khalil Herbert (ankle), Roschon Johnson (concussion) and Travis Homer (hamstring). That leaves D’Onta Foreman as the best rushing option.

Foreman, who has been in the NFL since 2017, said Thursday he was calm and confident as he prepares for the opportunity. He was pushed into action midseason with the 2021 Tennessee Titans and the 2022 Carolina Panthers and performed well. He rushed for 914 yards last season with the Panthers.

The Bears placed Herbert on injured reserve Friday, meaning he will miss at least four games.

Bears players will wear No. 51 patches on their jerseys for the remainder of the season to pay tribute to late Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus.

The patch is one of several ways the Bears plan to honor Butkus, who died in his sleep at age 80 last week at his home in Malibu, Calif..

At Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, the Bears will have an on-field display of his retired No. 51 jersey. A Butkus memorial will sit at the stadium’s South Courtyard by Gate 1, a space where fans can see his Pro Football Hall of Fame bust and receive a commemorative button. A locker-room display with a Butkus jersey will be at Gate 7.

The Bears plan to have several in-game tributes. Read more here.

The Bears have lost 9 consecutive division losses, going winless in the NFC North since downing the Lions 16-14 in Detroit on Thanksgiving in 2021.

Since Lovie Smith was fired after the 2012 season, the Bears have a .311 winning percentage (19-42) in division games. Justin Fields is 1-9 as a starter in NFC North games, including an 0-2 mark against the Vikings. Read more here.

Originally Published: Oct 15, 2023 at 6:00 am