The Bears have signed two wide receivers from their practice squad to their active roster. In other words, it sounds like Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are unlikely to face the 49ers.
Both are listed as questionable, but Marshall didn’t practice all week. Jeffery put in only a limited workout on Friday. Maybe one of those guys plays, but there’s very little chance of both of them being in uniform.
Complicating things is the reality that Chicago was carrying only four wide receivers (probably the only NFL to do so), and one of those other guys (Josh Morgan) definitely isn’t playing.
The Bears added Josh Bellamy and Chris Williams. I like Bellamy. I remember watching their final preseason game, trying to figure out if the team would keep Bellamy or Santonio Holmes. I thought Bellamy was a little better and was surprised they went with Holmes.
I think it will be those two guys starting on Sunday. Holmes and Bellamy. Given the structure of that offense (where they don’t use many three- and four-receiver formations) those guys have be considered if you’re in a large PPR league and you’re scrambling for bodies.
Chris Williams, I think, will be their No. 3 receiver. At 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, he’s a smaller guy. And if either Marshall or Jeffery is able to play, then Williams would become their No. 4.
To make room for these wide receivers, Chicago released FB Tony Fiammetta and CD Kelvin Hayden.
Also on Saturday, Minnesota signed Joe Banyard, to give themselves some depth at tailback behind Matt Asiata and Jerrick McKinnon.
—Ian Allan