As Sunday’s overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers fades in the rearview mirror, the Bears opened practice Wednesday without wide receiver Marquess Wilson (foot) and linebacker Pernell McPhee (knee). But wide receiver Eddie Royal (knee) returned to practice in a limited capacity and said he's hopeful, but not sure, he could play Sunday against the Washington Redskins.
"I don’t know," Royal, who's missed the Bears' last five games, said. "We’ll see how tomorrow goes. Today was a good start just getting back out there running again and cutting again, being in the huddle, and it was a good start today."
Royal has 26 receptions for 171 yards and a touchdown in six games with the Bears this season after signing a three-year, $15 million contract with $10 million guaranteed in March.
“We haven’t been able to keep our same wide receiver group together for some time,” coach John Fox said. “Obviously [Royal is] a guy we thought highly enough of to go out and sign in free agency. He started the season in pretty good shape, he’s been banged up, had the knee sprain and he looked actually pretty good today in practice.”
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Safety Antrel Rolle (knee), who last played Nov. 15 against St. Louis, remained out of practice on Wednesday.
First-round draft pick wide receiver Kevin White is day-to-day, Fox said.
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Tight end Zach Miller (rib), linebacker Sam Acho (shoulder), linebacker Shea McClellin (ankle) and cornerback Tracy Porter (ankle) were all limited in Wednesday’s practice.