The chance of snow on Sunday in Chicago is very low. The chance of cold is very high.
Currently, the forecast high temperature at Soldier Field for the Week 15 game between the Browns and Bears is 14 degrees, with a low of minus-2. Winds from seven to 14 miles per hour with gusts of up to 27 mph will make it feel even colder.
The freezing conditions could make it much harder for Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders to duplicate his Week 14 performance, during which he had 364 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown against the Titans.
If he does, Sanders will be the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to have consecutive games of 300 or more passing yards and three or more total touchdowns.
In that same game, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett needs 3.0 sacks to break the single-season sack record of 22.5.
For the Bears, the goals are team-related. Currently the No. 7 seed in the NFC — and closing out the season with games against the Packers, 49ers, and Lions — a loss will make it harder to parlay a 9-3 start into a postseason berth.
The Bears have issued their injury designations for Sunday’s game against the Browns.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze could return to action after missing last Sunday’s loss to the Packers with a foot injury. Odunze was a limited participant in practice all of this week and he was listed as questionable on Friday.
Cornerback Kyler Gordon won’t be in the lineup. Gordon has been ruled out with a groin injury that he suffered in warmups in Green Bay. Gordon missed five games during the season with groin and calf injuries, and he opened the season on the inactive list for four games due to a hamstring injury.
Running back Travis Homer (ankle) returned for a limited practice Friday, but he has also been ruled out for the game.
The Browns will play without cornerback Denzel Ward for the first time this season when they visit the Bears on Sunday.
Ward has been ruled out with a calf injury after missing practice this week. Ward has 38 tackles and an interception so far this season.
They will also be without tight end David Njoku. Njoku has a knee injury and will miss his second game this season.
The Browns have also ruled out right tackle Jack Conklin (concussion), defensive tackle Adin Huntington (quad), running back Dylan Sampson (calf, hand), and right guard Wyatt Teller (calf). Quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) will not be activated from the physically unable to perform list.
Left guard Joel Bitonio (knee, back), wide receiver Malachi Corley (concussion), defensive tackle Mason Graham (rib), wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion, rib), and offensive lineman Zak Zinter (back) are listed as questionable.
Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze returned to practice on Wednesday and he was back on the field on Thursday.
Odunze missed last Sunday’s loss to the Packers with a foot injury, but he has been a limited participant in practice both days this week. Friday will bring another practice and the Bears will then issue their injury designations for Sunday’s game against the Browns.
Odunze leads the Bears with 44 catches, 661 yards and six receiving touchdowns this season.
Cornerback Kyler Gordon (groin) and running back Travis Homer (ankle) missed practice for the second day. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hip) and wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (hamstring) were limited participants while linebacker Ruben Hippolyte (shoulder) and cornerback Jaylon Johnson (groin) were full participants.
It’s usually a positive to find your way into the NFL record book, but Bears quarterback Caleb Williams knows one way he’d avoid being commemorated.
Williams and the Bears will face the Browns this weekend, which means they’ll be tangling with defensive end Myles Garrett as he closes in on the NFL’s single-season sack record. Garrett has 20 sacks on the season and needs three more to take sole control of the mark, so one of Williams’ goals for the week is to avoid being dropped three times while trying to pass.
“Obviously, he’s right there at the sack record, almost there at the sack record,” Williams said, via Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. “And so, I’m going to try and make sure that he doesn’t get the sack record on us and on me.”
Williams has been sacked 20 times this season, which is a big upgrade on the league-high 68 times that he was dropped during his rookie season. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur suggested last weekend that some of their success in protection has come because they’re getting away with holding and the Bears figure to try everything they can to make sure that Garrett doesn’t wreck things this weekend.
