Matt Forte will start for Bears on Monday Night Football

Matt Forte injury: Bears RB limps off field after 1 play, but returns

Forte limped off the field after the Bears first offensive play but quickly returned.

Matt Forte will start for Bears on Monday Night Football

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte will start Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys after sitting out last week's game.

Matt Forte expected to suit up for Bears vs. Cowboys

The Chicago Bears will reportedly have running back Matt Forte back in the lineup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night after Forte suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2.

Matt Forte injury: Bears' RB a game-time decision for Monday night

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith said on Monday morning that star running back Matt Forte will be a game-time decision for the team's tilt against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

"It's a game-time decision for Matt. He's made a lot of progress," Smith said on WBBM-AM 780. "We'll get over to the stadium see how he does then and decide."

Forte left Chicago's Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers with a high ankle sprain and missed the team's win last week over the St. Louis Rams as he recovered from the injury. He was limited in practice this week, but did participate in Chicago's workout on Saturday.

If Forte cannot go, Michael Bush will once again get the start and will likely share carries with backup Kahlil Bell. Last week, the Bears ran for 103 yards on 34 carries against the Rams. Bush gained 55 of those on 18 carries and added a touchdown, while Bell gained 18 yards on one run and then a total of 2 yards on his nine other carries.

This story originally appeared at SB Nation.

Matt Forte expects to play vs. Cowboys

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte returned to practice on Wednesday, and now expects to play on Monday night, when the Bears take on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

Forte hasn't participated in a practice or game since injuring his ankle in Week 2's loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 13.

Forte told the Chicago Tribune that he knows how to deal with ankle injuries.

"As long as you know how to take care of your body, that's how you get back on the field," Forte said. "I've had ankle injuries before and I know how to work with them. You have to want to get back on the field."

Asked point-blank if he'd be ready to go Monday, Forte said, "Yeah."

Without Forte in Week 3, the Bears averaged just three yards per carry against the St. Louis Rams. Michael Bush led the team in rushing with 55 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.

So far in 2012, Forte has rushed 23 times for 111 yards -- good for a 4.8 yards per carry average. Forte also has seven receptions for 89 yards.

Matt Forte injury: Bears RB likely out Week 4

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte is expected to miss the team's Week 4 contest against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. Forte injured his right ankle in the Bears Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers and missed last week's 23-6 win over the St. Louis Rams. With Forte out, the Bears have brought in ex-Packer RB Ryan Grant for workouts.

Ryan Grant working out for the Bears today. Matt Forte likely to be out at least through this week

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) September 25, 2012

With Forte out against the Rams the Bears turned to Michael Bush and Kahil Bell to carry the load. Bush ran for 55 yards and a TD on 18 carries while Bell rushed ten times for 20 yards. With Forte sidelined for at least one more game due to his ankle injury the Bears will use the same combo to replace him against the Cowboys, but are also looking for additional help. Grant ran for 559 yards for the Packers last season.

For more on the Bears, check out Windy City Gridiron and SB Nation Chicago.

Matt Forte Injury: Bears RB Out For Week 3

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (right ankle) is out for the team’s Week 3 game against the St. Louis Rams, according to a report from Jeff Dickerson of ESPN. Forte did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday after he suffered an ankle injury during the second half of Chicago's Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Here is Dickerson's very clear declaration that Forte won't play against the Rams:

Matt Forte OUT Sunday vs. Rams. #Bears

— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) September 21, 2012

The Bears will turn to Michael Bush to carry the load as the primary running back against Jeff Fisher's squad, while Kahlil Bell will serve as the No. 2 option in the backfield. The Bears and Rams will meet at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago.

More on the St. Louis Rams can be found over at Turf Show Times, and you can head over to Windy City Gridiron for more on the Chicago Bears.

Matt Forte Injury: Bears RB Unlikely To Play

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (right ankle) is unlikely to play in the team's Week 3 game against the St. Louis Rams, according to the Chicago Tribune. Forte suffered an ankle injury during the second half of Chicago's Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The initial reports labelled the injury as a high ankle sprain that could keep Forte out for up to a month, but head coach Lovie Smith recently refuted those reports and claimed his star RB is just dealing a minor injury and some soreness.

Despite Lovie's claims, the Bears have already held Forte out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday heading into Week 3, so it seems like a long shot that Forte will be able to get on the field against the Rams. Michael Bush would step in as the primary running back if Forte is unable to go, and recently re-signed backup RB Kahlil Bell would serve as the No. 2 option in the backfield.

Kickoff for the Week 3 matchup between the Bears and Rams is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT at Soldier Field in Chicago.

More on the St. Louis Rams can be found over at Turf Show Times, and you can head over to Windy City Gridiron for more on the Chicago Bears.

Bears: Matt Forte Injury Is Not High Ankle Sprain

The Chicago Bears (and their fans) can breathe a sigh of relief, as ESPN Chicago reports on Monday that running back Matt Forte does not have a high ankle sprain. That news came from head coach Lovie Smith, who did confess that Forte was still sore following the 23-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football, and gave that as the reason that the team re-signed Kahlil Bell.

Smith told WBBM (780-AM):

Matt did go down with an ankle injury. It's not a high ankle sprain, as has been reported. But right now, you know when you don't finish the game and he still has some soreness, we'll continue to monitor it, but we felt we needed another running back here, that's why we brought back a guy who knows our system and has played good ball for us in Kahlil Bell.

Forte went down with an injury early in the game after being tackled by Green Bay defensive back Charles Woodson. To that point, he had seven carries for 31 yards, and it clearly hurt Chicago's ability to move the ball in the eventual loss to their NFC North rivals. A high ankle sprain would usually carry two to four weeks of inactivity, but without that official designation, the Bears could have Forte back without him having to miss any time.

Bringing back Bell is likely a sign that the Bears will take it easy on Forte in practice and use him sparingly, if at all, until gameday, provided he's active. Since the game was on Thursday, Forte has some extra time to rest his ankle in advance of the team's Week 3 matchup against the St. Louis Rams.

For more on the Packers, check out Acme Packing Company. For your Bears updates, head to Windy City Gridiron. And be sure to get all your football updates at our NFL hub.

Chicago Bears Sign RB Kahlil Bell

The Chicago Bears have signed running back Kahlil Bell, who announced the signing via twitter.

I'm taking my talents back to Chicago. So happy to be back. Never wanted to leave.

— Kahlil Bell (@KahlilBell32) September 15, 2012

Bell originally signed with Chicago in 2009 after being waived by the Minnesota Vikings, who had signed him as an undrafted free agent.

Promoted from the Bears' practice squad in 2009 after an injury to Garrett Wolfe, Bell played in seven games that season, rushing for 220 yards on 40 carries. He did not see action in the NFL again until the 2011 season. He appeared in 13 games that season, including as the starter in Weeks 16 and 17 after injuries to Matt Forte and Marion Barber. In the 2011 season he had 79 carries for 337 yards, with no touchdowns and one fumble lost.

Bell signed with the Bears for the 2012 season, signing a one-year contract for $1.26 million. The Bears asked if that could be reduced to $700,000, and waived Bell when he refused. With Matt Forte sustaining a high ankle sprain, Chicago saw enough value in Bell to welcome him back. Terms of the deal were not reported.

For complete coverage, check out Bears blog Windy City Gridiron. For coverage from across the league, check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

Steve Slaton Works Out For Bears, According To Reports

The Chicago Bears need depth after Matt Forte's injury, so they are taking a look at Steve Slaton.

Matt Forte's Injury Believed To Be High Ankle Sprain

Chicago Bears star running back Matt Forte left the team's Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter with an ankle injury, and it is now believed that Forte suffered a high ankle sprain, according to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN. Forte was injured during the team's first series in the third quarter when Charles Woodson rolled up on his ankle after a 14-yard reception. He left the game after compiling 31 rushing yards on seven attempts and 45 yards receiving on four catches. He did not return to the game.

The Bears believe running back Matt Forte suffered a high ankle sprain Thursday night vs. Green Bay, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 14, 2012

The Bears signed Forte to a four-year deal during the offseason with $18 million in guaranteed money, but they also had the foresight to add former Raiders running back Michael Bush, who will now have to carry the load for the Bears' rushing attack until Forte's ankle heals.

For more on the Packers, check out Acme Packing Company. For your Bears updates, head to Windy City Gridiron. And be sure to get all your football updates at our NFL hub.

Matt Forte Injury: Bears RB Leaves Game Vs. Packers

Matt Forte has been Chicago's most productive player in Thursday night's game against the Bears, but it looks like his night may be done. Forte had carried the ball seven times for 31 yards, but on his last touch of the ball, he came up with an injury. Charles Woodson rolled up on Forte's ankle, and Forte had to be taken back to the locker room. Brad Briggs had an update on Forte's return:

#Bears announce Matt Forte has an ankle injury and return is doubtful

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) September 14, 2012

Here's the play:

If the Bears are going to win tonight, it looks like they will have to do it without their leading rusher. Michael Bush will now have to carry the load for the Bears as they try to overcome a 10-point third quarter deficit.

Stay with this StoryStream for continuous updates on Thursday night's Bears vs. Packers matchup. For more on the Packers, be sure to visit Acme Packing Company. And, for additional coverage on the Bears, head over to Windy City Gridiron and SB Nation Chicago.