Bears Place Second Slot CB on IR

The Bears are even more shorthanded in their secondary than it originally appeared heading into the game with the Denver Broncos, if that's possible.

Slot cornerback Josh Blackwell on Friday became their second player at this position to go on injured reserve.

Blackwell has a hamstring injury suffered prior to the Tampa Bay game. He missed that game, tried to come back against Kansas City and left the game early, and didn't practice this week. They had declared him out for the game, but not having him available to play while on injured reserve makes it a long-term problem now.

The regular slot cornerback, Kyler Gordon, is already on injured reserve with a hand injury, although coach coach Matt Eberflus said he is progressing well.  He went on IR Sept. 15 so he won't be available until after the Washington game, at the earliest.

Greg Stroman Jr. has played the position with both of the top two slot cornerbacks out in the last two games.

This week the Bears signed Joejuan Williams to their 53-man roster off of the Minnesota Vikings practice squad and he's a possible backup cornerback in the future. He hasn't been around long enough to know the defense well this week.

"We love his functional intelligence," coach Matt Eberflus told reporters after Friday's practice. "He's picking up the scheme really well. He's been in a couple different spots, which has helped him with a couple different schemes.

"We like where he is. He can play a couple different spots and that's really good for us right now."

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