Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who played the best game of his young career against the Lions, won’t face the Vikings on Monday night.
The Bears ruled out their second-round pick Sunday afternoon with an ankle problem. He hurt his ankle during Saturday’s practice inside the Walter Payton Center. He was ruled questionable then, with coach Matt Eberflus saying the Bears staff would have to determine the severity of the injury.
Stevenson, who has started all 11 games this season, logged his first career interception and forced a fumble in the 31-26 loss to the Lions. He’ll be replaced by fellow rookie Terell Smith, who returned from a bout with mononucleosis to play against the Lions. The Bears wanted to ease him back into action so they had him rotate with Stevenson. Smith played 21% of the Bears’ snaps to Stevenson’s 79%.
“We like his size, being able to play against bigger receivers,” Eberflus said of the 6-foot, 207-pounder.
The Bears also ruled out running back D’Onta Foreman, who has a shin and ankle injury, and swing tackle Larry Borom, who has fought an illness all week. Both were considered doubtful on the team’s final injury report Saturday.
Running backs Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson will split time in Foreman’s place. Herbert struggled in his return from an ankle injury last week, running 16 times for 35 yards. Johnson, a rookie, had six carries for 30 yards.
Neither Stevenson, Foreman nor Borom traveled with the Bears to Minneapolis.
