As the Bears struggle to establish a running game, they might be without a key element Sunday after a hip injury kept starting tight end Fred Baxter out of practice Thursday and Friday.
Baxter is considered questionable, which is a 50-50 likelihood of playing, for the game at Atlanta.
Baxter is the Bears’ best blocking tight end and coaches have stated an intention to get him more involved in the passing offense as well.
If Baxter cannot play, second-year tight end Dustin Lyman likely would be activated for the first time this season.
The Bears lost defensive tackle Henry Taylor for four games because of his suspension for violating the league’s anabolic steroid and related substance policy. Taylor was inactive for the Baltimore game and played briefly against Minnesota. He could be back for the San Francisco game Oct. 28.
Taylor’s suspension is the second in three years for the Bears. Quarterback Jim Miller was suspended for the final four games of 1999 after a positive steroid test attributed to a dietary supplement, and one Bears official said early indications were that Taylor’s infraction was similar to Miller’s.
The Bears are expected to activate 300-pound tackle Alfonso Boone for the first time.
Shane Matthews is expected to be the No. 3 quarterback despite his rib injury, but coach Dick Jauron said Matthews would be “limited.”
