Charles Tillman listed probable, talks about knee injury
Giovani Bernard (25) rushes the ball against Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman (33) during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field. Chicago defeats Cincinnati 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears star cornerback Charles Tillman missed the first couple of practice sessions of the week with a knee injury, but he made his return to the practice field and was never really in doubt for this week’s big NFC North rivalry game against the Green Bay Packers. With Jay Cutler still out for the Bears, the Packers are heavier favorites than usual, so it’s up to guys like Tillman to have big games in order to prevent them from losing. Monday night’s game has huge playoff ramifications down the road for both teams, so Tillman’s status was never in doubt following a bye week. He has been hobbled all season with various ailments, but this knee injury has taken a bit of a toll on the veteran corner.
After practicing today, the Bears have now officially listed Tillman has probable for Monday’s game, and he has a crucial battle ahead of him. Jordy Nelson is playing at an All-Pro level, and he and Aaron Rodgers share a nearly flawless connection. Nelson has the ability to beat corners in the slot and on the outside, and he’s been especially dangerous on deep throws. Back-shoulder passes are his specialty, and the Bears can’t afford any coverage breakdowns against a duo as potent as Rodgers and Nelson. Tillman is a great corner who can make plenty of plays on his own, but this matchup comes down to stopping the big play.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times’s Adam Jahns, Charles Tillman stated that the bye week has really helped him rest and that his knee feels a whole lot better. Here’s the quote, “I’m able to do 10x more than I was able to earlier in the season. [Bye week] was very beneficial for my knee.”
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