Per NFL.com:
Bears running back Matt Forteisnât sure when heâll return from a sprained right knee.
Forteâs status for the remainder of the season is in question after he left during the first quarter of Sundayâs 10-3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a sprained medial collateral ligament. The injury came two weeks after Bears quarterback Jay Cutler broke his thumb late in a victory over the San Diego Chargers.
Although Bears coach Lovie Smith has said he expects both players to return, neither is making any guarantees.Forte said players with injuries like his generally miss two to six weeks. He received a plasma injection Tuesday morning hoping to speed the healing process, but he will sit out against the Denver Broncos this weekend.
“Itâs disappointing,” said Forte, who has started all 60 games since he was drafted in 2008. “Itâs going to be my first game missed in my entire career. Iâve been playing going on four years and havenât missed a game. Iâm not excited about that.”
Forte was relieved when an MRI exam showed no major structural damage, so he knows he doesnât need surgery. The question is when heâll be back, and on that end, Forte isnât sure. He played through a similar injury in 2009.
“Theyâre different because my leg was actually in the air. This time, my leg was planted in the ground, so it was more severe,” he said. “I just got to try to get the swelling out, get the soreness out to where I can start being more functional.”
Entering the fourth and final season of his rookie contract, Forte was seeking an extension. Talks went nowhere, but that didnât stop him from having a career season. He was leading the league in yards from scrimmage and was third in rushing entering Sundayâs game.
Forte isnât sure how the injury will affect negotiations, but he insisted he doesnât regret turning down what the Bears were offering — reportedly around $15 million guaranteed.
“I never second-guessed myself about taking the offer because it was too low,” Forte said. “If a guy is a top-five running back, heâs not going to take bottom-five money. I never second-guessed myself about that, but as far as how it affects the negotiation now, I donât know. Youâll have to ask them that because they have some decisions to make. Iâm going to try to heal up as best as I can and go from there.”
