Matt Forte to miss 2-4 Weeks with Sprained MCL
Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com 

The hits just keep coming for the Bears.

The Bears dodged a bullet today (sort of) with the news that star RB Matt Forte, sidelined in the first quarter of Sunday’s home loss to the Chiefs, has a sprained MCL. Tests showed no tears anywhere, or any damage to the more serious ACL ligament.

Bears HC Lovie Smith addressed the media today, saying that Forte is “seeming good as of this morning”. He went on to say that he would not put players on the field who were injured, and the team will continue to monitor (Forte’s) progress to see where he is.

Matt Forte is one of the league’s best, most versatile runners. He is also getting paid nearly 1/10th of what less productive backs such as Deangelo Williams (CAR) are at a criminally low $600,000 / year. Forte and his personal management team will need to now act as their own entity in deciding whether or not a return in the 2011 regular season would be worth the risk of possible re-aggravation or further exacerbation of the injury. With the Bears’ hopes for the NFC North already lost along with any remnant of decent QB play (and the muddled NFC wild-card picture) one would think that Forte’s camp, who have been pushing to get his deal re-structured all season, may decide to not take too many chances. He has given plenty for what he will earn this season already. This is a team in disarray with a lame-duck offensive coordinator and a real hill to climb without their two best offensive weapons, a decimated offensive line and a largely worthless stable of recievers.

Bears RB Marion Barber gets a huge fantasy bump with this news heading into the fantasy playoffs.