Roquan Smith is healthy. Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus expects healthy players to practice. Smith didn’t practice Thursday at Halas Hall.
The Bearsto signify he is healthy enough to practice. He was on the list the first two weeks of training camp as he and Bears general manager Ryan Poles talked through the potential of a new contract. But Smith released a public statement Tuesday requesting a trade because he said the team had “refused to negotiate in good faith,” and his removal from PUP followed Wednesday.On Thursday, Smith walked onto the field in his jersey and shorts midway through practice and watched from the sideline.
The Bears coach wouldn’t comment on whether there’s any benefit to Smith watching practices on the sideline, and didn’t provide details of what discipline, including fines, is available to the Bears.“To bridge any gap you’re going to need communication,” Eberflus said. “That’s the first step. In any relationship you need communication so I would just say that. … That’s going to be with Ryan and Roquan to deal with.
Smith was one of a long string of players who sat out Thursday, the final practice before Saturday’s preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field.