Matt Forte Injury: Updates on Bears RB's Week 15 Status and Fantasy Value

Not only will Matt Forte’s injury submarine the Chicago Bears’ playoff chances, but his knee sprain may kill your fantasy football championship dreams.  

Forte’s MCL sprain looked at first like it was going to keep him out for the remainder of the season. However, the time table said two to six weeks. He sat out last week’s game against Denver, and now it is the second week since his injury. 

UPDATE: Dec. 18 at 10:15 a.m. EST by Wes O'Donnell

Bears coaches and fans alike knew they weren't going to get their star runner back this week, but they hoped he wouldn't be out too long.

Unfortunately, missing the rest of the season and possibly the playoffs (if Chicago qualifies) is a very real possibility.

According to ESPN Chicago, Forte said he won't rush back onto the field until he's 100-percent healthy:

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Day to day, I just see how it feels. It's always really stiff in the morning because I've been asleep. It hurts in the morning, but once I get warmed up, I just try to see how it feels. I've been doing some straight-ahead jogging this week which has been OK, but I'm nowhere near 100 percent. So it's not looking good for next week, I know that.

These injuries, they usually take four to six weeks [to heal] they say. And this will only be week three. I'm not going to rush to get back on the field and play while I'm hurt, because you're not at 100 percent you may injure it even more if you do that. 

A lot of people were speculating about Christmas Day [against the Packers] and things like that. But my mindset is, realistically, playoffs would be the only thing that I would really have my mind set on.

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Plain and simple, don't expect to see Forte on the field again until the playoffs. He knows he's due a contract and the last he's going to do is risk long-term health. Even if it costs the Bears a shot at the postseason this year. 

Marion Barber will be the main running back moving forward.

UPDATE: Dec. 15 at 8:28 a.m. EST by Wes O'Donnell

The Chicago Bears are hoping beyond hope that their star running back can get back on the field this week. Without Forte and without Jay Cutler their offense is in shambles. If their current three-game losing streak extends to four it will put them in serious jeopardy of missing the postseason.

The problem is that the Bears don't know if Forte's coming back this week, and coach Lovie Smith refuses to rule out the possibility. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the coach said:

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"When you are coming off an injury like that, I think it's safe to say we would like to see him on the practice field first, but he is making a lot of progress," Smith said. "I will say that."

Earlier in the day, Smith told Seattle media he would not rule Forte out for Sunday’s game. Forte received a platelet-rich plasma injection in the knee to speed up the healing process. He also has been using a hyperbaric chamber at the home of former Bears teammate Tommie Harris.

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But Forte wasn't as optimistic.

According to ESPN Chicago's Michael C. Wright, Forte doesn't believe he'll be able to go this week:

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Bears coach Lovie Smith stopped short of ruling him out, but running back Matt Forte shook his head 'no' when asked specifically whether he'd be available Sunday for the team's matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.

"It's a process, you know," Forte said. "Injuries just don't heal overnight."

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Forte isn't being pessimistic, he's being realistic. Coach Smith doesn't need to rule him out yet, but Bears fans and fantasy owners should prepare for another week without their star back. 

Expect the ball to be in Marion Barber's hands again this week, but the Seahawks are going to make Caleb Hanie beat them.

INITIAL UPDATE

We should remember that, two weeks ago, Forte walked off the field under his own power. After the trainers took a look at Forte, he was able to walk with them to the locker room for further evaluation. If his knee was that injured, you would have seen Forte being assisted with a cart to help the running back to the locker room.  

With Chicago’s playoff lives in the balance this week, Forte may push for his return against the Seattle Seahawks.  

Now, there have not been any reports yet as to if Forte will come back this week. If Forte pushes his sprain, he runs the risk of further injury to that knee. With his contract extension hanging in the balance, he may sit out another week until that knee is 100 percent healthy.  

Forte means a lot to Bears fans, the organization and the millions of fantasy football players worldwide. His return to active action this week would be to the delight of a lot of football fans. However, it’s only Monday, and we have six days till Sunday. There is a lot of time to have Forte announce if he’s in or out for Sunday’s game against Seattle. 

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