Akiem Hicks’ return to practice buoys Bears

Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks didn't do much in a light practice Sunday. But just having him on the turf at the Payton Center provided a lift for a team that needs everything it can muster for a strong finish to what has been a disappointing season to date.

''Just to have him out there was great; you could see it in everybody's faces,'' said defensive end Nick Williams, who has had four of his six sacks and both of his fumble recoveries in place of Hicks. ''Anytime you get a player like Akiem Hicks back . . . it sparks this team — not only on the defensive side but the offensive side, too.''

Hicks, a Pro Bowl player in 2018 whose value to the Bears' defense is rivaled only by that of linebacker Khalil Mack, practiced for the first time since suffering a dislocated left elbow on the eighth defensive snap of the Bears' loss Oct. 6 to the Raiders in London. He was put on injured reserve Oct. 15 and is eligible to return Dec. 15 against the Packers at Lambeau Field.

Hicks wasn't available to the media after doing his rehab following practice, but coach Matt Nagy said he was hopeful Hicks would play against the Packers. And he said Hicks would play if he's ready, regardless of whether the Bears still have playoff hopes.

''I hate to put any predictions out there, but I feel good where he's at,'' Nagy said. ''It's literally going to be another one of those day-by-day [situations].''

The practice was just a start, but it was an encouraging one.

''He looked great to me when he was out there,'' Williams said. ''I know he was excited to be out there.''

The Bears' defense has survived — and even thrived, at times — without Hicks. With Hicks playing only those eight snaps in the last nine weeks (he also missed the game Sept. 29 against the Vikings with a knee injury), the Bears have jumped from eighth in the NFL to fourth in total defense; dropped from fourth to fifth in yards per play; stayed at fourth in rushing yards per carry; improved from ninth to fourth in passing yards per play; and dropped from third to fourth in points allowed.

What they've lost without Hicks is the big-play/takeaway bite that made their defense a weapon last season. With Hicks out, the Bears have dropped from seventh to 23rd in interceptions per pass play and from sixth to 23rd in sacks per pass play.

After Hicks went down, the Bears lost linebacker Danny Trevathan to the same injury in Week 10 against the Lions. But with defensive end Bilal Nichols recovered from a broken hand that forced him to miss Weeks 3-5 and linebacker Roquan Smith in peak form after a midseason lull in the wake of a personal issue, the defense with Hicks would be pretty formidable.

''We're just hoping he's gonna come back,'' Williams said. ''He's gonna spark this defense in a way that other players can't. We're glad to have him back; I know I'm glad to have him back. He makes everybody great around him, pulling the offensive line off of you. You just want to step up your game even more when he's on the field with you. It's a great thing.''

Hicks' presence is so great that even offensive players got a lift from his return to practice.

''Definitely,'' receiver Allen Robinson said. ''Akiem is one of our leaders. Whenever you get a guy like that back on the field, you feel energy.

''He's a playmaker for us; we've seen him make a ton of plays. . . . From an offensive standpoint, whenever you have playmakers like that on the other side of the ball, you do feel that.''

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