The Chicago Bears coordinators spoke with reporters Thursday morning before practice as they prepare for the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Here are three things we heard.

1. It could be a battle of rookie quarterbacks Sunday.

Multiple reports stated Thursday that Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will not play because of a back injury he suffered in the Week 6 win over the New England Patriots.

The Raiders could turn to either veteran Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell. Hoyer, who has been in the league since 2009 and started five games for the Bears in 2016, filled in for Garoppolo against the Patriots. O’Connell, the Stevenson and Purdue product who was a 2023 fourth-round pick, started in an Oct. 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers when Garoppolo was out.

“We’re just studying both quarterbacks, studying their tendencies, whether they like to go downfield or like to throw the ball short,” safety Jaquan Brisker said. “We know they’re probably going to start off by trying to get the ball out, trying to get rhythm throws and things like that. … Regardless we’ll be prepared for whoever starts at quarterback.”

The Bears, meanwhile, are preparing to start undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent on Sunday as starter Justin Fields sat out his second straight practice with a right thumb injury.

Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said Bagent has done a good job of communicating with the Bears this week about what he understands and doesn’t as they craft their game plan. And he praised the work Bagent did up to this week to be ready for the opportunity.

“Tyson’s done a really nice job since the time he got here diving into learning the scheme, getting to know the players, the chemistry part of it,” Getsy said. “He works hard every single day after practice, spends time grabbing guys and making sure anything that they need, he’s there to help.”

2. Right tackle Darnell Wright sat out practice with a shoulder injury.

Wright was limited in practice Wednesday but then sat out Thursday. It’s a major development to watch given the Bears’ ongoing injury issues on the offensive line.

They already will be without left tackle Braxton Jones, who remains on injured reserve with a neck injury. And right guard Nate Davis is out this week with an ankle injury. Larry Borom is filling in for Jones, but it’s unclear who would take over if Wright is out. Frequent shuffling on the line has messed with its chemistry, which Getsy said is “critical.”

“Any time you have that turnover you have to deal with it,” Getsy said. “That’s our league, right?. People get hurt. Seventeen games is a long season. There’s nothing you can really do about it. But chemistry is extremely important. I think about some of the years that were the best I’ve ever been around, it’s usually when you have health up front.”

Along with Fields, Wright and Davis, safety Eddie Jackson (foot), cornerback Terell Smith (mononucleosis), running back Roschon Johnson (concussion), offensive lineman Dan Feeney (knee) and tight end Marcedes Lewis (rest) sat out practice.

3. Rasheem Green continues to be a force for the Bears special teams unit.

When Green got his hand on Greg Joseph’s extra-point kick just before halftime of Sunday’s game at Soldier Field, Richard Hightower was the least surprised person in the stadium. Hightower has appreciated Green’s skill set since well before the veteran defensive lineman signed a one-year deal with the Bears in April. And he has seen firsthand over the last six months how hard Green works at his craft.

Plus, Green has an established track record of swatting kicks. He blocked three kicks during his first five seasons in the league and has added two more for the Bears this season, rejecting Joseph’s PAT try Sunday four weeks after he blocked a 40-yard field-goal attempt by Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin in Tampa, Fla.

“‘Sheem has done a phenomenal job, an outstanding job,” Hightower said. “He’s special in that phase.”

Hightower was quick to credit the efforts of Dylan Cole, Gervon Dexter, Dominique Robinson, Justin Jones and Brisker for helping create that opportunity for Green.

“It’s a part of our game we want to continue to grow,” Hightower said.

Still, Hightower commended Green’s attention to detail for making him a weapon for the Bears in that phase.

“He studies the game. He knows the guys he’s going against,” Hightower said. “He’s a really great teammate. Everybody loves him. It’s like anything else. When have got a special returner back there or you have a guy who is really good at something (else), then the other guys pick up their level of play because, hey, this could help us win.”

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After months of uncertainty and speculation, the mystery of when Ravens outside linebacker Tyus Bowser will be back on the field this season could be drawing close to a conclusion.

On Wednesday, coach John Harbaugh said that Bowser is meeting with doctors this week to examine a knee injury that has kept him out since before the season began. A day earlier, Bowser said on his podcast that he’s “feeling great” and “moving around very well.”

“I want what’s best for Tyus,” Harbaugh said. “I want this to kind of get resolved because he has worked hard to get physically where he can come back and play.”

Meanwhile, the saga drags on with the 28-year-old 2017 second-round draft pick still on the non-football injury list.

In August, Harbaugh said that Bowser, who didn’t participate in the Ravens’ offseason program or training camp, was dealing with an “agitated knee” but that he expected him to be back by the start of the season. Two weeks later, though, Bowser landed on the non-football injury list, keeping him out of a minimum of the first four games of the season.

Still, Bowser has often continued to work off to the side during practice.

During home games, the seventh-year linebacker has played catch with fans during warmups.

In London, he took a tour of the Tottenham Hotspur training facility during practice.

Then Monday, Harbaugh said during his weekly news conference that the situation with Bowser had “gotten a little bit more complicated over the last couple of weeks.”

“I’m going to let Tyus comment on that,” Harbaugh said when asked for an update on Bowser’s status. “[I’m] really not at liberty to talk about it right now but at some point in time I’m sure we’ll have an announcement on that one way or another. He’s got to make some choices and decisions.”

A day later on his podcast with co-host Glenn Clark, the linebacker gave an update.

“I’m on the field,” Bowser said. “I’m moving around very well. I’m just gaining more and more confidence each and every day — not only on the field but in the training room. I have great people around me, great support staff, and I feel like myself is getting to that point. I’m just going to continue to work hard, and when that time comes, it comes.”

Bowser, who hasn’t spoken to reporters this season, also said there was “a lot going on,” however, in the wake of Harbaugh’s comments Monday.

When healthy, Bowser, who signed a four-year, $22 million extension in March 2021, has been one of the Ravens’ more versatile players who has been strong against the run and effective in pass coverage. Two years ago, he had a career-high seven sacks.

But he has also been plagued by injuries the past two seasons. Last year, he appeared in just nine games after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in January 2022.

Despite his absence this season, Baltimore’s pass rush has been one of the best in the league.

The Ravens are tied for the NFL lead in sacks with 24. They also have 11 players with at least one sack, including at least three from a defensive lineman (Justin Madubuike), outside linebacker (Jadeveon Clowney), off-ball linebacker (Patrick Queen) and defensive back (Kyle Hamilton).

Still, they could use Bowser’s help.

The Ravens have also been without two other outside linebackers, Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. Oweh suffered an ankle injury in Week 2, though he did return to practice Wednesday. Ojabo has been on injured reserve since suffering ankle/knee injuries in Week 3, though he could return later this season.

When Bowser is back on the field remains to be seen, though he said on his podcast he wouldn’t be out for the season.

“If I can play, I’ll definitely play,” Bowser said Tuesday. “That’s the goal. That’s the mindset.”

That’s the hope for Harbaugh, too.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what the resolutions [are],” he said of the doctors’ meetings with Bowser. “I’m hopeful that he gets back and plays. That’s what you want. It’s going to be in his court, I think. That’s been my understanding of it. We’ll just see what happens, but those are real decisions that guys have to make. We’ll see.”

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Two women were killed Saturday afternoon when the SUV they were in ran into a tire that had fallen off a semitrailer truck on Interstate 94 near St. Michael.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Viengkhone Nguyen, 44, of Brooklyn Park, was the driver and Lea Khamphachanh, 43, of St. Cloud, was her passenger.

The women were in a 2023 Nissan Rogue heading east on I-94 near Minnesota 241 when a westbound semi on I-94 lost two tires.

The Nissan, driven by Nguyen, collided with one of the tires, killing the two women. Three other women riding with Nguyen and Khamphachanh, Tiana Deppa, 28, of Rice, Pane Eisenschenk, 45, of St. Cloud, and Phetsamai Khamphachanh, 38 of Sartell, were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the semi, Khadar Hawadle, 37 of Savage, was not injured.

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Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 38-6 win over the Detroit Lions in Sunday’s Week 7 game at M&T Bank Stadium.

Brian Wacker: This was the Ravens offense fans were expecting when Baltimore signed Lamar Jackson to a $260 million extension and brought in receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers and offensive coordinator Todd Monken. It also became apparent very quickly that there would be no hangover from last week’s red zone struggles in London, nor would there be the kind of drama from the last time these teams met two years ago.

Jackson was accurate, the Ravens were aggressive and explosive with their play calling and the Lions’ own dynamic offense was completely shut down by a defense that has continually proven to be one of the best in the league.

Earlier this season, coach John Harbaugh referred to Jackson as the team’s point guard on offense and he looked every bit that part again, directing touchdown drives on each of Baltimore’s first four possessions. Detroit’s defense, meanwhile, looked like Swiss cheese, with Ravens receivers and backs running free most of the afternoon. The Lions also failed to put any pressure on Jackson, and by the time the game reached halftime, it was over.

Childs Walker: The Ravens rose to their greatest test of the season with their best performance, outclassing a team that came in playing as well as any in the league. Lamar Jackson had all the time and all the free targets he needed, throwing for 255 yards in the first half. Coordinator Todd Monken called a variety of cool plays to set up big gains for seemingly every playmaker on the team. The offensive line blocked brilliantly. The defense was just as good, sending the Lions off the field three-and-out on their first three drives. Coordinator Mike Macdonald’s pass rush tactics again worked like a charm. The Ravens had not delivered a complete performance over the first six weeks. On this day, they looked like a Super Bowl contender.

C.J. Doon: This was the kind of performance that makes you rethink the ceiling of this Ravens team. Through the first six weeks, their inability to finish games and uninspiring offense kept their true potential hidden. On Sunday, we saw what they can do when everything clicks. A team with an MVP-caliber Lamar Jackson and a lights-out defense is elite, perhaps one of the two or three best in the league. That pushes Baltimore from divisional round afterthought to a potential AFC champion, and that’s no small difference for a team that hasn’t been able to get over the hump in the postseason. Of couse, consistency has been the name of the game for years, so it would be foolish to assume we’ll see this kind of performance week after week. Still, it’s important to know the Ravens had this dominant potential bubbling beneath the surface.

Tim Schwartz: That had to be one of the most complete performances in Ravens history. Lamar Jackson played, in my opinion, the best game of his career, completing 21 of 27 passes to nine receivers, and the defense shut out one of the league’s best offenses through three quarters. Mark Andrews celebrated National Tight Ends Day with a pair of touchdowns. The running game was efficient behind Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Jackson. This is the type of game the Ravens have shown glimpses of all season, and they finally put it all together. When Pat Ricard rumbling down the field and Edwards outrunning a defense down the sideline for an 80-yard catch are two of the lower-level highlights, you know it was a good day. The Ravens proved they are a Super Bowl contender.

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