Austin Booker is tired of being the hype man for his teammates.

“I’ve been impatiently waiting for a couple weeks,” Booker said Thursday at Halas Hall.

The Chicago Bears second-year defensive end might just have his chance Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bears activated Booker off injured reserve this week after he missed the first seven games with a knee injury. He appears likely to make his season debut Sunday.

Here are three things the Tribune learned Thursday, including the latest on Booker.

1. This is an opportune time for Booker to return.

After appearing in all 17 games last season as a rookie, Booker’s Sunday afternoons haven’t been the same this year.

“It definitely sucks, but at the same time, I was in the tunnel with the music,” Booker said. “I was trying to bring as much energy to my teammates and I’m just blessed to still be around with the team.”

His return couldn’t come at a better time. Bears versatile rookie defensive lineman Shemar Turner tore his ACL last week against the Baltimore Ravens. Defensive end Dominique Robinson suffered an ankle injury and has yet to practice this week.

At the very least, Booker should give the defensive line some fresh legs. The Bears gave Booker the full 21-day window to return to practice before activating him to the 53-man roster Tuesday.

“I really think, the last couple weeks, he has been outstanding in practice,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “He’ll get an opportunity, I think, to get out there this week. We’ll see exactly what he can do, but I’m excited about watching him play, for sure.”

Bears defensive end Austin Booker sacks Dolphins quarterback Zach Wilson during a preseason game against the Dolphins on Aug. 10, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Booker led the NFL with four sacks in the preseason. He did that in just two games too. He suffered the knee injury in the second preseason game and didn’t return to the practice field until early October.

The preseason success in August was a confidence boost for a young player who is still trying to carve out a role on the team. The Bears drafted Booker with a fifth-round pick in 2024. As a rookie he totaled 1½ sacks, three tackles for a loss, four QB hits and 21 combined tackles. He also contributed on special teams.

The rookie numbers weren’t earth-shattering, but the Bears didn’t expect Booker to be a finished product as a rookie. This year’s preseason success looked as if it could be a sign of things to come — until the knee injury happened.

“I feel like (I was) just threatening them with that speed, threatening them with that power first and just working off of it,” Booker said of his preseason “I feel like any reps are good reps and also making plays in any type of game situation in the league earns respect, and that’s something that goes a long way. So whether preseason or not, I think it’s good, but obviously I do want to get some regular-season play.”

He just might have that chance Sunday.

2. Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Flacco returned to practice.

Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws a pass against the Jets on Oct. 26, 2025, in Cincinnati. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

In Cincinnati, Flacco returned to the practice field in a limited capacity after sitting out Wednesday. Flacco has an AC joint strain in his throwing shoulder, an injury he suffered in last week’s loss to the New York Jets.

Flacco has started three consecutive games for the Bengals since the Cleveland Browns traded him across the state. The Bengals are 1-2 in those Flacco starts, but they’re averaging 29.7 points per game in that span.

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That’s a significant improvement over how things were going offensively with Jake Browning at quarterback before the trade (12.3 ppg). Flacco’s status will be one to watch when the final injury report comes out Friday. It makes a huge difference for a banged-up Bears secondary if Flacco or Browning starts Sunday.

Flacco, 40, is in his 18th season and has seen just about every type of coverage a defense can throw at him.

“Any time you play one of these veteran quarterbacks who’s been around the league for a long time and seen a lot of things, you have to be on point,” Allen said. “There’s not a lot of things you can get away with. There’s not a lot of things that really fool those guys.”

Flacco last faced the Bears in December 2023 as a member of the Browns. He rallied the Browns to a 20-17 win that afternoon after then-Bears receiver Darnell Mooney dropped what would’ve been a game-winning Hail Mary from Justin Fields.

Allen seemed impressed with what Flacco did coming in and learning the Bengals offense in less than a week — Flacco started just five days after the trade. He won his first game nine days after the trade, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on a Thursday night.

“You don’t come in in one week and play the quarterback position without having some real intelligence about you,” Allen said.

The Bengals also could be without All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who missed his second consecutive practice with a hip injury. Hendrickson led the NFL with 17½ sacks last season.

3. An update on Bears wide receiver injuries.

Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) makes a one-handed catch against Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton in the fourth quarter Oct. 26, 2025, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

The group looks as if it’s going to be fine. After the top four receivers sat out practice Wednesday, three were back in action Thursday.

Luther Burden III (concussion) remained sidelined, but DJ Moore (hip/groin), Rome Odunze (heel) and Olamide Zaccheaus (knee) all practiced. All were limited participants. Tight end Cole Kmet (back) also was limited.

Running back D’Andre Swift (groin) missed practice for the second consecutive day. The Bears have been cautious with Swift as he battles through the injury. He was a limited participant in practice last week but still played against the Ravens. If Swift is unable to play this week, all eyes will be on rookie Kyle Monangai.

Also absent from practice Thursday were running back Roschon Johnson (back), defensive end Dominique Robinson (ankle) and left guard Joe Thuney (rest).

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) returned to full participation after missing last week’s game. Linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (knee) was also a full participant.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/30/chicago-bears-austin-booker-return/