The Bears can clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs by winning out.
They can get there a lot faster — before kickoff against the 49ers on Sunday night.
If the Packers lose to the Ravens on Saturday night — quarterback Jordan Love is out with a concussion — and the Eagles lose to the Bills on Sunday afternoon, then the Bears will be guaranteed the No. 2 seed regardless of what they do the last two games. As the No. 2 seed, they’d likely host the Packers.
The Bears can land the top overall seed. While there are scenarios that involve ties, the most direct way to do it is for the Bears to win out and for the Seahawks to lose one of their last two games.
If the Bears beat the 49ers and the Sea-hawks win in Carolina this week, though, the Seahawks could benefit from a walkover in Week 18. They’re set to play the 49ers, who would have little to gain from playing their starters, in the finale.
If the Bears win and the Seahawks lose on Sunday, the Bears would be one win away from the top seed — and facing a Lions team with nothing to gain from playing their starters. The Lions’ slim playoff hopes were snuffed out when they lost to the Vikings on Thursday.
After the game, coach Dan Campbell didn’t get specific about whether he’d sit his starters at Soldier Field but said that, in general, he wants his players to “be ready when we get on the plane to go to Chicago.”
Bears coach Ben Johnson said Friday he hasn’t given resting scenarios any thought as the Bears prepare for the 49ers.
“I’d be doing our guys a disservice,” he said. “We have a really tough opponent at hand here this week. . . . That’s all I really care about, is finding a way to go 1-0 this week.”
Burden back
Wide receiver Luther Burden III will play against the 49ers. He sprained his ankle against the Browns and didn’t play against the Packers but returned to practice this week. He was a full participant for the first time Friday.
“Being on the sidelines is not fun,” he said.
The Bears ruled out wide receiver Rome Odunze, who’s still dealing with a chronic foot issue.
At various points this week, the Bears have held out cornerbacks Josh Blackwell and Nick McCloud, wide receiver Devin Duvernay and linebacker D’Marco Jackson because of illness. They ruled out McCloud on Friday.
Nahshon Wright, who is sick and has a hamstring issue, didn’t practice and is questionable. So is fellow cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who hurt his knee Saturday but practiced in full Friday. Linebacker T.J. Edwards (glute) and backup guard Luke Newman (foot) also are limited.
Johnson said the Bears were working through the illnesses.
“We’re washing our hands; we’re being very diligent,” he said. “Guys have masks on. You do what you can. Whoever’s available here on game day, we’ll look to win with. If a guy can’t go, we’ll be ready.”
Kittle questionable
Tight end George Kittle will have until Sunday night to decide whether he can face the Bears on a sprained ankle, 49ers general manager John Lynch told KNBR-AM.
“George is doing everything he can to be out there for this Bears game,” Lynch said. “That will be one that goes right down until Sunday evening.”
Kittle hasn’t practiced all week and was ruled questionable.
Notes
Defensive end Austin Booker said he was fined $5,000 for each roughing the passer penalty against Love but is in the process of appealing both.
† Niners wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is questionable.