Here is what you need to know on this Friday, December 23, one day before the Washington Redskins visit the Chicago Bears.

Timeline

—Today's schedule: No availability, team travels to Chicago

—Days until: Redskins @ Bears Christmas Eve 1; Giants @ Redskins, New Year’s Day 9; Wild card playoff round starts 15

Injuries of note:

Did not practice: LB Cravens (upper arm), CB Dunbar (concussion), TE Reed (shoulder)

Limited: LB Compton (knee), OLB Kerrigan (elbow), DE Baker (ankle)

Thursday injury report

Five Redskins under pressure vs. the Bears

QB Kirk Cousins—The Bears don’t have an explosive offense but there is no reason to think that they can’t score somewhere in the twenties against the Redskins defense. It will be up to Cousins to get the team up to a score near the thirties to win the game. The weather will be chilly but with no precipitation and minimal winds he should be able to move the ball through the air.

RB Rob Kelley—As noted here yesterday, the Bears’ rushing defense is among the worst in the league. Nobody is blaming Kelley for averaging less than a yard per carry last week; it was clear that he had no running room. But he needs to have a good game. He hasn’t had a 100-yard game since they played the Packers and if he wants to put a lock on the job for next year, or at least strengthen his claim to it, he needs a strong finish to the season. Assuming the line can create some running room for Kelley, he needs to maximize it.

TE Vernon Davis—It doesn’t look like Jordan Reed is going to play or if he does he will be very limited like he was the last two weeks. In any case, Davis will play a big role and he needs to hold on to the ball. He had two drops against the Panthers per Pro Football Focus and I think he could have been hit with a couple more. That needs to change.

OLB Preston Smith—In the last two weeks he has just three hurries on his ledger; no hits, no sacks. It was in Week 16 that he really broke out last year, recording three sacks against the Eagles. Maybe he can do it again.

DE Chris Baker—When he’s on this list it’s usually about getting a pass rush. And while that will be important his main task will be to disrupt along the line and make it hard for Jordan Howard, who already has over 1,000 yards this season, to find running room.

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