The Bears activated Pro Bowl DL Akiem Hicks from IR Saturday ahead of their must-win battle against the rival Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field Sunday. Chicago also announced that TE Ben Braunecker (concussion) was sent to the season-ending injured reserve list and starters Taylor Gabriel (concussion) and Bobby Massie (ankle) didn't travel with the team to Green Bay.
Hicks, the Bears' leader in sacks (24) and tackles for loss (39) since his 2016 arrival, was placed on injured reserve Oct. 15 with a dislocated left elbow, which he suffered on the eighth defensive snap of the Week 5 loss to the Oakland Raiders in London.