Keenan Allen injury status: How to handle Bears WR in Week 2

Game status: Keenan Allen is inactive for Week 2 Sunday Night Football.

The Chicago Bears will hope that wide receiver Keenan Allen will be available for their Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans. The team has listed Allen as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

Allen was also listed as questionable in Week 1, but played in the opener against the Tennessee Titans. Head Coach Matt Eberflus said on Friday that the Bears will take it right up to the game on Sunday.

Keenan Allen injury status

The Bears wide receiver was listed as questionable on Friday after not practicing all week with a heel injury that has been bothering him throughout training camp. Not practicing all week won’t be a good sign for Allen. While he was hurt last week as well, he was limited throughout the week before practicing fully. Allen didn’t participate at all this week heading into the game against the Texans.

What Keenan Allen injury means for fantasy football

We have yet to have a real look at what the Bears offense looks like at its best. Allen was effective last week as was consistently open against and was close to scoring a touchdown. However, Caleb Williams had just 93 yards passing. Allen may have only had four receptions for 29 yards, but led Bears receivers with 11 targets.

In the case that Allen can’t go, Rome Odunze is also listed as questionable and will be a game time decision. That would be a huge boost to DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet could also be a player that benefits. Moore led the Bears in receptions last week and would be the only legitimate option on the outside. In very deep leagues, Tyler Scott is a name to keep an eye on as a sleeper. Scott could end up as the second wide receiver in the offense with the injuries at the position.

Without Allen and a limited Odunze, Williams hasn’t shown enough fantasy relevance yet to be worth a start. Williams struggled last week with his entire arsenal available. If Allen is unable to go, the number one overall pick could have another tough week.

Even if Allen plays, he may not be as effective after not practicing throughout the week. With the injuries at wide receiver and a rookie quarterback, the Bears may look to rely more on the run game this week. Even if that is the case, the Texans run defense was stout in Week 1, holding Jonathan Taylor to three yards per carry.