NFL Notes: Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Bears, & Seahawks

Ben Roethlisberger

• Jason Cole of B/R reports the more troublesome issue Ben Roethlisberger’s return from a knee injury could be the bone bruise he sustained more than the MCL sprain.
• Big Ben will not require surgery on his MCL, but the bone bruise could linger “on and on and on.”
• The expectation is still that he’ll miss four to six weeks with this injury.

Drew Brees

• Ed Werder reports that Saints QB Drew Brees flew to Birmingham for extensive evaluation of his passing shoulder from Dr. James Andrews.
• According to Werder, the results have been “very positive” but his status is still to be determined.
• Chris Mortensen reports that Brees is also rehabbing with therapist Kevin Wilk, who played vital role in Brees’ original recovery from major shoulder surgery.

Bears

• Jason Fitzgerald points out that a team would need about $6.7 million in cap space to trade for Bears RB Matt Forte this week. Each week after, this figure would decrease by $475,000.
• According to Fitzgerald, a team would need around $4 million to trade for TE Martellus Bennett, and this number drops $288,000 per week.

Seahawks

• Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said RB Marshawn Lynch had an MRI on his hamstring, and will be reevaluated later in the week.