Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith has every intention of playing Sunday after missing out in Week 4.
Smith was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and briefly addressed the matter in front of reporters.
“I will play,” Smith said, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN. “Like coach [Matt Nagy] said, it was a personal reason. That’s behind us now. So just focused on getting better this week and moving on to Oakland.
“It was just a personal issue so I’m moving forward. I’m past the situation now actually. Just addressing it because I have to.”
It had been reported that Smith had not been acting like himself for roughly a week before sitting out the team’s Week 4 game against the Minnesota Vikings. It seems everything is fine now and he’ll suit up against the Oakland Raiders, but it was a slightly alarming absence.
The 22-year-old has quickly developed into a star for the Bears’ defense, having accumulated five sacks last year during his rookie season.
