Bears LB Nephi Sewell carted off with a right leg injury against the Bengals

The Bears' preseason finale turned grim late in the first half when linebacker Nephi Sewell went down making a tackle and had to be carted off the field. Sewell injured his right leg bringing down Bengals running back Tahj Brooks after a 10-yard gain with 36 seconds left before halftime.

Brad Biggs reported from the sideline that trainers examined Sewell's right knee and leg before the cart arrived, and that the moment carried extra weight given the week before: Sewell left last Saturday's game against the Browns to enter concussion protocol after taking a hit on a kickoff. Two straight weeks, two scary exits — a brutal stretch for a linebacker fighting for a job on Chicago's roster. The human side of it was visible immediately. Sewell's older brother Noah, the Lions' standout pass rusher currently on the active/PUP list while he rehabs his own torn Achilles, was among those wishing Nephi well as he departed. The two brothers have been each other's loudest supporters through their parallel recovery battles this summer.

Sewell, who spent his first four seasons with the Saints and appeared in 30 games before New Orleans released him at the end of last season, signed with the Bears' practice squad hoping to carve out a special-teams role. With final cuts due next weekend, the timing of the injury could hardly be worse — though the Bears have not yet announced any diagnosis.