Chicago Bears offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood returned to practice on Wednesday after being sidelined for the past four weeks.

Wednesday was the earliest that Leatherwood could get back to work with his teammates. He has been on the reserve/non-football injury list since Sept. 14, and that designation requires at least a four-week absence.

MORE NFL:

· HENRY RUGGS III’S PRELIMINARY HEARING GETS ANOTHER NEW DATE

· DOLPHINS QB TUA TAGOVAILOA RETURNING TO PRACTICE FIELD

· FALCONS SHOW CONFIDENCE IN RASHAAN EVANS

Leatherwood’s return to practice opens a three-week period during which the Bears can restore the former Alabama All-American to their active roster. If Chicago does not make that decision during the 21-day window, then Leatherwood cannot play for the Bears this season.

Non-football injury really should be non-football illness in Leatherwood’s case. The Bears sidelined Leatherwood after he contracted mononucleosis

Leatherwood won the Outland Trophy at Alabama as the nation’s best college lineman in 2020, entered the NFL as the 17th selection in the 2021 draft and started every game as a rookie for the Las Vegas Raiders – the first four at right tackle and the remaining 14 (including one playoff contest) at right guard.

But when Las Vegas reduced its preseason roster to the regular-season limit of 53 players on Aug. 30, the Raiders waived Leatherwood. The Bears were awarded Leatherwood as a waiver claim the next day.

Chicago designated Leatherwood as a game-day inactive for its season-opener on Sept. 11, when the Bears beat the San Francisco 49ers 19-10. Since then, Chicago has won one of its four games.

The Bears play the Washington Commanders at 7:15 p.m. CDT Thursday at Soldier Field in Chicago. Prime Video will televise the game.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.