LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears announced Friday that linebacker Lance Briggs will miss Sunday's matchup at Atlanta because of an injury to his ribs sustained during the club's Week 5 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The club also ruled out guard Taylor Boggs (hamstring), left tackle Jermon Bushrod (knee/ankle), safety Ahmad Dixon (hamstring) and linebacker Shea McClellin (hand).
"You've got a guy that has played a lot of great football, done a lot of great things in this league," said linebacker Jon Bostic, who is officially listed as questionable for Sunday due to a back injury. "So not having him out there is definitely going to be a big task to be able to get over. But you've got to be able to move on and get through this one."
With Briggs and McClellin out for Sunday's game, the Bears will face the Falcons without two-thirds of the starting linebacker corps. There's a good chance the club will move Bostic into Briggs' position on the weak side, and play Christian Jones on the strong side with D.J. Williams manning the middle linebacker spot.
Second-year veteran Khaseem Greene is also an option to fill in for Briggs.
Bears coach Marc Trestman said Bostic's availability will be a game-time decision.
"Well, you know where we're at," Trestman said. "We've got Christian [Jones] right now. We've got D.J. [Williams]. We've got Khaseem. We'll see where we are. We've got 48 hours. So we'll see where [Bostic's injury situation] is as we move along. But certainly, [he's] a very smart guy. He knows the defense. He knows how to line up and where to go. We'll see where he's at. We'll use the trainers and doctors to help us with that decision certainly."
Bostic said he'd feel comfortable with sliding into Briggs' spot on the weak side.
"To be honest, it's what I played in college," Bostic said.
Trestman said he was unaware of when Briggs suffered the injury to his ribs. Briggs, meanwhile, spoke Wednesday as if he expected to play Sunday at Atlanta.
"Right now, the only thing I'm thinking about is Atlanta," Briggs said. "[We] really can't get anywhere else without them. It's an NFC game. They play better at home. For us, it's a great test. It's a test we have to pass."
A 12th-year veteran and seven-time Pro Bowler, Briggs is in the final year of his contract, and missed seven games last season because of a fractured shoulder.
In other injury news, the team listed cornerback Sherrick McManis (quadriceps/knee) as questionable. Safety Chris Conte (concussion), Williams (neck) and defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (concussion) are probable.