Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery and Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders both have been ruled out of Sunday's game in Chicago.
Jeffery has been battling groin and shoulder injuries and was listed as questionable Friday after missing practice for the second straight day.
Without their top receiver in Jeffery, Jay Cutler and the Bears could be hard-pressed against the Broncos' league-leading pass defense. Chicago also will be without running back Matt Forte, who will miss his third straight game because of a knee injury.
Sanders initially was expected to play, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, despite being listed as questionable with ankle and finger injuries. But the Broncos ultimately elected to hold Sanders out after monitoring him Sunday morning in pregame warm-ups.
Sanders is Denver's second-leading receiver this season with 46 catches for 639 yards. His absence further limits the Broncos' passing game in quarterback Brock Osweiler's first career start.
Although he played in last week's victory over the Rams, Jeffery was used primarily as a decoy, finishing with just three receptions for 23 yards.
The Bears' No. 1 receiver, Jeffery has battled injuries throughout the season. He missed four straight weeks with a pulled hamstring early in the season before returning in Week 6 and posting three straight 100-yard receiving games.
ESPN Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson contributed to this report.