Ball (groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Eagles.

The groin injury limited Ball throughout practice this week, but it was likely the case where the Bears just wanted to preserve his health in advance of the Week 5 tilt. Ball saw his snap count drop significantly a week ago, as it appears Tracy Porter has now passed him up on the depth chart and taken his starting role.

Ball (groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Ball is coming off a strong performance last week against the Seahawks, but there was some question about his availability heading into the Week 4 matchup while he nursed a groin injury. Though he was limited in practices Thursday and Friday, Ball appears to be holding up well enough to see a full load of snaps Sunday.

Ball accrued a season-high nine tackles and batted away a pass in Sunday's 26-0 loss to the Seahawks.

Though the Bears were beaten handily in Week 3, Ball was one of the team's more impressive performers defensively. In addition to showing activity in stopping the run, Ball was excellent on the Seahawks' final drive before halftime, denying a fade route intended for Jimmy Graham and defending Chris Matthews on another pass attempt.

Ball recorded three stops in Sunday's Week 1 loss to the Packers.

As expected, Ball received the start at the other cornerback spot opposite Kyle Fuller, but was mostly ineffective in slowing the Packers' passing attack. Signed by the Bears for the size and physicality he was expected to provide in coverage, Ball struggled to jam the Green Bay receivers and was outmuscled by James Jones for a touchdown in the first quarter. He could have his work cut out for him next week against the Cardinals, who start two 6-foot-3 receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd.

Ball looks in line to earn a Week 1 starting role for the Bears following Sunday's release of Tim Jennings, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ball was the leading candidate to break camp with a starting role in hand after signing a one-year, $3 million deal, but the incumbent Jennings topped the depth chart longer than expected while Ball and Tracy Porter remained nicked up with injuries. The free-agent import was healthy enough to start last Saturday's exhibition against the Bengals, finishing the night with two tackles. During his 44 career starts over stints with the Cowboys, Texans, and Jaguars, Ball never showed much high-end IDP production, so he'll need to regularly produce turnovers and tackles with the Bears before landing on the fantasy radar.

Ball signed a one-year contract with the Bears on Friday, ESPN's Jeff Dickerson reports.

The 29-year-old Ball has played in 93 NFL games, getting the start in 44 of those contests. He largely struggled in Jacksonville the past two seasons, and he'll now join a team that has Tim Jennings and Kyle Fuller on the roster. Ball could compete with incumbent Demontre Hurst for the nickelback role.

Ball has yet to finalize a deal with the Panthers, ESPN.com reports.

Previous reports suggested that Ball had agreed to a one-year deal with Carolina, but such a deal has yet to be closed, with the report suggesting that at least one other team could be interested in pursuing the cornerback, who recorded 22 tackles and a pick in seven starts for the Jaguars in 2014.

The Panthers have signed Ball to a one-year deal, ESPN.com reports.

Ball, who recorded 22 tackles and a pick in seven starts for the Jaguars in 2014 prior to landing on IR with a biceps injury, is thus a candidate to start at cornerback for the Panthers this coming season opposite Josh Norman.

Ball (biceps) has been placed on season-ending injured reserve, ESPN reports.

Ball missed last weekend's game with a biceps injury that will rule him out for the remainder of this season. As a result, the 29-year-old finishes his second year in Jacksonville with 18 tackles (four solo) and one interception. To help fill the void opened by Ball's absence, the Jaguars signed cornerback Tommie Campbell on Wednesday.

Ball (biceps) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Miami, the Jaguars' official site reports.

This isn't much of a surprise considering how doubtful he seemed yesterday. He didn't participate in practice at all this week and how much he participates next week should be telling if this injury is more long-term.

Ball (biceps) said Thursday that he's "pretty doubtful" for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, the Florida Times-Union reports.

Ball is optimistic about the injury suffered Sunday against Cleveland, and he hopes it's not something that will sideline him for an extended period of time. "My thoughts are that it isn't season-ending," Ball said. "In the next week, week-and-a-half, I'm be trying to get my body back to the best it can possibly be and then go from there." Ball visited a specialist in San Francisco this week for a second opinion, and at this point it's unclear if he'll require surgery or some other type of procedure.

Ball is fully recovered from an ankle injury sustained during minicamp, the Florida Times-Union reports.

Ball took part in the Jags' preseason game versus the Bears on Thursday, bringing the Jacksonville secondary to full health. In competition for a starting spot, Ball figures to see consistent playing time as the third cornerback, at worst. Last season, the 29-year-old recorded a career-high 47 combined tackles to go with two picks and career-high 14 passes defended.

Jaguars CB Alan Ball (groin) is active for Week 2 against the Raiders.

Marcedes Lewis (calf) is inactive. The Jags would have been without both starting corners had Ball been out, as Dwayne Gratz (ankle) remains sidelined. Also inactive for the Jaguars are QB Blaine Gabbert, WR Mike Brown, LB J.T. Thomas, DT Abry Jones and CB Marcus Burley.

Jaguars CB Alan Ball (groin) is a game-time decision for Week 2.

Ball suffered a groin injury in Thursday's practice and is officially listed as questionable. With Dwayne Gratz (ankle) also sidelined, the Jaguars could be forced to start both Will Blackmon and Mike Harris this week.

Jaguars CB Alan Ball suffered a groin injury in Thursday's practice.

The Jags' No. 1 cornerback, it means Ball could join fellow starter Dwayne Gratz (high-ankle sprain) on the sideline in Oakland this weekend. The Jaguars could be forced to go with Mike Harris or Will Blackmon as they look for ways to slow down dual-threat Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor. Sunday could be Oakland's best shot at a victory this season.

"As of now," Alan Ball is the Jaguars' No. 1 cornerback.

Per beat writer Ryan O'Halloran, Ball has made the "right kind of impression" in OTAs. That's all good and well, but now 28, Ball played just 85 snaps for the Texans last season. His apparent ascension to No. 1 cornerback speaks to how thin the Jags' secondary is. With Ball apparently locked into a starting job, third-rounder Dwayne Gratz and Marcus Trufant will compete for the other outside job with Mike Harris manning the slot.

Jaguars.com suggests CB Alan Ball is heading into OTAs as a starter.

Ball, 28, signed a two-year, $2 million contract in the opening week of free agency, and he has the ability to play both corner and safety. He also has the size -- 6-foot-2, 197 -- that coach Gus Bradley likes. Two of Ball, third-rounder Dwayne Gratz, and 2012 sixth-rounder Mike Harris will likely start on the outside with veteran Marcus Trufant covering the slot.

Jaguars signed DB Alan Ball, formerly of the Texans.

Ball can play safety and corner, but he isn't particularly good at either spot. His signing is purely a depth move, and he'll compete for a job in camp.

Free agent DB Alan Ball will visit the Jaguars.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Jags are officially on the board. Ball's visit will mark their first known movement in the free agency. He's a backup-caliber versatile veteran that played corner for the Texans but also has experience at safety.

Texans declared CB Alan Ball (foot) inactive for Sunday's Week 16 game against the Vikings.