The Chicago Bears offense has been characterized by many things this year. Nothing greater than injuries. They’ve already lost multiple players for the rest of the season including Lucas Patrick and Darnell Mooney. Chase Claypool and N’Keal Harry missed Sunday’s game with knee and back problems, respectively. Then things somehow got worse when Teven Jenkins (neck) and Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) left in the 1st quarter and didn’t return. It’s been one blow after another for that unit.
Well, prepare yourselves because it’s getting even worse. According to Chicago insider David Kaplan, left guard Cody Whitehair suffered a knee injury in the loss to Philadelphia. It has been deemed “fairly significant,” with a growing likelihood he’ll miss at least this Sunday’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills. If it’s as bad as it sounds, he might be done for the year. That would mean the Bears are down to only one of their original five starters from the start of the regular season. Brutal attrition in an area they couldn’t afford it.
The Chicago Bears’ 2023 plans are becoming clear.
It was already well-established that the team needs a total overhaul on the defensive line this spring. Their front four hasn’t produced a sack since Week 5. Now injuries might be shifting the focus over to the offensive line for GM Ryan Poles. The Bears know Justin Fields is a budding star at quarterback. They have to take every measure possible to protect him. That could mean using their vast cap space and even their 1st round pick, which could be top five, to infuse the position with more talent.
As for Whitehair himself, his future with the Chicago Bears was already coming into question. He’s in his 30s now. He already missed time earlier in the year with an injury. Now he stands to miss even more. If that weren’t enough, he played his worst game of the season against Philadelphia. The Bears would net an additional $5.8 million by releasing him in the off-season. They don’t need the money, but there is no reason to pay an aging player if he isn’t worth the contract anymore.
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