NEWSLETTER
Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy offered an update regarding Kyle Long’s injury, which is still in the evaluation process.
Nagy told reporters at Halas Hall more will be known in the next 24 to 48 hours, while hoping the news comes closer to the 24-hour mark. The team is holding out hope that good news is on the way and that the injury wasn’t as bad as it first appeared, but the optimism seems limited.
Indeed, Long was carted off the field after suffering a foot injury toward the end of the Bears’ 24-10 win against the Jets on Sunday. The three-time Pro Bowl lineman could not put pressure on his right foot and needed assistance from trainers to walk off the field. It appears that the only thing the team knows (or, at least, is willing to share) about Long’s injury is that it’s not a re-aggravation of the ankle injury that required surgical repair. Other than that, the full extent of the injury, the potential recovery process, and treatment plans are still unknown.
What else is unknown is how the Bears will proceed should they need to replace Long in the lineup for an extended period of time. With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, Nagy did say the team would be fielding calls and listening to offers, but added that he’ll leave it to GM Ryan Pace and the rest of the front office to make decisions on whether or not to make moves prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline.
With that said, the Bears don’t have to jump into the trade market to find Long’s replacement, because they have serviceable in-house contingency plans. Nagy said the team expects to have Eric Kush back in the mix as soon as this week. Kush, who had been splitting time with James Daniels at left guard in recent weeks, sat out Week 8’s win because of a neck injury. Kush could slide into a new starting role immediately depending on how he responds to the week off. Should the Bears need to go deeper down their depth chart, there are even more reserve options with starting experience.
Bryan Witzmann signed with the team shortly after Sam Acho went on injured reserve and was announced to be out for the rest of the year. Witzmann started 13 games for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017, so he is someone who Nagy knows well and who happens to be familiar with the system. Bradley Sowell could also be in play to fill in at some point. Sowell started two games for the Bears last season and has notable experience at guard and tackle, which could make him a key component as a swingman down the stretch.
So even though Long’s injury could open up the need for the Bears to make a trade depending on how much time he’ll miss, the team seems set to go to battle with who they already have in their ranks at offensive line. But still … we’ll keep an eye on the trade waters to see which way they’re moving.
