First-year Bears GM Ryan Poles didn’t make big, splashy moves to address the team’s obvious needs along the offensive line. But it’s not as if he was inactive this offseason, either. Keep in mind that Chicago’s football team has 10 new linemen getting practice reps who were brought in via free agency or the NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, one of those newbies โ guard Dakota Dozier โ left Tuesday’s minicamp practice with an injury. Brad Biggs of the Tribune has details:
The expectation was that Dozier would be in a battle with any number of Bears to start the season at right guard. Throughout the offseason, the Bears have expressed a desire to throw out the best five linemen into the lineup โ regardless of position. In other words, we could conceivably see the likes of Teven Jenkins, Larry Borom, Sam Mustipher, Zach Thomas, or someone else lining up at right guard this summer. Losing one of those possibilities throws a wrench in the Bears’ plans. But on the other hand, this could open an opportunity for someone else.
Even still … it doesn’t feel good to be down a healthy body already.
Neither Biggs nor the Bears shared a specific injury, but being taken off the field by a cart is never a good sign. We’ll update when possible.