The Bears’ offensive line is a major concern. In a disappointing Week 2 performance against the Houston Texans, allowing seven sacks, committing nine penalties, and allowing pressure on over 80% of Caleb Williams’ dropbacks, it’s apparent the offensive line has a lot of work to do. On top of their inability to protect Williams and a lack of cohesion, the unit faces yet another setback. Chicago Tribune writer Brad Biggs released some alarming news regarding Bears’ offensive lineman Ryan Bates, which adds to the troubling situation in Chicago.
Alarming Development May Spell Trouble for the Bears
Ryan Bates’ Injury Might Be Worse Than Anticipated
Biggs talked about the injury woes of the Bears’ offensive line in his latest article and dropped a new piece of information that might have gone unnoticed. Ryan Bates is dealing with an arthritic condition in his elbow/shoulder. While it’s not a career-ending condition, it’s still noteworthy.
Bates, traded to the Bears over the offseason, has been on General Manager Ryan Poles’ radar for quite some time. Back over the 2022 offseason, the Buffalo Bills matched the Bears’ offer sheet for Bates, which kept him in Buffalo until the trade this offseason. Currently on IR, Bates is expected to return after Week 6, following the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
What’s concerning is that the Bears still went through with the trade for Bates. It’s unclear if the team was aware of his arthritic condition or if it was discovered during his initial physical. What is evident, however, is Poles’ ongoing struggles in securing quality offensive linemen, especially considering he was once an offensive lineman.
Issues With the Offensive Line
It’s not just protection that’s the issue with the offensive line. It’s also the inability to establish the running game and lack of chemistry. When a team signs a starter to a three-year, $30 million contract and he’s barely present in the offseason, that’s a serious concern. Nate Davis was expected to be one of the top linemen, but he’s regressed since his time with the Tennessee Titans.
Teven Jenkins, arguably the Bears’ best offensive lineman, hasn’t played up to his usual high standard, and first-round pick Darnell Wright has faced challenges with cadence and handling stunts. Meanwhile, it’s no secret that Coleman Shelton has also been underperforming.
Is Ryan Poles’ Struggle to Create a Functional Offensive Line a Red Flag?
As a former offensive lineman, it’s baffling that the offensive line has been a persistent issue since Ryan Poles took over, yet he’s done little to effectively address it. Aside from drafting two solid tackles, his free-agent signings and trades have largely missed the mark. Trading a sixth-round pick for Dan Feeney has been a waste, and the fifth-round pick for Ryan Bates hasn’t panned out so far.
However, not all the blame falls on Poles. Offensive Line Coach Chris Morgan also shares responsibility, having been in Chicago for several seasons. It’s strange that former Bears linemen like Lucas Patrick earned a 97.2 PFF grade in Week 2 with the New Orleans Saints after underperforming with the Bears. Not to mention Morgan’s offensive line ranked 29th in Pass Block Efficiency in 2022 and 26th in 2023. It seems Morgan has a hard time bringing out the best in his players.
There’s still hope that the Bears’ offensive line can improve, but something needs to change—either with the personnel on the field or with the coaching staff.
Main Image: Daniel Bartel – USA Today Sports
