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The Changing Chicago Bears Roster: How Injuries Have Impacted the Season

By Bryan Dietzler

Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive guard Kyle Long (75) looks on with an ingury to his right ankle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chicago Bears 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive guard Kyle Long (75) looks on with an ingury to his right ankle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chicago Bears 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

There have been two key losses in this group.  Kevin White was the first causality.  He suffered a broken fibula in the Bears’ game against the Detroit Lions and was placed on injured reserve. There was some discussion about him coming back but that is not going to happen.  White is definitely out for the rest of the year.

White missed the entire 2015 season with a leg injury and he will miss just about all this season with one.  Has he been a disappointment for the Bears?  Yes but is it his fault?  No.  He has just had a lot of bad luck.  Hopefully he will be able to return and contribute next season.

The other key loss in the receiver corps was not due to injury.  Alshon Jeffery was just recently suspended for using performance enhancing drugs (PED’s).  He said he wasn’t aware of what he was doing but he put that stuff in his body.  Now he has cost himself four game checks and the Bears a better opportunity to win games.  Some think he may have shown himself the way out of Chicago by getting suspended.  Would the Bears bring him back next season?

Another injury suffered by Chicago’s wide receiving corps happened to Eddie Royal. Royal missed some time with a calf and toe injury but finally made it back in the lineup recently.  He was a vital weapon on punt returns and makes the Bears’ special teams much better.  The problem with Royal is that he is always hurt.  With the Bears’ wide receiving corps decimated the way it is, it would be important to have Royal available as much as possible over the course of the next few games.  But can he stay healthy- that has always been the question with Royal.

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There was a bright spot with this group recently as Marquess Wilson was able to make it back after suffering a foot injury prior to the start of the season.  Hopefully he will able to make up for some of what was lost when Jeffery went out.  He must stay healthy and that has been an issue.

We can lump the tight ends in this group as well.  The Bears had been lucky up until their game with the Giants. with health at that position. Unfortunately starter Zach Miller had his foot stepped on in the Giants game and it broke.  He is out for the remainder of the season and will be missed.  He was a nice target and a reliable receiver.

The Bears have struggled at the wide receiver position and the health issues they have had haven’t helped.  The suspension of Jeffery is a big deal for this team as it takes away their number one wide receiver.  The passing game won’t be as effective the rest of this season as a result but then again, the issues at the quarterback position won’t help either. This has been a tough year on both spots.

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