The Chicago Bears injury luck continues. Jerrell Freeman has been placed on the Injured Reserved
The Bears just cannot catch a break. After a few smaller names fell off in the preseason with season ending injuries, two big names are now crossed off the list for the foreseeable future.
Kevin White is less surprising, as he was the first Bear place on the IR this week. However, not many were sure of the status of linebacker Jerrell Freeman until word officially came out that he had been placed on the IR.
Bears officially placed Kevin White and Jerrell Freeman on IR and signed WR Tanner Gentry and LB Jonathan Anderson off practice squad.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 12, 2017
After the game, Freeman did not talk to reporters. John Fox mentioned that he had been entered into the concussion protocol. A few hours later, word began to get out that a pectoral injury was also an issue. It could be assumed that his surprise trip to the IR has to do with the pectoral more than the concussion questions.
The status of Freeman has yet to be revealed, but you could assume that he would one of the two players with the designation to return this season. However, if his pectoral is completely torn, that may not matter and Freeman will be gone throughout the season.
This is a devastating blow. Last season, the argument could easily be made that Freeman was not only the best defender on the team but the best overall player. Luckily the team got Danny Trevathan back earlier than expected.
Next: Bears need a WR to step up
Stepping in for Freeman will be second-year linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski. Kwiatkowski has experience from last season stepping for Trevathan and Freeman at times. Freeman is 31 years old and will be a free agent after the 2018 season. The team is likely to transition from Kwiatkowski to Freeman over the next 12-18 months anyway, so this is just another chance to get the young up and comer acclimated to a role he should be in sooner than later.