Should Chicago Bears make this offensive line change?

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-8, so the season is effectively over. Still, most fans knew that this year was about learning what the team could do in the future, more than it was about making the playoffs this season. With that in mind, fans should still be interested in watching for the development of key players.

One thing to keep an eye on is the offensive line. The Chicago Bears claimed Alex Leatherwood on waivers back in August when he was waived. The former first-round pick had a non-COVID-related illness that kept him out for the first month of the season, and now he has worked his way back to practicing every day. Should the team look to see what they have in him?

Chicago Bears should play Alex Leatherwood

The first question is where would he play? The one thing about Leatherwood is that he can play anywhere, but has never excelled in one specific spot.

Braxton Jones has not locked down the left tackle job by any means, but he is still a rookie and they have seen enough that he should keep getting developmental reps. Cody Whitehair may not be here after this year, but he is a veteran and locker-room leader. If Teven Jenkins is coming back at right guard soon, that just gives us right tackle.

That is not a huge issue, though, as the team already made a chance at right tackle. Larry Borom suffered a concussion, and when Riley Reiff filled in, they decided to stick with it. Reiff had a couple of good games, but you could argue the Falcons game was his worst.

Some of that has to do with Michael Schofield being beside him, as the two struggled to communicate picking up stunts. Either way, like concussion, was the small thing they needed to get Reiff in the lineup, a poor game against a bad pass rush may be what gets the team to call on Leatherwood.

The fact that Jenkins is likely to come back, and the team will see a shakeup at right guard may make this the perfect time. The Chicago Bears can install them as starters together, and let them develop during the last month as the right side. Beyond that, if Justin Fields is out this week, there is less of a fear about the long-term damage that starting an unproven Leatherwood over Reiff can do.

The team probably thinks Reiff gives them the better chance to win, but now it is about learning. They need to learn what they have in Leatherwood because we all know the pluses and minuses that Reiff brings.

The timing may never may be better for the Chicago Bears to start Alex Leatherwood at right tackle. Will they make the move?