Help is on the way for the Chicago Bears offensive line.
Outside of the heartbreaking loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 8, the Bears offensive line was banged up during the game. Starting left tackle Braxton Jones and starting left guard Teven Jenkins went down with injuries while Bill Murray suffered a pec injury that has landed him on IR.
Reports on Monday confirmed that the Bears avoided a serious injury to Jones, while Matt Eberflus did not expand on Jenkins's status. The Bears' official Week 9 injury report will be released after practice on Wednesday, but the team did inform reporters that Ryan Bates has been designated to return from IR.
Bears OL Ryan Bates will return to practice this week. The team has opened his 21 day window to be activated off IR.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) October 30, 2024
Ryan Bates' return could have a major impact on the Chicago Bears' roster.
Bates has been spotted on the sidelines in recent weeks, ramping up from the shoulder injury he suffered at the beginning of the season. It will be curious to see how the Bears insert Bates back into the offensive line rotation. The initial plan was for Bates to serve as the team's starting center before availability concerns with Nate Davis shifted the former Buffalo Bills' lineman to right guard. It would seem likely that Bates will return to one of the guard spots while Coleman Shelton continues to serve as the team's starting center.
Bates' return may also reignite the trade speculation surrounding Davis. Davis has been inactive in each of the Bears' past two games, which indicated that the veteran was headed toward a departure from the roster. However, given the injuries on Sunday, Davis could be back in the mix for the Bears offensive line rotation. Between Bates and Larry Borom, the Bears may have the depth they need to move forward with parting ways with Davis.