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Bears continue to rely on offensive line depth
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Bears continue to rely on offensive line depth

The Bears relied on their offensive line depth against the Commanders last weekend and may have to do so again when they visit the Cardinals on Sunday.

The Bears, who have several linemen affected by injuries, took the field on Wednesday instead of regular practice at Halas Hall.

If they had a typical practice, Braxton Jones (knee) and Kiran Amegadjie (calf) would not be able to practice, and left defender Teven Jenkins (knee) would be limited. All three were injured against Washington.

Jones came out in favor of Amegadjie, while Bill Murray was called up at left defense following Jenkins’ injury. However, Murray later suffered a season-ending chest injury and was replaced by Doug Kramer Jr.

“Kiran had a calf,” trainer Matt Eberflus said. “It doesn’t look like he can come back from this. We’ll see where this goes with Braxton Jones’ knee. It’s something he’s been working on and we’ll see where that goes.”

Tackle Larry Borom would train without restrictions on Wednesday. The 2021 fifth-round draft pick returned to practice last Wednesday for the first time since injuring his ankle in the preseason finale against the Chiefs, starting a 21-day window to move him from injured reserve to the active roster.

On Wednesday, guard/center Ryan Bates returned to practice for the first time since injuring his shoulder in the season opener against the Titans, opening a 21-day window to get him back on the 53-man roster.

If everyone is healthy enough to play at Arizona on Sunday, Eberflus said the Bears will stick with the same starting lineup they have used in each of the last five games: Jones at left tackle, Jenkins at left guard, Coleman Shelton at center. , Matt Pryor at right guard and Darnell Wright at right tackle.

Despite multiple linemen coming in and out of last Sunday’s game due to injuries, the Bears rushed for a season-high 196 yards against the Commanders.

“We will stay with the men who are there,” Eberflus said. “They’ve done a good job. We’ve done a good job running the ball. We’ll see where this goes. We don’t know the answers to that as we move forward, but it’s been a really solid job from an O-line standpoint and the Offensive staff is cross-training these guys as you saw in the last game, plugging these guys in as we do that.” “We can make it work.”