Bears Offensive Line Takes Huge Hit With Latest Injury News

It seems like the Bears' week just continues to get worse. After a heartbreaking loss to the Washington Commanders on a last-second Hail Mary, the team now faces another setback. On Tuesday afternoon, the Bears placed guard Bill Murray on injured reserve due to a pec injury he sustained during Sunday’s game, which often leads to it being season-ending injury for most players. Murray has performed exceptionally well in his back up role. We’ll have to check on Teven Jenkins’ status on Wednesday and see how close Ryan Bates is to returning, but losing Murray could have a significant impact on this Bears offense. Let’s take a closer look at the numbers to see how well Murray has played since his debut in Week 5.

Bill Murray has been not only consistent but genuinely impressive.

Bill Murray has an overall PFF grade of 82.4. His breakdown includes a 77.3 grade for run blocking and an impressive 85.7 for pass blocking. In his 42 snaps this season, he has not allowed a single sack or pressure. The Bears will definitely miss Murray and the depth he brought to the team.

In response to injuries on the offensive line, the Bears have signed OL Austen Pleasants to the practice squad and released long snapper Jake McQuaide. Pleasants was recently on Arizona’s practice squad and may help address the current injuries the Bears are facing.

Given these roster changes and the ongoing injuries, it's likely that Bears GM Ryan Poles is active in trade discussions as the deadline approaches in about a week. This likely has an impact on RG Nate Davis as well. I doubt Chicago will be looking to trade him given how banged up the offensive line is at the moment. While offensive linemen are rarely traded midseason, the Bears need to find some much-needed depth even with some players returning from IR. Although Caleb Williams has shown he can handle pressure at times during his rookie season, it’s the last thing he should have to deal with on a weekly basis.