BREAKING: Chicago Bears COVID-19 Nightmare Just Got Even Worse

The Chicago Bears offensive line was already beleaguered by injuries. James Daniels out with a torn pec. Bobby Massie on IR with a knee problem. Then Cody Whitehair hurt his calf. If that weren't bad enough, COVID-19 saw fit to get involved when backup tackle Jason Spriggs contracted the virus, forcing both him and right guard Germain Ifedi to be sent home. Ifedi was in close proximity at the time. Yet it's not over yet. The Bears had at least hoped that Whitehair, their starting center, could return from his calf issue and maybe stabilize the line on Sunday against Tennessee. Especially since his backup is already hurt in Sam Mustipher. Those hopes were dashed when it was revealed that Whitehair too had contracted COVID as well. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune first reported a new case had developed before Ian Rapoport revealed it was the veteran center. Another rough blow to a Bears offense already lacking quality blockers, to begin with.

Chicago Bears better pray for Nick Foles

There were already protection issues when the veteran quarterback first took over. In the past two games as injuries have mounted? It's only gotten worse. Foles was sacked nine times over that stretch by the Rams and Saints. Now he has to go on the road in Tennessee against a pretty good Titans team with an offensive line that might have just one of its original five starters remaining. They could start a 7th round rookie in Arlington Hambright at left guard, former undrafted free agent Alex Bars at center, and have to move Rashaad Coward from left guard to right tackle to fill the spot vacated by Massie and Spriggs. This just leaves right guard. The Bears are hopeful Ifedi might be able to return in time for the game but that is not a lock. So they might have to fill that spot as well.

It's an absolute mess.

One has to imagine they'll be elevated everybody they have on the practice squad for gameday. They have no other choice. It's too late in the week to bring in a veteran because of COVID-19 testing protocols. So they're scraping the bottom of the barrel. If nothing else, the decision to not actively try to add more reliable bodies to the mix in the offseason is looking worse by the minute. Spriggs, Ifedi, Hambright, and fellow 7th rounder Lachavious Simmons were the only guys added to the mix. Not the most inspiring group. If the Chicago Bears do indeed fall apart after their 5-1 start? People will point to this disaster on the offensive line as a primary component of that collapse. Not just because of the injuries and COVID stuff but because of years of neglect by the front office. This reinforces where their priorities will be going into next offseason. Offensive line figures to be right at the top of the to-do list. Whether Pace will be involved in that overhaul is a question worth asking at this point.