Expect This Name To Be A Chicago Bears Target On Waivers

Like every NFL team, the Chicago Bears are going through some injury setbacks. Unfortunately, their most serious to date has happened. Left guard Teven Jenkins suffered strains to both of his calves. While details remain uncertain, the belief is he could miss up to six weeks. That means he may miss the first month of the regular season. That puts the organization in a bind. Early signs hint they're planning to go with their old formation from last year, putting Lucas Patrick at center and moving Cody Whitehair back to left guard.

This indicates the Bears aren't as confident in Alex Leatherwood as one would think. The former 1st round pick has been the #2 left guard throughout training camp. This decision suggests they don't trust him against top competition. If so, it leads one to think they may go hunting for alternatives within the next week. Final roster cuts are around the corner, and the Bears hold the coveted #1 spot in the waiver wire priority list. GM Ryan Poles will be hunting for help. One name sure to get his attention is Pittsburgh Steelers guard Kevin Dotson. Bob Labriola of Steelers.com reports expectations are he'll be waived.

"Kevin Dotson will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2023, has never been voted to a Pro Bowl, and if there is a belief around the league that Dotson will be waived when rosters are cut to 53 in late August, there may not be much of a market for someone who has just one year remaining on his contract and could be claimed on waivers."

Dotson fits what the Chicago Bears need.

The former 4th round pick has started 30 games for Pittsburgh going back three seasons, 28 of them at left guard. He's got size, length, and power for the run game. What stood out most last year when he became the unquestioned starter was his pass protection, allowing only 16 pressures all season. He's also a good athlete, posting a 4.80 time in the 40-yard dash at his pro day. He can move. The big problem he had last year was committing 12 penalties. If the Bears did claim him, Chris Morgan would have to clean that up.

That leads to the next point. Morgan actually knows Dotson. The two worked together in 2021 when the offensive line coach worked in Pittsburgh. So the Chicago Bears would know precisely how to handle them. It's a move that makes sense from every angle. Dotson can be somebody thrown into the starting lineup immediately if necessary. He will make for an ideal backup if the timeline is too short. He's still on his rookie contract, so money is also no issue.