The Chicago Bears have two weeks left before the trade deadline. Buzz is picking up rapidly. Right now, most of it surrounds the possibility of the team unloading some of their veteran pieces for draft capital. Khalil Herbert, Nate Davis, Dominique Robinson, and Larry Borom have all been mentioned. There is also the strong possibility GM Ryan Poles may aim to acquire a key piece to bolster the roster for a possible playoff run. Believe it or not, much of this depends on the status of Ryan Bates.
Chicago traded for the veteran offensive lineman in the spring with plans for him to compete for the center job. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury sidelined him early in the season, and he's been on IR since. His return could influence the Bears in multiple ways. He may replace either Coleman Shelton at center or Matt Pryor at right guard. That shuffle might provide the green light for the team to move Davis. However, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the timing of his return sounds tricky.
"The hunch with Ryan Bates — and I’m just reading the tea leaves here — is he’s maybe another week from returning to practice. He has been on IR since the start of Week 2 with a shoulder/elbow injury. Bates has been doing rehab work and is definitely closer. The idea behind putting him on IR was allowing him to reach a point where, once he returns, his arthritic condition wouldn’t sideline him again later in the season. If Bates has a good week of rehab, he might be back in the practice mix in another week."
Ryan Bates is a key part of the Bears' plans.
Not only do they see him as valuable depth, but Poles has made it clear he likes the former undrafted free agent. The GM tried signing him in 2022 as a restricted free agent and then traded for him earlier this year. One doesn't do that unless he thinks a guy can play. If Ryan Bates can get back before the trade deadline and play, it would influence what the Bears aim to do. If he looks shaky, it might convince them to go hunting for more interior line help. If he seems healthy, Davis can get shipped out, gaining the team some extra draft currency and focusing their needs elsewhere on the roster.
