The Chicago Bears offensive line is in a full-blown crisis. Eight games into the 2020 season and they’ve already lost three starters to injury. James Daniels is done for the year with a torn pec. Cody Whitehair is on the shelf with a calf strain and now Bobby Massie has joined him with an ankle problem.
Needless to say, this has created a massive problem. The Bears have surrendered nine sacks in the past two games. Nick Foles is under siege and his play is suffering as a result. With no trade in sight to bring in possible help, the coaches are left scrambling for solutions. Yet none seem forthcoming at the moment. Still, there is a saying when it comes to the word crisis.
It means danger, but also opportunity.
With so many starters down, it does offer the Bears a chance to get a look at some of their younger backups. Rashaad Coward, Jason Spriggs, and Sam Mustipher being those three names who’ve seen action. The first two have already played extensively in prior years. For the most part, they haven’t looked like much more than what they are. Backups.
However, there is a degree of intrigue about what the Bears may or may not have in Mustipher. The former undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame stepped in for Whitehair against Los Angeles and got his first start last Sunday against New Orleans. All things considered, he didn’t stand out as a weak spot.
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Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune seems to believe the Bears may actually end up keeping Mustipher at center and moving Whitehair over to left guard whenever he returns.
“I would not rule out the possibility the Bears keep Mustipher at center and consider moving Whitehair back to the left guard position he has played previously, again with the idea of getting their five best linemen on the field.”
Chicago Bears offensive line has changes coming
It is a nice story if this ends up happening. Mustipher was a four-star recruit out of high school and made a name for himself at a major program like Notre Dame. Yet his size and questions of strength led him to going undrafted. He was an afterthought when the Bears signed him in 2019. Now here he is with a chance to earn a more permanent role as a starter. This is what can make the NFL so fun to watch.
Make no mistake though. Even if Mustipher carves out a long-term role for himself, changes are coming to this offensive line. Both tackles in Charles Leno and Bobby Massie will be candidates for cutting next offseason. Germain Ifedi will be a free agent. It’s possible the Bears could find three new starters on the offensive line next season. A massive overhaul but one that is probably long overdue.
GM Ryan Pace has made plenty of mistakes in his time running the organization. Yet it’s his neglect of the Chicago Bears offensive line that may stand out the most. Since 2015, he’s only spent two high draft picks on the group. Them being Whitehair and Daniels. Otherwise, he has leaned heavily on expensive veterans like Massie or holdovers from the previous regime like Leno and Kyle Long.
That mistake is coming back to haunt him.
