(670 The Score) Just hours before the Bears and their sputtering offense took the field Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, second-year offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons found out he was starting at right tackle.
That news came as veteran right tackle Elijah Wilkinson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list amid the Bears' apparent outbreak. Simmons hadn't practiced with the first-team offense during the week leading up to the game – and presumably all season. He was replaced in the second quarter after being bullied by the Buccaneers' defensive front.
"Bless his heart, he came out there and struggled a little bit," Bears left tackle Jason Peters said Tuesday.
After a poor performance in a 38-3 loss to the Buccaneers, the Bears (3-4) are hopeful they can stabilize their offensive line. Rookie tackle Larry Borom (high ankle sprain) is expected to be activated off injured reserve soon, Peters said. The team hasn't confirmed that and no official move had been made as of Tuesday afternoon, but the return of Borom, a fifth-round pick last spring, would offer a better option at right tackle.
In time, the Bears could also get reinforcement in another rookie tackle in Teven Jenkins, a second-round pick who underwent back surgery in August. After the procedure, the expectation had been that he could return in November, with the team hoping surgery fixes what has been a lingering problem for the 23-year-old Jenkins.
Peters has been helping both Borom and Jenkins get up to speed in anticipation of their returns.
"They want to learn," Peters said. "They're asking questions all the time."
It's unclear how the Bears would reshape their offensive line if they were fully healthy. Wilkinson replaced Germain Ifedi, who suffered a knee injury during Chicago's win in Las Vegas on Oct. 10. The Bears haven't confirmed whether Wilkinson tested positive for COVID-19, and it's unclear if he's vaccinated. Ifedi must miss at least one more week on injured reserve before he would be eligible to return.
Peters was signed by the Bears in August to offer another option with Jenkins' back injury lingering. He has started all seven regular-season games since. However, Peters exited in Chicago's season opener in Los Angeles on Sept. 12, and Borom stepped in. That was when Borom suffered his ankle sprain.
The Bears' offense ranks 30th in scoring and 32nd in yardage this season. Though the running game has been effective, the Bears have struggled to protect rookie quarterback Justin Fields. Chicago's offensive line has allowed 26 sacks, the most in the NFL.
The Bears haven't placed any players on the reserve/COVID-19 list since Sunday. The team has begun operating under enhanced mitigation protocols, which require daily testing for the virus and mandatory mask wearing, regardless of vaccination statuses.
Bears special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will lead the team's meetings this week in Nagy's absence. Nagy, who's vaccinated, needs two negative tests to return to the team. His status for for the Bears' game against the 49ers (2-4) on Sunday is uncertain.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
