Whether resulting from harm or not, the Chicago Bears are at a degree the place they should consider offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood and get an thought of whether or not he can cut back by one their strong listing of offseason wants.
The Bears claimed the 2021 first-round choose of the Las Vegas Raiders off waivers Aug. 31 — not a no-risk funding when you think about they inherited his rookie contract that features almost $6 million in ensures. Of course, if Leatherwood turns right into a starter with upside in 2023, it could grow to be a worth addition by common supervisor Ryan Poles.
Leatherwood has but to look in a recreation for the Bears, however his debut may come Sunday at Soldier Field towards the Green Bay Packers. The crew is sifting by means of harm points at a handful of positions, together with proper sort out, the place Riley Reiff and Larry Borom are banged up.
Reiff, who began the final 5 video games, left Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets with what the crew introduced was a shoulder harm. He didn’t observe Wednesday and was listed on the harm report with a again situation. Borom, who changed Reiff after which additionally was sidelined at MetLife Stadium, missed observe too. He landed on the harm report with ankle and knee accidents.
Leatherwood turns into the subsequent man up if Reiff and Borom can’t play until the Bears need to use Michael Schofield, who’s extra of an inside lineman. Even if Reiff and Borom have been wholesome, it’s about time to see what Leatherwood can do.
He has been with the crew for 3 months, minus a stretch on the non-football sickness listing when he had mononucleosis, and it could be troublesome for Poles and the teaching workers to venture what he can do subsequent season with out seeing him in motion.
“We’ll see how the week goes,” coach Matt Eberflus mentioned Wednesday. “I believe that Wood has done a really good job of progressing.”
Eberflus praised offensive line coach Chris Morgan and his assistant Austin King for the work they’ve achieved rolling with numerous adjustments. The Bears have used seven beginning lineups on the road, a suboptimal price of turnover contemplating how a lot continuity is emphasised within the trenches.
“Those guys have had a lot of combinations during the course of this year and have functioned at a really high rate in the run game,” Eberflus mentioned. “Getting higher within the move recreation by way of the move professional(tection).
“Leatherwood’s no different. I think he’s going to be right there with ‘em. If he has the opportunity to play, I think he’ll play well.”
Leatherwood, who declined to take questions after observe, began the primary 4 video games final season at proper sort out for the Raiders. He struggled there and was moved inside to proper guard for the rest of the season.
A bodily gifted athlete who has all of the instruments required to play sort out — he was a left sort out at Alabama — Leatherwood was badly out of place too usually for the Raiders. It sounds counterintuitive, however as athletic as he’s, he struggled to play in house.
A brand new entrance workplace and training workers for the Raiders opted to maneuver on from Leatherwood after efforts to commerce him didn’t pan out. The Bears have been the one crew to position a declare for him, and a part of the job for Eberflus and his workers has been working to rebuild Leatherwood’s confidence.
“We’ve seen progress because he’s played inside and outside for us over the last several weeks,” Eberflus mentioned. “We are excited and intrigued to see where it goes because he’s a heck of a athlete at that position.”
With 5 video games remaining, that’s sufficient time for Leatherwood to log about 300 snaps if he can get within the lineup and stay there. That’s the sort of pattern measurement that will give the Bears a superb indication of what they’ve.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com