Bears put Massie (knee) on IR, pair on COVID list


The Chicago Bears lost three offensive linemen on Tuesday — two starters — to injury and COVID-19 protocols.

Chicago put right tackle Bobby Massie on injured reserve with a knee injury he sustained in Monday night’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. The Chicago Tribune reported Massie could be out a month.

The Bears also announced that starting guard Germain Ifedi and backup OL Jason Spriggs were put on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Spriggs replaced Massie against the Saints and was expected to take his starting spot.

Massie, 31, left the game after just four offensive snaps after getting rolled up on at the end of a running play and did not return. Bears center Cody Whitehair (calf) also missed the game. Left guard James Daniels is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

Massie had played 100 percent of the snaps in the Bears’ first seven games. He has started every game he has played in for the Bears since joining the team in 2016. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft by Arizona, playing in 54 games (46 starts) for the Cardinals in four seasons.

Ifedi started every game this season, also playing 100 percent of the snaps. Ifedi agreed to a one-year deal with the Bears in the offseason. The former first-round draft pick started all 60 games in which he played for the Seattle Seahawks over the past four seasons. He was taken No. 31 overall by Seattle in the 2016 draft out of Texas A&M.

Spriggs played in 36 games (nine starts) over three seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2016-18 before missing last season with an injury.

The Bears also promoted OL Lachavious Simmons from the practice squad and signed OL Aaron Neary to the practice squad.