Chicago Bears: Kyle Long has likely played his last snap in Windy City

The Chicago Bears are expected to place offensive guard Kyle Long on Injured Reserve. This ends his season and probably his career in Chicago.

The Chicago Bears finished their bye week and now prepare for the New Orleans Saints in Week 7. Before that, however, it seems that they’ll make a major move. Ian Rapoport reported that the team will place offensive guard Kyle Long on Injured Reserve.

Long has really struggled this season. He entered the season not dealing with any injuries but it seems that the volume of injuries he’s suffered the last three-plus seasons caught up with him. In his first three seasons, he was a stalwart on the offensive line. He played in 47 of a possible 48 games and made the Pro Bowl each season.

Things have been completely different since, however. He’s played in just 30 of a possible 53 games. The injuries have piled up and at age 30 his body might not be able to keep up anymore.

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This move might not only signal the end of his 2019 season but also the end of his Chicago Bears career. The line has struggled mightily this season and whatever happens this season, changes need to be made on that line. Parting ways with Long is probably just the first move. Cutting Long after the season saves the Bears $8.1 million. If they do the same to another offensive lineman, Charles Leno Jr, they save another $8 million.

The Chicago Bears spent the last two offseasons restructuring the offense. In 2018, they overhauled the wide receivers corps. In 2019, they restructured the running backs unit. They need to do the same with the offensive line in 2020 if they really want to get the offense going. Letting go of Leno and Long will allow the team to do that.

Long has been a great asset for the Chicago Bears. He is a great leader on the field and in the locker room. He also does a lot on social media and is a fan favorite. At some point, though, everyone needs to admit that a body can only take so much and Long’s body reached that limit.

After their Week 5 loss against the Oakland Raiders, Bears great Olin Kreutz spoke about Long, via NBC Sports Chicago:

"“You could make an argument that they have to take a good, long look at Kyle Long, and where he’s at, and does he need weeks off… does he need to go on IR… If you take a really good look at the film, and this is hard for me to say… I’ve watched him for a long time play a high level of football, where he was a dominant right guard… What I’ve seen in the first 3 weeks, and in this week, I wonder about his body, I really do, and I wonder where he is in his career.”"

The likely replacement for Long is Ted Larsen but he’s also dealing with an injury. He stepped in for Long in Week 4 against a very good Minnesota Vikings defense and did well. We’ll see if he’s ready to step up this week. Another option is Rashaad Coward.

In any case, I hope the Bears call up Alex Bars. He was an undrafted rookie but only because of an injury. He declined offers from other teams so he could sign with the Bears. Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand had a lot to do with it. He was coaching Bars when the two were at Notre Dame. Additionally, he declined to sign with the New England Patriots so he could continue to train with the Bears on their practice squad. He has talent and it’s time for him to show it.

Let’s hope this is the first of a few moves the Chicago Bears make on the offensive line. The team needs the line to perform well so the offense can get over its struggles. If the line plays like it did last season, then we can see a playoff-contending team again.