One arm injury could ruin the entire offensive line. Darnell Wright, the Bears’ starting right tackle, left practice early because he could not stop flexing his right arm. This is the same arm that gave him trouble last season. The team sent him to Halas Hall with trainers right away. That move tells us everything we need to know. They are worried.
Wright is not the only name on the injury list. Gervon Dexter Sr. left with an injury too, according to Windy City Gridiron. Hayden Large sat out with a left arm issue. Dontae Manning did not return after leaving. Kyle Monangai is still week-to-week. Marcus Davenport and Austin Booker did not practice at all. The team got some good news back, but the holes are deep. Safety Elijah Hicks and rookie Keyshaun Elliott returned from the PUP list. Quarterback Tyson Bagent is back after a hamstring issue. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson joined team drills. But the line is thin.
Who Steps In When Wright Goes Down
The backup plan looks shaky. Theo Benedet took snaps with the starters at right tackle while Wright was out. He has to hold the line now. Brad Biggs reported that Braxton Jones did a nice job at left tackle during the nine-on-seven period. Biggs noted that three of the four runs by D’Andre Swift went for nice gains to Jones’ side. That is a good sign for the left side. But the right side is a different story. If Wright cannot go, the offense loses its anchor.
Rookie Jordan van den Berg worked with the first team. Jamree Kromah got time with the ones because Booker was out. James Lynch also spent time with the starters. These young men need to learn fast. They cannot afford mistakes against the Tennessee Titans. The team faces a joint practice on Thursday. On Saturday, the Titans will be the final preseason opponent they face. The clock is ticking. Every day without Wright is a day the team falls behind.
Why This Injury Hurts More Than You Think
The Bears need a strong line to protect Caleb Williams. Williams had a rough rookie year with too many turnovers. He needs time to think. He needs a wall to hide behind. Wright was supposed to be that wall. Now the wall has a crack. Cole Kmet said the practice ended up being one of their better ones so far. That is a nice quote. But the injury list tells a darker truth. Jaylon Johnson brought the team together to say the practice was not good enough. He was right.
Ben Johnson, the head coach, stated that determining the left tackle remains a work in progress. Braxton Jones played most of the day. But the right tackle spot is the real problem. If Wright misses time, the offense stalls. The defense is also struggling. Keyshaun Elliott is back, but the line is weak. The Bears cannot afford a slow start. They need to win games now. The preseason games against the Titans will show if the backups can hold the line. If they fail, the regular season will be a nightmare. The team must fix this now.
Darnell Wright exited to Halas Hall with trainers as he flexed his right arm. That single sentence defines the week. The Bears play the Titans on Saturday. That is the next test. If Wright cannot play, the team faces a huge challenge. The fans know the stakes. The team knows the risk. The only question is if the backups can step up. The answer will come in the next two days.
