Bears Offensive Line Movement Not Done Yet

The Bears appear likely to start a different offensive line for the fifth time this year but the end result is no longer as disruptive as it once was.

The Bears offensive line for the first time this season started the same players for consecutive games in Thursday's win, but when they try to end a 10-game NFC North losing streak Sunday against Minnesota they could again be back to switching starting lineups.

A year ago this might have meant the sky was falling but they probably won't be overly concerned. They've had to use so many different players on the line over the past year that they've been calloused, to borrow a favorite phrase of former coach Matt Nagy's.

The concussion suffered by center Lucas Patrick might have them playing with the lineup they used to finish their 40-20 win over, using Teven Jenkins at starting left guard, Cody Whitehair at center. Both of those players were supposed to be starting, anyway.

The only substitute from the starting lineup they originally intended to use this year was left tackle Larry Borom.

But coach Matt Eberflus has been through this for a while now and in the final week of preseason the possibility of injuries on the line didn't bother him.

"We all know what we would like the starting lineup to look like with the guys that we have, but again, that's gonna change during the course of the season," Eberflus said then.

He was right. It has.

"Now, it really helps the coaches to be able to have the flexibility and the players to have the flexibility to move from guard to center or center to guard or tackle and really establish who your swing tackle is," Eberflus said at the time.

The Bears are possibly one game away from having the potential return of their full offensive line as the Vikings game is the last one tackle Braxton Jones must miss with a neck injury. It doesn't mean he will definitely return for the Raiders game Oct. 22 at Soldier Field but he can.

The situation at center-left guard essentially gives them three starters for two positions, because Whitehair and Patrick can be at center or left guard if Jenkins isn't there.

In fact, they could face the tough call of putting Whitehair on the bench to start the next game if Patrick had been healthy.

Although Whitehair was originally intended to play center this year, he had a high snap on Thursday and this was after he had a hand injury in training camp.

By Pro Football Focus' blocking grade standards, neither Whitehair nor Patrick has done well regardless of position. Going into their win, PFF said Whitehair had earned a positive grade on 2.3% of run plays and this was lowest among all NFL guards. Patrick ranked last at this metric among centers with 3.4% positively graded runs plays.

Jenkins had an 81.2 grade from PFF in 37 plays during his first action this season against Washington. It was the third-highest grade given a Bears player Thursday night.

That grade would put him second in the NFL among all guards if he maintained it. So Jenkins' return upgraded the Bears line greatly in the eyes of PFF. If it did so in the eyes of coaches then a decision could be forthcoming at center between Patrick and Whitehair, provided both are healthy.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven