Now Darnell Wright Has a Medical Issue

Offensive line injuries for the Bears could cause Matt Eberflus to hold out first-team offense against Buffalo, including Justin Fields.

Bears offensive line continuity continued to stall out Tuesday, and a possible new issue developed.

The end result is it could all impact the coaching staff's decision whether to use Justin Fields in Saturday's final preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.

Rookie right tackle Darnell Wright had to leave practice a little early with a medical issue of some sort and although coach Matt Eberflus had no immediate update after work was done, it's just one more headache with a group that had been rounding into shape nicely until about a week ago.

"You've just got to be flexible, you know?" Eberflus said. "I don't think, you've got to look at every situation as opportunity, but then you also have to be smart and have some discernment with your decision.

"So I just look at every situation as that. You know, it is what it is right there."

If he got any more flexible with this line Eberflus would have to change his name to Gumby.

Guard Teven Jenkins has a leg injury termed by Eberflus to be "week to week." The Tribune reported he could even miss the opener. 

Without their starting left guard, the Bears first had Ja'Tyre Carter playing there in Tuesday's practice, then injured Cody Whitehair came back and played his old position. Doug Kramer played starting center, where Whitehair had been all training camp. Lucas Patrick would be the center with Whitehair moved to guard but he is still ramping up as he returns from his own injury.

Using Whitehair at guard again hadn't been the original plan but he has played both center and left guard in his career. He currently is getting over a hand injury suffered in Indianapolis at practice.

"We know what he can do at guard, that's his position," Eberflus said, although he had been playing center all through training camp. "He was playing there today. We like where he is. His hand is not a big issue, but we'll see where it goes. He's a day-to-day guy in terms of that. We hope it heals fast and all those types of things and we'll see where it goes. We certainly like him at center and we like him at guard. It's good to have the combination and the flexibility to do both."

Asked whether the line's health and availability can impact whether he uses Fields for the second time this preseason against Buffalo, Eberflus wasn't hedging.

"That will be looked at," he said. "There's no question that will be looked at. You've always gotta look at the combinations and the health of the offensive linemen when you're talking about the quarterback. That will all be looked at and we'll see where it is."

Beyond the final preseason game, Eberflus needs to consider the season opener against Green Bay. It's also a reason to study who they plan to use in Saturday's preseason game. 

Coming out of Indianapolis it seemed Eberflus was leaning to using Fields and starters but with a makeshift line and wide receiver Chase Claypool still out, it might be one more game to look at backups.

"You want to be at full health at the start of the season and we're going to look at that in a day-to-day basis," Eberflus said.

Eberflus always likes to find a positive in difficult situations and did here.

"What this gives us is an opportunity to see different combinations," he said of the offensive line. "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.

"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. You've gotta look at it as an opportunity. It is what it is. So you've gotta look at how can you benefit from that, and then get the guys back as fast as you can with the medical staff and the trainers."

If it's an opportunity, it's wearing a really good disguise.

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