After the Chicago Bears’ injury report revealed a damaged offensive line protecting rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, Saturday’s news isn’t much better. Although he wasn’t on the injury report all week, backup center and part-time fullback Doug Kramer was downgraded from doubtful to doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Lions, according to the Bears Communications account on X.
After Saturday’s update, starting offensive linemen Teven Jenkins and Braxton Jones remain questionable, as nothing has changed with their Week 16 status.
However, with their offensive line dealing with injuries, depth in the trenches has become a real problem for the Bears.
Although Jenkins and Jones could play Sunday against the Detroit Lions, Kramer’s questionable status gives little reason to believe he will be on the field in Week 16.
Bears QB Caleb Williams’ health in jeopardy against Lions after Doug Kramer injury update
In Week 15 against the Minnesota Vikings, third-round rookie Kiran Amegadjie made his NFL debut, starting for the injured Jones at left tackle. Although Amegadjie appeared in games here and there, he had never started an NFL game until Week 15.
And the Vikings exposed his lack of experience.
Amegadjie was responsible for four penalties, adding four pressures, three hurries and a sack to his very first start in the NFL, per PFF.
Now, with Kramer potentially against the Lions, not much changes since he’s a backup. But with the Bears offensive line dropping like flies, they need to recover quickly.
Chicago’s rookie quarterback was sacked 58 times for 402 yards, showing he’s been through a lot in his first NFL season.
And against a Lions team that is more injured than any team in the league, Williams hopes to get some of his starting offensive linemen back on the field to protect him.
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If they don’t, Williams could be in for a rude awakening Sunday against the Lions.
Although the Bears have a 0% chance of making the playoffs, the rest of this season for Williams is all about staying healthy and continuing to improve as an NFL quarterback.
His rookie season didn’t go perfectly, but with steady improvement amid everything that’s happened in 2024 with the Bears, it could have been a lot worse.
With a battered offensive line in front of him in Week 16, it could be a long Sunday afternoon for Williams if Jones and Jenkins aren’t allowed to perform.
