The Chicago Bears placed offensive lineman Kyle Long on injured reserve Monday.
Reports of the move first surfaced over the weekend, as Long continues to deal with a hip injury.
Long missed the Bears’ Week 4 win against the Minnesota Vikings due to the injury, and although he did play in Week 5 against the Oakland Raiders, he was moving visibly slower than usual.
The injury could potentially put an end to his time with the Bears. Long restructured his contract prior to the 2019 season, giving the Bears some breathing room if they decide to cut ties with him following the campaign.
At 31 years old, Long has had some strong years with the Bears, but has dealt with a slew of injuries over the last four seasons, missing a total of 23 games in those campaigns.
Even still, the seven-year veteran has made three Pro Bowls and has been a locker room leader for the Bears, making any future decision potentially more difficult to make.
