The Chicago Bears have once again been bitten hard by the injury bug, as two of their most important linemen have both been placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Offensive lineman Kyle Long, who has been dealing with a variety of injuries all season long, will miss the remaining four games of the regular season. Long has been fighting through ankle and shoulder problems, and was removed from Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49’ers with yet another upper body injury.
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: The Chicago Bears huddle up prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: John Lynch, general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, talks with head coach John Fox of the Chicago Bears prior to the game between the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass the football in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after intercepting a pass by the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears carries a punt return toward the endzone, next to Deiondre' Hall #32, resulting in a touchdown in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Christian Jones #52 of the Chicago Bears tackles Garrett Celek #88 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Lamarr Houston #99 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after sacking quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears carries the football past Elvis Dumervil #58 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Kicker Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates, including Joe Staley #74, after scoring the game winning field goal against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after the 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14 at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Kendall Wright #13 of the Chicago Bears carries the football ahead of Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Christian Jones #52 of the Chicago Bears attempts to break up the pass intended for Louis Murphy #18 of the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears returns a punt against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defetaed the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers prepares for the snap in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: John Jenkins #73 of the Chicago Bears attempts to sack quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass the football in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks for a 30 yard first down run after a catch in fron of Cre'von LeBlanc #22 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers tries to hold off Eddie Jackson #39 of the Chicago Bears on a 39 yard first down run after a catch at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears runs for yardage in front of Elvis Dumervil #58 of the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers gets into a scuffle with Cre'von LeBlanc #22 of the Chicago Bears in the first quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Louis Murphy #18 of the San Francisco 49ers tries to make a catch in front of Prince Amukamara #20 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers is sacked by Lamarr Houston #99 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Jordan Howard #24 of the Chicago Bears runs against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Defensive lineman Mitch Unrein was also placed on injured reserve, as he suffered a knee injury during Sunday’s loss. Unrein has been an important part of the team’s defensive front this season, with 32 tackles and two and a half sacks this season.
The loss of Long and Unrein brings the total number of Bears players on injured reserve to 14, including kicker Cairo Santos, who suffered a groin injury before Sunday’s game. The Bears signed kicker Mike Nugent to replace him on the active roster.
