Chicago Bears place OL Ryan Bates on injured reserve, plan to start Nate Davis at right guard Sunday night

The Chicago Bears placed guard/center Ryan Bates on injured reserve Saturday afternoon, meaning he will miss at least the next four games as he recovers from shoulder and elbow injuries.

Bates, whom the Bears acquired for a 2024 fifth-round pick in March, has battled an ongoing shoulder issue for weeks. He played in a right guard rotation with Nate Davis in the season-opening win against the Tennessee Titans, logging 68% of the offensive snaps to Davis’ 32%.

But the Bears added an elbow injury to Bates’ list of ailments this week, and he didn’t practice Thursday or Friday.

That means that the Bears will start Coleman Shelton at center and Davis at right guard in the “Sunday Night Football” game at the Houston Texans. The Bears also have center Doug Kramer, versatile lineman Matt Pryor and interior lineman Bill Murray as backup options if needed.

Coach Matt Eberflus said Friday that the Bears are looking for consistency from Davis, but he thought Davis had a good week of practice ahead of the meeting with the Texans.

“He had a really consistent practice this week and was really on everything in terms of run and pass, in terms of his responsibilities and technique,” Eberflus said. “I thought he really improved this week.”

The interior offensive line has been one of the biggest questions for the Bears in training camp and the early season.

Davis, the right guard last season, battled a groin issue for weeks in camp, and Eberflus publicly sent him a message that his job could be up for grabs if he didn’t work his way back in practice.

“People say you can’t lose a job because of injury,” Eberflus said at the beginning of August. “I don’t think that’s true. I think if the guy that’s playing there gives our team a good look and a good benefit for him being in that position, then it’s a competition. Or the other guy could take it over. That’s not just at guard. That’s at all positions.”

Now the Bears really need Davis to step up after he started 11 games last year, his first with the Bears after four seasons with the Titans.

In the offseason, the Bears brought in Shelton and Bates, who played his first five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, to compete at center. But Shelton has worked with quarterback Caleb Williams the most as Bates dealt with injuries.

On Saturday, the Bears also elevated wide receiver Collin Johnson from the practice squad as they determine whether Keenan Allen (heel) and Rome Odunze (knee) are able to play. Both were listed as questionable.

They also signed long snapper Scott Daly to the active roster from the practice squad.