Alex Leatherwood‘s NFL career encountered another setback Wednesday. The recent Bears waiver claim will be placed on the team’s reserve/non-football illness list, according to Matt Eberflus.
This will sideline the 2021 first-round pick for at least four games. The Bears are bringing back Michael Schofield, who was with them in training camp, to replace Leatherwood on the 53-man roster, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Leatherwood is believed to have contracted mononucleosis, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Eberflus said Leatherwood is not at the team’s facility today. He did not play in the Bears’ Week 1 game. A 17-game Raiders starter last year, Leatherwood caught on with the Bears via waiver claim. The Raiders’ new regime bailed on the Jon Gruden–Mike Mayock-era O-line investment after this year’s training camp.
The Bears exited their camp with some questions on their O-line, and the team is attempting to salvage Leatherwood. The Alabama prospect, who was not expected to go in last year’s first round, has been working at right tackle with the Bears, Biggs adds. Leatherwood began his pro career as the Raiders’ right tackle starter, but the team moved him to guard early in his rookie year. McDaniels’ staff slid Leatherwood back to right tackle this offseason, and while the Raiders have significant questions at that particular position, they could not find a spot for the second-year blocker on their 53-man roster.
As expected, Chicago used fifth-round rookie Braxton Jones and 2021 fifth-rounder Larry Borom as its Week 1 tackle starters. Riley Reiff, 33, remains on the team as a swingman. Leatherwood’s hopes at competing for playing time will have to wait a while now. Three years remain on his rookie contract.
Schofield, 31, initially signed with the Bears just before training camp. The Illinois native has extensive experience at right guard and right tackle, having transitioned to guard after being a right tackle starter for the Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl-winning team. The Chargers used Schofield as their primary right guard over the past five seasons; he joins Reiff as a 30-something second-stringer on the rebuilding Bears.
Teven Jenkins started at right guard for the Bears on Sunday, rotating with would-be center Lucas Patrick. The latter is poised to be Chicago’s center, but a July hand injury has altered that plan for now. Sam Mustipher started at center for the Bears against the 49ers.
Hmmm….seems as though availability and work ethic are the problems with Leatherwood.
He was really durable for the Raiders last year, and contracting Mono is just an unfortunate thing for the guy. I wouldn’t hold that against him. His biggest issue is he’s largely been terrible when he’s on the field. He’s young -and he could improve- but I just think at best he becomes a competent guard. No risk for Chicago though since they didn’t waste the pick.
He played 97% of the Raiders’ offensive snaps last year. He was bad. You don’t have to trash a guy’s character because he struggled as an offensive lineman in the NFL as a rookie. It happens a lot, even to better prospects. And apparently he got mono, which is not a predictive sign of availability.
Ditto to Appalachian_Outlaw and Oooof…
I was hoping that the young man was going to have an improved season. It only would have taken a couple of games, and some earned positive press to change his disposition.
Holy crap, what a motley crew of lineman.
Poor Fields.
Both Borom and Jenkins graded out high according to PFF ratings from last week. Give ‘em a minute.
And Braxton Jones graded higher than a few first rd tackles.
Same ‘ol Situation
All the talk about committing to this guy and giving him time to develop was utter rubbish. I’ll be surprised if the Bears don’t cut him by mid season.
Look the guy came in right before the start of the season cold. This although not ideal, Will give him a chance to settle in, Learn the playbook and calls and basically figure things out. It’s not the worst situation possible by any means. The guy is talented and it wasn’t his fault he was supposedly OVER DRAFTED. So the Bears got him basically for the cost of a Rookie deal, which for an OL is not very much. I don’t think the Bears line is as bad as everyone thinks and anyone who listens to Mike Martz is a fool. The only grade you can give anyone after that fiasco Sunday is an A, For being able to swim.